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11-22-08, 07:29 PM
The apparently cracked frame held up and I had a safe ride. I'm happy with the finish as I really have not ridden much since September.
Finished the 109 miles in 5 hr 37 mins in 824th place out of 3474 that completed the century. Heck, it took me 10 mins just to get to the start line from where I lined up at 2 hours before the ride! Plus that includes carrying my bike across 2 dried up river beds for 3/4 mile.
The good:
Using the ride to travel out to visit my wonderful daughter.
Organization is top notch-26th ride and they have it right.
Traffic control-superior-even with lots of the ride involving city streets I never slowed down at intersections due to the terrific support of the local police.
Weather-with it being in the 30's back home, just terrific weather for this event
The ride-I never got dropped by a group all day-there were so many people riding I just moved back or up and got back in line-never seen anything like it
Tandems-I rode behind tandems for a good while today-a great ride for catching wheels-at one point I was behind two tandems riding together!
Local support-Wow-I can't believe how many local people came out to support the ride. The cheers and cowbells were very uplifting.
Rest stops-folks were doing everything they could to help-good supplies at the two I stopped at.
The route-there was a stretch-maybe Tangerine Dr-where a group of 20-30 us pushed the pace as much as we could. It was downhill for several miles and I wore out my 50/11 pedaling and acelerating in the 30+ mph range. 3-4 of us pulled the group and had an absolute blast pushing the pace. No uphills to speak of.
The announcer calling out your name as you finished-nice touch!
Results posted very quickly!
The 2 beers and glass of wine I drank afterwards for supper.
I could go on and on.
The parts I didn't like:
The last 15-20 miles. All on one road that paralled I-10 and we had a slight headwind today. So, at 90 miles to the end it was just a matter of trying to keep up the pace.
The pavement-too many roads that were extremely rough. I've never seen so many water bottles scattered across the roads. I bet it would give Paris-Roubais a run for the money........
One bike patrol cyclist-I'm not sure what their duties are, but this fellow was just doing the ride like we were. At one point in the group I was in (the bike patrol cyclist was riding with us), the rider beside me and to my right hit a seam in the pavement and lost control. He somersaulted off the road over a concrete curb into some cactus and brush. The sounds of the bike and rider hitting and bouncing were horrible. I told the bike patrol fellow immediately about the crash but he just kept riding. I know it was an isolated case but I just didn't like it.
The two river beds-you had to dismount and carry your bike across a dusty, sandy dried up river bed-TWICE. The first was 1/4 mile and the second was at least 1/3 mile. I got lots of sandy stuff on me-in my shoes, etc. Gotta be a better option!!
Finished the 109 miles in 5 hr 37 mins in 824th place out of 3474 that completed the century. Heck, it took me 10 mins just to get to the start line from where I lined up at 2 hours before the ride! Plus that includes carrying my bike across 2 dried up river beds for 3/4 mile.
The good:
Using the ride to travel out to visit my wonderful daughter.
Organization is top notch-26th ride and they have it right.
Traffic control-superior-even with lots of the ride involving city streets I never slowed down at intersections due to the terrific support of the local police.
Weather-with it being in the 30's back home, just terrific weather for this event
The ride-I never got dropped by a group all day-there were so many people riding I just moved back or up and got back in line-never seen anything like it
Tandems-I rode behind tandems for a good while today-a great ride for catching wheels-at one point I was behind two tandems riding together!
Local support-Wow-I can't believe how many local people came out to support the ride. The cheers and cowbells were very uplifting.
Rest stops-folks were doing everything they could to help-good supplies at the two I stopped at.
The route-there was a stretch-maybe Tangerine Dr-where a group of 20-30 us pushed the pace as much as we could. It was downhill for several miles and I wore out my 50/11 pedaling and acelerating in the 30+ mph range. 3-4 of us pulled the group and had an absolute blast pushing the pace. No uphills to speak of.
The announcer calling out your name as you finished-nice touch!
Results posted very quickly!
The 2 beers and glass of wine I drank afterwards for supper.
I could go on and on.
The parts I didn't like:
The last 15-20 miles. All on one road that paralled I-10 and we had a slight headwind today. So, at 90 miles to the end it was just a matter of trying to keep up the pace.
The pavement-too many roads that were extremely rough. I've never seen so many water bottles scattered across the roads. I bet it would give Paris-Roubais a run for the money........
One bike patrol cyclist-I'm not sure what their duties are, but this fellow was just doing the ride like we were. At one point in the group I was in (the bike patrol cyclist was riding with us), the rider beside me and to my right hit a seam in the pavement and lost control. He somersaulted off the road over a concrete curb into some cactus and brush. The sounds of the bike and rider hitting and bouncing were horrible. I told the bike patrol fellow immediately about the crash but he just kept riding. I know it was an isolated case but I just didn't like it.
The two river beds-you had to dismount and carry your bike across a dusty, sandy dried up river bed-TWICE. The first was 1/4 mile and the second was at least 1/3 mile. I got lots of sandy stuff on me-in my shoes, etc. Gotta be a better option!!