| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
78.06 miles
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Altitude Gain:
8,183 ft
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Avg Speed:
16.91 mph
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Route:
75 miles of montour
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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: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Foggy-Sunny 60-80 F North Wind |
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Lucked out with a warm morning and the first rainless day in PA in a week I am told. Start of race has been moved from the soccer park to the high school for some unknown reason. Change for this year was the addition of a 45 mike race run at the same time as the 75 miler. Had 179 finishers this year for both races with 95+ in the long race. Race started with a controlled pace through town in a cool fog. pace was reasonable for the first 2.5 miles until the first climb. Legs felt good and I had a nice spin going into the climb but alas a gap opened up in front of me about 1/3 the way up the climb and my day got difficult real fast. Crested the hill with some co-stragglers and tried to recover on the long downhill. Rumour was there was some carnage in the front group as one of the riders lost it and did some serious damage to himself and a tree but I did not see it as I passed. Rode with the stragglers for a few miles trying to catch the front group which we could see a minute or two ahead of us but we couldn't cross the gap. Hammered the dirt section and dropped my group and caught up with a lone rider just over the covered bridge. We traded pulls and soon had caught a third rider who joined our group. Got into a groove and started to do some serious speed through the rolling sections, but that ended when the stronger of the two riders separated from us at the 45/75 mile split. Got into a couple of sections with good views of the road ahead and could no longer spot the front group or anybody else for miles ahead. Rode easy to the second and hardest climb of the day and found that it is no longer paved and could best be described as a Beruit grade surface. Got dropped by my companion on the steep section and even got caught by a group of eight riders that flew by me on the hill. Recovered in the middle of the hill and caught all eight of the riders who had passed me and put enough distance between us by the top that I never saw them again. Ended up timetrialing the next forty miles and another five major climbs. Had a strong ride until around the 55 mile mark where my back started giving me trouble. Was unable climb in the saddle and had to do all the remaining climbs standing. Legs gave out for good on the last climb at 72 miles and all I could do was spin and coast the remaining miles. Didn't effect my position at all but I did see my average speed drop considerably. Had visions of finishing in 4:20 but ended up with a 4:38. Winning time was 4:02 I believe. Final postion was in the mid thirties which was good enough to claim third place in my age group. Rode very hard today and to the point of trashing my body. Wasn't really happy with getting dropped on the first climb but was satisfied with the effort I put in.
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