Centurion C50

As this summer has been far to hot for me top handle running without jumping into EVERY random water crossing (creeks, sprinklers, rivers, lakes, strangers pools) I have been doing a far amount of cycling. I even committed to cycling to work as often as possible. Unfortunately I had to give up that goal a month or two  as the roads department tar and bouldered with out my permission.

To top off this excessive cycling I signed up for the CF50 event with Centurion Cycling. It is a 50mile/80k ride/ race. The company that stages the events motto is 'Racers race, and Riders Ride". I did a bit of both.

In actual the ride is 87k as the timing mats are positioned for a riding start 5kish from the starting corrals. As the plan was to have a casual ride I joined the casual enthusiast corral. Which when you look at my time- yep I belong there.

Several members of the tri club were doing it, and thankfully we all found each other in the starting corral....and set off. I was really cold so wore a throw away sweater for awhile. There are three big climbs with many many others in between. The one hill I was rather concerned about was on country road 13 going up to Epping. ... and it wasn't that bad. I honestly just spinned and took my mind of it by talking to anybody I could. Just being really positive. One fellow of whom I admired his matte black cervelo, told me of how it was free as he is the shipping manager of the company. I tried to convince him that Hanover would be a great place to set up operations- no go. This is a totally draft legal event so it was my first opportunity to ride in a pelition. It is true, you are just sucked along. But as that was my first opportunity to ride in a large group like that I didn't last long without mentally feeling drained, and needed a break. Did see one person post crash. There were several people already stopped, so I didn't.

My goal time was 3.5hours. My chip ended up being 3:13. My 80k split is 3:18. My gun doesn't matter. but I do not understand the results. In any event I have no clue why I am so slow on the bike. I mean I put a reasonable amount of time on it relative to my friends? I work hard, but that just is not reflected in my times. What am I doing wrong? My shifters were off- as in when I changed the back the front responded. That is the last time I go to that bike guy for a tune up! My descents were crap as I am terrified of bouncing off the pavement and come to a skidding halt, my skin marking the pavement so I didn't even hit 55k on the downhills.  It all comes down to what am I doing so wrong??

Great event, great time, great venue. Wonderful organization, friendly vibe. Crap food. Hamburger and mixed greens. No onions for the burgers and when I say mixed greens I mean JUST mixed greens. Cookies and bananas for desert. Poor.