Jan 21 - what a blast ... 7:32

A wonderful day and wonderful ride. There were between 80 and 90 riders, making it look like a mini PBP as I pulled into the parking lot. I actually had to queue up to check-in with Tim and found Alain also there assisting. He and Vita were not riding that day and he'd volunteered to work a Control.

Tim had all Controls staffed and food -- he and Alain at the start; both again at Control 2; Dan Wallace and another fellow at number 3; Alain and another at 4; Tim at the end.

All the usual suspects were present -- Keith drove down that morning; Judith was there, taking the day off from a 7-day-a-week painting job at Disney (Fantasyland), Jim Solanick, Hamid, Paul Rozelle (before I knew his last name, I called him Paul Fixie because he rides a bike with no gears), etc. etc. There were many riders, I assume, who don't do anything longer than a 200k. That's ok.

I ended up in a paceline with Hamid & Paul for most of the day. There were another 6-8 in the group, including 3 girls (well, women), all of whom took their turn. The wind was blowing pretty strong from the south by the time we turned around to head into it so company was good. In fact it was so good that we finished at 3:32, a new personal record for a 200k (actually 128.something miles) at 7:32.

At one point on the northbound trek I took my turn pulling and then faded to the back. I had pulled a steady 20 mph. Hamid, who was right behind me, then took off at 23 with the group following ... I tagged along for a bit and then dropped back. I continued to ride my pace gradually picking up a group who liked my pace and I pulled that crowd for 10 miles, which brought us to the 30 mile Control. Hamid and Paul were there ... we went through the "what happened to you" routine (Paul knew), and then headed out together.

Hamid pulls very strong early in these rides and then as he gets tired, continues to be strong but his pace becomes more irregular. We were more disciplined after that Control, running 20-21 going north and then 17-18 heading south (into a 15mph headwind). We were heading south and I was following Hamid in the group; the person in front of him finished his pull and Hamid took off ... I asked him to "dial it back" to 17 or so, which he did. For the next miles, however, I was still absorbing his speed fluctuations, trying to maintain a steady 17-18 while Hamid's speed varied from 16-20. I know what it's like at the back of the paceline if we're varying our speed like that. I must confess that at one point I dropped the entire group as I stood and cranked up a rise, causing Hamid to come up behind me and ask me to slow down -- none of us is immune ! It would be easier with a mirror :).

Hamid has made amazing progress in the now-4-years that I've been riding with him. The first time I met him was on Tim's 300k in 2009. It wasn't long after his triple bypass and I pulled him for the second half of the ride. His weight is now in the low 170's (started at 235) and he rides strong, stronger than me. Of course I have a few years on him, which is my excuse ! He's great company on the rides, always chatting, compared to the mostly taciturn nature of most riders as the miles accumulate.

Sunny and warm, I started out with my wind vest but shed that pretty quickly. It might have hit 80F along the way; the car said 78F when I was leaving.

I pushed myself harder than usual and was basically cooked by the end -- cooked and ready to bonk. However, as we got into the last quarter of the ride I found that my legs had more acceleration in them than earlier on in the day. Even though they were aching (had done for 100k), they were actually gaining strength as the day went on.

2.5 hours down and then back, the driving was easy. After the ride I stopped to get gas and a drink and snack but didn't even feel drowsy on the drive back. I also stopped at one of the rest stops along I95 to use the restroom and pick up another 20oz diet pepsi.

Home by 6:30, we were planning on having pizza for dinner but I'd had pizza for lunch -- so we went to the Peking Buffet along SR44. It wasn't very good. That will be our one and only visit to that restaurant, unless alzheimers really sets in.

Sandy spent the day cooking for Linda and Alec -- appetizers and elements of the main course for Monday. There were wonderful smells but we had yucchy Chinese food ... rats. As I said to her at dinner -- trying these restaurants only makes me appreciate how much better our home cooking really is !.

... and the day was done, for me.

Today ... Mass ... some cleanup. Linda and Alec will arrive sometime. I should probably shoot them a note in case they are email-accessible so that they can give us a general idea as to their expected timing.

Onward !