| Palm Springs Century ride 1 It is nearly 9am on a very cold morning in Palm Springs, while most people are celebrating Valentines Day I find my self just rolling out of the car park with my friend Jodi and her sister in Law Sherry for a wee 100 mile ride.  I have left my husband with Jodis husband to cycle 50 miles. The weather gods are on our side as the torrential rain we have been experiencing is not present but the wind and low temps are! The 100 mile start was at 7am, but by the time we had had our coffee and decided to brave the cold it was getting a wee bit late!! The good thing about starting so late was we mingled into the last of the 55 mile riders, and so we could get a good pace going from the beginning so Jodi set the pace I really needed a rest room, so Sherry thought that 7 miles there would be a rest stop…mmm I have never rode so fast following Jodis wheel we soon passed the 7 mile mark and there was no Sherry behind us so we continued further deciding to meet up at the first rest stop and this is where we would separate!  As Jodi and I were going so fast we did not see the arrows for the 100 route and turned a very definite right with the wind pushing us we followed the road to the end only to see other cyclists joining the road from another angle.. oops! We both stopped and were told that we had turned the wrong way, so we turned into a very strong headwind and made our way back to the original route looking out for Sherry, By the time we reached the first rest stop my polar CS600 was telling me we had already ridden 28miles!! We never found Sherry! Added to which our cell phones had no service out there in the desert! Jodi and I kept passing the same people as we stopped at the trailer park were we where staying to see if Sherry had stopped to regroup! But no one there and we discovered she had stopped by an hour before! So Jodi and I returned to the route to finish the 100 miles and we were greeted by an almost empty road! Wow we could do a lot of damage speed wise with the wind in our favor, and by the time we reached mile 70 there was plenty of cyclists and we joined a nice pace line by SC VELO the bike club I belong too for 15 or so miles until they stopped to re group, we continued on and straight away missed a turn and ended up on the freeway! Big Oops! Finally back on the right route and my Polar already blinking 100 miles! It was all about finishing and staying focused I took a raspberry hammergel to get through the last few miles and just as I thought I could not hold the wheel of Jodis any longer we hit the finish! 115miles of riding! With our cell phones finally working we were able to relocate Sherry who had joined friends to complete the ride! This was a great ride and when I was not looking at Jodis rear wheel the scenery was beautiful with snow capped mountains, windmills and palm trees! The weather held out, cold but clear skies, and I had a great cycling buddy! I ate a Hammerbar and we all piled into Jodis car and set back to eat and relax for tomorrows event the relay of 2 chicks and one old guy! A.k.a Jodi, Dave and me!! Was very happy to see my husband AL who had settled for 35miles of cycling due to the flu! I had no flat tires thanks to Serfas!, great fuel thanks to Hammer Nutrition, kept my heart rate and mileage in check with my Polar CS600, my feet were kept Kool with Kool n Fit spray, my bike steered well with my trusty Profile Design Bars and my eyes and head protected by Rudy Project glasses and helmet! But best of all I raised $805 for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade of Puerto Rico! |
