After five days of sultry sun-filled days of riding, the weather gods sent a mixed blessing today: cooler temperatures but a drenching rain that lasted from the moment we got on our bikes in Geneva and stopped only five hours later in Auburn. The way that I figure, I was either going to be wet from sweat in the heat or wet from the cooler rain. As long as the roads are straight, I don’t mind riding in the rain… and … Today was a blast!
Here is the day on Garmin Connect: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10225754
I left early (around 7:00 am) and spent almost five hours at about 80% of maximum, pushing big gears and moving at an average of 26.5 km/hr over 127 km and 1043 meters of climbing. Lots of rain, lots of spray off of big trucks and lots of rain up off the back wheel and all up my backside.
The route today took us over the Erie Canal several times. Here is a shot looking out past one of the locks.
But most of the ride was on wet roads, through wet fields and over wet hills. There is nothing I like better than an empty road, a slight hill and a newly paved stretch of black asphalt. Devine!
The ride is coming to an end tomorrow, with a fairly short 50 km ride from Auburn back to our starting point in Cortland. Should be an easy spin, and I’m going to treat it like the last stage of the Tour de France as the peleton rides slowly into Paris.
But now, as the rain has passed and the tents, bikes and riders are drying out, it is time to find more food. Nothing like burning an extra 3000-5000 calories per day to fuel a healthy appetite. Just as soon as I stuff my face full of food, I seem to be hungry again. Today, just after stepping off the bike, I inhaled two sausage sandwiches and two soft drinks. Now, two hours later I’m ready to prowl around looking for more calories.
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