Bow Tie Metric 100km randonneur ride 2.09.2022

I went back for a repeat of this Permanent course, ridden in November, but this time I brought along two buddies, and I even remembered to bring my camera! Having the camera along meant I didn't have to do (non-)artist's renderings at the photo controls this time. Much more convenient. And Rick and Jim coming along meant I had cyclists to watch in the far distance ahead of me. Thank goodness they use blinkies.

Just as in last month's metric century, my thighs were protesting along the way. I'm not riding enough, I guess. Plus there was a fair amount of elevation on the course for this flat-lander - over 2100' of climbing. On top of that, I had changed out my rear derailleur cable recently, but hadn't run the shifting thru all the gears when finished to see if I got it right. I found out during some hill climbs today, no, I didn't get it right. I couldn't shift to my two lowest gears, and I wound up walking up a couple hills! *urk*

[Edit: Seems the problem was I hadn't tightened the rear derailleur pinch-bolt to spec, and the cable loosened up.]

The Garmin behaved itself today. Also, I learned how to lock the screen so it doesn't jump around to other views for no apparent reason. Nice. And Rick had an allen wrench that fit the Garmin mount, so I played around with different angles in order to get more ambient light on the screen at times. My Lezyne multi-tool has allen wrenches, but not the size I needed today. First time that brand has left me feeling let down.

At one point I saw laying on a quiet country road a fresh clean baggie with something in it. Shortly thereafter I saw another, then a third. It looked like the contents were a few smooth stones and a piece of paper with green printing. It occurred to me that maybe these were religious tracts to be found and read, with the stones added to keep the baggie from blowing away. I might have stopped to satisfy my curiosity if I wasn't already off the back.

It was a chilly day to start, around 33F, but the wind was light early on, and then it warmed up some. Pretty good riding day for February, actually.

Pics, route map and profile here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/82865464

Bow Tie Metric 100km randonneur ride 11.17.2021

 For my monthly metric century, I rode the Bow Tie Metric out of New Egypt NJ, about an hour's drive from home. I was solo, so with no time constraints and colder early temps, I took my time getting to the start, only to discover I'd left my phone at home! *urk* Well, no pictures today. 

I started riding, making a right turn out of the Wawa convenience store; after some miles of the Garmin's Off Course warning (nothing new), I saw a sign saying I was entering a military reservation. That's not right, I realized. So I turned around and after 8+ miles I was back at the start, making another right turn out of the Wawa, but a different exit, that put me on the correct road. My bad for not checking the road name on the big intersection signage previously. Bonus miles, right off the git-go. *urk again*

It turned out that four (4) of the controls wanted a picture to prove I had gone the correct route, no short-cutting. But I didn't have my phone / camera. When I had first discovered my phone missing, I thought to bring paper and pencil that I had in my vehicle, so at the controls I sketched out what I was supposed to photograph, using the saddle (working around its cutout) to support my paper 'canvas.' I don't know that my artist's renderings would hold up in court, but they were the best I could do in the circumstances. Along with the electronic file from the Garmin, there should really be no doubt I rode the whole route.

And the route was a nice one, with lots of roads thru woods and farm country. Worth riding again, for sure. However, with the bonus miles at the start, the ride was more distance than I am used to, and my legs felt it. But I experienced none of my dreaded cramping, thanks to dosing myself with the 2 Saltstick capsules every 20 miles or so.

I had a Garmin hiccup again, rearing its ugly head after I had stopped at a deli control for about 15 minutes (and enjoyed sitting in the sunshine eating and drinking). But with the cue sheets hanging off my handlebar, I was able to work things out. Again, the belt-and-suspenders approach paid off.

Fought headwinds toward the end of the ride, just as the forecast showed. Worst when riding by open fields, of course, but not too terribly bad. I saw a few autumn scenes that made me miss my camera. There were a number of times I thought, what a beautiful fall day to be out riding my bicycle.

On the Spesh Roubaix, as usual.

Route map with elevation profile and artist's renderings here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/78708289