My First Bike Race

I rode my first bike race this past weekend.  It was incredible!  I went from work to grab some breakfast and drive to the start, got there at about 5:15.  The race started at 6:15.  With 1300 cyclists and no staggering for the start, I was pretty nervous about getting knocked down or hitting another rider.  The start was intense, the gun went off, and we started out on a downhill traveling at 25 mph.  What a thrill!  I was scared out of my mind.  I was not there to set any records.  I didn't even set a time goal.  I was there to have fun.  I hadn't done a race without a goal since my second marathon.  It was great to take my time at the SAG stations, munch on pretzels and fruit, get some water, and talk with strangers about the weather and their hometown's weather. 

The ride was a total of 72 miles.  I completed it in 4:25 averaging 16.3 mph.  As people twice my age zoomed past me, I reminded myself that they probably slept the night before :-).