Middle-Aged-Man

The High Desert Cyclist had their 4th Annual Antelope Valley Fall Century. There are three rides the 26 miles, the Metric Century (62 miles), and the full Century (100 miles). Last year I wanted to ride in the century, but the weather was so bad that I rode the metric. I was told only four riders completed the century.
This year I rode the century!
I left Gil’s Bike Shop at 7:07am and rode by myself. This year the riders were few, I guess from the high winds we been having. I got three miles from the first stop and the wind did pick up. I pulled into the stop (110th W and Ave G), refilled my water and eat. On the road north to Ave A, down to 100th street, and out to Rosemond Blvd. With the wind behind me for one mile, before turning left on Tehachapi Willow Springs Road. It was nice to petal up to Backus Road where the second rest stop was. I eat and refilled my water. A few other riders that I knew were there (they had passed me). Dan Dunn (did the artwork for the ride), Tim (I cannot remember his last name), and Richard White, who I remember from Central Christian Church. I arrived last and left first. Riding up Tehachapi Willow Springs Road for 8.3 miles to Cameron Road. This is where the wind was very strong and very much up hill and it got cold (4,000+ elevation).  On Cameron it was half uphill, but the back side was all downhill for 2.5 miles, riding over to the 58 Freeway, which I rode for 1.7 miles in very strong winds. Getting off at Sand Canyon and riding head on in wind on Tehachapi Road for seven miles. Arriving at Central Park for lunch. More food and sitting in the sun, I was cold, I had layers but I was still cold. Left the park, did a few miles before getting back on the Tehachapi Willow Springs road, again a lot of up hills, but the wind was behind. At this point in the ride (65 mile) I was feeling tired. I got to the top and some nice downhills, so nice in fact that I reached 50 MPH, the (fastest I have ever been on a bike), and it was a bit scary. It was mostly downhill to the rest stop at Backus, I stopped to refill my water and continue to retrace my path back. I got to the 110th Avenue and G and again refilled my water, some food and off. The ride from there to 30th Street West was the best. A very strong wind behind me, it was no effort to ride at 30 MPH, (wishing the whole ride was like this). This is where my larger GPS unit battery died. It warned me at mile 20, the batteries were dying, but died at 98 miles. The smaller GPS unit during the ride, ran out of space, prompt me to remove older laps (thinking older rides, runs, etc). Well, both units did not give me ride data. What disappointment.
I finished the ride, at this point at 3:30 pm, I think it comes in total of a 105 miles. I was the 5 rider to finish the century of a guess of 12-15 riders. This ride help me accomplish one of my goals of resolutions for 2008.

I was tired, but not wiped. I changed and put my bike away and went to the have pizza and a beer. Home to shower and small nap, (did I mention that I am almost 50, nap required).

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