One year, Twenty Degrees and a Tailwind

Once again, the Rhinos invaded the Assenmacher 100 Century route. We met in Swartz Creek at 7:30 to register and prepare for an 8am departure. This year we had a core group of eight ride together on the century route, including Joel, Rick, Pete, Randy, Bill, Merry, Tom and Steve. Many other Rhinos participated, but rode in separate groups, including Dan W., Cindy, Steve & Julie, Greg and Marty, Claudio, and Ken and Kevin. Nearly everyone wore their club jerseys, so there was a lot of purple and yellow on the route.

There was only a slight chance of rain, and it was forecast as a possibility in the early afternoon. Still, some of us took rain gear or a jacket, some took arm warmers or a vest, and others just took their chances. As it turns out, we felt a few drops before departing and totally avoided the clouds that dropped rain at home.

The temperature and winds provided fantastic conditions for the day's challenge. Last year, Pete and I finished in about five and a half hours with an 18.1mph average. In the days leading up to this year's ride, Pete challenged me to beat my average from last year. Ah, last year... how could I forget. I tried to keep up with the Rhino peleton for the first half of the ride, only to bonk at 55 miles at the Sleepy Hollow rest stop. The temperature was already approaching 90, I was dehydrated, under-nourished, and dizzy. I didn't know how I would make it back. I took a long rest, drank and ate, and then drank and ate some more. Pete saw a fellow club member in need and helped me limp back. Actually, I recovered and most of the trip back wasn't so bad, except the nasty southbound stretch on Durand Road where we had a strong crosswind and no shelter. I made it though - only my second century ever! That was last year, and it was a vivid memory going into this year's ride.

Well, one year, twenty degrees and a tailwind make all the difference in the world. Unlike last year, the core Rhino group rode together for the entire ride... well, almost. Unlike last year, the temperature this Sunday was a brisk 65 at departure and peaked around 73 on our return. Unlike last year, we had an ever increasing northwest tailwind pushing us home from the Sleepy Hollow rest stop. These three factors combined and we came in with an incredible 18.8mph average.

For the entire ride, the Rhino peleton was only passed once; by a large group of what had to be 20 or more, wearing a mixed-bag of jerseys. Joel said it was the Assenmacher group, but I don't know how he could tell. Twice, one strong solo rider (Scott) latched on to our group and sucked a wheel. After the last rest stop where we left Bill in the bathroom last year, Joel, Rick and Randy decided to turn up the hurt factor and kicked up the pace to a solid 25mph. A few of us couldn't quite hang on at that pace, so we split into two groups for the last 15 miles or so. Pete saw us fall off the back, darn... we were hoping they would just ride on and the rest of us could just soft pedal for the last leg. No such luck. We re-grouped with Pete and he led us at darn near 24 the whole way back. It was just hard enough to hurt, but just easy enough to be able to hang on. Joel's group who gapped us came in at 18.9. Joel later said he was really pushing for 19.0. Maybe next year.

In the last year, I've learned little tips from my Rhino mentors. I now bring a change of clothes for the post-ride get-together, I bring a cooler with a selection of my favorite recovery drinks (wink, wink), and I learn each ride about proper hydration and nutrition. Each century is a learning experience and training for the next.

So, another century in the log book, and another opportunity to share the fun and the pain with fellow club members. The most rewarding thing about this year's Assenmacher wasn't breaking my PR average speed, it was that we stayed together as a group and all supported each other nearly the entire way.

Pete had better not challenge me next year to beat this year's average!

Ken and Kevin..., what was your final average for the ride?

If you're interested, here's the Garmin download of the ride.

Cheers,

Tom