Not as Fun as it Looks

The race is done. I'm sad to say I tanked at 258 miles. Though I don't think I would have finished on time I like to think I could have gone farther. There were some first timer errors.
1. I needed to train more. When it was snowing I needed to do long hours on an indoor trainer.

2. The inexperience of my crew showed. I ended up doing too much of the work and didn't check my bikes before the ride. On one bike the rear derailleur was out of adjustment and on the other the boom with the pedals had rotated slightly. The first left me struggling to find gears on the hills, the second hurt my right knee as I worked the odd angle.

3. I made a wrong turn just a few miles into the race and went down the wrong long, steep hill. My crew chief's phone battery was dead so I had to ride back up the long, steep hill. I wasn't happy.

4. Finally, I was drinking well but didn't eat enough. When I faded in Arizona I thought it was the 110+ degree heat. Now I think I just ran out of fuel (and heat and a sore knee...take your pick).

More than a week later my knee is still sore. I'll do some longer rides in Montana over the summer and see how I hold up physically. I still don't see a RAAM in my future, I don't rule out another run at a Race Across the West.

Thanks for your support.

ChrisM