When I finished the CO Last Chance last year, I couldn't wait to do another one so I signed up for the Texas Rando Stampede 1200.

If you're not familiar worth brevets, for a 1200-km to count as a success, you have to ride the distance, 1200-km or 756 miles in this case, within 90 hours.

"Luck" wasn't on my side. We incurred record low temps & almost constant winds of 20 mph with gusts to 35. One tandem took on a wild pig and lost. Another rider hit a very bad stretch and was launched off his bike. That was 40 miles from the finish.

On my worst day, I flatted just as we were leaving the overnight control and had to ride the entire day alone. Into the wind. Less than an hour after the first flat, I cut my front tire on a piece of metal.

Being ....err.....older means you probably have the mental toughness to get through these kinds of days. While there were dozens of times when I wanted to quit, there was not an instance when I didn't think I would actually finish.

Any way...here's my story.....and I'm sticking to it.