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Used to ride them often in the mid-west. Miss them and with you mentioning it, motivates me to do them again. Elevation changes were rarely on the routes but for a few short hills but I can see how they could be a leg burner out west. My mount was a vintage but comfy steel Colnago, set-up with the lightest possible wheels / tires, a Flight Ti saddle, and clamp-on aero bars. Agreed with the other mentioning shorts and gloves. Get the best.
I was a little crazier and all wrong back then riding with a fast crowd of rowdy roadies. We could pound more than a few cold ones and ride a double century. I'd be a statistic today if I tried that now! I loaded up on carbs and iron. Pasta, a couple of t-bones. Much of the rides depended on the weather and oddly, the high humidity and 90 degree temps never really bothered me as long as I was constant hydrated with 'gallons' of Gatorade... rarely water. Cold and rain.. not my thing but warm temps and rain were welcomed. Would hit most of the stops for the fun but very short, kept moving, chow down and hydrate. Body salt water would spray out of one the riders in our crazy group and actiually corroded his components! After a ride it was always a ravaged feast of steaks and pasta.
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