Originally Posted by shyonelung

Well, I did it. Freaking amazing. I had such a great time. I got stronger as we went. I fear I'm coming down with a cold and was a bit congested, but I still climbed every hill without too much trouble. I think the last 20 miles was the most fun for me -- there's a few roller type of climbs that showed me how far I've grown as a cyclist. I feel pretty good right now, especially after that post-ride Guiness! Total 56 miles though my phone ran out of juice at the end so I only got Strava to record the first 54. I love this sport so much. Twenty riders showed up for the ride and 7 of us did the whole loop (others had to drop out for work obligations or because it was too much for them). Thanks for all your advice. It helped. I never felt like I bonked -- just a slight bit of strain in the thighs on those last 10 miles. Still, I feel great right now. Yeah, like I said, I love this sport. And by the way, we could not have asked for a better day. It was cold and wet at the start but the weather cleared and it was a beautiful, temperate day in wine country.