Solo Mid-week Ride
By Bill Pye
The mid-week Merrickville 200 had everything except multiple riders.
I waited until 745 in the faint hope that someone might show up. Especially, as it was not raining yet. I figured may be one of the riders who said they might come if it was not raining would show.
I won't do that again because I added 45 minutes to my finishing time without turning a pedal.
The ride to Merrickville was uneventful. It was overcast with a little wind. But leaving Merrickville the windtunnel effect that I remembered from last year's first Merrickville 200 started. The wind was everywhere but behind you.
But after North Augusta the real fun began. Rain, sleet and at one stage a little snow such that I did what I am famous for and missed a turn and added a few kilometres backtracking.
Oh and I cannot forget the cold. The day started around 13 or 14 but by the end with the windchill it must have been below zero.
It rained for about four hours. I brought 2 pairs of polar fleece light gloves and was wearing wool fingerless gloves. I kept switching pairs of fleece gloves as they soaked through. I would wring them out and wrap them in newspaper in my bike bag. They dried pretty well like that so my fingers never got really cold. I brought two light polypropolene balakavas and switched them in the same manner.
The rain died down towards the end but not the wind.
Anyway it is over. I asked for mid-week brevets here. And could not let the first one go unridden. I hope to make all the mid-week rides(I am organizer for all of them). Hpefully the weather will be better next time. It was quite the experience. The longest I have ever ridden in constant bad weather.
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