Albuquerque century 2008.
On Saturday I rode in the Albuquerque Century. This is my only century ride where I don't drive to the starting line, but since moving last year the starting line is now a good 12 miles away.
Also unlike last year, there was a mass start at 7am! Alas, I did not realize this, and got there, needing to pick up my rider packet, basically at 7am. As well, my bike computer battery died on the way to the course, so I rode the day without it. After spending so much time wondering if I really wanted a computer, I find I enjoy the ride a lot more having one.
After a brief stop putting on my rider number, I started the course. Another cyclist that works in my building pulled up beside me. He had gone to last year's starting line, which was a couple miles away. At least I wasn't the only one getting a late start!
Already having 12 miles under my belt, I was quite well warmed up. I rode down Mountain Road past dozens of cyclists still finding their legs. I wasn't passed for ~30 miles. The person that finally did pass me looked identical to every cyclist that passes me early in the course. They have that "platinum body": shorter, more muscular, and leaner.
The first of two big hills on this course is the ride out of the river valley onto the mesa, by way of Rio Bravo. This is a long (long) hill, but not terribly steep. No one passed me going up it. ^_^
After heading north on the mesa, we come back into town and ride into Bernalillo. It was during this portion of the ride that I started finding packs, and some of them started dropping me. I had been taking rests and eating food, but my lack of weekend training rides was again showing up in me getting tired far too early.
Over this season, I've really improved my speed on the bike, but it has come at the expense of my endurance. I had always figured if I made myself faster, I'd spend less time on the bike. So I could work with less endurance. Not so much!
After heading north into Bernalillo and riding back down to Albuquerque, it was time for the second big hill of the course: Tramway. I ride up tramway a lot. It is deceptively long, as the top is depressingly far away, but most of the hill is in the first 2/3rds of it. All the same, I started at the bottom on mile 95 for the day and would be over 100 before reaching the top. I did have some climb in me, as I was passing people down in their lowest gears trying to cheer them on the whole way up.
I actually thought I'd make it to the top of the hill without being passed, but after cresting the steep part I had one person blow by me. That is usually how Tramway goes for me. I think I'm having the ride of my life only to have someone pass me like they're going downhill.
The rest of the course was downhill from there, but I was over time. At Tramway I had 20 minutes to go to be able to finish the course in under 6 hours, and far too much distance to cover.
As well, I was in a completely altered state of mind, and I missed a turn and got lost. :-( I'm a bit embarrassed to have missed a turn on the course in my own town, though I'm usually coming at it the other way. I had convinced myself that I missed it and turned around, but I was actually going the right way. I took an alternate route west across town, which sent me northward and onto a slower road, so I had to come back south a few miles. My "detour" probably cost me 15 or 20 minutes.
I got back on the course at UNM, and found Ben Savoca directing cyclists and being a cheering section at the Yale turn. The cheering can make a huge difference, and is one of the things about the Tour de Tucson that is really nice. People are parked along the road all over the place, some sitting in chairs in their front yards, jumping up and down and hooting as you pass by. I got out of the saddle for him and motored up the hill, turned onto MLK and cruised to the finish line.
After taking a rest, I got back on the bike and started to ride home. Quite unwillingly, but that was where my bed was. I barely made it out of downtown, however, as I stopped at the first bus stop I found, paid my dollar, and got a ride home.
I finished this course in 6 hours, 30 minutes. 30 minutes slower than the Santa Fe Century. I almost certainly spent less time on my bike, as I stopped more frequently on this course to eat. So I had a stronger ride, going faster on my bike, only to be done in by the wall clock. It appears the secret to doing a fast century is riding a slow, exhausted 50 miles because I didn't eat enough. :-( That or eating while riding, of course...