Indiana Randonneurs Populaire (04/09/2016)

A populaire is considered a ride that is 100k - 199k.  Indiana Radonneurs populaire was 100k.  Since my knee during the Death March did so well I decided to ride to this event, compete the event, then ride back home.  The ride was 60miles with about 60miles to and fro the start/finish, giving me around 120miles.  The ride started at 8a.m. so I left my house at 5:30a.m.

On the ride to the event I found a driver that had veered off the road and had a terrible wreck.  I called 911, however the driver did not survive.  I don't know when the accident occurred.  It was unseasonably cold this morning, low 30s, there was snow on the ground and the driver was outside of the car, I believe he went through the windshield.  It was still very dark at this time.

After giving the police my report I continued riding, considering what to do.  I felt bad, I was running late now, and didn't know if I wanted to continue to the ride.  Eventually I decided that riding a bike to the point of exhaustion would be best for me.  So I continued my commute north to the start of the populaire.

I pushed hard trying to make the start of the ride.  When I showed I was tired, my water bottles were filled with frozen water, and I discovered that I forgot my wallet.  I brought very little food thinking that I would buy food at the controls.  So now I have frozen water and little food for the start of this ride where I'm already tired from pushing, and a little chilly. 

I would assume the temp never increased greater than 40 degrees the entire ride.  The wind was very strong from the north adding to the chill.  The 60 miles populaire was a lot more difficult than I anticipated.  When finished I had to pedal 30miles home, at least I was heading south with the wind to the back.  This was a very challenging start to the season, a very good test for my knee, which it thankfully passed.

Gear:

Bike shorts
long tights
convertible Columbia pants
wicking shorts sleeve shirt
long sleeve wool shirt
frog togg shell
base sock
wool sock
5 10 shoes

Food:
2 cliff bars
1 cliff power block
1 recoverer drink mix
 3 water bottles that froze but eventually thawed for the ride home.