I picked up my bike for cycling in August 2011. I didn't know anything about the brand QuintanaRoo, but I found a bike in the local classifieds in the price range I was after. After a quick search I learned that they are pretty good bikes, very common in the triathlon market. This particular model, Tequilo, had some good reviews online so I decided to check it out and ended up buying it.
In 2011 I had done some commuting to work, nothing huge, 16miles to work........16miles home. My friend Brent tells me of these "big rides" or Grand Fondo's. Sounds good to me, lets do it. I only had one jersey at the time, signing up for the Fondo would get me another jersey. For a spell I was more interested in getting the jersey than doing the ride.
Apparently these Fondo's are huge. Hundreds of people signing up. It's a big deal in the cycling community. They are usually advertised as 100 mile rides. At this point there is no way I'm doing that. I figure with my commuting miles I could probably squeak out 50 miles. Lucky for me there is a 50 mile option, so that is where I sign on the line.
A concern I was having about this ride is that is was scheduled for the end of July. July in Cache Valley is really warm. I'll be honest, I wasn't looking forward to 3 hours of bike riding in 100 degree weather, but I really wanted to do this ride.
A week before the ride rain and clouds are in the forcast..........now we're talking! They day of the ride it is overcast and there is drizzly rain going on. I couldn't be happier for the weather. Internally I am really nervous. I'm always nervous when attempting something new, gotta get past that.
Here are a couple pics where we are getting the bikes ready.
Yeah, you know me. Gotta make a dorky face where I can.
The start of the Fondo is a mass start. Brent and I are in the middle of the pack. Here's a pic of those at the front of the pack. These at the front are the cyclist that are taking on the 100 mile ride. Good for them. Maybe one of these days I'll be daring enough to tackle that.
I'm not sure why we have bib numbers. Maybe it's to help identify the corpse when someone kills over from the long bike ride. One of the things I'm not sure of it how the local populus takes to all these bikers going through town. For the first 5 miles there is a police escort to get us out of the city limits. The last 10 miles is through town where some roads are shut down to help keep the cyclers safe. Honestly, when I come across a road closed sign I'm a little put out. Loganites have to be feeling the same way. Also there is the sharing the road. Sometimes it can be difficult coming up on a group of riders. I've never come up on a group of hundreds of riders. I did what I could to stay right while on the road, but sometimes it was prudent to veer left to get away from the stickerbushes.
Scenery was typical Cache Valley. Houses and building in the cities and lots of rolling hills in the outskirts. It really was pretty.
It was an excellent ride. 50 miles was just right for me. The last 10 were a little uphill, so a little grueling after the 40 miles before them. It took me more than the three hours I thought it would, due to refueling breaks and flat repairs (Brent accounting for the majority of those). On a positive note, the hard core cyclists on the 100 mile loop were finishing up their ride about the time I finished up my 50 mile ride. Holy cow they are fast. Unfortunately I think I started this hobby a little too late in the game. I doubt I'll every be able to ride that fast.
Here's one of me trying to cool off at the finish line. The overcast clouds had dispersed and some good summer heat was showing through. It was starting to get warm.
It was a great experience. I'll add this to my list of things to do. Who know, maybe one day I'll get that 100 mile ride in.
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