Windy Hammer Hundred Report

Start Temp 50
Finish Temp 67
Humidity 36%
Barometric Pressure 30.08
Visibility Unlimited
Wind SUCKED SSE at 20mph gusting to 30mph
Number of Riders including me 1
This Belle Plaine route is my favorite. See it at:
www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mn/minneapolis/769535014
Click on the elevation chart to see the climbs.
The wind made a tough ride brutal, although I had a blast when there was a tail wind. There's a descent into Belle Plaine, and I had the wind with me. I looked down at the computer and saw 42.2 mph. SAWEEEEET!
The head winds were like death marches. One of the climbs was into the wind, which wasn't too bad, because the hill blocked the wind a bit, but once it flattened out a little....that was brutal.
The wind was deafening. I could barely hear myself think, but with a tail wind, it was like I got my hearing back. I could hear everything. I love the sound of the tires on the road. It's a hum, that's got a metallic sound to it...sort of machine-like. With the tail wind I was reborn and felt like a super hero, with unlimited powers. 30 to 35 mph took only a small effort. Humility came back with a vengeance once I turned back into the wind, and I was quickly relegated to recreational rider status when only moments before I was at the head of the peleton in the Tour de France.

I saw some delightful landscapes. This route basically follows the Minnesota River, so there are lots of bluffs and some huge vistas once I'd get up to the rim of the valley. Perfectly plowed farm fields, old barns, and soft rolling hills all around me. Lots of horses out today. It looked like one mare had just had a colt. The colt was a beautiful milk chocolate brown and the mom was grey. I greeted all the cows I saw with a "good morning ladies". They were unmoved and gave no response. But I did get a couple of looks.

The old legs served me well today. I just hunkered down into the wind and took advantage whenever I'd get a tail wind. Considering the windy conditions I am very pleased with the outcome. 100/20.2 then I cooled down around the lakes for another 10 miles.