| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
61.76 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,942 ft
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Avg Speed:
18.68 mph
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Route:
Rotary 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: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Cloudy 60 F SW wind @ 13 |
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Rochester races had been cancelled this year so that took care of Plan A. Plan B was to drive to Mayberry, North Carolina and do the Three Mountain Century as have done a few times in the past. Not climbing well though and didn't want to spend $100 on gas to suffer in the mountains. So that left either riding alone or the Rotary Metric in Horseheads. Couldn't talk any teammates into going as they are either sick, doing the Keuka Tri on Sunday or can't see paying money for riding roads we frequent for free. So headed up to the start by myself. One advantage was a less than half hour drive and a late start so I got to sleep in. On the down side was the cool temperature and wind. Showed up at the address on the flyer at 8:00 and found the parking lot mostly empty and the building locked up. Thought they must have cancelled it because of lack of interest or poor weather and started to drive off at 8:30. Passed a guy in a truck on the way out and he said if I was riding to follow him as he had directions to the start that was in warehouse nearby. Arrived at the new location and parked amongst abandoned cars, dumpsters and construction equipment. There were a few other cars there and a couple of riders milling about. One of the riders said that the start most resembled a failed arctic expedition. Paid my forty dollars and got a nice T-shirt and a map. Another advantage for me was I didn't need a map as I was familiar with the roads and the course "flowed" rather tham one of those that are cobbled together just to ride around on to get miles. Recognized a Corning rider I occassionly race with and another rider from town who I've ridden with occasionally over the past twenty years or so. Had only about a dozen riders at the start of the 40 and 60 mile routes at a little after 9:00. Temperature wasn't too bad as we headed out for being 60 degrees. That changed as the clouds set in and the south wind picked up as the ride progressed. Pace wasn't too bad as we headed out on the first four or five miles of flat to rollingterrain with a strong tailwind. Sat in mostly as the guys doing the pulling seemed to take mile long pulls and I was happy to get an easy warmup in. After the first mild grade and a steep downhill we were down to five or six riders before we even got out of town. Course had about 3000 ft of climbing but most of it being rolling or power climbing with really only two climbs for the day. First climb came as we hit Ridge Road and headed toward Odessa. Climb isn't hard though as it is composed of three small step with flats between them spread over six miles. Rolled over the first easy step with Ken and the others quickly disappeared. Ken and I contested the next climb as we both came out of the saddle and charged for the top. I was able to outlast rather than overpower Ken as my legs felt strong but seemed to lack the power I needed for out of the saddle acceleration. After the climb we settled in and rode easy on the next flat section and chatted as we waited for the three or four riders that had lost contact on the first climb. They didn't show themselves so either they had a mechanical or were just going to smell the roses on the ride. Got to the final step of the first climb and pace got nasty again as we contested the crest. I was unable to stay out of the saddle as Kenny did and had to sit and spin as he kept charging up the hill. He didn't open up a gap but easily took the hill as I swept into his draft as we went over the top. After a blistering downhill to Catherine the course split after fifteen miles and Kenny went off on the 40 mile course and I went off on the 60. Decided to keep the pace up and see if I could make Mechlenberg without getting caught which shouldn't be a problem as it was fifteen miles of rolling climb with a strong tailwind. Wasn't looking forward to pushing the thirty miles back through the headwind by myself and thought I might wait at the rest stop and spend some time in the draft if any of the other riders showed up. Spun through the rolling climbs and flats to Cayutaville and worked my way up the last climb in the section, a long "S" climb, that awarded a long view back up the valley. Couldn't see any riders back as I went over the top and figured I'd be riding the rest of the day by myself. Reached the high water mark of the ride as I coasted down into Mechlenberg with a 19.6 mph average. Turned into the headwind back down 228 and just pedalled with my head down and watched my average speed drop. Got back to Odessa and thought the unpleasant part of the ride was over as the final quarter of the ride had more climbing in the woods which I much perferred over headwinds in the open. Passed a couple of forty milers as I went up Frost Hill which had a short section of steep climbing. Think I saw the grade go up to 18%. Doubt any of the other climbs of the day went over 10%. Still it was short enough to be a power climb and I did it in the big chainring. Once over the top of it though the rest of the ride was downhill and flats. Downhills were a blast but flats from Pine Valley to the finish were back in the nasty cold headwind. Passed a few other forty milers coming back into town who didn't appear to be enjoying the headwind either. Finished the sixty miles in a little over three hours. Was a little disappointed when I got back to the start and found that the promised strawberry shortcake had been replaced by a fruit cup. On the plus side the pasta meal had been replaced with a pulled pork sandwich so I guess it was a wash overall. Liked the course but not sure with the stiff price wheteher I'd do it again. Kind of pricey to ride local roads by myself. Hopefully it was just the cold weather that kept attendance down and it will bounce back next year. Was nasty cold after the ride and was happy I'd done it as would have probably taken the day off otherwise.
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