Mike allowed me to pre-ride the brevet. Thought I would start a bit early since it was going to be in the 90's. Guess 30 minutes early was not enough. What a great drive to start, with the pre-dawn clouds with their orange. Got there and got going at 6:30AM (yes the listed start time on RWGPS is wrong). The first 20 miles were great. There were 7 hot air balloons in the air near Apache Wash Trailhead on Sonoran Desert Pkwy. Always fun to watch them. It was a great cool morning start. When reached Lake Pleasant Pkwy, the headwinds were there. After a couple miles, I happened to be noodling along, and day-dreaming a bit when a guy on an old 1x 8 or 9 speed. I caught up to him, with some effort. I measured up that we were about the same strength so we alternated a bit going up New River Rd. I pulled out of line once as I thought my tire was getting squishy. It wasn't. Oh - I was still riding 32mm tires from the Humboldt Hill ride. So now I spent probably 3 miles trying to catch him. Not sure why he didn't slow up to share the pace. We didn't say a word to each other. I caught him and we alternated a bit more. With 2 miles left, my legs had enough and I needed to eat. So I soft-pedaled and ate. It appeared that he slowed up as well. But the sharing was over. Now I started making plans for Dairy Queen in Cave Creek! Yummy. Peanut Butter Cup Concrete, a double cheese burger, root beer, and fries. This time there I discovered they had a number of tables along the east side! It took 40 minutes for that stop - so much for getting done in 8 hours! That was my goal when I started. So after DQ - it was a slow pedal up up to the control east of Pima. I like riding through the neighborhood up there! Finally turned south so no headwinds. The trip up Dynamite was pretty easy as was the downhill of 9-mile and the 10 miles over to Fountain Hills. THere at Burger King I wetted my cap and arms. Then put ice in the holes of my helmet. They lasted enough to get me up the FH climbs. Then the last 17 miles through Scottsdale. Nice route. Wish I would have been a bit faster.