Beta Girl- I definitely was thinking of you yesterday- looking at my watch from time to time and calculating when you would be back.

So, CONGRATS on finishing your 1st brevet! Awesome! Inspiring!

What MP said about having company is true. I have found on the long rides I've done that it is so comforting to have someone to talk to and ride with.

Re your granny gear- again- my recommendation is that you use it when you need it. Remember, when you are on a long distance ride, you're not in your "training" mode, you are in your "get finished" mode. Do whatever you need to do to accomplish that goal (as you did yesterday despite all of the challenges that you faced). The only time I've ever been a DNF was last year when a spoke on my rear wheel broke 67 miles into a century. No one had the tools to temporarily fix it so I had to break down and get sagged in. .

Looking forward to hearing about your next brevet! (We'll all ask the weather gods to be kind to you! SUN, COOL, LIGHT BREEZES)