Strathmore 200!

[Erik Bakke]

Gents, beauty day out there.  Here's some of the funny things I remember each year that randonneuring bring right to the forefront:

- Alberta might be short water this spring, but once again, we are not short of blue sky and certainly not headwind!  The Crossfield down to Strathmore leg was pretty "breezy".  

- I started my Garmin properly on roll out.  About a km in, I realized I hadn't started RidewithGPS.  So I click "navigate" and it says I need to renew my subscription this year.  I'm happy to report that this was accomplished while rolling, although my hand got cold.

- Right from parking lot roll out I was his hitting red lights.  I like to hit numbers on rides and was trying to claw back up to 30km/h, but the start is hilly, then the slate of lights dashed my hopes.  I also got to wait for the train twice (Airdrie and Beiseker).  Upon reflection, I only made it though one light all day, including the drive to and from - the last couple KM coming into the finish I "accelerated" (haha) for a stale yellow just to not have my flow state blocked again!

- It's funny how you lose perspective.  Working toward Strathmore, I was contemplating lack of fitness, how I need more staying power, all that as my speed was low.  Then I U turned and instantly my speed doubled.  I had been in a headwind for hours, and just got normalized to it and forgot how fun biking is without one.

- I did probably a 40m loop back from the finish back up to the Costco parking lot entrance just to make sure my Garmin tripped over 200 at the finish, your measurements may vary!

I was surprised how comfortable the day was.  I started with shoes but no covers, ski socks, knickers and bib shorts.  I forgot a thermal shirt but wore an icebreaker t shirt, a front only windstopper Assos jersey, and a wind jacket.  Peeled the gloves by about 8:45, I think the jacket before Beiseker.  I had thought my feet might start cold in the morning but it was never an issue.  

Riders going on Saturday will have less tandem haul truck traffic by Strathmore, it was dense but they were very courteous, and I waved to all of them who passed with space so they're predisposed to our folk hopefully.  The shoulders were pretty good all day, bit of gravel but not bad.  

https://www.strava.com/activities/11160106711/overview

[Relentless]

How was the new start location?

[Erik Bakke]

I thought the location was totally convenient, and given we don't have the choice of quaint little European cafes on cobbled courtyards, it'll do ; )

The finish was untraffic'd, and downhill too which is nice.  At 200km I was sufficiently tired stepped off and got a burger contrasting with at 200km in Roubaix, MVDP attacked and held off the pro peloton for 60km... so the A&W did it's job perfectly.