Hi, all,

 

First, from the really HUGE turnout for last Sat 8 May Sunrise ride...there are a bunch of people who may show up to RTR4 to ride some or all of it....and we averaged ~20.3-20.5 mph on that ride....a speed a big group of us should be able to maintain all the way around the century route.

 

Second, for the first reason it sure does looks like a bunch of people will be there to ride RTR4 at ~20-21 mph, for some or all of the ride. I invite any one who is doing any distance...50-75-100 miles who wants to help us by being in our pack for however long you can...to ride with us.

 

Third, I'm really hopeful that if a bunch of us resist the crazy >25 mph early speeds and stick together at ~21 mph and stop at 50 and 75 miles for <5min for fluids and calories, we can help each other make it around for the full 100 in ~5 hours.  There may even be a weak S wind that may help us do the return trip a bit easier.

 

I appreciate that all bets can be off in the last ~10 miles in.  In fact, if the speeds climb to 22-23 -24 mph, I think I can still hang on in the draft for quite a while before I get dropped.

 

Caveat: If it gets too hot at +90 F and humid, I reserve the right to head back at 75 miles...but I plan to carry an extra bottle of plain water to douse and keep cool...hence another reason for stopping at 50 and 75 miles.

 

Fourth, I will likely wear the Astana kit...it's the light blue/yellow Lance version, not the Vino version...that fellow Sunrise riders put together for me.  I will be wearing a yellow/gray helmet riding a black Trek with black aero wheels.

 

See you at the start...ride the fast wave out, then settle in at a comfortable speed of ~21 mph...and spin those hills....Bob Howland