| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
76.90 miles
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Altitude Gain:
3,668 ft
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Avg Speed:
14.34 mph
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Route:
Pecan Gap
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Rolling
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 86 F S wind 19-25 mph |
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Headed to the southwest of Paris for a long slow ride on a course that I really enjoyed last spring. First leg of the ride was into a strong crosswind but since I wasn't in any hurry I pedaled along easily and enjoyed the sun. Stopped at a highway marker that commemerated an area of the original prarie that has not been plowed under or otherwise disturbed but I couldn't see any difference between it and much of the surrounding area. Thought I had read somewhere that the only original prarie was in Chicago or thereabouts. Wondered whether the prarie had been plowed under and no one had taken down the marker. It has been a severe summer in this area and the roads show it. The ground has cracked and taken large sections of road with it. It was not unusual to see a hundred foot long crack in the center of the lane with one half of the road six inches lower than the other. There is very little free standing water either as none of the rivers or streams I passed over today had any water in them. The locals tell me that they need to have it rain twelve inches to be qualified as a draught. Second leg of the course had me turn into a stiff headwind which at times made for some very strenuous riding. After forty miles of head and cross winds I was ready for some relief. Went through on bottle of water in the first forty which is normal but when I started on the second bottle I was gulping instead of sipping and the bone dry wind didn't provide any relief from the near ninety degree temperatures. Remainder of the ride turned into a ride of conservation as I tried to conserve both energy and water. Got playing the only drink half of what is in the bottle when it got low. Ended up running out with fifteen miles still to go and it became my first deathride of the season. Thought I might have to get off the bike and rest for awhile as I was just barely moving on some of the easy climbs but didn't think I would recover much without water. Got back to Paris and started looking for safe places to get fluids but didn't want to leave my bike unsupervised at the few conviencence stores I encountered. Felt okay but weak when on the bike but actually started to get a little woozy when I had to dismount and remount at redlights. Scored a Coke machine at a grocery store and stopped even though it was less than two miles to my motel. Best fifty cents I have spent in a very long time. Was reminded of all the movies I have seen about not drinking too fast as I started coughing\choking as soon as the moisture hit my parched throat. It certainly wasn't a fun ride today but it will I think be memorible.
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