So after a lackluster start my riding this year (bunch of family related stuff and stresses), my mileage was not at all where I hoped that it would be for the first 3 months. April was really good though... and I got my first century ride in last Saturday in NC.
Was a bit nervous again going in to this ride, not having the mileage so far this year that I had hoped for, but I ended up riding over 360 miles in April, got some hill rides in and got 2 67 mile rides in that boosted my confidence a good bit.
Went to NC with Bill (wildbillhatchbac) and Brian (B, Briansol) for the 2nd anual Bike the Banks ride, (they were going to do the 50 mile ride, I was doing the 100).
The day of the ride we got to the start a bit late. They were giving the pre-ride talk when we got there, and Bill and I still needed to register, so I got out on the road a little after the 8am start. Found a small group that was making a good pace on the way out to the first stop. Got to the first stop feeling great, about 30 miles in and I was averaging about 23 mph (NC's Outer Banks barrier islands are very flat, and I had a solid 15-20mph tail wind).
Left the first stop off and quickly lost one in the new small group I was with to a flat, then a few miles later found out the other 2 were only doing the 50 mile section and would not be joining me over the bridge to the mainland (shit). So solo it is... caught up to another rider about 45 miles in, paced with her, we caught up to another rider and pulled him along to the 2nd stop off. (About 6 or so miles before the 2nd stop I saw a bunch of the riders I ended up riding with the previous year coming back the other way, showing up late definitely fucked me as far as getting in a good group to pace with, and there was no way i was going to make up enough ground to catch them.) Pulled in to the 2nd stop and turn around point still feeling pretty good, 61 miles in now and averaging about 21 or so mph.
Here comes the fun part... that sweet tailwind I had is now going to be a ball busting headwind for the next 44 or so miles (shit). So off the 3 of us went from the 2nd stop off, quickly lost the guy we met up with, he dropped off and was never to be seen again, then a few miles later I signaled to have the lady I was with lead for a while, but she was gone too. So once again, solo it is... caught up with a pair of riders about a mile before the bridge back out to the island (about mile 78ish), paced with them for a bit, but quickly lost them on the other side of the bridge. Apparently I missed the last stop point, don't know what happened or how. I then caught up with another guy and rode with him for a few miles until I ran out of water/beverages with about 8-10 miles left, and needed to pull in to a gas station to get a refill. Refilled and rested for a few minutes then pulled back in to the wind.
Got back to the condo around 2:30pm with 105.5 miles on the trip meter at an average speed of 17.8mph, with just under 6 hours of pedaling.
I was tired, my legs hurt, and my butt was not happy... but I felt good... it was not an easy ride, but I made it, and did a large portion of it solo.
Loafed for a few minutes, then grabbed a cold beer, and got in the pool.
What the Outer Banks lack in hills, they make up for with a special kind of wind.