This isnt really a race. Its more of a "fitness challenge" and an attempt to ride 200 miles in 12 hours. Its about a 5.2 mile loop. Last year, I rode 100 miles in 6 hours with a 30 minute break for lunch. I wanted to do 150 miles last year but I wasn't really prepared and I got really sun burnt. My goal this year was to do 150 miles and I didnt really give myself a time limit.
I got to the event early enough so I didnt have to rush around. I checked in and got my number and all that jazz. I headed back back to the car, got changed and got the bike ready. It was chilly out either in the low 60s or high 50s and wet. It had been raining in the morning and there were scattered showers. I hopped on the bike and took off for a little warm up and check out the course. It started pouring and it was cold rain. There was still about an hour until the event started so I headed back to the car to wait out the rain. The rain finally subsided and it was about time to start. I headed back out to the course. The event started off with a motor escort around the course and then we were off. I was doing great. I was with the fast riders. We were doing about 19-20mph into the wind. I was really happy about this because last year I couldnt keep up with these riders. So we do about 10 miles and then I needed a bathroom break which I should've taken before the event started. I take care of business and head back out of the course. I started riding and there was a funny sound that was coming from my front wheel. It was like a little bit of air was released with each revolution of the wheel. It was "pssst" sound. I was confused and kept riding. I made about a half mile before the tire went completely flat. I've been riding for three years and this was my first flat. I had a spare tube with me so it was no big deal. I changed the tube and pumped it up with a floor pump I borrowed from a fellow rider. As I walked back to my bike to put the tire on the bike there was a sound like a .22 rifle. I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldnt believe it. That tube blew and it was the only extra one I bought. Luckily I had a patch kit so I patched that tube and it actually held air. I jumped back on the bike and took off. It was the stretch where there was a bad headwind. Oh, and it started raining again. I glanced behind me and there was a paceline with 5 guys and they were moving. So as they were passing me I hammered it and jumped on the back of their line. We were doing about 18-19mph into the wind. At the end the course, there was a turn around and we got a nice tailwind. We were doing about 26-27mph and passing everyone. It was a lot of fun. After about 10-12 miles with this group my bike, I noticed that my bike felt bouncy. I thought maybe my butt was just getting numb because it was cold so I didnt think much of it. A couple of minutes later, the rear tire went flat. Unbelievable! There was a little pavillion right there so I took shelter from the rain. I patched that tube and for the first time used my CO2 inflator. As soon as I finished fixing that flat the rain picked up and it was a cold rain. I was so frustrated and discoraged with the flats and the weather that I decided to call it a day. I did about 25 miles. How lame. I'm pretty bummed right now. I'm glad I got to vent a little bit.
This isnt really a race. Its more of a "fitness challenge" and an attempt to ride 200 miles in 12 hours. Its about a 5.2 mile loop. Last year, I rode 100 miles in 6 hours with a 30 minute break for lunch. I wanted to do 150 miles last year but I wasn't really prepared and I got really sun burnt. My goal this year was to do 150 miles and I didnt really give myself a time limit.
I got to the event early enough so I didnt have to rush around. I checked in and got my number and all that jazz. I headed back back to the car, got changed and got the bike ready. It was chilly out either in the low 60s or high 50s and wet. It had been raining in the morning and there were scattered showers. I hopped on the bike and took off for a little warm up and check out the course. It started pouring and it was cold rain. There was still about an hour until the event started so I headed back to the car to wait out the rain. The rain finally subsided and it was about time to start. I headed back out to the course. The event started off with a motor escort around the course and then we were off. I was doing great. I was with the fast riders. We were doing about 19-20mph into the wind. I was really happy about this because last year I couldnt keep up with these riders. So we do about 10 miles and then I needed a bathroom break which I should've taken before the event started. I take care of business and head back out of the course. I started riding and there was a funny sound that was coming from my front wheel. It was like a little bit of air was released with each revolution of the wheel. It was "pssst" sound. I was confused and kept riding. I made about a half mile before the tire went completely flat. I've been riding for three years and this was my first flat. I had a spare tube with me so it was no big deal. I changed the tube and pumped it up with a floor pump I borrowed from a fellow rider. As I walked back to my bike to put the tire on the bike there was a sound like a .22 rifle. I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldnt believe it. That tube blew and it was the only extra one I bought. Luckily I had a patch kit so I patched that tube and it actually held air. I jumped back on the bike and took off. It was the stretch where there was a bad headwind. Oh, and it started raining again. I glanced behind me and there was a paceline with 5 guys and they were moving. So as they were passing me I hammered it and jumped on the back of their line. We were doing about 18-19mph into the wind. At the end the course, there was a turn around and we got a nice tailwind. We were doing about 26-27mph and passing everyone. It was a lot of fun. After about 10-12 miles with this group my bike, I noticed that my bike felt bouncy. I thought maybe my butt was just getting numb because it was cold so I didnt think much of it. A couple of minutes later, the rear tire went flat. Unbelievable! There was a little pavillion right there so I took shelter from the rain. I patched that tube and for the first time used my CO2 inflator. As soon as I finished fixing that flat the rain picked up and it was a cold rain. I was so frustrated and discoraged with the flats and the weather that I decided to call it a day. I did about 25 miles. How lame. I'm pretty bummed right now. I'm glad I got to vent a little bit.