Race the Lake - CycleRoad Race

Started out and it was crowded. Was able to get in a pack and stuck towards the back. Saw a number of crashes that we passed. Saw one guy go down on the railroad tracks in front of me a way but came upon a number of places where a crash had just happened. One must have been bad since I saw an ambulance going south towards an accident just south of Oshkosh. The pack thinned out and I was with a group of about 10-15 riders once we got to Oshkosh. Stayed together all the way to High Cliff State Park. It is amazing how different the two sides of the lake are. The West side is so flat it was a nice easy ride - especially in a group. The east side of the lake is totally different. They named High Cliff for a reason. Very hilly. After you leave High Cliff, it gets more rolling (but still more up & down than the west side) until you are almost back in Fond du Lac where it gets hilly again.

After I entered High Cliff, most of the people I was with stopped at the rest area. The rest of the people that kept going I was able to pull away from on the big hill. That was a suprise because I am not usually that good on hills. The whole race up to that point was surprising as I didn't think I would be riding as fast as I was. Made it up the hill to the "King of the Hill" banner at exactly 2:10.

After leaving High Cliff, I was alone. No one to draft with. It was not to bad until the 60 mile point where you turn east and go away from the lake for about 5-7 miles. That whole stretch was a low grade uphill the whole way. What little wind that was blowing was doing so in your face at that point. It just killed me. At the 60 mile point my computer had me averaging 20.8 mph. I was going much slower than that the whoe way until we turned south again.

I didn't mention that at about mile 10 I had to go to the bathroom. I pressed on as long as I could because I didn't really want to stop. However after that stretch from mile 60-67, I couldn't hold it any more and stopped at the rest area at mile 70 for about 2-3 minutes to pee and I also had a cup of Coke and grabbed some more Gel Packets.

After leaving the rest area, two of the people I ride with from Emery's - Kevin and Tamara - rode past me and I followed along riding their draft. I could only keep up for about 2 miles but that got me going again and I hammered the last 20 miles or so into Fond du Lac and the finish line.

I had never done a ride this far, and to do it in over 20mph was amazing to me. My butt was really hurting at the end so it was nice to get off and walk around.

More long rides.

Talked with some friends, and went to eat. Drove an hour to get home, but I was really stiff getting out of the car. I probably should have done more to cool down befre getting in the car.


I have never done a ride this long before. I really think I need more time on the bike next year. Going once a week is not enough. Also, taking vacation right before an event and not getting on the bike for two weeks befre this race did not help.


Great event. I don't know what I would have changed to improve it.

It was a perfect day for riding with very little wind and not very windy at all.