...miles to go...promises to keep...

An early morning start today. We'll be glad we started early before this day is done. Even the faster ones will see the sun set. The official finish cutoff time is tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. I don't want to see the sun rise twice on a 400 Brevet. Let's hope nothing goes wrong.

Here we go. Only 250 miles left to ride! Yea. ...miles to go...promises to keep...
(The initiated among you know that besides being my motto, that snippet of a Frost poem was the inspiration for the name I chose for myself.)

Ed Pavelka, the co-author of Long Distance Cycling, and the editor of RoadBikeRider Magazine says that an effective strategy is to ride a negative split - ride the first half conservatively then the second half more quickly. He says it's "like a carpet unrolling". I'll give it a shot. We'll see if it works.

Eschewing lycra and spandex, this randonneur knows that style is everything.

Here comes the sun! Today will be cool and bright. The wind is from the NW and already is blowing 15-18 mph. It is forecasted (George says "advertised") to be 18-20 mph with gusts even higher. We will enjoy a tail wind for the first 120 miles or so, then unless it dies down, it will not be as appreciated.

Most of us have either purchased or created cue sheet holders for our handlebars, or handlebar bags. Tandem riders don't have that problem. A clothes pin and a back pocket work great. I wonder if she is responsible for the navigation when they drive their car?

John is our Regional Brevet Administrator (RBA). John says that one of his duties as RBA is to ride in the last 1/3 of the riders so that if any rider has a problem, he can offer verbal encouragement as he rides by. However, since he has to ride near the rear, he is allowed to have a designated rider (DR). John picks a rider who will carry both his own as well as John's Brevet card, and get it signed along the way. That way, John can have a better time posted, and still ride near the back. I wanna be an RBA, too.

Besides being a fine randonneur, Andrew sports a pretty good Mutton Chops beard.