Bike Around The Buttes 102 Mile Bicycle RideApr 22, 2006
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Sun breaking through rain clouds
My bike (foreground) and Tandem (background)
Farm along bike ride
| April 22, 2006 Bike Around The Buttes Century A great ride! I started the 102 mile course at 7:00 am. They sky was overcast and looked a little like rain. The temperature was comfortable and there was no noticeable wind. After about 15 minutes of bicycling through the countryside, it started to rain...not a down pour, just a light, comfortable rain. I stopped on a bridge and got a nice picture of the river and the sun shining through the rain clouds. At the start of the ride I was very apprehensive. It has been years since I have ridden 100 miles in a day. After about 1.5 hours of riding I was feeling pretty good and making good time (average 17.5 mph). At about 25 miles into the ride a tandem with 2 bikes following it passed me. I figured this was a perfect opportunity to jump on the pace line and get an "assisted" ride. The 30 mile rest stop came quickly...I was really enjoying the pace line. At the 60 mile mark (after over 1.5 hours riding the pace line) I realized that I was exhausting myself trying to keep up. The tandem was averaging a grueling 22 mph. It was taking a lot of my energy just to hang on. I decided that I had to drop off the pace line if I was going to finish the ride. I arrived at lunch and the 62 mile rest stop at 10:30. Thanks to the tandem, I had completed this portion of the ride in great time and at an average speed of almost 18 mph (including photo and rest stops). Unfortunately, I had pushed too hard and was exhausted. Since the 62 mile lunch stop was at the school where the ride started, I considered stopping here and calling it a day. After over an hour of rest and wrestling with myself over what to do, I started off on the final 40 miles. I was immediately rewarded with beautiful rolling green hills and a panoramic view of the Sutter Buttes. I stopped several times along the way to take photos. This change of scenery invigorated me and I was again feeling good and energized. By about mile 85 I was hitting another low. I had misjudged my water supply and was totally dry. It was a struggle to make that last 17 miles back to the start. When I finally dragged myself in I was spent. My average speed had dropped to 16.6 mph...still a respectable time, but a drastic drop over the last 40 miles. After cleaning up at the Bus I enjoyed a great barbeque chicken dinner at the ride start/finish. After eating I drove to Sacramento Airport to pick up Nancy. Happy Travels, Art |
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