This ride is very popular (1500 riders) and with the brewery having only one road in and out, traffic really backs up. I set my alarm for 0500. I woke up with my sinuses reacting to the weather changing (cooler, dryer temps) making me feel pretty lousy. I had registered online on the last day so I did not want to blow off a whole $40, but I thought about it. Uninspired, I loaded the bike and gear and headed north. It takes me about 50 minutes to get there. Once on I-75, it seemed like almost every car had bikes on it and why not? Who else would be up at this hour?
With even the ungodly early start, there was a line of cars backed up on the Brewery Drive. It was stop and go for a long time, but I still had plenty of time. I saw up ahead the volunteers were directing traffic into the large grass field on the brewery property. Plenty of space, but a looooonng way from the registration area and food pavilion. Just as I was about to turn in, they directed me on down the road to the other side of the brewery. This lot is right near the preferred parking and close in. What luck for the 2nd year in a row! I'm feeling a lot better as I start getting excited with all the other cyclists getting ready. I strike up a conversation with 2 guys next to me who had never ridden the routes. I assured them they would love it. I saw them a couple of times at the SAG stops and they concurred with my assessment. I make the easy walk to get my wristband for the SAG stops and food afterward. Did I mention there was free beer given away at the end of the ride? Wonder if that had anything to do with the huge turnout?
I got ready in plenty of time. I met one of my Lockheed Martin riding buddies (Steve) and we went to the start area. The temps were ideal; mid-60s and low humidity with little to no wind. A lot of riders don't like the mass starts as this can be a recipe for disaster i.e. wrecks, but I really enjoy them. There was a long line of riders for the first few miles. I noticed we were really cooking along. A few riders I knew came and went. We passed by the first SAG stop and continued on. I have ridden this section quite a few times, but the metric portion from mile 32 or so on I had only ridden once before in last year's ride.
Steve and I (and Steve's neighbors) stopped at the 2nd SAG stop at the 24 mile mark. I realized I was feeling pretty good at this time and had gone through some of the hillier sections better than I had ever ridden.
Pics of the 2nd SAG...
I bumped into yet another group of riders I knew from other rides. I left out with them and rode pretty much the rest of the ride with them. Mike and his friends are some of the friendliest folks I've met. They are also great riders and we had a bunch of laughs. I was concerned about my "48 mile" fitness and wondered how tough the last third of the route was going to be. I remembered last year's ride was very hard for me. Well, we were rolling along really well. Did I mention the weather was perfect? I was "surprised" how well I still felt at the next SAG stop. Don't really know why, but I felt like I was getting stronger! This cycling thing has about as strong a mental aspect to it as golf. Anyway, the last 15 miles are mostly uphill, but I didn't seem to be fading much. I followed a smaller young lady rider for much of the way to the last SAG stop and tried to match her speed. Got to the last stop still feeling great. In the process of getting off my bike, I somehow scraped the inside of my right leg on the crank setting off a little blood flow down my leg. It was starting to get warmer and as I sat in the shade I wondered how much I had left in the tank. Our little group plus my buddy Steve joined us as we headed for the barn. After getting the kinks worked back out, Steve and I put the hammer down (at least for us old guys). We pounded our way home. On the last 4 miles going back down Brewery Dr, I spotted a guy and decided to see if I could catch him. Man, I was really flying and I couldn't believe I could still be pounding away after 60+ miles! I caught him and rode his wheel the last mile until he turned off. I had a little extra ride to get to my truck in the far lot, but I was feeling really great. Put the bike up, changed clothes, and had some great hotdogs and chicken fingers. Truly my best day on the bike so far.
Mike Harmon aka "Hollywood" takes some great videos of rides. Here is his video of the 2012 Beautiful Backroads
click on da link-->2012 BBC Video
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