I was riding with my wife today, this was her 3rd Century, the others have been with Team in Training at a slower pace.
We got to reigistration about 6:30, got a chance to see Herb and the BF gang before they rolled. We rolled out about 45 minutes later. Saw Big John, several times today, and also saw Karen a few times.
My wife did great, we finished just a little over 7 hrs with an average speed of 14 mph. She did great on the flats, averaging 18-20, but she was still having problems climbing. The climb after Manning Park, I had to put my hand in the small of her back several times to help her get up the hill. People would say as they passed "how cute", a few of the ladies stated they wished their husbands would help them like that.
She has been riding less than a year, and every time we do rides like this she just keeps getting better and faster. I am sure within a year or two she will give me make me work a lot harder.
The weather today was great, no poblem at all with smoke or ash.