A new experience

At the Saratoga 12/24 I and D__ circled a 32.5-mile loop by bicycle as many times as we could in 12 hours. A nutso few kept going for 12 more. We had perfect weather with a light drizzle for 6 hours, overcast skies for the next 3 and some modest heat toward the very end of the day. The loop is chosen for its good road surfaces, unchallenging terrain, light traffic, and scarcity of stoplights -- designed to minimize the variables that might slow you down. It was certainly the fastest I've ever ridden over a long distance. But I can't get too excited about it; 3 competitors including D__ broke the prior course record and the winner lapped me in the final minute.