| Blogs > RoadNeverTaken > Just saying.... |
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I laugh at the wind! Haha! This is more of an update than a blog. I finished in about 3 hours and 20 minutes which is about what I did last year on the 35-mile and this year it was 40. The head wind was really a factor. The things I noticed most were the number of riders not 'hurt' but sitting at the side taking a break and the number of riders at the last rest stop (about 7 miles from the finish) walking around trying to stretch their quads out. We looked like a bunch of cranes! The head wind didn't allow the little rests we normally get on the short downhills. The wind made it impossible to coast; you needed to keep pedaling to keep going forward. Thus the quad cramping. And I was only riding 40 miles! Some of the riders road 109 miles! The fastest time for the 109 mile route was 20 minutes slower than last year. These are professional and semi-professional riders and 20 minutes is HUGE for them. I feel good about my time but I realize I really need to train harder if I intend to do the 66-mile next year. Thed El Tour is such a great event. I saw one family riding a quad-seater in the 40-mile - dad, mom, maybe 7-year-old and maybe 4-year-old, all wearing the same bike shirt and just pedaling like crazy. What a great family ride! Friends and families lined the roadsides with signs like "Go Dad Go" and "Tom Smith Family can do it"! A 67-year-old friend rode in the 66-mile with his 21-year-old . Another friend rode the 40 with an 11-year-old of a co-worker. I rode alongside an 80-year-old who was about 10 miles from the finish of his 82-mile ride. Awesome. Totally awesome. When it was over, we all picked up our medals and my friend Annie (our driver and support vehicle) picked us up. We came to my house for a steak dinner before all going home to crash. What a great day! BTW, the Clif Bar Energy Blocs really do work! And so does the chocolate GU emergency energy gel although I kept waiting for the jets to kick in and they never quite did. Quite a day. I'm in a jammies and SO ready for bed! Thank God I continue to be provided challenges that keep me fresh and alive! And thanks for all the support! |
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Wonderful! "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
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11/21/2010 8:03 am |
My bikes have been put away for the season. We are into snow and sub-freezing temperatures. Some hardcore cyclists ride all winter, but I cut it off at -10C. And I only ride if the streets and sidewalks are reasonably clear - I'm far too old to be taking spills on ice. Fortunately, I have skiing to keep me amused.
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11/21/2010 11:30 am |
Good for you. I admire your tenacity.
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11/21/2010 4:14 pm |
Hello What is the engine size on your bike? Thanks
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11/26/2010 7:01 am |
Great job gal. Too much ice and snow for that here. Almost enough to cross country ski. Keep on truckin.
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