Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tour de Palm Springs and Prep for the Camino Double

Tour de Palm Springs Ride Stats:
102 miles
5:32 ride time
5:45 total elapsed time
18.5 average speed


Well, the season has officially begun, now that the Tour de Palm Springs is wrapped up. It was another perfect day for riding in the desert. Below you'll find my ride report. Rode this one with Casey and he had me on the limit nearly the whole event.

The best moment was about 65 miles in, when a group of 8-10 riders formed behind us, with Casey on the front. With the exception of one female Ironman athlete coming forward to SLOW the pace a few times, Casey put the whole group on his back for 8 or 10 miles. Finally, after a brief break from the lead position, he came back up and just powered right off the front. I saw that the group was hesitating to catch his wheel and I pushed across the gap just before he got out of reach. Thirty seconds later I looked back and saw that no one else had made the jump. He'd ridden off the front without even looking up or accelerating. What a beast!

We picked up 6 bonus miles from my parents house to the start, and another 15 with Johanna after the finish, putting our total for the day at 123 miles. If that's not good preparation for a double, I don't know what is! And speaking of doubles, Casey and I are attempting our first this coming week at the Planet Ultra Camino Real Double Century. Having never ridden more than 133 miles in one day, the Camino Double would be hard enough for me all on it's own. Now I'm seeing that mother nature plans (with 90% certainty) to rain down upon us all day, too. Riding one's first double in pouring rain is crazy and probably a bit stupid...luckily, we've got just a bit of both in us.

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