128 miles yesterday- finished my third 200k brevet

[azfiddle]

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.

[salsabike]

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

[Crankin]

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

[azfiddle]

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

[azfiddle]

Attachment 17516Attachment 17517Attachment 17518Attachment 17519


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

[azfiddle]

On the downhill headed back- including the flat-fixing

[buffybike]

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

[azfiddle]

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.

[maillotpois]

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.)

[azfiddle]

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.

[maillotpois]

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