Audax 200K Visualization:

(See yesterday’s post for details)

It’s just after 7:00 AM.  You have pulled into the parking lot to make ready for the ride.  The Sun is just peaking through the trees, low on the eastern horizon.  You look around.  Other riders are starting to arrive too.

In short order, everyone has bikes on the ground and each is sorting and checking equipment.  It’s a little cool, and you are trying to decide.  Do you want to wear arm warmers and a vest for the first couple of hours, only to carry them the rest of the day?  Or…  Are you going to tough out the first couple of cool hours, and not carry the extra stuff with you?  Should you apply sunscreen now, or wait until later?  (The answer to that is do it now!)  Are your tires pumped?  Bottles full?  Have you forgotten anything?

Soon it’s time.  The Road Captain calls you all together for a quick pre-ride briefing.  And it’s time to go.

A group of you assemble and push off.  Just like that, you are heading south on the Peachtree Parkway.  The group is big enough, and you all take command of the right hand lane.  The pace quickly establishes itself.  After the first mile, folks begin to settle down, and steady up.

In short order, you are all at the edge of Peachtree City, and startng the long climb to Senoia.  There will be the possibility of a stop in Senoia, but everyone hopes not to do this.  Better to go long on this first leg.

Once clear of the hills around Senoia, you are out on GA-85.  The group has settled down, and the leader starts to push the pace a bit.  This is fast country.  The road is flat, and there is little traffic.  It’s a good place to “bank “ some time.  By the time the turn for GA-362 comes up, everyone is feeling a little winded.  This road is one long set of rollers, so it’s a good place to settle down a bit, and ride a steady, even pace.  Recover and breath, hills ahead!

After the long climb up to Greenville, the group makes the first planned stop of the day.  You’ve done 33.5 miles, and your legs are good for it.  It’s going to be a good day!  It’s just over 16 miles to the town of Pine Mountain, and a quick stop to stretch and fill bottles.  Then the climb over Pine Mountain.

The group breaks up a bit on the Pine Mountain leg, but stops and regroups at the intersection with GA-85A.  Then there’s the tremendous downhill blast into Warm Springs.  Lunch awaits.  A brief break after lunch.  Time to check gear, re-apply sunscreen, and get mentally prepared for the return leg.

The big rollers on GA-85 are still ahead of you.  Your legs are feeling a bit tired, and you are a touch “loggy” after the big lunch.  But the general mood is upbeat and happy.  The pace is controlled.  It won’t really start to pick up again until 17 miles later, in the little town of Gay. 

You are conserving water.  The store in Gay is notoriously unreliable.  If necessary, an alternate water stop is possible in Concord.  But the next planned stop, after Gay, is in Digby.  That’s a big, reliable store, with good stocks, and the all important restrooms.

By Digby, you know you have this thing done.  It’s just 20 more, mostly easy miles to the end.  You look around.  You know you are tired, and you can see it in the other riders.  Tired, but not too tired.  Let’s go finish this thing!

As the group enters Peachtree City, the Road Captain forms you up into a column of twos, to ride north on the Peachtree Parkway.  This is a tradition.  It’s the triumph of a long hard ride, well done.

A snack, an change of clothing, possibly a quick shower at the end.

Is this a good day, or what?