Damn. If I had been knocking off double centuries each day this week I'd be within only 4,000 miles of NR's total.

Quick sunday ride report:
I was miffed at Mark T. when he posted a BBC ride (same speed, same mileage, same start time, similar start location and route direction) 2 days before the start. Nothing to worry about though as a crowd of 15 riders showed up for my sunday metric. I ran out of cue sheets. I had met up with John, a strong rider, in Charles Village and rode out to Oregon ridge with him. The ride out to the park was brisk and it only occurred to me later that I should've taken it easier.

Once the riders were signed in we took off and very soon were in a quick pace. Again, I kept up with the front all the while thinking that I couldn't keep it up for long. The weather was perfect, the scenery was lush and the company was friendly. (although I did hear some talk of investments and almost scolded those riders). Sure enough, as we neared Rocks State Park at the 40 mile mark the fast boys were pulling ahead (or, rather, I was dropping off the back.) There was still a small group further back, but I didn't see them behind me. I pulled into the lunch stop alone in the middle.
The front group took off after a very brief stop and I took off a few minutes later with John, Carl (the ellusive Carl!) and another rider. I was fresh and in the front for only a few miles and then started really loosing steam. John very nicely hung back with me, but I was rolling too slow for him. I felt comfortable, but just didn't have the power for anything more than 13-15mph effort. John took off and I plowed through the final 10 miles to ORR. I expected to see the last riders pull up behind me at some point, but I guess I had put enough miles on them from the first half of the ride. Miles that I was now paying for.

I took a longish break along Beaver Dam rd., ate some more, drank a coke and took off for the ride home feeling refreshed. I was pleased to find a nice groove at about 15 mph with good, steady energy. The experience helped me realize that I can't roll out at 17+ in B'more Co. and make it much past 100k. However, it's nice to know, I can take a break and then back off to 14-15mph and be nearly recovered. Good info for much longer rides- like perhaps, a 300k on sept. 19th.

96 total miles. 7hrs from start-stop.