Wednesday, June 22nd ....  We left Troy, NY thinking the weather was going to be ok.  65 degrees increasing to 72 degrees by afternoon.  Little chance of rain but an 8-mph wind on our right shoulder and occasionally in our face.

We had seven climbs throughout the day with the longest being 9.8 miles.  The grades on the cllimbs were 4-10%.  The only correct thing was the climbs.  And actually, this turned out to be incorrect too.

The weather was cooler from the start.  As we made the initial climbs the temp continued to drop.  By the time we were on top of the climb the temp was 54 degrees, and I was cold.  I had not worn any clothes for the wind, cool temps and overcast sky's light rain and wind.  While climbing I was really uncomfortable.  By the time I was ready for the decent I was so cold I was numb all over!  The decent was 24 mph down hill, no peddling, 8  mph wind in my face and foggy.  I got so cold I could hardly control the bike.  When I saw one of the support vans I called it quits.  I had to have help getting off the bike and then help to get into the van.  I have not been that cold in my life.  It took me about 4 hours before I really felt normal again.  I will not make that mistake again in believing a forecast.

By that time I had ridden 50 miles.  When had we reached the top of that last climb we saw the last 15 miles of the route were impassable.  A new route was found and the remaining riders (not me) headed to the new route.  So for them the planned 75 mile ride turned into an even longer unplanned 90 mile tough, cold, wet and miserable ride.