This is the part of the ride where I retreat into my own head. Carrie disappeared around a corner, never to be seen again, and I put my head down and watched the pavement. The truth is that I can’t tell you much about the narrow wooded road that snaked up the hill. It was shady and cool but I was quickly overheating. I stayed to the outside around the switchbacks, avoiding the steep inside corners. My eyes looked at my hands and my pedals, at the back wheel of whatever bike was in front, but t