The first year I started road riding I was living in Albuquerque. I left my apartment and rode to Sandia Peak on a whim, in the middle of the summer. It was 35 miles to the top, and over 6,000 ft elevation gain just to get there, with the ride starting out at over a mile elevation. When I got home I collapsed and slept for 4 hours on the floor.

My longest ride prior to that was 30 miles, and I did 70 that day. That's also the day I fell in love with the road bike, and that route in particular. I used to ride it every weekend.