Strange how the same course can give you three completely different rides. The wind this time was somewhat in your face headed out, but that meant a slight tailwind coming back. I think the big difference in my improved time was the tailwind let me get up around 23 mph on the flatter stretches on the return trip, and of course the faster you can start a climb the "shorter" the hill, therefore the hills were not the big time killers they were before. I think I was less than 2 minutes slower on the return than the outbound leg. I never saw anything on the computer over 27 outbound, so my 30.2 max might have happened on the return too. Don't think I ever got in the biggest gear. Also the brand new smooth asphalt probably helped a lot. My 19.4 average hasn't happened since 1989, but of course back in those days it was 50+ miles!
Not too far after the turnaround I had just passed one of the girls that had started in front of us when a gravel truck pulled out into the road right in front of me.
I was doing about 23 at the time and slowed to 6 to avoid the truck. I thought we had eye contact, I guess he didn't realize how fast I was coming on or just didn't like cyclist. That probably cost me 10 seconds or so and I could only get back up to 19 before I caught the next uphill. After the finish that girl said I was hauling before that truck did its thing. If I'd had my rear view mirror to see what was happening behind me I could have passed him on the left. Not sure how that would have stood up to the rules about staying on the shoulder!
Mark, thanks for hanging around and getting the times. I waited around a while as long as I could but had to get home to entertain visiting family.
And Greg, that's a great time. Congrats on 1st place finish!