here are few comments....

At the start, the organizers had the riders in groups based on distance....mostly. 100 milers, then 50 milers, then 20, etc. But, ahead of everybody....the first group were people who paid more for a "Chapter Membership"...which included riders who were doing all the different distances. That became a problem for me as I attempted to catch the "100 mile A Group" who all seemed to be Chapter Members. I was in the regular 100 miler group.....so that put me around 300-400 back in a mass start of 1200 riders. The ride started with an "escort" up the trail and over the BDB for about 3 miles until wider roads were used. At that point I attempted to bridge up to the lead A group but it was too late...they were gone. Worked hard with other riders to catch up but never did and used myself up in the attempt (read cramps after mile 75). Finished in 5:13 but the last 20 miles was a suffer-fest.

Due to the trail system and use of downtown, this ride will never be a "fast" (4:30) century ride.

The aid stations were great....except.....the 45-mile station in Conway had Gatoraid that wasn't mixed well and way too syrupy giving me a belly ache. The aid stations (especially in Mayflower) had water that tasted awful. I think it was because they had stored it in plastic containers that made it taste like plastic.

All-in-all, this was a great event and the new Big Dam Bridge allows us LR riders to have something to be proud of. I know some on here (Galen) diss any and all who ride on multi-use-trails but until you come and ride the trail system here with this new bridge you really don't know what we're talking about. And, in the future, another bridge (over Little Maumelle Creek) is to be built to connect this trail system with our best rural riding area west of town. That will make this one of the best riding areas in the country.

Did you know that LR is home to:

Orbea Bicycles - North America

Javelin Bicycles

Competitive Cyclist

Yep, we're on the map you guys. Y'all come down, ya hear!


tommy