The weather was very fine, promising temperatures rising into the 80Fs/high 20Cs. However, the day started in mist and fog around 50F/10C ... chilly.
A group of us, mostly friends and acquaintances, met up and set out on the 50mile/80km route. At 8.30am it was still quite cold, and it took me a half-hour or so for my hands to warm up ... I am such a cold morsel.
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| Me at the first feed station |
This is a very pretty area, with lots of quiet byways and lanes. I thought the route was pretty well marked and the feed/rest stations were pretty good too.
Unfortunately, I had a number of leg cramps after the last feed station. I'm usually quite careful about avoiding cramps, but something went wrong this ride. I thought I drank and ate plenty, but in the end, possibly not enough. It meant I trailed in last of our original group, but received sympathy from other riders who passed me and I commiserated with other riders who had the same trouble. Maybe there was something in the air.
We toured covered bridges; Erwinna (1832), Loux (1874), Cabin Run (1871) and Frankenfield (1872). Sheard's Mill (1873) was crossed on the metric Century ride.
50 and Metric Century Cue Sheet:
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That looks like a lot of climbing in 50 miles; that may explain the cramps. I tried a very hilly metric century last weekend, ended up breaking a spoke nipple and had to get sagged back to the start.
ReplyDeleteThat must be it, but normally, 50 hilly miles is quite achievable by me ... I think the problem was that every part of the ride required attention, either uphill, downhill or direction and I just didn't take the opportunity to drink enough. Also I overdressed for the start of the ride - it was cold - but got too hot as the temperature went up. I have to figure a way to keep warm yet adapt as the day progresses.
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