Carol, Karen and I rode in the Boys and Girls Club Challenge event on Sunday, September 18, 2011.  The Old Trail Village Swim Club hosted the event.  There were approximately 350 riders venturing out on 25, 50, 75 mile routes.We were going on the 50 mile route — which was actually 55 miles.  Here is the route and the route in full screen.

The weather was 55F and mostly cloudy at the 9:15am starting time.  The first five miles were challenging because all of the riders are bunched up and displaying widely varying cycling skills.  We were very cautious as we moved forward in the pack and passed riders.  Batesville (mile 5) to the first rest stop at Greenwood Station (mile 12) had a lot of cyclists but smaller riding groups were forming so navigation was safer and things started to settle in.  There were enough climbs to start separating the riders out as well. There was a bad crash on Ortman around mile 10 during a steep decent on a tight curve.  We were told later that the rider had broken ribs but no head or neck injuries.

After grabbing some food and topping of the water bottles, we head off to White Hall and the second rest stop. This segment was a gentle climb that was notable for some safety issues because there was heavier car traffic on White Hall Rd/Buck Road and cyclists riding 2-3 abreast for long stretches.  These two factors combined to create some tense moments as cars passed with frustration in less than ideal places on the road.  At mile 20, the 25 mile route rider split off and started back to Crozet.  The 20 mile point marked the point were the Carol, Karen and I were riding pretty much on our own.

We skipped the White Hall rest stop at mile 20.5 and started the long twelve mile (12) climb towards Boonesville.  The stretch is mostly gentle uphill grades.  But around mile 26 there is a climb.  We’d only eaten a bit at the first rest stop and skipped the second rest stop.  So hunger started kicking in on the climb.  Thankfully, the four miles after the climb were mostly downhill or flat but they were a long four miles. In our minds we kept saying what young kids say on trips – ‘are we there yet?’.  The Boonesville rest stop was a quiet place with only a handful of riders.  We ran into Johanna there.  She was doing the 50 mile route as well but on her own.  She headed out just as we arrived at the stop. We were 32.8 miles into the ride.  We really ate and drank at this rest stop.

We headed out from Boonesville towards Free Union feeling refreshed.  That 7 mile stretch on Free Union Road is generally downhill with a few climbs.  We moved along pretty well to Free Union.  In Free Union, we turned right on Millington with only seventeen miles to go.  Millington is only a 5 mile road.  Millington is mostly flat – except for two hills.  One of those Millington hills at mile 41 was .33 miles long with 15% to 20% grades.  That was a tough climb.  The legs felt the burn! From that point forward, we did not have quite as much power or zip on the flats for the remaining 15 miles.

The White Hall rest stop lifted our spirits. We had food, water and only 10 ‘mostly down hill’ miles to Crozet.  The real climbs were behind us.  So we cranked our way back to Crozet enjoying the warm afternoon weather.  We zipped down Old Trail Road the final mile to the swim club and across the finish line.  The bikes were stored and we hit the food table.  I had some pizza, pumpkin bread and water.  The plastic picnic chairs were so comfortable compared to the bike’s seat.

We did not stay too long at the pool.  The crowd was pretty thin by then.  We averaged about 14mph for the trip.  No crashes, cramping or bonking.  We felt pretty darn good all around.

Next event is the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival 10/22.  Can’t wait.