I stopped once to cool off (first time I'd ever stopped in a race) and then again when I saw a spectator who had a water jug.
The race support was sad--one water station, and you had to stop to wait in line to fill your water bottle. This was the poorest organized, race I'd ever done, and considering the high entry fee, I expected more. It was, however, the best course in the area.
After the turnaround I lost time again when my chain fell off. The 20 miles back was almost all downhill. I finished in 2hrs 10 minutes, averaging only about 18 1/2 miles an hour, and was about third or fouth from last. I was so afraid the heat would cause me to lose my balance at 45 miles an hour on the downhills, but in the end, I was just happy to have survived.
At the finish, one of the guys I'd beaten came up to me and said that he and another guy were gaining on me during the long downhill and when they approached me, I dropped low on the bicycle and rode away from them. I didn't remember much from the race but it was one of the few times I was ever complimented on my descending prowess.
When I arrived at my motel, my body was covered in a heat-rash.
I stayed in bed, drinking all day, concerned about my health.
The next morning was a 1.8 mile time trial up to the top of 2000-foot Mill Mountain, up to the Roanoke Star, an 88 1/2 foot illuminated neon star, which at the time was the largest man-made star in the world. It was a very short and very steep race. I faired better there, and won a silver medal (paper weight) for my group with a time of 12 minutes flat.