As a prep for my Century ride next weekend, I planned out a 67.5 mile route with ~7800 feet of climbing. IT was an excellent Saturday morning ride. I set off on my own at 6:00 AM, and after a brief stop at Sheetz for a couple items snapped this picture before heading down the road
My route took me along a well used road (MD rte. 36) for ~ 20 miles in a generally downhill manner. I did take two alternate routes along the way to minimize car interaction and improve the scenery. I kept to a ritual of drinking every 15 minutes, and eating every hour. After about an hour I turned up into the Savage river Valley. About a mile up that road I passed this:
the road climbed along the Savage river for a good ways before heading off around the Savage River reseviour.
This picture is typical of the type of road I was on most of the ride.
Here are a couple pictures of the scenery along the way too.
This last picture is taken just after I had endured a 20 minute long heavy rain storm. I'm about to embark down into and then back out of that valley and through those hills to cover the last 10 -12 miles of the ride.
Overall it was a great ride, and I can't wait to ride my full century this coming weekend. I'll be adding a couple energy shots/gels to my nutrition for use in the last 30 miles. At the end of my ride my legs were tired, but I would have been able to keep going if need be. I think I"ll make sure I stay on my drinking and eating routine as it worked for me. When I got home I spent the day doing chores around the house, and working in the yard. I wasn't fresh by any stretch but I didn't need to take a nap either.