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Seize The Road Bike Tour - CycleTour


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Shreveport, Louisiana
United States
Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana
45F / 7C
Sunny
Total Time = 3h 43m 20s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Woke up, had to make beef stew for the crock pot to cook because I was having company over that night. Made myself some cream of wheat and had some hot chocolate. Drove to the race site.
Event warmup:

Not much, it was very cold and I was only getting colder trying to warm up on the bike. Had 3 upper layers on and had bike shorts and tights for my lowers.
Bike
  • 3h 43m 20s
  • 59.56 miles
  • 16.00 mile/hr
Comments:

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!

What would you do differently?:

Stay with the paceline as long as I can. Ride smarter.
Post race
Warm down:

Just hung around and chatted with folks.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

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




Last updated: 2006-10-13 12:00 AM
Biking
03:43:20 | 59.56 miles | 16.00 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: This was out of Stoner Boat Launch through the streets of Shreveport and then into the backcountry roads. No real hills, mostly flat, but the road conditions were poor in most spots. Lots of cracks and potholes and uneven surfaces. Had police escort out in the beginning, but none really on the way back unless you were lucky to see a cop waiting.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks: Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2006-11-05 9:11 PM

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Extreme Veteran
530
50025
Northwest Louisiana
Subject: Seize The Road Bike Tour


2006-11-06 5:35 AM
in reply to: #589706

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Expert
904
500100100100100
Subject: RE: Seize The Road Bike Tour
What a great accomplishment. Congratulations!!!
2006-11-06 11:54 AM
in reply to: #589706

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Extreme Veteran
1491
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northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: Seize The Road Bike Tour
Great job!!!!!!  A new PB for distance on the bike, eh?  Cool!  Love hearing about your group riding experiences.  I've never done any of that so it is interesting to read.  The rate you are going you will be riding a full century in no time.
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