| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
68.17 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,323 ft
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Avg Speed:
19.65 mph
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Route:
Pedal the Prairie Metric
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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: Flat
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 41 F SW wind at 4 MPH |
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Showed up in Hempstead, TX to the Pedal the Prairie with several hundred other people. Ride was advertised to start at 8:00 AM but didn't start until nearly an hour later. Seemed like a good thing since at 8:00 it was below freezing. It was cold enough to freeze the flush toilets at the fairgrounds where the ride was staged. Unfortunately I had to stand around for nearly an hour in the cold waiting for the start. Found a sunny spot and waited it out. Ride started in waves decided by anticipated average speed. First wave was 21+ MPH. I started out in the second wave of 19.6 to 21. Got bored quickly and tried to bridge to the front group after 2 or 3 miles. Crossed over to a group of 15 or so that was cruising in the low 20s.
Sat in easily but had to stop and drain some ballast along the side of the road. Never saw the front group again although I caught several stragglers. Stopped at a rest stop around the 20 mile mark to drain some additional ballast. Joined up with another rider Matt and worked together for several miles. I kept the pace up on the rollers and Matt tore up the downhills and flats. We stopped at a rest stop around 45 miles and got some water, stripped off some clothing as the temp was climbing into the 50s and ate great tasting brownies. Matt couldn't seem to get his system to restart after stopping so after 4 or 5 miles I rode on alone. Got caught 5 miles from the finish by a group of ten or so. Sat in easily for the remainder of the ride since there were only one or two riders in the pack that did any work as the rest just sat in like me. Most of the course had good roads with either low traffic or wide shoulders. The last few miles was very hairy as various groups from different courses converged on the finish. Often had a group of ten at 20+ MPH passing a group of five at 17 MPH passing individual riders at 10 MPH and being passed by cars doing 60 MPH. Didn't see or hear about any crashes so I guess everyone got back safely. Did see several people with flat tires along side the road. Route was marked well and people at the rest stop were very friendly. Nothing really noteworthy on the course but the terrain near Houston doesn't give the organizers much to work with.
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