Notes
I wake up with Starbucks espresso and scones and get to it. The winds have been raging all night and are predicted to blow at 15-25mph out of the Southeast with gusts up to 45mph. Usually I don't ride in this kind of weather, but DH and I are here, and I really need a good training ride for a big ride in August. I google "What winds are not safe for riding a bike in?" I determine very quickly that I need to HTFU and put my big girl panties on. The hotel is only a few miles from the starting line so I decide to just ride up there (logged separately). Whilst riding I determine that it maybe the wind isn't THAT bad. Of course I am riding in a tailwind on the way up.
We start right on time at 7am, headed South into a quartering headwind. I struggle for miles and miles, never finding any heavy dude to draft behind or group to join. I see another woman who looks like she is in my age group, head down, nearly in the drops, trying to reduce drag. This is the most difficult riding weather I have ever encountered. At one point we have such heavy cross winds with huge gusts that it is amazing I don't fall off my bike or get blown off the road. At the aid stations many of the larger male riders are commenting on how horrible the conditions are. It is difficult to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Northern New Mexico. Still, there are nice moments, when we would get a reprieve behind the shelter of a hill. Around 52 miles we begin our turn back North, gaining a massive tailwind. This part is fast and fun, except there are still gusts to contend with. There are some rollers, then a few soul crushing inclines at the end of the ride. My arms start to ache from all of the effort to hold the handlebars steady. My pace drops off dramatically from all of the built up fatigue, and I feel like I am just inching along. I start counting down the miles. 20 more to go. 15 more to go.
I see 99 miles on my GPS and say to myself "only a few more miles", since the ride is actually over a Century at 106 miles total.
Suddenly at the First Baptist church, 2 miles from the finish, trouble strikes. I hear a loud clunk and my gears and chain seize up. How I manage to unclip and not fall is unknown. I look down to see my derailleur completely embedded in the back spokes of my wheel. What the Hell? The pully pops off, and I am unable to get the derailleur out of the spokes. It is stuck like a mother. Random expletives spew. I call K and he comes to my rescue, even offering to try and fix the bike so I can finish (not possible in its current state without tools). I am sooo glad he is here...Otherwise I would have had to wait for the SAG (hours) or call a cab. In retrospect I have been very lucky to not have major mechanical issues in any of my other Century rides. Guess I was due for one.
At this point, even though I don't cross the official finish line I am glad the ride is OVER, and since there are more than 100 miles on the GPS and 5374' gain, I am calling it good. Onwards!