This ride was probably the second toughest I've ever done, after the Sweat and Ice Century in November 2006, when rain and temps in the low 40's left me hypothermic. The Deerfield ride features beautiful warm weather, but the course of 64 miles with over 7,000 feet of climbing, much of it on steep dirt roads, left me wondering why I did it! But I'm already considering doing it again next year and taking my mountain bike with a triple crank, suspension fork, and slick tires. This year I used my cross bike with knobbies and the lowest gear of 36/26 was just not enough.