Shellene and I rode the Marko Polo Populaire yesterday, it was a very mixed group of riders, including 5 riders who were new to Randonneuring, and had never seen a recumbent in action.  There were 4 tandems riding (including Val and Robin on their new tandem), so we were slightly outnumbered - but not outclassed
 
During the first section, Shellene and I mainly rode with the 3 new DF bikes, taking time to answer their questions about our bikes.
 
As Shellene rolled away from everyone on the Wiley rollers:
 
Q:  How is it you are so fast?
A:  It's the engines.
 
I then explained that we are far more aero than a DF, so we build up speed better, and don't lose it as fast on the following climb.  I didn't point out that Shellene lives right by those hills, and rides them quite often.
 
The 3 DFs decided that they were going to stick together, and Shellene wanted to keep pushing her legs, so we rolled out of Caddo Mills first, with 3 of the 4 tandems (and Gary G) right on our heels.  Jeff Elmer and Mark M. were taking it easy today, so we weren't worried about the new guys.  We should have been.
 
We left Princeton as a small group, were Gary/Sandy were explaining to the new tandem (up from Austin) about how the recumbents are more efficient individually than a tandem, which is why Shellene and I are so fast.  Shortly thereafter we found one of the 3 DF riders, he had missed Princeton!  Instead of heading back to the control, the other tandem gave him two spare bottles, since he was empty.  At this point the group split up, with Gary G, Val/Robin rolling off the front, Gary/Sandy stayed with the other tandem while Shellene and I made sure that the DF was going to make it.  He drained both of the full bottles in about 10 miles, and took one off of my bike.  Once we got to Allen, he stopped at a CVS to get more liquids, so Shellene and I finished together, behind Gary G and Val/Robin.  We passed Gary/Sandy (without noticing) while they were checking directions, and the other tandem missed them as well, and rolled off the course.
 
The DF rider (I'm bad with names) finished his first century, and wasn't that bad off, after a while the missing tandem rolled it.  A good day on the bike, 11.5 Big Macs for the day.

shush!  Quit giving away our secrets or everyone will want a bent!!!!