I'm not really the RAGBRAI type — a big ride filled with distracted riders lacking even the most basic skills — but it was hard to resist this year. (And, really, the biggest problems on RAGBRAI happen in the towns. Lots of people just swerving and gawking around. Out on the road it's usually OK).
This year, RAGBRAI rolled into Algona. Hard to miss that one. So I had Chris drop me off in Storm Lake, where the day's route began, and headed home. And I absolutely drilled it. I figured I'd be able to make good time, given the wind — SSE, 10 mph or so — but it was pretty ridiculous. (And yes, I'm aware of the oxymoron: drilling it on RAGBRAI.)
Eighty miles in 3:43. Average speed of 21.7 mph. And with the exception of one tiny pull a guy tried to take, I was on my own the whole way. Into the cross-headwind, it was 21-22 mph. With the tailwind it was more like 27-28. Things slowed to a crawl when going through towns, but it cleared up pretty quick after that.
The last 10 miles were the toughest, with 70 miles of hard effort behind me and a heavier crosswind. And, slightly, hills. Just the smallest little rollers, but the previous effort accentuated them.
And then I ate everything in my parents' house.
1 comments:
Very cool man - can not wait to hear about the gran fondo. I do nothing but swim lately, which by the way is not close to as fun as riding on two wheels, actually it is not fun at all. By the way see if you can bring me back a 2011 Madone 6.9 in your suitcase from WI.
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