| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
64.44 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,654 ft
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Avg Speed:
19.35 mph
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Route:
Tour de Madison
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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: Rain 55 F NE wind @ 2 mph |
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Weather forecast for today's metric century in Syria, VA left much to be desired. Temperature at start time was fifty five and a misty rain continued to fall. Forecast called for rain all day, but on the bright side there was very little wind. I stayed on the I-81 last night and had a forty mile drive through the Shenandoah National Park to get to the rather remote start of the ride. Several area roads were closed do to flooding but at least the sections I needed were still open though I had some concern I would be able to make the start. There is no mobile phone service in Syria and one rider was advised at registration to drive fifteen miles to the top of a ridge and there he might get a signal. The course had to be changed due to bridges being underwater and so the cue sheets were not accurate. They had sent someone out to repaint the road markings to reflect the route change as best as possible. I opted for leg warmers and a rain jacket for the event. Most of the front group of riders had gone only for shorts and short sleeve jerseys. Mighty Young Joe had made also made the drive to the event. Supposedly there were three hundred total riders registered for the event, but the starting group for the long ride looked pretty sparse. I had no real idea of the route profile, but didn't think there were any big climbs other than the optional category four climb in a bonus loop near the end of the ride. Joe and I headed out with the front group into the rain. Pace for the first five miles was in the reasonable twenties down a one or two percent grade. Rain rooster tails were the biggest problem. We hit the first climb and the our group of thirty or so riders got strung out with Joe and I near the back of the group. There was enough separation with the front of the group that I probably would never have seen them again, but they seemed to coast after the hill and the riders mostly regrouped. The profile turned out to be mostly short rolling hills with only one or two more than a quarter mile long. Some of the hills had steep sections but nothing horrendous. Joe and I had to chase on a downhill after one of the climbs after he pulled his cleat out of the pedal, but other than that it was just spin up and coast down the unending climbs. I was happy I survived the first twenty miles and didn't have too much trouble with the pace. I had dropped to the back of the pack to have something to eat on a climb at the forty mile mark when a rider in the pack went down. Everyone else avoided the crash and continued on. Looking back I saw the lone rider lying in the road, and I turned and went back to see if he was okay. He had landed on his shoulder and got some road rash and a torn jersey but otherwise seemed okay. He thought he hit something in the road, but nothing was evident. Joe had turned around and came back as well as two of the guys friends came back when they found he was missing from the pack. Joe and I left the rider with his friends and continued on our way. Joe dropped me on the next climb as my legs were heavy after stopping, and I thought I would be riding the last twenty alone. I stopped at the next rest stop and had some Magic Newtons and took off my leg warmers. Joe had decided he didn't want to ride alone and get lost alone, so he waited for me to get lost with him. We hooked up with a couple of local riders and worked a pace line for the last twenty miles. My legs actually felt stronger in the last twenty than the first forty, and I was climbing the endless rollers fairly well. It didn't take much to be talked out of the bonus climb in the rain and we all headed for the barn. There was a pretty good feast and live band after the ride. I enjoyed the ride despite the rain. The course wasn't really memorable, but the fog and rain most likely spoiled any views that were there. It did feel nice to cover the distance in a friendly group.
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