This is my longest ride to date. My main goal was to finish and hopefully not finish last. We rode out as a group and I made sure I stayed close behind the group from the bike club. I was able to stay in the paceline on the way out for the first 30 miles. We were averaging about 18.5mph.....hm, knew it had to be too good to be true, turned out we had a tailwind.

The ride wound through backcountry roads that were really rough. We had to fight through potholes and cracks in the road that would swallow up a bike...no kidding. In fact, I remember at least 2 instances where being in the paceline, you were blind to these dangers and the riders ahead were yelling out, but it was too late. I actually had to swerve once to avoid the crack in the road and one other time, rode in and out of a pothole like a roller coaster ride.

We stopped at a rest-stop as a group (about 8 riders) and on the way out, we encountered a strong headwind and the group broke up and I ended up being in the middle. I pulled the slow group up to the front group and I guess I used up all of my energy because I couldn't hold my place in the paceline and just fell back and couldn't catch up. My pace went from 17mph to 12mph. I had nothing left and it was only mile 40. I did manage to keep riding and made my last 20 miles mostly by myself. I did pass 2 other riders that were dropped also.

The best part of the ride was the last 3 miles. I was coming into the city streets and out of nowhere came a cop car. He escorted me through 3 traffic lights. I got the star treatment....sirens and all...and it was just me, the lone rider. People were staring and wondering what was going on. I guess that made up for being dropped by the paceline!


Stay with the paceline as long as I can. Ride smarter.

Just hung around and chatted with folks.


Nothing really. Probably riding longer distances more frequently would be the key.