Now is the time for some afterthoughts.

The big ride is over; and I can think about what went right; what didn\’t go so well; and what I can do to improve for future long rides.

I\’m sure the work I did to improve my force helped. On the other hand, it\’s obvious that I need to practice riding harder against the wind; and for longer stretches at a time.

There was the usual problem that fighting the wind killed my desire to eat. I got pretty bonkish about 4-5 miles before the end; and had to stop and eat something. Between that and the headwind, the final miles seemed endless.

Speaking of eating, I knew there would be lunch at the finish; so I thought I didn\’t need to prep my usual recovery drink. Maybe that was a mistake. I have a peculiar \”buzzy\” feeling, like overworked muscles quivering.

It might have helped if I had gotten my Sunday long rides up to 50 miles a month or two earlier than I did; and then pushed them to 55 miles. Maybe I\’ll keep doing 50-milers on Sundays; partly because I enjoy putting in the miles, and partly to keep in form for the next big event. But not tomorrow! I need to make a grocery run.

My arms got really tired towards the end. For the last week or so before today, I did less of the off-bike work. Next time, keep up the exercises for arms and upper body! Working on the web site has also taken its toll on off-bike work.

And do my afterthoughts include Tour de Cure 2019? Not yet; but we\’ll see.