NHRA News: Baze and Dunn overcome initial saddle soreness during Day 2 (12/29/2003)

Baze and Dunn overcome initial saddle soreness during Day 2

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
12/29/2003

Whit Bazemore and Mike Dunn have survived another 100-mile day on their bicycles as they continue their Gator Hell Week ride. The decorated Funny Car pros posted exactly 100 miles in the saddle today riding from Bartow to Brooksville, Fla. An unexpected detour added a mile to the posted route.

This second of eight successive days of cycling utilized several back roads and country lanes, leading the multi-colored group through the cities of Auburndale, Lakeland, Zephyrhills, Dade City, and the rolling hills of Pasco and Hernando Counties. This was one of the biggest climbing days of the ride with participants dealing with more than 2,400 feet of elevation.

NHRA.com will follow Bazemore and Dunn through all phases of this journey and they, in turn, will provide readers with a dairy of their progress.

Baze and Dunn's Hell Week: Day 2
Bazemore: Today was probably the most critical day of the ride. Not being used to riding this kind of distance on consecutive days made it a real test. And I think we'll be tested again tomorrow. The thing is I've ridden 100 miles before. But I've never ridden 100 miles and then gotten up the next day and done it again. On this deal we're doing it seven times in a row plus 60-something miles on the last day. Normally, I would follow a 100-mile ride with a 20-mile ride just to cycle my body back down.

Bazemore feeling some pain on a hill.

Both Mike and I knew to look for two indicators today. The first was how we felt when we sat on our bikes this morning. I think it's safe to say we were both a little tender. You just have to get past it and let your body acclimate to being on a seat for five hours. The second thing we worried about was how our legs felt but we were both pretty strong there. Sitting in the saddle for so long has been harder so far than the physical part of pushing the pedals. It's not just your butt. You feel it in your back, your neck, your arms; it's tough on your whole body.

We're in good shape and we're definitely having some fun. We rode through a couple of small little towns that looked very nice and we spent a good portion of the day in orange groves. We also rode the perimeter of a huge lake, which was nice to look at.

We rode behind this couple, Mike and Nancy Myers, on a tandem bike for most of the day. It was a small group of us drafting them and they kept a nice pace of 19 mph or so. A tandem bike is like a twin-engine Top Fueler from the '70s. The thing just has a lot of power and they haul ass. It's still work, even when you're drafting, but it was a pace we were comfortable with so we stayed with them.

The group hits a small Florida town. Dunn, in foreground, follows Bazemore.

The first 50-60 miles were a lot of fun. Then we started getting tired. Of course, that's natural and you just push on. I will say that this ride is hard. The last 40 miles today were brutal. I've never been so happy to see a little roadside motel in my life as I was when we pulled in here. After 100 miles you are ready to get off that thing, no question.

It's funny how your mind works. When we got going today and got out on the road I started thinking that if I were a teenager again I'd pursue this sport as a profession. I love it that much. By the end of the day I'm thinking the guys that do ride for a living are insane.

Tomorrow we'll reach a point where we'll start to really have fun. Barring any injury, we'll get over the hump so to speak and just cruise. Then we'll be in good shape the rest of the way. We're feeling good. I think we'll be able to do this.

I do want to say hi to the supporters we've encountered along the way. Obviously, we can't stop and chat but it is a big boost to hear you guys yelling for us. That can carry you at times, and we appreciate it. Keep it up.

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