The Giant OCR 3 and I logged some serious road time today, and I learned a few very valuable biking things. I shall enumerate.

1) Riding in extreme heat (97 degrees when we stopped) requires more than 4 liters of water and 1 liter of Gatorade.

2) Rolling hills after 37 miles in said 97 degree heat = hard.

3) Riding on tires with 30 psi pressure is very difficult (as I have been for a while). Riding on tires with 102 psi is a dream and makes one very, very zippy.

4) 45 miles on a hot day requires at least an hour and a half nap and at least a fifteen minute shower.

5) Chiggers might attack if you sit in the grass to stretch. I say might because, well, they didn't. But I was warned.

6) Sleeveless cycling jerseys in aforementioned oppressive heat - coveted.

7) Illinois makes a bicycle map. Oh baby.

I have learned all of these things today. The hard lesson of number one was difficult. I ran out of all liquid with about 4 miles (most of it hilly) to go. This was a bit scary for those four miles, and I slowed the group down quite a bit, but all was well in the end.

MS150 requires 75 mile days, not 45. I sure hope the weather's a wee bit cooler. Plus, I was reminded that we'll have all day, not just from 9:00 until 1:00 or so.

hln

Posted by: hln at 08:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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