Biker Bob and I did the 108-km Bunn Warmer perm-pop on Black Friday.
[Btw, the climbing est. on the RUSA website is based on a TrimbleOutdoors map;
You likely know that means the climbing is much more than the indicated 1766 ft.
RWGPS comes up with ~ 3570 ft. -- and you likely know that is a high estimate.]
We were somewhat concerned that there might be significant traffic on Buffalo Rd in the afternoon.
Amazingly, there seemed to be less traffic on that road than I've ever previously experienced.
But that is getting ahead of the story.
Turbo had sent a bailing-out, due to severe a migraine headache, email late Thursday;
However, neither Bob nor I picked up the email until after the ride on Friday.
We waited an extra 10-minutes before starting, but
As it was chilly even in the bright sunshine, we decided to start sans Tim.
(As noted above, we later learned that not waiting for Tim was a good thing.)
At 0910 to 0920, there was almost no traffic on Peace Street, and
We made pretty good time getting out of downtown.
However, no matter how you slice it, there are several stop-lights likely to be red.
And there are also a couple inconveniently located stop-signs.
For example, one stop-signs half-way down a non-trivial decline.
Oh, well -- the price of starting downtown.
After clearing downtown, we kept up a steady though not hurrying pace.
Mostly into the N by NE breeze.
It wasn't a bad headwind, but we got a reminder every "true" north section.
It was also noticeable even on the "true" east Fowler Rd decline.
It wasn't a bad headwind, but I found myself waiting to drink
Instead of drinking while pedaling into the breeze.
Finally, I reminded myself that not-drinking is a good way to get dehydrated.
We arrived at the Bunn Subway at 1145.
2 hours, 35 minutes of actual elapsed time, into the breeze.
Not bad.
Not cold.
But we were looking forward to sitting for a bit in the Subway.
We were also looking forward to the tail-breeze on the return.
Time got away from us as we leisurely ate our respective lunches,
Chatting about topics narrow and wide, near and far, ... who can recall what we chatted about?
Anyway, it was nearly 1230 when we got the return leg underway.
We were riding faster than the actual breeze,
So we had an apparent headwind most of the way back.
However, it was easier pedaling on the return than it had been on the outbound.
After all, the breeze was actually at our backs.
And the sun was higher, and the temps were a bit warmer,
And we took advantage of the lightly traveled rural roads to continue our chats.
Just don't ask what we chatted about.
As I have no recollection of any of the details.
I did make sure to twist my head to the north and to the south,
To take in the respective vistas to either side of Fowler Rd,
Sorry, no photos.
But the vistas are nice enough (if you aren't so foolish as to try to compare them to mountains or such).
We thought we were short-stopping the Wake Xpress control,
Some 15 miles before the end.
But ... I'm not sure.
There was more construction at the Buddhist Temple "complex" on whatever road that is.
Looks like a real temple is being constructed.
Larger than the small addition on the side of the house that used to be the main dwelling there.
Also seemed like there were more pure white statues than before.
Sorry, no photos.
Surprisingly, I found the last two climbs on Forestville(?) Rd to be trivial.
Usually, they knock me back.
Soon, we were sliding past the back side of the cemetary --
I really ought to take the trouble to get the name, it of historical importance in Raleigh --
And traversing downtown Raleigh.
To avoid possible heavy traffic, the route winds about to get across downtown.
Traffic lights in downtown Raleigh seem designed for quick north-south car passage,
Not so much for east-west traffic.
Except on Peace Street -- and that might not be such a good idea in the afternoon.
Due to winding around, we got to cycle a bit on three of the four original Raleigh boundary streets:
East Street,
North Street,
West Street.
Interesingly, traffic seemed light until we reached Cameron Village,
The first shopping center in Raleigh (late 40's or early 50's), and
Also, the end of our ride.
Bob and I had an excellent time.
But not an adventure, and not fast.
Our story, to which we will be sticking, is that Bob was saving something for a 200 perm on Saturday.
====================================================
Nov-29:
Bunn Warmer 108-km perm-pop; 67.9 m.; 4h48 in-motion; 14.1 mph, elapsed time: 6h15.
Q-1 tot: _11 rides; _940.3 m; _64h42; 14.5 mph; 1275 RUSA kms.
Q-2 tot: _18 rides; 2293.9 m; 158h18; 14.5 mph; 3142 RUSA kms.
Q-3 tot: _19 rides; 2027.8 m; 134h34; 15.1 mph; 2383 RUSA kms.
Oct tot: __3 rides; _366.6 m; _24h16; 15.1 mph; _348 RUSA kms.
Nov tot: __5 rides; _482.3 m; _33h11; 14.5 mph; _724 RUSA kms.
YTD tot: _56 rides; 6110.9 m; 415h14; 14.7 mph; 7872 RUSA kms.
I don't like it when I fail to post a ride until the following month. Two "failures" at the end of November.
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