The Parents and I participated in the Metropolitan Challenge today. We drove to Vaudreuil and met a friend of my Mother's at a breakfast restaurant. We were initially going to be 5 for breakfast, (my Parents, my self, the friend and a friend of hers). However, it turned out that my Mother's friend had also invited another older couple and her friend's twin sister and her significant other. As it was a little past 7 AM, the waitress barely bated an eyelash at the ever increasing number of patrons.
One of the problems with the Metropolitan Challenges and Vélo-Québec's other Summer Challenges is that owing to various geographical issues, they tend to start out going East with the prevailing winds before turning West again so you have to bike against the wind on the way back when you are tired. This year, the Metropolitan Challenge started in Vaudreuil and headed West before turning back. The weather gods were not amused and therefore ordained that Easterly winds should be the order of the day. They also ordained a mostly cloudy day with a spot of rain. Thankfully, I missed the direct rain. However, late in the day as I was going down a hill, a passing car got me with a puddle splash. This was not appreciated as I was tired, being somewhat out of shape for various reasons.
At some point in the morning, I passed a motel in Coteau-du-Lac where I had spent the last night before completing AMUAM JuNITO. A little later, I passed a house to which an extension resembling a castle had been added.
My stats for the day were 6 hours, 11 minutes and 51 seconds of biking; covering 131.3 kms at an average speed of 21.1 km/h with a maximum of 55.0 km/h. The circuit was advertised as 127 km, but owing to a difference in the route between the issued map and the actual route, I made a wrong turn at the start. Mummy did the nominally 104 km version, (her recorded distance being 105 km) and Pappy did the 79 km version.
Part of me is tempted to get a "Whee!" bike for these events.
My statistics: 105.21 km, avg 19.5, but it was 20.5 before I turned into that headwind at Ste Justine de Newton (Terrific name!). The head wind was not nearly as bad later; I think it moderated and there were more wind breaks as we got away from fields.
ReplyDeleteI too was thinking of skinnier tires. In fact if I just changed my tires, back to what they were when I bought my bike, I'd have a whee-er bike. But then we often end up on dirt roads near home, so it would not be a good idea.
One of the best parts of the day was before you arrived at the finish. A fairly hefty man was dancing to the music with a chocolate milk bottle in each hand. He was great!!
ReplyDeleteWheeee bikes ate totally decadent, but really fun for defis and similar. Be a very naughty lad and take the plunge for carbon fibre, and an expert fitting. Use Leonardo as a fitting starting point. I believe he's serves you well.
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