Spetember 21st Rides

[Biciclista]

Susan, you had rain on Sunday ? (just checking!)

it's pouring! no kidding, not here!

amazing!!

[tygab]

DH, friend, and I did the metric century today for the annual Seacoast Century. I had a blast even tho I got hungry at the end.

We originally planned to do the half century and our friend's wife was to join us. It's not like my husband and I have been riding consistently this summer, so it seemed a good distance for the group. Friend is a very good rider and the kind to tackle any daunting ride (this was not a challenging ride in any way for him). His wife a newer rider. His wife got a cold however and was unable to go. My husband and I experienced enough but not prepped for long rides at this point.

We headed out with the cue sheet for the 50/63. It was cool so had leg and arm warmers on for the first 20 miles, but it was perfectly sunny (this really has was one of the best outdoor weekends in our area alllll summer). It warmed up after the first hour or so, and we pulled off the leg ones. At the rest area we were all feeling good. While this is a very flat century, I was riding with the guys and a bit faster than usual (they were also going slower than their usual, kind of a meet in the middle).

At the first stop we studied the cue sheet and decided the metric looked good as we were making good time. I felt very good with how things were going. It really just added a 12 mi loop to the 50 route, in fact returning to the same rest area. Before I knew it we were back at the rest area right around 45? miles or so, and then we connected to the route back to the fifty.

The rest area had a good array of food options, but no real lunch, mostly ride snacks (orange slices, cookies, bananas, pb squares). I had some cookies and orange slices, as well as some of my gus etc. Somewhere around mile 52 I got hungry, and uncomfortable on the bike. Pace slowed... knew I was nearing empty on my energy.. Long story short, after we arrived, 5 minutes off the bike with a bit more food and a stretch, all was good. The worst is we had to ride by some yummy smelling seafood shack type places the last two miles [I would have stopped if we had more miles, or I thought my mental state could be affected, I'm pretty good about knowing what won't fly w/me].

The scenery on this route is stellar, beautiful mansions along the rocky shore, several state parks and beaches. Many long flat stretches, with some mild rollers. No bad hills anywhere on the metric. I had done a 45 miler along this road last summer so I knew what to expect terrain wise, but it was the first for my husband and our friend. Route markings were great (just spray paint but easy to spot), and lots of people doing a day two ride (this century allows you to ride Saturday, Sunday, or both at whatever distance you pick - 1600 total riders). I think Saturday probably had more people but I'm not sure.

He took pictures but I haven't pulled them from the camera yet. We both have sunburned strips on our arms where our sleeves ended, and our arm warmers (pulled down around the wrist) began. Too funny!

[Brandy]

Everest Challenge baby! I finished!!!!! Still tired so report to come.

[TrekTheKaty]

ah cunninghamair, whats up with the "twig" in the road?

You can't picture the smell after a flood--something like damp mold and manure! Check out the house on stilts. How would you like to carry the groceries in?

[Biciclista]

sorry, didn't know Missouri was flooded too.