Observation and Perspective
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Ride Stats |
Distance:
73.21 miles
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Time: 06:23:02
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Max Speed:
45.52 mph
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Avg Speed:
11.47 mph
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Temp:
Min: 55
Avg: 59
Max: 63
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Category: general: touring -
solo
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Route:
Highlander Tour: 73 miler Corkscrew
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Weight:
235
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Altitude Gain:
5,974 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 6,100
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Bianchi 32lb-Castro Valley Road
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Club: Bianchi Riders Club |
Weather Conditions: Overcast and cool; 7 mph WSW wind
Humidity 77% |
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The Highlander is the premier charitable cycling event in the Rochester region. Probably the most challenging ride I will participate in this year -lots of miles and lots of elevation! This was the 8th time in the past 9 years I have participated.
Hundreds of dedicated athletic cyclists(more than 500)were there. Cyclists who comprise the major segment of road biking and racing participate in this Tour. Nary a recumbent bike is seen. The elevation involved makes recumbent biking impractical. Among dedicated road warriors were people of many ages ranging from teen to -perhaps beyond Septuagenarian. For sure there were many riders in the Senior category (bikers 50 years old and older). Mostly though riders were in the 20-50 year old range.
There were several very competitive packs of riders -I was passed by many. Funny and scary too is getting passed just as I crest a hill, then overtaking those lighter weight riders while coasting down the other side.
Climbing hills are the toughest part for me. But coasting down some of those hills is getting to be somewhat scary or nerve racking. First consideration for caution, is the road conditions, a steep downhill, bumpy, with no shoulders. Then there is the obstacle of dealing with those riders who don't have weight as a downhill speed factor.
So there I am cresting a hill, and just ahead are those light weight cyclists that passed me on the way up. Those Lightweight bikers are fast going uphill, but they become obstacles for the heavier cyclist on the way down. Having just been passed by the lightweight cyclists while climbing, I come flying headlong down the other side, riding the brake levers, peaking with a speed at over 45 miles per hour (45.52 mph -fastest downhill ever)! And there are those lightweights cyclists coasting downhill, unwilling or unable to match my downhill speed. Overtaking cyclists on a downhill is nerve racking to say the least, especially when the group ahead is coasting 3 abreast, Here's Johnny! www.bikejournal.com/ride_view.asp?rideID={9586A06E-9F0B-455F-9472-491CE3FA1C78}
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