| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
137.00 miles
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Time: 10:35:00
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Avg Speed:
12.94 mph
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Max Speed:
34.60 mph
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Weight:
160
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Effort:
4 - Normal 14-16 mph
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Route:
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Bacchetta Titanium Aero (SOLD Sep 2010) SWB Bent
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Club: 'BentRider Recumbent Club |
| Weather Conditions: Cool in the morning for Florida: low 60's. Warmed up to the low 70's. |
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RUSA, the United States governing body of randonneurs, has a medal, the "R12". To be awarded the medal, you must do a RUSA sanctioned ride of 200km or longer in 12 consecutive months. Not easy considering all the bumps along the way. You can ride either a brevet or a parmanant. A permanant is a ride of 100km or longer ride sanctioned by RUSA.
So I decided to give it a go and schedule my first ride for December 19th: A 200 km ride out and back up the Florida Coast from Pompano Beach to Hobe Sound
by the McMansions of West Palm Beach. Most the ride was on this road with light traffic and some of the most incredible landscaping you'll see anywhere. A tropical delight.
Had to suffer in temps in the 70's under a clear blue sky.
One big challenge: Head winds from the NW at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph made the outbound 63 mile leg purrrty tough. I had four stages. The first two were against the wind. Wouldn't you know it, the front passed through and the wind mostly died on my way back it seemed.
Stage 1:First 30 miles: Okay...I can do this. I'm moving.
Stage 2: Next 30 miles: If I rotate the pedal I will move no matter how hard it is.
Long, very long, rest stop before heading back.
Stage 3: The next 30 miles: Okay I'm dead, so why am I moving?
Stage 4: What? A second wind? Motored the last 40 miles at 15 to 18 mph. I have no idea where that came from but it felt good.
So what's the fly in the ointment? A few days ago my wife got an offer to be a high school counselor in Johannesburg, S.A. starting this fall. Now the question is where do I find sanctioned brevets in September, October and November. Hmmmm.....I have a travel bike.
There is an up side to Johannesburg: It's summer there when winter here, so I'll get to spend summer in Johannesburg and fly home to spend summer in Oregon for the next two years.
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