So now it's 2003 and I have an invitation to my cousin's wedding back in my home town. Though I had vowed to not try this again, what better way to get back home than by bike? This time I have a follower in a car, albeit many hours behind, and a true destination - my friend's house in New Cumberland, PA. My worries are few and I decide to just have a good day of riding. It's June 5th.
At 6:48am I push off for Pennsylvania. It's a moderate south wind behind me with some light fog all around me, but burning off quickly. A big change from my other adventures is that today is starting off cool - about 58 degrees. I wear my warmers and a vest to warmth and a flashing red light for others to see me.
I just reach New Market after one hour, averaging 18.3mph. After two hours I'm at the south end of Woodstock, having slowed slightly to 18.2mph. Part of that is the road construction that is happening. Middletown is the mark of hour three, holding steady at 18.2mph. Ten more minutes and I take my first break - about twelve minutes. Though it's still cool temperature-wise, I feel pretty warm and shed my warmers. The vest has already been off and then on again, then off one last time before this stop. Now it's off for good.
At the four hour mark I'm through Winchester and my on-bike speed has slowed to 18.1mph. (Note: all speeds are on-bike time, not total time.) This time I think it's due to the utility work going on. I reach West Virginia's border after four hours and twenty-three minutes. I'm feeling so good that by five hours I reach Martinsburg and am back up to 18.3mph. The 100-mile mark is reached after five hours, forty-three minutes, or 5:31 saddle time. I'm in Falling Water and right away I take my second break. This one lasts twenty minutes and I notice I've passed the six hour mark of my journey, with the average speed now 18.1mph, which is thus also the average for the century.
As I start again, I notice the wind is now heavier and from the west. A few more miles and I finally cross the Potomac River and reach Maryland. Then I'm doing the long climb off the Potomac. After seven hours I've made Pennsylvania's state line. The wind has shifted more from the north now and the incessant climbing, though not steep, is weighing on me. I've noticed my speed has dropped down to 17.8mph. In another hour I've made Green Village but have been able to hold my speed steady. It seems the wind is shifting back to being out of the west and I anxiously await Carlisle, when I'll be heading due east.
Shippensburg is the setting for my ninth hour and my third and final rest stop. I seem to linger here, knowing I'm well ahead of my original schedule. I tried some potato chips to get some extra sodium, but they don't sit well with me. They're not on my normal list of ride foods and I doubt they ever will be. My speed has held steady at 17.8mph again.
In another hour I've made Carlisle and have picked up my speed just a notch to 17.9mph. I've got a lot of rush hour traffic now and many traffic lights to negotiate. Except for a slight pain in my left knee, I'm feeling pretty good. A rumble off to my right brings my attention to the freight train over there. In another few minutes I cross a bridge and look down on that same train, take a few turns, and arrive at my friend's doorstep. It's 5:44pm and I'm done for the day. My total time is 10:56 and my ride time is 10:02. Today would have been a good day to go after my record of 215 miles in a day, but I'm happy to be where I am. I don't have the foot pain I had the first time, but I've also switched pedals and shoes. The shower feels good, and the stromboli tastes great. It's been a good day.
Above is the route profile of this ride. Note that nowhere is it one long downhill, nor one long uphill. Of course, sometimes I had a quick climb or descent. After a while it can wear on you. The Potomac is there at about mile 103, the lowest point of my ride.