Greetings!

I know we've all had days like this. So I thought that I would share my day
from off the back. Moreover, I would like to take the opportunity to extend
thanks to those who helped me get through the ride. Of the handful of brevets
that I’ve participated, I’d have to say this was the hardest ride I've had from
a mental perspective. Like many of us in January, my condition was not as good
as I had hoped and I had poor legs on the day. Ride luck or lack there of made
things even worse. Actually I had lots of luck, it just wasn't the good kind.

I had thought I had made a good tire selection for the predicted rainy
conditions, the Michelin “Transworld”. I tested the tire throughout the week
while commuting. The tire worked great in the rain but with no rain these tires
sucked! I suffered 4 flats and one bad fix for 5 tires changes, all rear,
throughout the day. After my first flat I was in a hurry and blew a tube
pinching it under the wire bead. Of course the glue in my patch kit had dried
and I brazenly decided to carry only had 2 extra tubes. After all, I hadn’t had
a flat on my last four 200k’s in the previous successive months (famous last
words).

So with no extra tubes now and no patch kit, I made my way to lighthouse
hoping to restock tubes sometime during the ride. Most of the way out I flatted
again. I found that tiny pebbles would work their way into the carcass under my
weight and pierce the tube. At this time I was walking unable to repair my
tires and ready to call it a day. Thankfully I had worked my way back past a
few riders so when they came upon me they generously helped me patch a tube,
gave me a new one, and told me where I could restock too (Thanks to Jack and his
friend who’s name I did not catch. I owe you both big-time).

At the lighthouse, Mike Biswell also gave me a tube but more flats came.
Each tire change took longer and longer to repair as I dutifully scoured the
entire tire picking out the offending pebbles. I felt stressed and rode with
anxiety senselessly wasting energy as I hoped to make it to Point Reyes to buy
more tubes. I found the bike shop easily (thanks to Jack) where I restocked
tubes and still had a patched tube. This all played havoc with my drinking and
eating patterns and I was soon without energy with food packed trudging on.

On the way out to Marshall I flatted again. I quietly wondered to myself
what I had done to deserve this challenge as many riders past me again headed
south while I was still making my way north. All I could say was, “It’s not my
day”. I was battling myself going slower and slower and then the cramping
started. Mike had decided to drive out to Marshall after his control closed
taking pictures. At the control he encouraged and offered advice. He told me
not to listen to the part of myself that wanted to stop and that I did have the
ride in me.

At mile 95 I was without water and too concerned with the time limit to stop.
Thankfully I was familiar enough with the course from previous mixed terrain
brevets, the 200km permanent, and Mike’s insistence that I learn the way home
that I no longer needed to read the cue sheet. It was totally dark climbing
back into Fairfax and started sprinkling in San Anselmo. Then on the climb out
of Corte Madera in the dark and sprinkling, my chain broke with just a few more
miles to go and time was ticking away. I too was broken, uncertain if I would
finish in time but no longer caring. Just finishing was now my only concern.
In the dark, it took a bit to find the chain and in my state it seemed to take
forever to fix. The SRAM quick link had mangled, half of which was lost and the
other half bent and unable to remove. Two removed links later I was back on.

Once on the bike path, I filled my bottle at the fountain but it was way too
late. I cramped badly climbing out of Sausalito and had to walk up the first
part of the hill but I stretched and was able to remount. The cue sheet had me
going to the west side of the bridge but when I got there that side had already
closed so I had to double back to the east side where I again encountered locked
gates. As an out of towner, it took a bit to figure out the procedure for
getting the gates to open but once on the bridge the end was in sight. It was
during the double back that I claimed the title of "lanterne rouge" finishing
last 13.02 hours from the start with just 28 minutes to spare. BRAVO to all
participants and volunteers! I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks those
that helped me complete the ride even if it was just to share a smile and
especially my friend Mike.


Sincerely,

Phil Magallanes

BTW Anyone interested in some slightly used tires?







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