Well, the metric is done and I am home recovering with coffee.
This was a smaller type charity ride, for an organization that teaches cycling skills to kids in order to prevent childhood obesity. It started at a museum about 8 miles from my house. There also were 36 and 19 mile rides. The morning didn't start off so well, though. I set out everything last night, except my shoes, which I grabbed this morning. We arrived there at 6:45, hoping for a 7 AM start, but when I went to clip in, well, I took my shoes for my other bike, which has different pedals. I was furious at myself, but no one had really left to start, so we drove home and got my shoes and we were off at 7:45.
It's a gorgeous, classic New England summer day. No humidity, sunny, with a light breeze. I prepared well with my eating/resting, some of it because I have been feeling off all week and I realized Friday that I have some kind of sinus thing/viral thing. I rode 25 miles Wednesday, skipped boot camp Thursday, and took a walk on Friday. I rested yesterday and made delicious fresh pasta for dinner last night, a real treat. Woke up at 5:15, not feeling so hot, but pushed the thoughts out of my mind. Ate eggs, lox, spelt toast with cream cheese, and blueberries. Limited my coffee to one cup, and drank about 16 oz. of water, too.
So, the climbing started at mile 13, with lovely Woobly Rd. in Hudson/Bolton. It's right behind the school I used to teach at, and I have only been up it once. Not that long, but probably a good 18% in 2 spots. That's followed by Long Hill Rd., need I say more? We meandered over to Old Bay Rd., on roads which always do in the opposite direction. Old Bay is the spot I always describe as feeling like I'm in Vermont, except this time we approached from the other end. The hill here is shorter, but it bothered me a lot more. I started feeling like I was having some asthma issues, but I think it may have been a panic attack, because it stopped by just deep breathing. Not sure why, but I've been getting anxious during rides lately. Anyway, after that we rode up and down, until we got to Prospect Hill Rd, where the picture is taken. It's in Harvard, and I believe I have posted other pics from this spot. A guy got behind me on a long, moderate uphill, not shaded, and it pissed me off. I hate it when others get on your wheel without asking. It caused me to sprint! This is why we stopped to take the picture, to get him off of my azz.
We rode into Harvard center, where there was a rest stop. Refilled my bottle, ate and off we went. There were 3 more sort of awful hills after that, but all are in very familiar territory. The next rest stop was at the Acton train station. Didn't dawdle there, too long, either. There were about 15 miles left and I was getting tired. Not any real hills left, but the ones that were there, sort of neighborhood hills, kicked me in the rear. We had picked up the pace a bit on the flats, because I wanted to get back. I do admit that I complained a little in the last 3 miles, but I've forgotten the pain already.
So, I rode 64 miles in 4 hours, 56 minutes, average of 13, with 4,200 feet of climbing. I was exactly on target for what I wanted to do. My strategy is to enjoy myself and I did as much as one can on a ride of this type. The majority of the participants did the shorter rides, so the people on the metric were more racer types. I let them pass with happiness, but a few had slowed to my pace at the end. We enjoyed the lunch and beer!
My back was fine, no sunburn today, and I hope my head is unstuffed tomorrow.Not sure about boot camp at 5:30 AM, though.