Tour of Guam December 2022

The Tour of Guam is a 65 mile or 105 kilometer figure 8 around the Southern half of Guam. It starts at the cultural museum and ends there. I averaged a 14 mile per hour pace. I was passed on downhills and passed people on uphills. It rained and my tires are old/bare so I literally slid twice but did not fall. I did ride my brakes down hills. I do not like to go over 20 MPH but if the road was straight I would go up to 30 MPH. The real bikers would pass me at 30 MPH. They are braver than I am.

This is the furthest I have ever biked, and it was doable. My hands went numb, but I could adjust positions and be fine. I am signed up for a 140 mile Ironman (110 Miles). I am nervous if I can finish 110 miles as 65 was definitely doable. Four hours on a bike is a long time.

The route was through Southern Guam with lots of hills and turns. It was pretty but rained a lot. They had four stations to get Gatorade. My rear derailleur jammed going up a hill and I had memories of Blue Ridge 70.3 when my bike broke. However, all I had done was put my front crank in the largest and the rear casset in the smallest crank (cross threaded) and the electronic shifter was jammed. I got off the bike pushed the rear derailleur in while hand peddling and it started to work again.

I will get new wheels before my Ironman as my current wheels are too bald. A wheel is good if you can see microholes in them (Jacksonville bike shop told me this.) I can see a hole so I am technically fine with my wheels but at least on Guam roads I actually had no traction twice. I used my Speciallized Roubaix and I will fly it out for the Ironman this summer. I like that bike and it fits me. I have my expensive bike in Wyoming but it broke on blue ridge so I am cautious to use it for the Ironman. My hands go numb quicker on that bike, even though it was adjusted by the North Carolina bike shop. 

The race was fun but I prefer running to biking. I prefer biking for commuting as long bike rides make my hands go numb. This race was a confidence booster but I am still nervous about the 110 mile bike ride this summer.