It was spur of the moment so I rode alone. Actually I can rarely get folks to ride a century anymore.
A century is very hard. My body would echo this sentiment.
Today I took notice of most increases and decreases of speed.
The first half mile from the Edisto Gardens is down-hill to the Edisto River.
You're climbing gently but climbing nevertheless from the Edisto River to Cordova.
I didn't notice the tail wind because of the hill to Cordova.
Turning toward the school above and for the next 8 miles I'd have a cross wind that wasn't that friendly.
Turning on Cannon Bridge Road I had a more of a tail wind.
I'd average more closely to 21 mph Cannon Bridge Road. I was between 16 to 21 mph from the Gardens.
Hurricane Gustav was shaking up some funky winds.
The predominate wind would be from the north, instead of from the west or southwest.
For most of the first 35 miles I was going south and the wind was better for me.
Every rise seemed to slow me down to around 16.
The rises were very gentle too.
I took my usual favorite photos but tried to keep the pace up.
I had remarked the day before how I used to try to average 20 mph riding alone.
Now I try to average 18.
I used to fail at trying to ride at 20.
Now I fail at trying to ride at 18.
I'll go on and try anyway.
I'm not a racer as much as I just dislike getting dropped.
But there's a lot to be said for trying to ride faster.
I didn't know what the storms around the Gulf Coast would stir up for me.
There were showers as I was leaving Charleston.
I wanted to do the course and make sure the route was as I had defined it.
I wanted to "really feel the course" just as the riders would in November.
So I could cut the course short or try to do it fast enough to get it done.
The weather would indeed be kind to me today.
Ehrhardt came soon enough and I got a huge coke for fuel.
I was surprised to see the big crowd at "Rachel's".
Ehrhardt was quiet but for the restaurant.
The soft drink would work fine and agree with my thirst and stomach.
You can see that throughout the ride there are light hills that can be very slow without a favorable wind.
Even by River's Bridge State Park the highway rises a tad in front of you.
Here I turn westward on Rivers Bridge Road.
Now I'm heading north on 19 toward Colston. The wind is more unfavorable.
It's a great day for cows.
I took a lot of photos on 19. I wouldn't be able to take many pics toward the end of the ride.
The road isn't exactly flat.
Very easy grades compared to the mountains where I've lived.
I've climbed 17,000 ft. in a day before. Today just a couple thousand or so will be more than enough.
These are very easy hills. The grades would hardly be noticed on a different day.
The pavement isn't perfectly smooth but it's not bad.
Quite a few rises on the "Colston Road".
On 19 I headed due north into the wind and the road rises.
I love photos of fire departments.
This was a school once.
Soybeans are the choice crop down here right now.
The road smoothes out on the "Ehrhardt Road"..
Here I have a slight grade with a cross wind as I head west toward Govan.
After crossing 301 I turn back into a headwind.
The feeling of a headwind would diminish after I got into my car back in Orangeburg.
The hills would also dissipate after getting into my car 30 miles later..
The roads would be mostly smooth though.
Labor Day Party 2008
I wanted to stop and ask about this gathering. It was so inviting.
The Little Salkehatchie
Hills and wind but very pretty.
With 20 to go I stopped and got a juice and a coke right at 301 and Snake Swamp Road.
Snake Swamp Road
On Blewer Road I no longer wanted to take pictures.
The wind and hills slowed me down to 11 mph at times. I needed to be off the bike.
I forgot to take a picture of the beautiful fountain and other attractions at the Gardens earlier.
Now I would be too tired and in too much pain.
I had to use 6 hours and 13 minutes to ride 100.2 miles with 2600 feet of climbing and winds.
I averaged 16.1 mph. My effort was 20 mph plus. I'm just over the hill.
The GPS had Cordova as the high point of the ride at 293.
The lowest point at about 73 feet seemed to be around Rivers Bridge State Park.
Back at the Edisto Gardens in Orangeburg I stripped down to my shorts and bathed in the Edisto River.
I stopped by BiLo's and got 2 small protein shakes and a carrot juice.
This got me back toward my usual state.
However, the pain I was experiencing in my hips and joints was something new.
Nothing has signaled old or older age such as this pain.
You're as young as you feel. I was very, very old after this ride.
My rear tire was low dismounting from the bike and then completely flat later.
That was it. Yeah. It was low air pressure. Yeah.
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November 8, 2008
Orangeburg's
Rivers Bridge Ramble
Quarter Century
Metric Century
Century
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October 11, 2008
Tour De Round O
40 miles
Metric
Century
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