2003.09.27 “Flat as a Pancake” Century
See, when they say flat, they’re playing on your fear of hills to get you to take advantage of this special ride they’ve offered just for you. Flat sounds easy, right? Sure! Except the wind thinks that sounds easy too, and joined us for the ride. Since I checked the weather the night before and that morning, I tried to mentally prepare (mentally, because I had no cold weather riding clothes,) for the forecasted 15mph winds and cold temperature. Phobia later shared that the forecast he saw simply said “F**K you Ryan”. Had he shared that with me prior to us heading out to New Baden, IL to be overwhelmed by the cold winds, I probably would have gone back to bed.
I would have also warned him and Heather that the wind has something against me (possibly previous cursing I’ve done on its behalf), is not very accurate, and they likely would also feel its wrath.
We all suffered. I’m still trying to decide if this qualifies as my most hated ride of the year, it’s close.
The route was 100 miles. First, a 66 mile loop, then lunch, then a 40mi loop to complete the century.
We were hoping to ride as Team Backdraft as we did in the MS-150, and this time with Heather! Unfortunately, Heather, Phobia, Jim (not Jimski), and myself were the only attendees of the team. The rest, who said they’d come, chickened out, because they’re a bunch of pansies.
A problem with riding in the cold, without clothes to keep you warm, is that your muscles don’t get a chance to warm up and flex, even during the exercise. They stay tight and stiff. They don’t like that, and they yell at you. Get clothes to cover up once it gets cooler.
But if you are not fully prepared for the weather, well, even if you are… If you find yourself in winds between 15 and 25 mph, causing you to constantly lean into a crosswind such that you are no longer perpendicular to the ground, or to suffer to maintain a forward motion in a headwind, it is quite respectable to call it a day after 66 miles. Wise even. And you should be commended for lasting that long.
If you didn’t bother trying, you’re still a pansy.
I cleared my computer’s details for this ride, thinking I already posted this, so I’ll have to get Phobia‘s metrics – I rode close enough to him to let that count.
Computer:
- Distance 65 mi
- AvgSpeed 16.4 mph
- MaxSpeed 34.5 mph