| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
100.65 miles
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Altitude Gain:
8,287 ft
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Avg Speed:
16.49 mph
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Route:
Cheataw Challenge
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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: Steep
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: SunnY 85 F South wind at 10 mph |
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Put a bad night in with little sleep and some cramping. Drank as much as I could during the night but it pretty much sloshed around in my stomach instead of my body sucking it up. Had to drive a half an hour to get to the start and really thought I needed sleep more than a ride in the mountains but I had already bought the ticket, so I figured I'd make the best of it. Pulled into the parking lot and noticed quite a few pro team cars in the line and thought not only would I have trouble in the hills but would have trouble holding on for the first twenty miles of semi-flat section. Check in was effortless and I was relieved to find out that there was a Pro race leaving 1/2 hour after the century. It was sunny and seventy when I lined up with 500 others for the start. After a prayer the ride was started with the ceremonial playing of 'Sweet Home Alabama.' First nine miles was a slight uphill grade into a breezy headwind. Pace was a little over twenty with a single rider off the front and the pack just rolling along. Felt terrible and thought it might be a good idea to lose my breakfast as it was just causing trouble sitting in my stomach, but thought I'd probably need it later in the day. Tucked in behind a Clydesdale riderand a swarm of twenty something team riders and thought I could probably hold the pace until the hills where hopefully I would feel better and try to meet my goal of sub-six hours. Noticed I was breathing fairly hard and it occurred to me that I might not make it to the climbs with the front group. Looked down and saw the grade was four percent and could now see the road over the front of the peloton. Also noticed several of the riders around me where drinking, standing and panting so this was obviously going to be the first test of the day. The clydesdale rider gave it up and a gap opened up ahead of him. I passed him and accelerated to catch up with the pack then struggled to hang on. Settled in nicely and recovered nicely in the final half mile as the climb continued. After the grade the pack was drastically thinned and I soon found myself pulling through to the front of the line and into the headwind. Generally I like to be near the front at the start of the climbs, but with forty-six miles of climbs it wouldn't make much difference. Made the base of the climbs with the front group and with an average speed of over 23 MPH so things looked good for finishing in under six hours. That unfortunately was the high point of the day. I hit the first climb and had nothing in my legs. Shifted down into my 25 cog and slogged it out. Soon lost sight of the pack as they spun away up the climb. Thought I would just keep moving and hopefully recover at some point or it was going to be a long day. I never did recover and it was a very long day. The long 7% climbs weren't so bad but the half dozen or so 12-14% climbs tore away big chunks of time. I continued to lose time and position for the rest of the day and it wasn't the type of ride one can sit back and enjoy. Picked up a few memories though like the undertaker at the top of one of the climbs, numerous cowbell sections and coming around a corner at 50 mph to find a Winnebego taking up my lane. The driver did leave a three foot wide escape path for me between him and the guardrail which I did get through before it closed up. Would have loved to give him a hand gesture but didn't have the time. Made the turnaround at three hours but didn't think I could make it back over the mountain and back into town in less than six as I would not have a pack to ride in on the way back. Struggled all the way back to Piedmont and finished in 6:06 on the bike and 6:09 actual time. I failed the Cheata Challenge but did finish it. It is advertised as the toughest century in the South and it may be so if you only count the Deep South.
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