| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
71.08 miles
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Altitude Gain:
4,780 ft
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Avg Speed:
17.75 mph
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Route:
Tour of Lebanon Valley
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 161 bpm
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Avg HR: 130 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Litespeed Vortex Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 75 F NE wind @ 9 mph |
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This weekend's event was a metric century in Lebanon, PA. Weather was cooperative with warm temperatures and bright sunshine. There was a strong wind, but with the ever turning course, sixty five turns in sixty three miles, one wasn't in a headwind for any significant period of time. Course was nice with seven climbs. Most were short and fairly easy. Only the Thousand Trail climb seemed to be the only one that had any character. Ride itself got frustrating at times, as the course while marked on the road with blue paint that was difficult for me to follow. Missed turns three times and got in eight miles of bonus riding while lost. Met at least a half dozen other riders that had also missed turns. The blue paint was difficult to pick up on the grey pavement especially when coming into the shade from the bright sunshine. Ride was also just a roll out instead of a mass start so ended up riding a majority of the ride by myself. I went off fairly early after the initial start time and thought I would warm up over the first few miles and catch on with a group of fast riders when they went by. The hills were well spaced out and got over the first two fairly well and was averaging around eighteen five when I missed my first turn on a downhill. Discovered I was lost when I arrived at a tee without any markings. My garmin wasn't much help as the promoter only provided a Strava file. At registration a woman inquired about a GPX file and was told she could just use her phone to tell if she was on the course. So I ended up spending at least ten minutes along the road trying to match my garmin, phone and strava data to get me back to the course. Cue sheets aren't much use when you are off the course and unfamiliar with the territory. Got frustrated and thought seriously about just riding back to the start and calling it a day. Eventually got back on the course and got to do the second climb again. Actually did much better on the second time around. Unfortunately I had missed any fast riders during my forty five minute detour. Spent the rest of the day catching up with the slower riders. Ride became more of an orienteering event rather than a ride as I had to slow up at every intersection that might be a turn. Even had to turn around a couple times and stop to read the marks as they weren't clear. The marks were an arrow inside a small circle. Remainder of ride was just trying to not get lost and even then I missed turns. Wasn't alone though as there were riders missing turns throughout the Lebanon Valley. Sections of the course were really nice. There were also several blind intersections. Traffic was generally light and friendly. Best part of the ride was the last twelve miles with the Thousand Trails climb and the Mount Gretna climb. Didn't do very well on the Thousand Trails but sailed up the Mount Gretna climb. Finished in pretty good shape a little under eighteen miles and hour. Ride would have greatly improved with better course markings and a GPX file. Rest stops didn't have much variety though did grab a bag of GORP. Cheese pizza at the end was welcomed.
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