Completed first 200 k brevet- with extended "travelogue"

[azfiddle]

I succumbed to peer pressure to try a 200k brevet (Casa Grande, Arizona) yesterday. It is probably one of the flattest ones anywhere- about 1300 feet of climbing over 126 miles, but longer than the 111 miles of El Tour de Tucson.

I would describe it as 80% fun and 20% misery. I finished, with help and companionship from my wonderfully helpful and patient DH. We weren't even last getting back to the start. I'm really proud of doing it, but not necessarily going to make it a habit. My DH wants to do the 300k next month, however, I don't plan to join him.


Full report:
The weather near perfect, 45-70, except for the times when wind picked up.

It took a little less than 10 hours altogether including stops, and we finished before dark.

The first part of the route was mostly through agriculture outside of Casa Grande and Coolidge. There was a short climb across Sonoran desert clad hills with a nice descent back into fields, and the control stop about 32 miles in at Casa Grande Ruins). We just got stamped, used the restroom and got back on the bikes. Cooperative winds and a route almost as flat as a flour tortilla made this section easy and fun. At the end of the first leg (54 miles), we arrived at the control stop inside of a bike shop in Casa Grande, conveniently located next to the parking lot with our car.

Although randonneurs are supposed to be self-sufficient, there were cookies, brownies, drinks, and water to refill bottles in the bike shop for us. Also, because there are no services at all on the 2nd leg, food and water were offered at the turnaround spot. Inbetween, I fueled with GU, shot blocks, a bag of trail mix and pretzels, and an electrolyte drink. And a nutella sandwich.

I shed the windbreaker at the ruins, and arm warmers and tights were off at the end of the loop. Conditions were just right for shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. Ahead was a 37 mile beeline southwest into the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, followed by a return on the same route. I decided that the amount of discomfort in my left hip/hamstring were not that much more than usual and was prepared to turn around if it got worse (it never did, and in fact seemed to recede along the way). I stretched a few times to try to keep things under control.

After leaving Casa Grande, the road passed through some desolate looking neighborhoods of unshaded houses and trailers (probably glaringly hot during the summer), more fields and some scruffy looking desert. After entering the reservation, the road improved greatly with smoother pavement and a wider shoulder. We passed into beautiful volcanic hills with thick stands of saguaro - gorgeous now, but undoubtedly furnace-like in summer. About 10 miles into the 2nd leg, a headwind made its presence known. A paceline with a group of other riders helped for quite a while, but on the next little climb, I couldn't quite keep up and then it was just the 2 of us (DH & I).

Numerous border patrol vehicles passed us along the route, but very few other cars. We rode through a border patrol checkpoint and into the last 10 miles to the turnaround.

Then the ride transformed from long and mildly demanding to miserable! We entered an expanse of flat, homogenous creosote desert, with little of scenic interest to focus on. Or maybe I just couldn't focus on it because my feet started to hurt and it wasn't exactly clear how much further it was to the turnaround. It seemed pointless to stop and rest if we were nearly there, and I tried not to stare at my Garmin every tenth of a mile. I felt like I was in a cycling purgatory. Finally! I couldn't wait to get off my bike. Lunch was croissant sandwiches with cream cheese, jam and optionally, bacon. Supposedly lunch served to Team Radioshack. I drank a V8 and snacked on sun chips, another brownie and grabbed popcorn for later.

I have never before heard the words "It's only 37 miles back" spoken on a ride- I tried to break it down into 3 rides mentally, and we were on the start of the 3rd one. A tailwind carried us gleefully along for several miles on the return trip. It was easy, fast and fun and my enthusiasm returned... for a while. At mile 92, my Garmin ran out of batteries, so I had to rely on my husband's watch and the milepost markers. The breeze shifted and suddenly we were pushing back into the wind. The last 15 miles were tedious, mechanical, boring and tired, passing back onto the rough pavement and through the less than scenic outskirts of Casa Grande.

I had to stop once or twice when my feet were hurting. My DH turned around and waved 5 fingers in the air (5 miles to go)... then 3, then 2. A wrong turn onto Main Avenue instead of Main St- and retraced our path into the town. Chuck suddenly said "I broke my b*tt!" I don't know if he got a muscle spasm or what, but he rode the last mile off of his saddle, complaining that it hurt to sit down on it. I, on the other hand, suddenly felt great! We turned the corner to see 5 or 6 people cheering us in to the parking lot just as the sun set.

[jobob]

Congratulations!!

And you finished before sunset. Bonus.

[Biciclista]

wow, Azfiddle, you rock!! I can't tell you how many times D begged me to do a 200k

NOPE too too long.

congrats!!

[Crankin]

Congrats! Believe me, headwind more than makes up for a flat ride.
Some of that scenery is butt ugly.
But some is beautiful.
You deserve to rest for a bit.

[ivorygorgon]

I completely understand what you mean by purgatory! When I did the Death Valley Century the first time, there was a section that felt like the road to nowhere. Time didn't seem to be passing, and the miles didn't seem to be passing. It was simply neverending! Good job for persevering and getting through it. You made it out and now you are stronger than when you went in!

[Catrin]

Congrats Azfiddle! You do indeed rock, and it is even better that you finished before dark. Sounds like you had a good time, even if the last few miles weren't so much fun. Hopefully that part will recede in your memory

[Dogmama]

Fantastic!!! Congratulations!!

[maillotpois]

Way to go!!! Your first brevet! You have much to be proud of. And as Jo noted - a finish before sunset on a 200k (especially this time of year) is great.

[jobob]

And as Jo noted - a finish before sunset on a 200k (especially this time of year) is great.

I'm not sure I ever managed that even in mid-summer.

[goldfinch]

Great report and congratulations!

I can't imagine dealing with 200k.

[azfiddle]

Thank you for the congrats- I really was proud of myself too.

For comparison, my previous longest ride was 111 miles on El Tour de Tucson in November. It took me just over 8 hours, but the "race" atmosphere added a pressure I didn't feel on the brevet. It was okay to just hang out and take a break at the end of the first leg and at the lunch stop. I wonder if that was part of the reason I did not feel as physically stressed afterward?

We did our best to implement a recovery ride today- took it fairly slow and easy up to Saguaro NP, and stayed on the flattish "picnic loop" road, not the main park loop with a steep climb. Overall, my speed was just 12.5 mph, and I think it fulfilled the purpose of "recovery" although I didn't really feel all that sore today.

Goldfinch- for what's worth, I got back into cycling less than 3 years ago and I could not have imagined tackling a ride over 15 miles. It took me 6 months to be able to ride more than 50 miles, and over a year before I broke 70. If it's something you want to do, and you have no physical obstacles to prevent it, I'm sure you can build up to it.

[goldfinch]

Goldfinch- for what's worth, I got back into cycling less than 3 years ago and I could not have imagined tackling a ride over 15 miles. It took me 6 months to be able to ride more than 50 miles, and over a year before I broke 70. If it's something you want to do, and you have no physical obstacles to prevent it, I'm sure you can build up to it.

That has been about my track. I have only been riding since last spring. Long distance appeals to me but I am starting to think one of the biggest issues is dealing psychologically with the long passage of time and what lies ahead.

[azfiddle]

Goldfinch, I've ridden up to about 50 miles alone, but I think having company on a really long ride helps you through the part that is "mental"- like the 2 sections that gave me grief on this ride.

[Desert Tortoise]

Congratulations!!! Another nice feather for your hat. I'd glad your left side didn't give you too much grief. High Five

[Susan Otcenas]

Congratulations on your first 200K!! (Yup, I said "first". Most people come back for more, despite protestations... )

I rode two permanents when I was visiting family in AZ in 2010. The Arivaca 200K and the Mt Lemmon 100K hill climb. Especially on the Arivaca route, there were certainly some soul-sucking long monotonous stretches of scruffy desert and not a whole lot else. But I enjoyed the ride nonetheless, as the scenery was so different than what we get in the Pacific Northwest. I never got tired of looking at the Saguaro.

Don't bump up to the 300K until you are well and truly ready, regardless of what DH does. Riding at night, after a long day in the saddle, is definitely not for everyone. Get in a few more 200Ks first, build your confidence, experiment with some lighting systems on an easy evening ride (will help work out the kinks) ,etc.

And, again, CONGRATS! It's a huge accomplishment to ride a distance like that. You'll never forget your "first time".

Susan