The course was GREAT. I can't say enough about the route. We only had a 3 mile strip of chip-seal and the rest of the course was smooth, with one fantastic road out by Maypearl that was about 30 feet wide and tarmac-smooth. The scenery was beautiful and there were a few winding roads that were interesting. The name of the rally was misleading though, since the only real "hill" was about 3 miles into the route and then it was mostly flat.

I stopped at every aid station just to say thanks and support the town. The rest stops were all done really nicely and they had a surplus of cookies/bread/bananas/etc. at every stop. The only stop I spent a considerable amount of time at was the Mile 55 rest stop, where I got 10-minute chiropractic session while eating a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. I think that should be mandatory on every long bike ride. :)

I had a lot of fun with this ride and tried to push the pace a bit. I didn't do any drafting, but that was fine with me. I would occasionally pass other people though and they would pick it up and suck my wheel. That just made me want to ride harder to drop them haha. The longest anyone lasted on my wheel was about 1/2 mile.

I saw a few people I knew from the past working at aid stations or riding themselves. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Nothing. Great day.

My dad had been waiting at the finish line for two hours for me by the time I rolled in, and he was talking to a friend when I went across the line so he missed me. Ha. I just chilled with him by the car and ate a Powerbar.


I felt great all day. I probably shouldn't have had a chicken sandwich at the last aid station haha.