Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Buffalo Bicycle Classic Ride

I went on my favorite annual charity ride yesterday, the Buffalo Bicycle Classic (http://www.buffalobicycleclassic.com/). It is my favorite, because the money goes towards college scholarships, its a beautiful ride, and is VERY well organized.

I usually do the 100-mile route, but have not ridden more than 100 miles per week since June, so I was planning on doing either the 50 or the 70 mile routes, depending on how I felt during the ride. Well...I felt like doing the full 100 miles, and I made it! :thumb: Here is an overview of the route (http://wordpress.buffalobicycleclassic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/08Route_100.pdf).

I actually did not think that I would make it, but I decided to try it anyway. I thought that I would either figure out a way to drag myself over the finish line, or I would have a nice ride back to the starting line after I finished puking/cramping my guts out. I had some cramping on hills during the last 25 miles or so, but nothing else. I had to pay extra attention to things like how much I drank (enough to make me stop to urinate every hour or so), made sure to walk around a little bit and stretch at each stop, consumed enough calories (150-200 calories per hour, and a big-ish lunch), and used easier gears and went slower up hills than I normally do. No long-term effects from the ride, and I'm actually not that sore today!

Here are a few pictures from the ride:

Riders that showed up extra-early looked cold waiting for things to start (about 40 F).
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/morning-start.jpg

Many of us drank too much coffee trying to stay warm before the ride :)
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/morning-bathrooms.jpg

Yep, people looked cold at the first major checkpoint.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/cold-check-point.jpg

View of misty foothills across from the checkpoint.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/checkpoint-view.jpg

Carter Lake and misty Rocky Mountains in the background from the dam road.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/misty-carter-lake.jpg

View of the smaller foothills and beginning of the Great Plains east from the Carter Lake dam road.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll299/pinyon_pine/bbc-2009/misty-view.jpg

Have a great week!

Nice pictures, good work Pinyon!

My team of 3 did the 70. I enjoyed the ride. Bit cold in the am, but we dressed for it and were fine. Loved the cow bells and cheering sections whereever we went. I'll do it again next year...

I like the vibe of the ride as well. It is a good mix of serious racing-types and people that just like to ride. Most of the course occurs on roads with wide shoulders, allowing fast bikers to pass slower ones more safely, leading to a more casual and friendly atmosphere.

It is more organized than many of the other charity rides that I've been on around here. The pit-stops are always well stocked with food, drink, free bike mechanics, and restroom facilities. The volunteers are a lot of fun and very enthusiastic. No getting lost at a critical turn in the middle of nowhere, when there are volunteers standing there, pointing the way you should go, while also clanging cowbells and yelling support to you as you pass.

I was also dressed for the weather (tights, shell jacket, toe-covers, and neoprene gloves). Did you notice how many people showed up just wearing shorts, and maybe a long-sleeve jersey? It was like 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. They were just asking for it.

My wife and I did the 100 on a red Santana Tamdem. Had a flat tire about 10 miles out of Boulder and another climbing up to Carter Lake. Did you see us?

My wife and I did the 100 on a red Santana Tamdem. Had a flat tire about 10 miles out of Boulder and another climbing up to Carter Lake. Did you see us?

I may have seen you. I saw a couple on a red bike a few times during the day. If it was you on the red bike, I did not see you guys after the big pit-stop below Carter Lake on the way back to Boulder.

I'm a chunky clyde, ride a bright blue specialized Allez, wore a light-blue shell jacket in the morning, just a light-blue and tan Caribou Coffee jersey from Carter Lake on (9:45 on), tights with a big hole on one shin and yellow reflective ankle bands, red bandanna under my helmet (sunburn protection for the hair-challenged), yellow reflectors all over the back of my helmet, and a bright-yellow seat bag. I got back to the starting line around 1:45.

I may have seen you. I saw a couple on a red bike a few times during the day. If it was you on the red bike, I did not see you guys after the big pit-stop below Carter Lake on the way back to Boulder.

That was probably us. We stopped in Hygiene and got back to Boulder at about 2:00.

I don't recall seeing you; however, there are a million half-bikes and just a few tandems. Congrats on your ride and if you run into us next year be sure and say hello!