NSC Blazing Saddles
Yesterday I did the North Shore Cyclists Blazing Saddles Century. You couldn’t ask for a nicer day. Crystal blue skies, dead calm winds, warm bordering on hot. Perfect.
I decided not to go for speed as it’s been about a month since I’ve been on the road bike (asside from the crash on Monday), but it ended up being a fast ride anyway. It was 101 miles at 17.4 mph. Given that there were a few rolling hills, I should be able to make my goal of a 18mph century this year. I figure I’ve got three shots at it: NBW TFCE, and the GSW Tri-state. In order to go for sped at the TFCE, I think I’ll skip the NVP ride. That’ s too bad as it’s a very pretty ride, but I don’t want to be all pooped for the TFCE by doing two 100-milers in a row and go for time on the second one.
Anyway, back to this one. It was a nice ride. The route was well marked except for one intersection (but the cue sheet was clear). I met three others who were on the NEC: Paul, my 7-day roommate, and Nancy (7-day) and her friend Ann(?), 2-day.
I was remarkably consistent throughout the ride. The split at the halfway mark was 17.66 mph. There was no food at the 2d rest stop which was not good, so I had to go another six or seven miles to Hamilton center and stop at convenience store to get something to eat. There was a nice spread of food at end, but it would have been good to have something along the way.
Didn’t take many pictures and didn’t meet anyone new. I’m going to have to rethink going to some of these centuries next year. They’re expenive (about $100 each), and after doing them once or twice, they get a little stale. One of the reasons I go is to try to meet some new people, but people tend to converse with whomever they came with. Oh well. It was a nice day. And a spiffy t-shirt.
Nothing next weekend (Labor Day), then the TFCE, then CRW Fall Century, then GSW, then Major Tayor.
