This last weekend, I participated in Shadow Tour’s 2008 Salton Sea Century. This was a desert ride originating in Borrego Springs and consisting of 3 distinct laps that began and ended at Christmas Circle. Each lap took a different route. The first lap contained a nice climb up Yaqui Pass and turned around for the descent, where I garnered my 44 mph maximum speed for the day. The second lap was a flat course around the city of Borrego Springs. The third lap was the kicker: a 28-mile out-and-back to Salton Sea; by then, the sun was in full scorch mode with the day’s high peaking at 97.

My sincere thanks to the Shadow Tour organizers and the fine folks out in the desert who volunteered at the SAG stations.

Many cyclists, including me, struggled with the heat coming back from Salton Sea. There were some stretches of moderate uphill climbs that, on their own, would have been no problem, but with the sun bearing down were pretty brutal. I made sure that my water bottles were topped off at each rest stop, but I have to admit feeling a little bit of panic set in as I came close to draining them during the Salton Sea lap. Fortunately, the SAG stops seemed to appear just in time.

The low points of the weekend: pretty much everything, which I can’t really elaborate on; culminating in the fact that I lost my cycle computer somewhere between the hotel room and the drive home. I really don’t feel much sense of accomplishment from this event, and I should, but too much “other stuff” has completely drained me of any optimism.

The high points: careering down Yaqui pass; a moonless, clear, ultra-starry night where I saw the milky way for the first time since I can remember; finishing the century, asking the DJ if he had any Rush, and hearing The Spirit of Radio while I munched on a post-ride BBQ meal.

Throughout the ride, my thoughts occasionally turned to memories of my father, as the ride occurred on the day following the anniversary of his passing. I think he would have been proud, and I thought maybe he might have enjoyed participating in this event in his more sprightly days. He used to run in endurance events such as the Bay to Breakers.

I also thought about Barbara Warren, a lady that I never met, but whose story is inspirational.

I did have enough sense to memorize my time as my cycle computer turned over 100 miles, so that’s the data I’m presenting here:

Earlier this year, I participated in my first organized bicycle ride. I was impressed with organization of the event and I wholeheartedly recommend participation in any of the events held by Shadow Tour.

Next Saturday is their Salton Sea Century, which I’m eagerly looking forward to.

Today, as I combed through their site looking for information about the event, I read their tribute to Barbara Warren and was touched by this amazing story of an extraordinary woman.

Since I was not aware of the tribute at the time, I will dedicate my Salton Sea century ride to her memory.