As we started climbing into the sunlight I stopped to take pictures several times and they continued on without me. The ride had rest stops every 25 miles, had some significant climbs and went across Pardee Dam, that was very cool.

At 50 miles some people were starting to groan and slow down but spirits were still pretty high at the rest stop. The ride included a lot of rolling hills and a 10 mile stretch of flat, busy, hot road with no turns. The 75 mile stop was pretty quiet as people settled into a mood of grim determination.

I had a lot of problems with my feet hurting. I often unclipped from my pedals and rotated my feet, which helped but cost momentum.

When I got home Sue and Ken made up a banner that said, "congratulations, you did it." My fan club.

Of course it's not a race. The ride was pretty lame when compared to the Tour De France, the Race Across America or even the Markleeville Death Ride. It's not like winning a triathlon, marathon or an Olympic event. But for me it's a heck of an achievement and I owe a lot to Sue for being so supportive of me in this whole thing.

Perhaps it's partly a mid-life thing but I think it goes way beyond that. Even though, like life, the Sunrise Century is not a race - it is a tour. Including one train, lunch, rest stops and photo ops the ride took 9.5 hours. It was a symbolic victory for me.

It's more than having finished a bike ride. A decade ago, at 325 pounds,I would be out of breath after climbing two flights of stairs, now I can ride a bike 100 miles. Having done that is something that can never be taken away.