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08-27-06, 03:10 PM
Update on the Reston Ride
Weather pretty good. Cloudy, humid and low 80's until around 11am. Warms up with a couple of hours of part sun, then after 1pm cloudy and windy. Unfortunately the wind was from the south which meant head wind for the last 25 miles.
I didn't plan to finish the whole century, but I thought I'd try. I had only 2 rides of over 70 miles this season and hadn't done enough hill work. Started just after 7am. Did the first 50+ miles of the century route, which included Hogback Mountain and most of the hilly middle section. North of Round Hill I followed my alternate plan, detoured down Alder School Road back to Purcelville. Glad I did. After a bumpy semi-paved section in deep woods it opened into a beautiful little valley with incredible views and very little traffic. Turned out to be the best part of the ride. Back at Purcelville I rejoined the route, skipped Waterford but rode Simpson Circle and Dry Mill. Finished with 83 miles, a 4/5 century. :p
The gps profile of the full century route, on a board at the rest stops, showed 6,992 feet of climbing. The official route after my detour was generally downhill with the two big hills after Taylortown, maybe 1,500 feet of climbing that I missed. Means I did around 5,500 feet of climbing, more than I thought I had.
Satisfied with my ride. Distance and effort was I wanted for today without killing myself. Little sorry at missing Mountain Road and Irish Corner, my favorite part of Loudon County to ride, but I'll catch those next month.
Probably good that I shortened the route, had a knee cramp start up in the last mile returning to Reston. Almost had to walk in.
Ice cream at the last rest stop was a nice suprise. Food at the post ride party much better than previous years.
A good day.
Now I'm ready for my real first century in two weeks. :D
Weather pretty good. Cloudy, humid and low 80's until around 11am. Warms up with a couple of hours of part sun, then after 1pm cloudy and windy. Unfortunately the wind was from the south which meant head wind for the last 25 miles.
I didn't plan to finish the whole century, but I thought I'd try. I had only 2 rides of over 70 miles this season and hadn't done enough hill work. Started just after 7am. Did the first 50+ miles of the century route, which included Hogback Mountain and most of the hilly middle section. North of Round Hill I followed my alternate plan, detoured down Alder School Road back to Purcelville. Glad I did. After a bumpy semi-paved section in deep woods it opened into a beautiful little valley with incredible views and very little traffic. Turned out to be the best part of the ride. Back at Purcelville I rejoined the route, skipped Waterford but rode Simpson Circle and Dry Mill. Finished with 83 miles, a 4/5 century. :p
The gps profile of the full century route, on a board at the rest stops, showed 6,992 feet of climbing. The official route after my detour was generally downhill with the two big hills after Taylortown, maybe 1,500 feet of climbing that I missed. Means I did around 5,500 feet of climbing, more than I thought I had.
Satisfied with my ride. Distance and effort was I wanted for today without killing myself. Little sorry at missing Mountain Road and Irish Corner, my favorite part of Loudon County to ride, but I'll catch those next month.
Probably good that I shortened the route, had a knee cramp start up in the last mile returning to Reston. Almost had to walk in.
Ice cream at the last rest stop was a nice suprise. Food at the post ride party much better than previous years.
A good day.
Now I'm ready for my real first century in two weeks. :D