| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
63.69 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,779 ft
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Avg Speed:
16.29 mph
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Route:
Central Cycling Classic
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 152 bpm
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Avg HR: 135 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look Blade RS 795 Iconic Ltd Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sun\Clouds 55 F NE wind @ 17 |
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Today's unpleasant ride started in State College, PA. I opted for the metric century course with a rather sparse field of thirty-seven pre-registers. I'd ridden the course a few years ago and it had a large turnout with a mass start. This year it was a show and go. Didn't think there would be many day of entries as it was only forty-eight degrees and the wind was blowing out of the north at a steady seventeen miles an hour. Clad myself in several layers including gloves as it was only forecast to get into the fifties during the ride. Watched riders head out in twos and threes and didn't see any larger groups forming so headed out on my own. The rolling course started off with a crosswind for around twenty miles and was able to maintain an eighteen average. Got passed around the eight-mile mark by a tall lanky rider in shorts and short sleeve jersey. Not sure if he was a part of the ride or not. he effortlessly glided by me and it was obvious he was a few levels over me, and I made no attempt at even trying to match his pace. He had that Cat II or maybe Cat I aura and soon pedaled quickly yet leisurely out of sight. The course reached its western most point at less than twenty miles, and I couldn't figure how the milage would get into the sixties from my map. Passed a few riders before starting the first of the two bigger climbs. Unfortunately, the climb was also into the hostile north wind. Got passed by another rider going up the climb that wasn't terribly steep only having one short step of eight percent. I wasn't able to stay with him although he didn't appear to be too much faster than me. I wasn't confident in my recent climbing ability nor my endurance level and so let him go up ahead as I plodded along. The first section of the climb passed a rest stop which I bypassed and continued on an upgrade into the wind for another five miles. Passed a couple more riders on the climb up a light grade. Finally turned out of the wind and started a downhill section. Got caught by another rider and was able to get on his wheel and catch a break in the draft. The mystery of the length of the course was revealed as we started a second lap that included the big hill we had just gone up. Chatted with the other rider for a bit but he fell away going up a slight rise. I got passed at the top of the rise by a pair of riders and again hopped on a wheel. One of the riders picked up the pace on a three or four mile of downgrade with a tailwind. The other rider was soon dropped, and we sailed along at a thirty mile an hour pace. Figured I would try to maintain the pace and took a long pull on the front with the legs feeling great and hitting on all the cylinders. He passed me and took another hard pull, and I tucked in behind him. We kept the pace high and I passed him on a slight upgrade and pulled hard to the base of the second time up the long climb into the wind. Got to the turn and found I was alone and had burned off the younger rider. Felt pretty good about my performance but it didn't last long. I was passed on the hill by a group of three riders including the young guy a couple miles into the climb. This time I climbed in the smaller chainring and wasn't able to stay with the small group. The second time through I stopped at the rest stop and divested myself of the leg warmers and gloves and rested a bit in the grass. There was still a five-mile section of climb into the wind before returning over rolling terrain to the start. Second time over the top was quite a bit slower than the first and legs decided to go into survival mode. Made it to the top of the climb when I was caught by a group of eight or so riders. It appeared to be two or three strong riders and a few just hanging on. I got on the back for a couple of miles and hoped to be able to get a few miles in sheltered from the wind but got dropped on a small rise. I could only keep a twelve or thirteen an hour mile pace for the last few miles and it really hurt my average speed. I was very glad when the ride was over. I rode most of the course alone and other than the fast downhill section didn't get much enjoyment from the event. I was able to keep a fair pace for forty-five miles as the course was fairly forgiving. It was probably a good course for me if I was riding better, and if it was warmer, and if the wind wasn't wrathful. There was pizza and a band at the end of the ride that was pretty nice. Burned some calories and got some miles in.
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