128 miles yesterday- finished my third 200k brevet

I'm not what you'd call a committed randonneur, but I managed to complete my third ever 200k (permanent) yesterday. I rode with my husband, the woman who "owns" the route and 5 other folks.

The weather was very mild- about 45 to start with a high around 70 degrees, about 5000 feet of elevation gain. The first 40 miles were the toughest- more than half the climbing and headwinds around 15 with gusts over 20. Although never had true tailwinds, we eventually got a break. The last quarter was almost all downhill, which we appreciate.

I had a flat about 25 miles from the end, and even though I checked the tire carefully, ruined a tube because I didn't find the thorn at first. We finished in about 12 hours.

The route goes through desert, and then a lot of higher desert grassland, just below the oak zone. There's a 10 mile stretch that requires riding on Interstate 10 as there is no other road.

I had some stomach issues in the first half, and tired quads but I stretched at every stop and eventually my stomach and legs felt better so I felt pretty good at the end.

I will try to post a few pictures.

Please do post some pics! And congrats. Sounds like it was no joke with that headwind and early climbing.

That sounds really tough! Congrats.
Riding on I-10 :eek:!

I don't know how to make these bigger than thumbnails- but you can click on them. First one- at the start (actually still dark but the camera had a good flash) and second one- sun's up. I'm in the red windbreaker Attachment 17514Attachment 17515

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A relic at the actual "Mustang Corners"- phone booths! The next three are out in the grasslands near Sonoita. My friend Amy in front, I'm in the back (all these were taken by my husband Chuck). We saw a herd of Pronghorn Antelope!

**Sorry - the photos didn't attach- I'll try to do them again later

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On the downhill headed back- including the flat-fixing

Wow! What a ride!

Wow. Congrats. It is a long ride. When I do 100km I think I'm good. haha I cannot imagine 200k. You rock!

Sounds like a good challenging ride!!! Did you figure out what caused the stomach issues?

….and flats are just the occasional unexpected adventure life throws our way to help us grow on our path of zen inner tube enlightenment :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rebeccaC

….and flats are just the occasional unexpected adventure life throws our way to help us grow on our path of zen inner tube enlightenment :)

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:p:rolleyes::)

Congratulations azfiddle!

I didn't really know what bothered my stomach. It started around 42miles or so - fairly early on, and I didn't bring or buy anything I don't usually eat . I had a Payday bar and before that a handful of peanut butter pretzels, cashew and chocolate covered raisins. I had electrolytes in one watebottle , some shot blocks and the home made pan forte fruit-nut bars I bring all the time. Later on - I felt better and the wind was less of an issue. I definitely got a second wind on the way home, after the nice long downhill section.

I don't know that I would ever go for a longer brevet (300k or more) but the 200k distance is do-able and makes me feel like I've really accomplished something.

Way to go azfiddle, 124 miles in one day is nothing to sneeze at...especially with the hills and wind!! And with an upset tummy too...glad you made it through that AND a flat tire. You are hard core!

Wow, congratulations! I can't imagine riding that many miles, especially with hills.

You rock!

Congratulation. beautiful place. Someone is riding a recumbent I see.

The route isn't on mapmyride is it, azfiddle? I was telling my DH about it, and he was curious since we did ride a lot of the roads in Tucson when we were there last Feb. Lovely place to ride!

The route is on ridewithgps - Mustang Corners. If you can't find it let me know. I can send you a link to my garmin track.


Smiling Cat- 2 recumbents. One is the "owner" of this route and she is amazing- she is about 10 years older than I am (late 60's) and just finished 200 miles in 12 hours the weekend before! The other one I had just met.

Nice! Congrats!

WOW! Impressive! Great Job!

Wow, I can't imagine riding that far. I did a century years ago and was saddle sore for days. Way to go!

We are thinking about another on before it gets too hot to ride all day.
Nuliajuk- I did all my long rides in the fall training for El Tour de Tucson (106 miles) and didn't want to "waste" the training. Mid-ride I was getting up off my saddle a lot, but I was okay toward the end.

Speaking of saddle sore(s)...last year we did a 200k and I wore a pair of shorts that I hadn't used before on a long ride - and a saddle that had a lot of miles on it. I was very uncomfortable by the end- and got a some chafing that developed in to a saddle sore that took months to resolve. Very happy that this year I rode with a new saddle and with shorts that didn't cause any problems.

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Originally Posted by azfiddle

The route is on ridewithgps - Mustang Corners. If you can't find it let me know. I can send you a link to my garmin track.

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Thanks -- I had to sign up for ridewithgps, but I was able to find it. Much appreciated! We didn't ride that far south while in Tucson. Farthest we went was out to Colossal Cave Mtn Park and around in that area (Pistol Hill Rd., etc).

Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!

That's AWESOME!! I'm really inspired to try something like that...

It's something you can work up to.

I've now done four- two this year, and two in previous years. Pretty soon it will be too hot for that in Arizona, at least in southern Arizona.

Wonder if you've run into Mike Sturgill. He's a Bullshifter based out of PHX and he does a lot of brevets. Super nice guy - he was super encouraging to me on Bike Journal when I first started doing brevets. We'd been online friends for years and I finally met him at the White Mountain Double Century a couple of years ago.

(I probably already asked you this after you first started doing brevets so forgive me if I did! I just think Arizona+brevets=Sturgill.)

We met Mike Sturgill a few years ago- but not in AZ. Chuck and I were in Seattle, and met up with Mimi Boothby and Donald for dinner, and crashed at their house. Donald took Chuck on his first rando ride (200k permanent) while Mimi and I pedaled around Fremont. We met Mike Sturgill and his wife,and another couple at the dinner.

Chuck may have run into him since then once or twice- when he did the Arizona brevet series.

Ah the small world of long distance riders and online forums. :)