I was rather anxious about this brevet. It was long drive, and I was stretching my budget to accommodate it. I had also only done 304 miles this month
I drove out to camp Verde. We started at a dude ranch. I had to camp out- Bringing my own tent. I got there about 4:30 set up my tent, went back into town to get something to eat, listened to a Paris-Brest-Paris and went to bed. We started at 4:00 AM , and I was going to wake up at 3:00.
My Cell Phone went off, and I got ready and head breakfast. The first ½ mile was on a dirt road. One of the other riders wiped out in front of me. I noticed my bike was my making a strange noise. Turns, my front brake was rubbing. I really couldn't see well enoughto fix it, so I released it and pedaled on to a Convenience Store By I-17. A mechanic who was doing support of the 600 K help me get going, but it cost me about a half hour. The sun soon came out, and we pedaled into Cottonwood and began Climbing into Sedona. Out first checkpoint was there, and I made it with 15 minutes to spare. I was on my again , and I was riding with about two other rides, who were doing the 600K to the Grand Canyon. We were riding on 89A through Oak Glen Canyon. Very pretty ride, but we Had fallen so far behind that we had deal with “tourist trap” traffic. I almost became a hood ornament too many times. we also wound doing about a mile of 11% grade up the switchbacks. I was debating whether to turn around or press on. I ha spoken with Spokewench from Team Estrogen – she lives in Flagstaff – about riding together from the second checkpoint. I had told he 10:30. I actually got there at 12:00. To make matters worse, the cutoff time was 11:00. I had tried to call the RBA, but got voice mail. I also got Spokewench's answering machine.
I could have doublebacked on 89A, but that was experience I didn't want to repeat. I also assumed I was already DNF (which turned out to be wrong). I decided that if I cut out the descent into Pine, and climb back out, I should be OK. I had a couple of Hot dogs, and bid adieu to my new Friends
I proceeded down Lake Mary Road . I saw lost of riders heading the other way, Finally, I ran into a lady riding a pink and black Giant – we both turned around. Spokewench had a friend with her we rode together for little while . Great Fun to actually meet and chat with someone face to face.
I made to the next checkpoint at Mormon Lake only 30 minutes late. I had an ice cream (because I felt like it!) and a candy bar, and pressed on. At this point I was begging to succumb to the “distance riding is 90 % mental” rule. I was riding to just to get back, and not to enjoy the ride. I t was a very lonely road.
I made to the fourth checkpoint only 15 minutes late – I was improving, but it was 5:30. All the customers there thought I was nuts. I had a brownie, and mixed some more Perpetum. At the junction of 87 and 260, I made made my choice, back down to Camp Verde. I found that actually being on the final leg helped me tremendously. That, and the 15 mile of 6% grade. I turned off the main road, and head back to the ranch. There was one section 15-20% grade that I walked – I was pretty pooped at that point. Two rides from Utah caught me, and we rode in together. Susan , The RBA, told me that Coming into checkpoints late was Ok. - so maybe I should have gone on. But, I had a feeling the midnight deadline was Ironclad, and I would have been pushing to to do that – so I'm happy I did what I did. The other riders and I chatted for a while before going to bed. I was also surprised to see my buddies from the 600K. one of them had a Atrial fibrillation. so they decided to DNF together.
I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and came back to ranch pooch in my bag!
Sunday morning we went and fed the Buffalo, and I left to drive back to LA.
A great ride. Granted I did DNF, but that part of the package called Randoneurring. I'm probably going to stick with shorter events from now one, unless I can find a local event that's not a climb-a -rama.
