The Finish Line

Today (Friday, April 23, 2010), Mark Pettengill and John Moorhouse performed an amazing feat of endurance and fortitude by riding their bicycles from Lake Mary, FL to Athens, GA in just under 32 hours (total travel time). Total ride mileage was somewhere between 430-436 miles (based on GPS vs. bike computer). Everyone participating in this ride did an outstanding job in riding or supporting this ride.

Gentlemen, we salute you.

And thanks to all the folks who offered words of encouragent and support!

Til next year.

Unstoppable

We're about 15 miles from the hotel in Athens and there's absolutely nothing that could stop Pettengill and Moorhouse at this point (unless they caught the same bug that took Derek out, but at this point, they'd probably go for it anyway).

Simply. Amazing.

Quad C

Give these guys a round of applause and a soft cushion to sit on... Pettengill and Moorhouse just joined the ranks of elite riders tough and crazy enough to put in 400 miles on a single ride.

Congratulations, gentlemen! And feel free to remain standing.

Working 9 to 400

Coming up on a single ride quad century. They outta get t-shirts made.

< 50 miles to Athens

We're within 50 miles of Athens and racing against sundown.

To 360 And Beyond

Pettengill and Moorhouse have topped the 360 mile mark but are facing more aggressive hills, scorching heat, stiff winds, and heavier traffic, but the greatest challenge remaining... 70 more miles to Athens.

DQ x 2

What do you do when the remaining riders request your remaining cheeseburgers? Share. And then go back for more. Lots more.

DQ = Yes, Please

The DQ in Wrightsville, GA is a-ok (especially considering we haven't seen a hambuger joint in this part of rural GA in a long, long time).

Cell/data service, however, is sorely lacking :(

Triple Century (3 x 100)

Pettengill and Moorhouse cracked the 300 mile mark and are attempting to go the distance. The hills are becoming more aggressive but so are the riders.

+1 To The SAG Crew

Dehydration claimed Derek at the 280 mile mark as repeated, lengthy monster pulls yesterday and through the night exacted a heavy toll on his health.

On the upside, Derek is now rockin' out with Pete and Buck in the SAG vehicle.

What Are My Options?

Looking for a hot meal while seated somewhere in Vidalia, GA at 6am? Your options are limited, my friend. Derek, Pettengill, Moorhouse, and Buck invested 1.5 hrs at Shoney's to rest and recover with a hot meal. Pete chose sleeping in the SAG vehicle and feels it was time very well spent.

How 'bout Them...

Onions? That's right folks, we're just now rolling into the sweet town of Vidalia, GA, home of the tastiest variety of onion known to me.

The Wee Hours

4:45am and the riders are still going strong. The SAG vehicle is keeping a closer eye on them to ensure that drowsiness and fatigue don't hinder their progress or performance. Can't tell if it's really early or really late but it's something out here.

Elevation

U2 wrote a song titled Elevation but the riders probably have something else in mind. The hills are frequent and rolling which make maintaining a line of sight almost impossible. The elevation doesn't seem to be slowing the riders yet but there are still many miles to go.

The Geographic Middle of Nowhere, GA

So much indigo sky. So many stars. Only half a moon, but it's shining bright. Too much roadkill. Two hours of absolutely no data coverage so no blog posts could be uploaded.

So far from home. Still far to go. If anyone can get there... we can.

The City Of Blackshear

This small town in southern Georgia is tiny and closed for the night. If not for the giant billboard of a welcome sign, you probably wouldn't even guess it was a city. Well, we're here, but not for long.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

The Doppler Effect could best be described as the sound a fast-moving train makes as it approaches in the distance getting louder and louder, thunders by, and gradually fades again from earshot as it races off in the distance.

Apply this principle to what Derek yelled as he rode by the SAG vehicle parked on the side of the road, "Not stopping 'til we find a restroom."

Double-Century By The Witching Hour?

For any of the doubters, the naysayers, or negative ninnies out there thinking the riders may not go all the way... they're coming up on the half-way point with almost 13 hrs to go.

Will they do it? Will they go all the way? We'll find out.

Welcome to Georgia

Well, at least that's what the sign says.

A Minor Detour

The riders took a minor detour in north Jax but we double-backed and found 'em in Callahan, FL. Night is fully upon us but we're still headin' northbound on U.S. 1 toward Athens.

Miles traveled: 141
Time elapsed: 8.5 hrs

Houdini vs. Copperfield

Houdini and Copperfield are both famous magicians but had very different specialities. Houdini was an escapologist and was known as the man who could not be contained. Copperfield, on the other hand, was an illusionist and could make almost anything disappear. Copperfield must have visited the riders on a rural section of U.S. 1 north of Jacksonville as they have completely disappeared.

Have It Your Way

On the corner of Main and 18th in the BK parking lot in Jacksonville. Riders got their lights set up in anticipation of sunset. Pete and Buck had Taco Bell for dinner so thank your lucky stars that you're not riding along with them. Staying on U.S. 1 til Georgia.

Jacksonville Bound

5pm traffic is about what you might expect but we're making good time. The riders are 4/10ths of a mile away from a century. Oh yeah... this is totally going to happen.

St. Augustine in ~4 Hours

Just rolled into St. Augustine a little while ago. Riders have covered about 80 miles with a rolling average of 21 mph. Refueling, rehydrating, and back on the road again.

Rolling Exchange

Buck just executed the first rolling hand-off to Derek while driving/riding down U.S. 1 at 22 mph.

What got passed? An ice cream sandwich.

SAGin' Strategy

The first SAG stop went fairly well. Refilled bottles, released excess hydration, and back on the road. Took a little longer than desired but we'll work on it.

Two Hours In

We're two hours in having gone 41.5 miles and coming up on Bunnell. The riders are reydrating and Moorhouse is playing with the video. Everyone is in high spirits but it's a warm Florida afternoon. Only ~360 miles to go :)

The Journey Begins

Actually... the journey began at 12:25pm with all of us leaving from Derek's house in Lake Mary. Pete and Buck are working the SAG vehicle with Derek, Moorhouse, and Pettengill riding. The riders have a head start but we should be catching up with them in just a few. Stay tuned.

You've Gotta See It To Belive It

Moorhouse plans on running a video camera on his bike to let folks join in the action as it happens. So come for the prose, stay for the video :)

What's The Plan?

On the surface, the plan is pretty simple... grab your bike and ride it 410 miles from Orlando to Athens at a pace of approximately 20 mph and you should get there within 24 hours with time to spare. Easy, right? Assuming you can eat and drink while pedaling and your muscles won't fatigue nor will you need to use a restroom over the course of the ride - you're golden. Also, there's that slim possibility of a mechanical failure with the bike, closed or otherwise obstructed roads, and inclement weather... but we're going to keep our fingers crossed that none of that stuff happens.

Derek, Moorhouse, and Pettengill will begin their bike riding pilgrimage northbound at 11am, Thursday.

Pete will be driving the SAG vehicle, checking on the riders, and formulating a lasting solution for World Peace starting also at 11am, Thursday.

Who Are These Guys?

John Moorhouse, a.k.a. Wheelie, has been mountain biking and ultra-endurance cycling for over a decade. Moorhouse lives in Altamonte, FL and has done the ride to Athens a few times before but has yet to complete the ride in 24 hours.

Mark Pettengill, a.k.a. The Human Missile Crisis, originally hails from Michigan and has a true passion for vintage Detroit iron (cars). Pettengill lives in Mt. Dora and races under the sponsorship of Mt. Dora Cycles.

Derek Dickinson, a.k.a. Aquaman, is an Alabama native with a penchant for beer, hashing, and fast talking. His weapon of choice is Softride bikes and he enjoys toothy chainrings and aero bars.

Buck Jones, a.k.a. NSFA (Not Safe For Anywhere), is a part-time stand-up comedian and full-time MTB racer. His speed and technical skills off-road are only rivaled by his ability to tell really, really dirty jokes with so much enthusiasm, you can't help but laugh and feel a little queasy.

Pete Wallace is a Florida native but has only been riding for a year. Before biking he was an avid kayaker for nine years until a small accident resulting in a couple fractured ribs made him transition to biking under the recommendation of a doctor.

So... What's All This About?

Some guys who ride bikes together decided it would be a good idea to ride their bikes from Orlando, FL to Athens, GA to attend the Athens Twilight Criterium in 2010. One of the guys, Moorhouse, had done this ride before [twice, actually] so he knew it could be done. What's different this time? These guys are going to try to do it in 24 hours.