This weekend represented several firsts for me and I handled myself well. Thank God the weather was perfect because it made the whole weekend easier.
Until the ride, the most miles I had ever strung together was 21 - I was about to demolish that in one day and then do it all over again the next day. In case you haven't done it before, 100 miles is a long way on a bicycle.
I had also never rode with anyone before. Neither a duo, nor a trio. No shop rides, group rides, charity rides, fun rides, races, nothing. One thousand people are a lot, especially in the beginning when everyone is bunched up, anxious, and hopped up on caffeine or whatnot.
I had never pulled, drafted, rode handle bar to handle bar or passed another cyclist. On occasion I have cursed one out for almost hitting me while riding in the wrong direction on the wrong side of the road. It was tense and exciting, but I made no major mistakes, had no mechanicals and was not involved in any crashes.
I had never eaten while riding, nor rode long enough to require snacks and a lunch. I was worried day two would be horrendous but after about 10 minutes my legs felt loose and strong. In the end I made it, averaging 18 miles an hour the whole weekend. I'm not very fast but I am no slouch.
