Thanks for all those kind words- probably the whole timing chip / race mentality has some effect on my thinking. I was a little faster last year but I think there was less wind. I am happy with the ride. For women in my age group (50's, and I'm 59) I was exactly in the middle.

I wish I had seen Gabby somewhere along the route- although she was with the 40 miler group, she was probably further toward the back when the merge between the 40 mile and the longer routes took place.

Today my husband and I took an 11 mile recovery ride with breakfast in the middle at a cafe that many cyclists stop at.