| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
65.81 miles
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Altitude Gain:
5,668 ft
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Avg Speed:
14.30 mph
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Route:
Assault on the Carolinas
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 158 bpm
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Avg HR: 131 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: Sunny 79 F SE wind @ 5 mph |
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Drove down to Brevard, NC for a hilly mountain metric Assault on the Carolinas. Course advertised five-seven hundred feet of climbing over sixty-six miles. Got there fairly early to have any easier chance of finding parking. Six-hundred and seventy-five riders showed up for event which created quite a crowd at the start. Looked around for Joe who had signed up for the event but couldn't find him. Finally saw him as I was lined up at the start and assumed he went further back into the crowd. Weather was ideal with sunshine and though it was a bit cool in the fifties at the start it rose into the eighties during the ride. Had the usual problem with my power meter disconnecting while in the presence of other power meters and had to disconnect it and reconnect twice before the start only to have it disconnect again at roll off. It took several minutes to get through the starting finish gate after the event started. Started fading to the back of the pack as we rolled through town trying to reconnect my power meter and hoping to connect with Joe. Got the meter working and settled into the group. By the first mile I could see what I thought might be the front fast guys already over a half mile ahead. My fast days are behind me and would approach the ride as a survival run and ride defensively. Did a couple of small climbs, and I started to move up in the pack. Got to the first real climb a little under a mile long but with good chunks of fifteen percent. I found myself drifting back through the pack on this one but maintained contact. Stopped at the top with a couple other riders that were waiting for slower riding partners. Waited quite a bit but saw no sign of Joe. Waited until the sag wagon went by and figured Joe had either flatted or said screw it and went home. Caught back up to the sag wagon and got onto the trailing group and soft pedaled to the first rest stop at around ten miles. Got in the port-a-john cue and watched for Joe. Waited for a few minutes and still no Joe. Texted him but got no response. After the first rest stop the climbing really began and worked my way through groups of slower riders both on the climbs and the descents. Climbs were not terribly steep and twisted their way up through the mountains. Descents were lots of fun being miles long and varying with long fast straights and series of switchbacks. Really enjoyed the early climbs as I was riding my own comfortable pace and there were always other riders nearby or just up the road. Got to the second rest stop saw no Joe suspecting he was ahead of me unless he dropped out. Texted him again and but got no reply. Rode a few more miles and a few more climbs and finally got a text from him stating he was five miles ahead of me and would wait at the third rest stop. Started riding harder trying to minimize Joe's wait time though my riding harder isn't much different than just my regular riding now a days. Made contact at the third rest stop which turned out to be at the base of the day's hallmark climb-twenty-seven hundred feet over six miles mostly at seven or eight percent hitting ten percent around some switchbacks. Lost contact with Joe after the first mile and continued ever upward. Passed a few riders with more being dismounted the closer I got to the top. Got passed by a few riders too that seemed to effortlessly spin by me and disappear up the climb. I really needed a lower gear ratio as couldn't keep a good cadence after the first four miles of climb. Final two miles turned out to be painful as the legs were out of oxygen and my stomach wanted to toss up its contents. Eventually the suffering was over as I reached the top. Waited with some others at the top for Joe to catch up. Once over the top we had only sixteen miles left that was predominately fast downhill with nine-hundred feet of additional climbs remaining. Downhill was intense as we drafted cars that were delayed by riders ahead of us. Miles went quickly and we advanced with the cars as they passed slower riders. Last couple of climbs were not very substantial but enough that I started pre-cramping on one of them. We rolled into town glad it was over. The free meal was a pulled pork sandwich that as is traditional of most food in North Carolina had coleslaw mixed in. Out of the sixteen climbs only two were difficult-the fifteen percent grade and the long mountain climb. Downhills were epic and most of the riders at least those towards the back were very friendly. Of course, I can't verify whether the fast guys were friendly as I never saw them and am sure they finished a couple hours ahead of me. Tough course but fun overall. Don't think I would have liked it if the weather wasn't great though.
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