Nov 23 rides/Sunday

[nomummytummy]

1st time I've posted in one of the date ride posts - but I wanted to share my ride. Yesterday I did the ride in NZ called Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. www.cyclechallenge.com I had hoped to just finish it when I got my road bike in May, then I figured about 6:30 would be good. When I broke my wrist, I thought that I may not even get to do the ride, but kept up spin classes and seemed to keep up my fitness OK. Fast track to race day....

Very very nervous - what if I can't finish? What if I get a puncture b/c my wrist still isn't strong enough to change a tyre without help or about 30minutes! Apparently close to 14000 entrants - what if I'm in a crash. Basically all nervous energy.

Well a great race -
Conditions: overcast, but still warm. Light breeze so humidity not a problem.
Started in a group in middle of field so not crazy competitive and also not full of people who've never done bunch riding.
Got dropped on the flats (training focus for next year maybe?), but always caught up the bunches on the hills & there were lots of them. (very satifying to see guys who dropped me, off their bikes stretching out cramp & even walking bikes up the hill as I just cruised up and got to top of hill ahead and could enjoy the rush down the otherside) Food good- just basically ate every time I saw someone else eating. That's usally a prob for me - I forget to eat.

Finished in 5hours,38minutes. OMG!!!! My top speed was 70.2k (43.6mi) according to my computer. Wish I could remember where that was. Can I say that again? 5:38! Nothing could wipe the smile off my face.