An early test

We are psyched and looking forward to Portland Maine. Tom Ryan and I set our clocks early and got up for the Princeton Freewheelers annual biking extravaganza on Saturday morning.With all the stress and nonsense over my attempts to sell our house I was not at all sure I had enough miles to date. And so it was with some trepidation that we chose the century but I was the instigator so there was no backing out. Although there was threat of T-storms the weatherman cooperated...a bit humid but temps only in the 80s (as opposed to the 90s we have been experienceing) and a bit of a breeze (per Tom: constant headwind). The course this year ran through central New Jersey in and out of small towns as well as a long run through the McGuire military base where we were entertained by the sounds of weekend reservists practicing their gunnery skills. Also skirted a long scenic lake and lots of horse farms and fields of corn and beans that make NJ the Garden State. And, as you might guess, while there were a few rollers here and there but it is mostly flat which is not a bad thing for century on a warm summer's day.

Bottom line: we did 105 miles at a 15.5 mph average and I think consumed about a dozen bottles of water between the two of us. We hooked up with a couple of "fellow travelers" at one point and up a little five person pace line - lots of fun for the 8 or 10 miles we kept it up - we ended at a SAG stop but the others were the ones who were panting and ready for a break not us (sorry if that sounds like bragging, guilty as charged).

So we sat with our post-ride lunch and agreed that we will be ready for Maine and our east coast adventure. Speaking for myself I have some riding to do between now and then but we know the base is down and we are looking forward to meeting up with our XC09 mates and pedalling down the East Coast.