Saturday April 25 rides :D

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Sorry - I didn't realize I couldn't attach a picture in "edit" mode...

Here's the elevation for Flower Power 2009!

[kenyonchris]

My SO and I did Muenster's Germanfest ride...a notoriously hilly ride. And hilly it was. The wind was strong, strong. Usually I am passed going down hill, then wind up catching the pack on the climbs and flats. But the first 10 miles of this thing was into the wind. I tried to tuck myself into a little group but even so it was miserable. Seriously hilly right into the headwind, not warmed up. Once we turned west we had a crosswind, almost, but not quite as miserable as the headwind. I got into my groove and started my usual routine of passing/being passed. My SO is a 25+ average rider so he was waaaay ahead of me to begin with, my first 10 were average of 14 mph...slower than my usual, I picked it up the other 30 miles and finished (finally, the last 5 miles with a tailwind) averaging 16 mph...not bad considering those dang hills. My right side hurt from leaning that way to counterbalance the crosswind for so long. Ugh.
My SO rode the 100k, although I ride that distance regularly I knew better than to do it under the conditions, so I left him to it. He has had a nagging cough, so I worried about him, particularly when I heard a couple of guys from the front of the pack talking about how difficult the wind and hills were the last 10 miles. He finished the 100k in 3.5 hrs, slow for him, and looked like death when he came in. I propped him up and gave him a few beers (two free ones come with your entry) and he started to regain a pulse.
Overall, glad I did it, glad he survived it, but will remember it as HARD.