Cochise County Classic

Despite wind a record number of cyclists registered for the Dependable Health Services 22nd Cochise County Cycling Classic. Dan McGehee of Mesa, Arizona placed first in the 252-mile event for the ninth time in event history. While most participants use bicycles with many gears, two people completed the 157 and 252- mile events on single speed bicycles. Gerry Blondeaux from Tucson, in the 252-mile event finished in17:02:17 and Beto Villegas from Sierra Vista finished the 157-mile event in 7:42:01. Also, 11-year old Allan Kimball of Tucson completed the 92-mile event in a very respectable time of 7:02:04.

Hardest ride I have done to date. I was on pace to get in under 8 hrs. I finished the first 100 miles in 4hrs. 57mins (that includes the climb through Bisbee), but it was at mile 78 that things began to get nasty. I turned east at that point onto I-10 for 16 miles directly into a 20-25mph headwind (gusts up to 35mph), and all climbing. The wind shifted from the east to the southeast so when I made my turn to head south I continued directly into the wind....and I had no group to ride with. I hooked up with a group for a couple of small distances, but they came down to do the ride together and were coordinated with their own support vehicles. When I had to stop to get fluids and food I lost the help. I spent almost the entire ride out in the wind by myself… I finished the first 100 miles in 4hrs. 57mins and it took 2hrs to do the last 25 miles...I was crushed, hammered, and whimpering...

I learned a bunch about how to approach something like this again and I am going to have to figure out some better system (a.k.a. bring more folks to ride with)...and some better food for keeping myself fueled up on the ride. 9hrs. 59 mins. 58secs. 157 miles...