The story was probably the hot, hot temps. As we were coming back down I've never seen as many riders huddled in any shade they could find along the BRP. Plus there was just no breeze to speak of at all. I used most of my water externally-squirting my jersey and neck. Last year I stopped 4 minutes total. This year it was at least 17 mins-not counting the 15 mins for the road paving.
Hwy 80 wasn't that bad temperature wise as it was mostly in the shade when I came through-but it was still pretty warm. But the BRP and Hwy 128 in the Park was mostly in the sun. I think the temps broke a little the last 2 miles to the top but they were replaced by flying bugs. I was covered with the little suckers and even had them in my teeth. I've seen those little critters up there before but nothing like that. I wiped them off with a damp white towel and the towel turned green.
I think I came in around 7:20 ish including the 15 minutes we stopped for the road paving. Other than the first time I ever did it, this one felt like the hardest one I've done. I cramped from about mile 40 to the end. My ride time was around 30 mins longer than last year with the bulk of that being the time from Marion to the top.
Other than cramping my feet got really, really hot towards the end. I even stopped for a couple minutes just 2 miles from the end as the soles of my feet were so hot.
I sure wish folks would get bottle cages that keep their bottles on their bikes. I must have dodged a dozen water bottles the first 20 miles. There's just nowhere to manuever when you're already 4 wide in a lane and the water bottles are moving around more unpredictably than a squirrel darting around the road.
Just saw one crash-very early in the ride when the group was very large and I think someone's chain dropped .......and 2-3 others ran into him. I think everyone was able to continue riding though.
There were lots of broken spokes-kept the mechanic at Bill's Hill really busy. My brother broke his rear derailleur cable-tied it off and limped along on the early climbs in his 12 gear.
My hats off to anyone who finished AOMM today. It was definitely one for the books.