Enchanted Circle Century Bike Tour & Expo - CycleCentury

Road was Chip-Sealed (again) between Red River and past Questa- that's GOT to stop! The Downhill out of Red River is too dicey with 800-bikers as it is, let alone with deep gravel along the edges.
Weather was Gorgeous after the downhill, so I dropped Arm & Leg Warmers at the Questa turn.
Kept HR at/below 150 in the rollers and bypassed the first aid station, stopping at Taos for bathroom break. I'd finished 1 bottle of 500cals Met Endurance with CytoCarb & Half a Banana and ditched the bottle, filling my water bottle with their drink (Orange 10-K I think), which I drank up Taos Canyon. Drank the other 500cal bottle on the out-and-back and through Moreno Valley past Eagle Nest & East Moreno Ranch and had last swigs at start of steepest part of Bobcat.
Also had Zone Bar, Power Bar, and about 2.5 servings Power Gel.
Kept HR at/below 150 still up Taos Canyon to Palo Flechado, got more 10-K and had a good descent to Angel Fire. For easier recovery and more of "just a workout" I could have cut off the 15miles out-and-back but I went for the full 100 figuring I'd regret it otherwise. Paid the price in terms of overall effort, but who knew there'd be a KILLER Headwind throughout the last 25miles of the Valley and over Bobcat Pass?
Really dislike the out-and-back portion and several others bikers commented the same. C'est la Vie if you want the 100mi accomplishment. Got 10-K at the Turn Around and was pretty toasted after fighting the winds and grade on the out-and-back. Kept HR in the mid 130's to 140's the rest of the way.
Was steady through the valley at about 16, stopping at Eagle Nest for straight Water, and at East Moreno for a bathroom break- THANKS for the Porta-Pottys East Moreno Ranch!!
Didn't stop up Bobcat, but lots of folks did. They'd recover quickly, but overall I beat them to the top. I needed one more gear to be more efficient on Bobcat. Felt gearing was fine for Palo Flechado, but Bobcat with a gusty Headwind was tough.
Handled downhills very well, especially for focusing on flatter riding this year for IMAZ in Nov. Got into a nice group from past the first Aid Station to outside Taos on the flats, 26MPH without too much effort. But mostly folks were traveling a too different speed to latch onto or to pull them.
HR was, almost exactly as training rides have been, at an Ave of 136, with a High of 158.

I could have skipped the out-and-back and recovered easier- like more of a straight "workout" effort rather than a full-out "Event". And for that long an effort I need to try a 145 or 140 HR in the first half.
Went through 55mi in 3:30, and 80 in 5:30, but last 15 took 1.5 Hours up Bobcat in a Headwind!

Chilled with Wife and Daughter at the BBQ- split a Hamburger 3 ways, then back to the motel to Shower and Dinner at Sundance- a Highlight! Then bought a Discovery Channel "Life on Earth" Magazine and chilled with Ben & Jerry's in bed.


The full 100 with the Mtns was a bit more than I was ready for. Had several 4 hour rides, but this was a jump to 7 Hours and as such a bit too much. Need more 5-6 Hour Rides and One More Gear for this in the future- OR to cut the Out-And-Back and make it an under 6-Hour deal. As it was, went through 80 in 5:30.
BBQ was no big deal, but nice to get a Burger for free. And the event was only $35 for GREAT volunteers, clothing drop, Aid Stations, T-Shirt, EMT & Rescue support, and BBQ with Band!