Last updated: 2006-01-18 12:00 AM
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04:10:00
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65 miles |
15.60 mile/hr
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0/
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0/4,000
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62.5 mile course. 2.5 add'l miles ridden in order to meet the goal of 700 miles ridden this month as part of a BT monthly challenge.
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Headwind
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4,000 riders
2,000 ft elevation
Course begins at the Butte County Fair Grounds in Chico California. The course takes the rider through the City of Chico heading east toward the Buttes that are at the Sierra Foothills. The first 13 miles or so, consists of a nice smooth rolling course through the countryside, and at one point I passed a band playing live music on the back of a hay wagon. The first bathroom stop is located at the 13th mile, and after that the climb into the town of Paradise begins. The climb takes the rider up through the Buttes, and somewhere around the 18th mile the rider emerges in what appeared to be downtown Paradise.
After this the course consists of a series of quick rollers and somewhere around 19 mile mark the second rest stop is perfectly located. I hit the bathrooms, ate a banana & a GU and refilled my water bottles, then headed out for the next leg of the ride. From Paradise, begins a long, steady descent from the Buttes and down into the valley. This leg of the ride is very fast, and on the rare occasion I had to glimpse at my speed on the descent I was hanging-in there at 35 MPH. At the 27.5 mile point, the rider approaches the intersection of Durham-Pentz Rd (also the site of the 3rd bathroom stop).
Riding Durham-Pentz Rd was also very fast. This section is very scenic as it goes through beautiful cattle and horse ranches. By the time I hit the 35 mile point, I had emerged from behind the protection of the Buttes, and arrived in the valley and found myself riding into a headwind. Miles 35-41 were slower-going, but the scenic dairy farms and orchards made up for the wind conditions. At the 41 mile point located in the little farm town of Durham, I stopped for my 4th bathroom break (indeed I stayed well hydrated), where I also ate some fruit and a pastry. From 41-50 miles I rode through the orchards and this stretch of road proved to be very fast. At the 50 mile point, there was a right hand turn that pointed me north, heading directly into a headwind, and for the remainder of the ride I either tackled the headwind or was riding with a crosswind, but the crosswind did not seem to slow me down much.
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Smooth Dry
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Good
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Good
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Good
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Average
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Comfortable
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Just right
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United States
Chico Velo
85F / 29C
Sunny
Overall Rank = /4,000
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Avoided coffee
Hydrated and ate very well - very satisfied!
Stretch - bathroom - stretch more