Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Loading the Sleigh
Time to get ready to haul stuff for the Winter Solstice Celebrations
Gotta get the beverages there somehow
Gifts and clothes out back
Beast of Burden...
Gotta get the beverages there somehow
Gifts and clothes out back
Beast of Burden...
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Data Grovel
It appears that my time matched pretty well with the official time 6:04:45 and 6:05. Tied with David for 126th place.
We beat out 23% of the racers in the field. Though only 133 people finished, as 32 DNFed.
Now it's time to start looking through the data (why the hell else do I have the fancy Garmin 500 and HRM?!)
The bonus tour at the start was 5.3m and 23:27. I'll go ahead and delete those and use the remainder as my time to work from: 5:41:18
I was stopped for 49:30, which is pretty bad, as it means I was stopped for 14.4% of the time I was racing! Ouch. 9 minutes was at Fire Tower SAG, 17 in Story, only about 2 minutes at the first checkpoint. 3:50 trying to figure out if a turn was or wasn't (hey, it had tape!)
Combs "Road" Okay, so I know now that I really need to work on my off road skills., and even the fast guys were walking pieces of that. However, on the way out I was stopped 5:17! One the way back, I did even worse and was stopped for 6:13! Yes, I was stopped to let people pass here and there, but damn! That's 23% of my total stopped time!
How about this, the first 40 miles, from the start to the beginning of Combs, only took 3:08, and I was stopped for less than 15 minutes! And that includes the extra 5.3m/23:27, take that out and you're looking at 35 miles and 2:45!
The final 24 miles took 2:57 and I was stopped for 35 minutes.
What does all this mean? Not a whole lot, really. However, looking at the numbers, means that next year, I could quite easily achieve a sub-5:30 time, and with adequate training sub-5:00 is possible.
What to work on:
Fueling. My eating and drinking has been based upon touring, not racing. Racing needs more calories, more consistently. As well as more fluids.
Off Road Skills. I haven't really ridden any type of trails since I was a kid on a BMX bike. This may entail turning Beast back into a flatbar bike and hitting the trails. Sadly, the trails are now pretty much off limits until spring (or a hard freeze) as riding on them in their current state will destroy them. Fire roads are an option as well, but those are more what I'm riding anyway. Riding the CX track could help some.
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them
We beat out 23% of the racers in the field. Though only 133 people finished, as 32 DNFed.
Now it's time to start looking through the data (why the hell else do I have the fancy Garmin 500 and HRM?!)
The bonus tour at the start was 5.3m and 23:27. I'll go ahead and delete those and use the remainder as my time to work from: 5:41:18
I was stopped for 49:30, which is pretty bad, as it means I was stopped for 14.4% of the time I was racing! Ouch. 9 minutes was at Fire Tower SAG, 17 in Story, only about 2 minutes at the first checkpoint. 3:50 trying to figure out if a turn was or wasn't (hey, it had tape!)
Combs "Road" Okay, so I know now that I really need to work on my off road skills., and even the fast guys were walking pieces of that. However, on the way out I was stopped 5:17! One the way back, I did even worse and was stopped for 6:13! Yes, I was stopped to let people pass here and there, but damn! That's 23% of my total stopped time!
How about this, the first 40 miles, from the start to the beginning of Combs, only took 3:08, and I was stopped for less than 15 minutes! And that includes the extra 5.3m/23:27, take that out and you're looking at 35 miles and 2:45!
The final 24 miles took 2:57 and I was stopped for 35 minutes.
What does all this mean? Not a whole lot, really. However, looking at the numbers, means that next year, I could quite easily achieve a sub-5:30 time, and with adequate training sub-5:00 is possible.
What to work on:
Fueling. My eating and drinking has been based upon touring, not racing. Racing needs more calories, more consistently. As well as more fluids.
Off Road Skills. I haven't really ridden any type of trails since I was a kid on a BMX bike. This may entail turning Beast back into a flatbar bike and hitting the trails. Sadly, the trails are now pretty much off limits until spring (or a hard freeze) as riding on them in their current state will destroy them. Fire roads are an option as well, but those are more what I'm riding anyway. Riding the CX track could help some.
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Groveling through Gravel
Yesterday marked the very first time I have lined up for an organized bike race (racing for green signs doesn't count!) The reason was simple: Why Not? The event was the SRAM Gravel Grovel, this being its third running. 60ish miles of gravel, mud and hills in the Maumee/Story area of Brown County State Park.
Tim and David joined me, with a couple more intending to go, but other things got in the way.
I was more than a bit worried about the ride. I had heard there was a section of single track somewhere on the course, and I have little experience off road, and none on the new bike. The weather was also a concern, with the forecast having been calling for rain for nearly a week, and there having been rain for much of that time. Temps were also not going to be in my favor, pushing 60 with predicted wet weather is in that odd shoulder area where you just can't dress comfortably. I was hoping for colder. 40s would suit me fine. The rain would hold off, but the temps stayed. I'll call it a wash.
I packed and double checked I had all my gear loaded in the van the night before: Bike, helmet, hat, sweatcap, thin socks, heavy socks, shoecovers, armwarmers, wool gloves, mid-weight gloves and wool liners, jacket, windvest, heavy wool layer, shoes, pump, bottles, hydration pack, fuel, sunglasses. I laid out my other clothes the night before: bibshorts, midweight tights, compression tee, short sleeve wool, baggy knickers (mostly for wearing in and out of stores on the road) more socks and sandals. I had pretty much every clothing option available to me that I was willing to subject to the expected conditions.
The morning came quickly, with my alarm set for 5:30 and coffee and breakfast done and out the door by 6:10. A two hour drive to follow.
Upon arriving, I quickly spot Tim, but go ahead and go straight for the registration line before heading over to greet he and Dave, only to end up about 3 people behind Tim in line. The line moves quickly and I head back to the van to get the bike ready and make final clothing choices. Heavy socks, armwarmers and the short sleeve wool. Grab another banana and roll over to where David and Tim are.
Shortly the racer meeting starts, with descriptions of the course, rules of the road, etc. It seems to have done little good, as when the racers go to line up they do so in two very different areas, one at the correct point behind the SRAM pace vehicle, and the other group rides up to the top of the hill and main road. A few minutes of yelling to get people in the proper position and soon we roll out, only about 7 minutes past the official start time.
As we roll out behind the SRAM vehicle I notice a course marker, but since everyone else is going past it, I assume it's for later, a little under 3 miles later I'm faced with an entire peloton coming right back at me following the same pace vehicle, as it had missed the turn and taken us on a bit of an unplanned warm up ride. A bit over 5 miles and nearly 20 minutes before we're all back on the correct course. I'm now rather worried about making the 4:30 awards ceremony, with that time, totaling 6:30 from the start, being my goal time.
At this point Tim and Dave, who had both started off a bit harder than I, were nowhere to be seen, having dropped me before we had even gotten back on course. I go ahead and assume that either I'll see them at the checkpoints, or I won't and ride my ride.
I start finding my legs around mile 15 or so, and pass some people here and there on climbs, start getting used to the type of gravel under the tires and start bombing the descents. I run across another rider I've chatted with a bit before when doing the Old Kentucky Home Tour. We chat for several miles talking about our bikes and the shops we each work for, finally catching Dave, who had stopped to nibble on some food.
At the first checkpoint, I see Dave turn around immediately, so I follow suit, in an attempt to continue trying to ride with the group, only to see he was riding back to meet up with Tim, who had stopped there to fuel up. We each shove down our respective "food" of choice and roll off.
At this point my legs are feeling the best they will all day, and my confidence in my bike on these roads is running high. I tuck into a group only find that their pace just isn't to my liking, a bit too cautious down, and too plodding up. I decide to let my legs do what they want to do and just enjoy it. I start passing people, a good number of people, actually. Rather interesting feeling, actually. Not something I'm used to, being about 60lbs heavier than your average cyclist, and probably another 20 above most racers. I quickly reach the Fire Tower SAG and wait for Tim and Dave, who arrive shortly. We all opt to not partake of the swill, and leave quickly, with my legs still feeling good. I continue letting my body go at whatever rate it feels like going and soon hit Combs "Road".
Combs started out fairly navigable, and well within my skill-level, but quickly showed itself to be far above and beyond my experience. The muddy stream crossings were pretty manageable, riding through all on the way out, though walking one or two on the way back as they had become much more rutted by that point. The steep muddy climbs were more than I could keep traction on, and the tree crossings were something I had no intention of trying.
At some point on the way out, a low branch extended across the trail (road?) and, though I thought I'd gotten down enough to clear it, banged my helmet on it, and veered off the course and had the bike slide out from under me. I landed hard on my shoulder and clanked my helmet hard enough to give me a headache the rest of the day. Tim had already passed me at this point, having much more MTB experience than I, though I will catch and pass him once back on gravel on the way to the final checkpoint in Story.
Once there we regroup, enjoy some cider and more junk and get going. The first gravel climb has me off and walking, with Dave shortly behind me, and Tim making good use of his granny, never to be seen again. The trip back up Combs is uneventful, though my cautiousness after going down the first time through, lets Dave pass me and I don't see him for a couple miles back on the road.
As I catch up to him, I realize I have a minor problem, I'm out of water, having miscalculated how much I had left in my hydration pack leaving Story. He graciously offers to share half a bottle with me, and it makes a world of difference in how my legs feel. I push it on the last series of rollers and roll into camp for the finish.
My GPS showed a total time of 6:05, how that will stand up to my official time, we'll see. Regardless, I had a great time. The course was fun and challenging and at times brutal. As a first event of the type, it seems to offer a great mix of vital experience, to show what needs to be improved if one wishes to attempt the longer gravel races of the type (Almanzo, Ragnarok, DK200, TransIowa, etc)
How did my setup do? Pretty well, I can't think of many major changes I'd make.
I could go up to a 42 on the big ring, and down to a 24 or 26 on the small, but even those wouldn't make a difference on many places on the course.
If conditions were wetter, some more aggressive tires might help, but the Kozmik Lite IIs were so nice on the rest of the route, I'm not sure I'd change, even if I had to walk most of Combs.
Some more MTB like shoes, as the Touring types I wore just didn't have the tread for walking up the muddy sections (and I don't like messing up the suede) Toe spikes might even be handy.
Summary: Gravel is great and I look forward to doing more of these types of event.
Tim and David joined me, with a couple more intending to go, but other things got in the way.
I was more than a bit worried about the ride. I had heard there was a section of single track somewhere on the course, and I have little experience off road, and none on the new bike. The weather was also a concern, with the forecast having been calling for rain for nearly a week, and there having been rain for much of that time. Temps were also not going to be in my favor, pushing 60 with predicted wet weather is in that odd shoulder area where you just can't dress comfortably. I was hoping for colder. 40s would suit me fine. The rain would hold off, but the temps stayed. I'll call it a wash.
I packed and double checked I had all my gear loaded in the van the night before: Bike, helmet, hat, sweatcap, thin socks, heavy socks, shoecovers, armwarmers, wool gloves, mid-weight gloves and wool liners, jacket, windvest, heavy wool layer, shoes, pump, bottles, hydration pack, fuel, sunglasses. I laid out my other clothes the night before: bibshorts, midweight tights, compression tee, short sleeve wool, baggy knickers (mostly for wearing in and out of stores on the road) more socks and sandals. I had pretty much every clothing option available to me that I was willing to subject to the expected conditions.
The morning came quickly, with my alarm set for 5:30 and coffee and breakfast done and out the door by 6:10. A two hour drive to follow.
Upon arriving, I quickly spot Tim, but go ahead and go straight for the registration line before heading over to greet he and Dave, only to end up about 3 people behind Tim in line. The line moves quickly and I head back to the van to get the bike ready and make final clothing choices. Heavy socks, armwarmers and the short sleeve wool. Grab another banana and roll over to where David and Tim are.
Shortly the racer meeting starts, with descriptions of the course, rules of the road, etc. It seems to have done little good, as when the racers go to line up they do so in two very different areas, one at the correct point behind the SRAM pace vehicle, and the other group rides up to the top of the hill and main road. A few minutes of yelling to get people in the proper position and soon we roll out, only about 7 minutes past the official start time.
At this point Tim and Dave, who had both started off a bit harder than I, were nowhere to be seen, having dropped me before we had even gotten back on course. I go ahead and assume that either I'll see them at the checkpoints, or I won't and ride my ride.
I start finding my legs around mile 15 or so, and pass some people here and there on climbs, start getting used to the type of gravel under the tires and start bombing the descents. I run across another rider I've chatted with a bit before when doing the Old Kentucky Home Tour. We chat for several miles talking about our bikes and the shops we each work for, finally catching Dave, who had stopped to nibble on some food.
At the first checkpoint, I see Dave turn around immediately, so I follow suit, in an attempt to continue trying to ride with the group, only to see he was riding back to meet up with Tim, who had stopped there to fuel up. We each shove down our respective "food" of choice and roll off.
At this point my legs are feeling the best they will all day, and my confidence in my bike on these roads is running high. I tuck into a group only find that their pace just isn't to my liking, a bit too cautious down, and too plodding up. I decide to let my legs do what they want to do and just enjoy it. I start passing people, a good number of people, actually. Rather interesting feeling, actually. Not something I'm used to, being about 60lbs heavier than your average cyclist, and probably another 20 above most racers. I quickly reach the Fire Tower SAG and wait for Tim and Dave, who arrive shortly. We all opt to not partake of the swill, and leave quickly, with my legs still feeling good. I continue letting my body go at whatever rate it feels like going and soon hit Combs "Road".
Combs started out fairly navigable, and well within my skill-level, but quickly showed itself to be far above and beyond my experience. The muddy stream crossings were pretty manageable, riding through all on the way out, though walking one or two on the way back as they had become much more rutted by that point. The steep muddy climbs were more than I could keep traction on, and the tree crossings were something I had no intention of trying.
At some point on the way out, a low branch extended across the trail (road?) and, though I thought I'd gotten down enough to clear it, banged my helmet on it, and veered off the course and had the bike slide out from under me. I landed hard on my shoulder and clanked my helmet hard enough to give me a headache the rest of the day. Tim had already passed me at this point, having much more MTB experience than I, though I will catch and pass him once back on gravel on the way to the final checkpoint in Story.
As I catch up to him, I realize I have a minor problem, I'm out of water, having miscalculated how much I had left in my hydration pack leaving Story. He graciously offers to share half a bottle with me, and it makes a world of difference in how my legs feel. I push it on the last series of rollers and roll into camp for the finish.
How did my setup do? Pretty well, I can't think of many major changes I'd make.
I could go up to a 42 on the big ring, and down to a 24 or 26 on the small, but even those wouldn't make a difference on many places on the course.
If conditions were wetter, some more aggressive tires might help, but the Kozmik Lite IIs were so nice on the rest of the route, I'm not sure I'd change, even if I had to walk most of Combs.
Some more MTB like shoes, as the Touring types I wore just didn't have the tread for walking up the muddy sections (and I don't like messing up the suede) Toe spikes might even be handy.
Summary: Gravel is great and I look forward to doing more of these types of event.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A muddy day: or more photo testing
The other day I went down on the new bike to check out the continued deterioration of the Riverwalk.
It looked a lot like this most of the way. Under a layer of leaves and about 4 inches of mud, there is pavement there.
Then it turned to looking a bit more like this. Yes that bridge is holding water
It looked a lot like this most of the way. Under a layer of leaves and about 4 inches of mud, there is pavement there.
Then it turned to looking a bit more like this. Yes that bridge is holding water
After about 3 miles of this, my bike looked like this
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Gravel Grovel training ride
Honestly, this is mostly a test post to work out easiest ways to get photos in stories.
At the parking lot:
Patrick
David
Tim
At the parking lot:
Patrick
David
Tim
And the couple on the road shots that looked decent (I took several with the phone in a ziplock, just to see how it turned out...don't bother)
It was a good day. A wet day. And with me not following my feeding plan, an exhausting day.
The New Bike
Hundreds of people just keep bugging me to fill them in on the details of my new ride. The speculation in the blogosphere and newsstand rags has become unbearable, so I thought I'd write a bit to help calm down the hysteria.
First off, it's a Origin-8 700CX frame. This is a steel monstercross frameset marketed by J&B Importers. 4130 Cromoly, triple-butted tubing, with room for 52c tires, disc or canti, fixed or geared, removable cable guides everywhere. There aren't a whole lot of bikes that are similar, many trend more towards rigid 29er frames or don't have the clearance for tires quite that large, or they're not disc compatible. Headset: Origin-8 as well.
I'll just go ahead and skip over the shoddy workmanship (workkidship?) of the frame, and the shoddier customer service that never resulted in a satisfactory fix.
Drivetrain: 2x9. Mountain double, Origin-8 Ultim-8 Sub Compact 175mm 40x28T. Integrated BB, single bolt. A whole lot nicer than you'd expect for the price. Running two different cassettes depending on conditions: 12-36 Shimano and 11-28 SRAM. If need be I can go down to a 22 on the inner ring, or up to a 44 on the outer.
Switchgear: Shimano Sora Brifters moving Deore RD-M592 and SLX FD-M661 derailleurs. Despite Shimano Road and Mountain shifters pulling different amounts of cable on the front derailleurs, it's close enough that with careful adjustment you can get a double to work. A triple would be way off.
Anchors: Avid BB5 brakes. Saves a few bucks over the BB7. Works.
Wheelset: WTB FX28/Shimano M629 with 32 spokes. A fairly inexpensive wheelset, that's way overbuilt for my uses. More all mountain than gravel. I figure sooner or later I'll build up a nicer set and consdier these my training set.
Bars: Salsa Cowbell 3. Most awesome purchase ever.
Tires: Currently running Kenda Kozmik Lite IIs. Seem reasonable. Pretty lightweight, carcass seems quite subtle. Pretty narrowly focused, near zero traction when it gets slick. Need to figure out the optimum pressure to run them. Have some Kenda Happy Medium 40mm on order, nearly 100gram lighter and 10mm narrower. Looking forward to giving those a try as well.
Time will tell how well it all works.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Events
I thought I'd put together a list of events I'd really like to do. All in one spot with dates, mileages and locations and any fees.
I'm already signed up for:
11-26-11 Gravel Grovel, 62m, Nashville, IN $35
Thinking about:
2/25 Southern Cross, 50+m, Delonega, GA $80
3/10 Sub-9 Death March, 50+m, Nashville, IN $??
3/24 Barry-Roubaix, 65m, Middleville, MI $50?
3/31 The Lowell 50, 50m, Lowell, MI $32.50
4/14 Ragnarok 105, 111m, Red Wing, MN $Free
4/28-29 B.A.L.L.S, 165m, Barnevel, WI $30
5/12, Almanzo 100, 100m, Spring Valley, Mn, $Free
5/27 HAC NCC Gravel Metric, 62m, DeKalb, IL, $10
6/2 Dirty Kanza, 200m, Emporia, KS, $???
6/9? West Side Dirty Benjamin, 100m, Carver County, MN, $Free.
6/16? TransWisconsin, 420m, ?WI, $???
6/23 Hilly Billy Roubaix, 70m, Morgantown,WV, $???
6/28-29 Trans Iowa V8, 340m, Grinnell, IA, $Free
9/22 Ronde-Van Stony, 40m, Shelby Township, MI, $50+5
9/23? Gentlemen's Ride, 100? MN? $Free
9/25? Three Peaks USA, 47m, Beach Mountain, NC, $60
10/9 Iron Cross, 62m, Michaux State Forest, PA, $???
10/06 Heck of the North, 100m, Duluth, MN, $Free.
10/27 Dirt Bag, 86m, Clearwater, MN $Free
19 events/races.
So what's in there? The entire Almanzo Gravel Road Series (AGRS), the entire American UltraCross Championship Series, and various others. It's more a wish list than a start list. I'd like to do at least one event each in WI, MN, MI. The 300+m events are highly unlikely. B.A.L.L.S is unlikely as it's Bourbon Sampler/Derby Mini/Dark Lord weekend (and probably several other events I'd love to make). Dirt Bag is Bourbon Chase weekend, I believe, so also unlikely.
If I can ride even 4 of those events I'll be happy.
Oops, forgot some:
8/18? , D2R2 Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnee. 100k,115k, 180k Shelburne Falls, MA, $80ish
4/14-15 Tour of the Battenkill, 64m, Cambridge, NY, $???
I'm already signed up for:
11-26-11 Gravel Grovel, 62m, Nashville, IN $35
Thinking about:
2/25 Southern Cross, 50+m, Delonega, GA $80
3/10 Sub-9 Death March, 50+m, Nashville, IN $??
3/24 Barry-Roubaix, 65m, Middleville, MI $50?
3/31 The Lowell 50, 50m, Lowell, MI $32.50
4/14 Ragnarok 105, 111m, Red Wing, MN $Free
4/28-29 B.A.L.L.S, 165m, Barnevel, WI $30
5/12, Almanzo 100, 100m, Spring Valley, Mn, $Free
5/27 HAC NCC Gravel Metric, 62m, DeKalb, IL, $10
6/2 Dirty Kanza, 200m, Emporia, KS, $???
6/9? West Side Dirty Benjamin, 100m, Carver County, MN, $Free.
6/16? TransWisconsin, 420m, ?WI, $???
6/23 Hilly Billy Roubaix, 70m, Morgantown,WV, $???
6/28-29 Trans Iowa V8, 340m, Grinnell, IA, $Free
9/22 Ronde-Van Stony, 40m, Shelby Township, MI, $50+5
9/23? Gentlemen's Ride, 100? MN? $Free
9/25? Three Peaks USA, 47m, Beach Mountain, NC, $60
10/9 Iron Cross, 62m, Michaux State Forest, PA, $???
10/06 Heck of the North, 100m, Duluth, MN, $Free.
10/27 Dirt Bag, 86m, Clearwater, MN $Free
19 events/races.
So what's in there? The entire Almanzo Gravel Road Series (AGRS), the entire American UltraCross Championship Series, and various others. It's more a wish list than a start list. I'd like to do at least one event each in WI, MN, MI. The 300+m events are highly unlikely. B.A.L.L.S is unlikely as it's Bourbon Sampler/Derby Mini/Dark Lord weekend (and probably several other events I'd love to make). Dirt Bag is Bourbon Chase weekend, I believe, so also unlikely.
If I can ride even 4 of those events I'll be happy.
Oops, forgot some:
8/18? , D2R2 Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnee. 100k,115k, 180k Shelburne Falls, MA, $80ish
4/14-15 Tour of the Battenkill, 64m, Cambridge, NY, $???
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Choices
I've always had problems with choices. Trying to figure out which of many options is the best use of my time or money or whatever. I can't have or do it all, nor do I want to. I'd like to not screw up and have to spend more of my time/money/whatever correcting the choice I've made.
Now is a time of many choices, which need to be finalized. It is race entry time. In the next month or so I need to go through a list of events for next year and decide which I'd like to do, can afford to do, and do without killing myself. I then need to figure out when entry for those events is, how to enter, etc.
Even after I go through all that, then comes this reality: I've never competed in these events, and many give preference to veterans. I could very likely get wait-listed and not get to enter my preferred choices. That means I should possibly try to enter more than I can possibly begin to afford to enter/complete/travel to.
There's one event I'd love to do one day, but I don't feel like I'm ready to tackle it yet, however every year the odds of getting a spot at the start get worse. Should I even think about trying to enter, when I know I'll chicken out? What about events on conflicting/consecutive weekends? Knowing I won't likely get into every event (or most for that matter), should I really load the deck that way?
Many of the paid events I have a better shot of getting into, but once paid, I'd hate to have to drop out due to lack of funding for the trip.
Any sage advice? Or does anyone know of any events they are thinking about doing, so perhaps travel expenses can be split?
Now is a time of many choices, which need to be finalized. It is race entry time. In the next month or so I need to go through a list of events for next year and decide which I'd like to do, can afford to do, and do without killing myself. I then need to figure out when entry for those events is, how to enter, etc.
Even after I go through all that, then comes this reality: I've never competed in these events, and many give preference to veterans. I could very likely get wait-listed and not get to enter my preferred choices. That means I should possibly try to enter more than I can possibly begin to afford to enter/complete/travel to.
There's one event I'd love to do one day, but I don't feel like I'm ready to tackle it yet, however every year the odds of getting a spot at the start get worse. Should I even think about trying to enter, when I know I'll chicken out? What about events on conflicting/consecutive weekends? Knowing I won't likely get into every event (or most for that matter), should I really load the deck that way?
Many of the paid events I have a better shot of getting into, but once paid, I'd hate to have to drop out due to lack of funding for the trip.
Any sage advice? Or does anyone know of any events they are thinking about doing, so perhaps travel expenses can be split?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Training Ride
Met up with Tim and David of River City Cycling Society fame for a little gravel training route that they had put together. I put Beast back into gravel form, reflipping the bars, removing fenders, rack and remounting the knobby clad wheelset.
We left out of New Castle, KY and headed East. Our first stretch of gravel came within a mile or so of starting lazily grinding past cow pasture and alongside a creek. This was good gravel, well packed, not washed out or potholed. That lasted for about 3 miles.
Then the road ended in the creek.
After exploring options and consulting GPSes, we made the decition to follow the course, remove shoes and wade across. This is followed by much bushwhacking and hike-a-biking.After about an hour of this we finally emerge at the bottom of a pretty steep and long gravel road. We pull the weeds out of our machines and start climbing....soon we're all walking again, as we either ran out of traction, gears or umph.
We ride along some of the rolling paved roads on our way to the next section of gravel, wondering if there's going to be more of the same, or if we'll get rideable sections.
Shortly we find out, as we hit section number 2 and it's chunky. embedded baby-head rocks, mud holes and more. I figure there are two ways to ride a road like this: balls out or slow. I go with the former and go for it. Beast is in its element, huge tires absorbing the terrain and floating over everything. Strong frame never for a second letting you know it was anything but willing and able to take whatever you're willing to. Sprung Brooks allowing for comfortable and smooth seated climbing. A paved watercrossing brings the chunky stuff to an end and it smooths out to fast and slightly soft gravel.
We emerge in Lockport and ride through, stopping to check out the old lock on the Kentucky River. We continue on and cross over to Gratz, hoping for some lunch. No such luck, we start climbing a steady 3-5% for the next 5 miles it seems until we hit Monterey and pausing to ask a local where we can find food, finally get to some lunch. Best chili cheese dogs I've had.
Coming back in we intend to hit a section of gravel, but it seems to have been rerouted, long ago. We see where the bridge is, but not were the road is. Figuring it's still there, as we can see a house on the other side of the creek, we circle around until we find it. This is a nice section of gravel, pretty flat, well tended, with only a few mud holes to move left or right or center to avoid. Somewhere along he I seem to have punctured. A pinhole it takes me several miles of having trouble keeping up to realize. I add some air hoping it won't leak out too fast, but stop to change the tube as we pass back through Lockport.
We then backtrack the smoother gravel section of the road we'd ridden to ride into Lockport, and then turn onto a section we'd not traveled yet. The first two miles of it was probably the most technical of our riding all day, with not many workable lines to get through, massive mud holes that couldn't be ridden around. Somewhere in here my chain swallowed a rock. I spent the next 3-4 miles with a bike that would skip or shift every 3rd pedal stroke.
When we arrive at the main road, and knowing that it was paved the whole way back, I stop to fix the chain, finding the busted link and removing it and replacing with a quicklink. I drink the last of my water as we roll out knowing that I have 8-10 miles left and not being thrilled about it. The extended distances of riding with mechanical difficulties have worn me out, as has the overly aggressive position I've been in for over 7 hours at this point.
This was by far the most epic ride I've done on Beast, and exactly the kind of riding it's been set up for. It's really too slow for more civilized gravel and a bit too aggressive for much longer rides. A different set of bars may correct the aggressiveness of the positioning, but not much can be done to get the gearing any higher or the ride more compliant. The new bike will be better for those rides.
We left out of New Castle, KY and headed East. Our first stretch of gravel came within a mile or so of starting lazily grinding past cow pasture and alongside a creek. This was good gravel, well packed, not washed out or potholed. That lasted for about 3 miles.
Then the road ended in the creek.
After exploring options and consulting GPSes, we made the decition to follow the course, remove shoes and wade across. This is followed by much bushwhacking and hike-a-biking.After about an hour of this we finally emerge at the bottom of a pretty steep and long gravel road. We pull the weeds out of our machines and start climbing....soon we're all walking again, as we either ran out of traction, gears or umph.
We ride along some of the rolling paved roads on our way to the next section of gravel, wondering if there's going to be more of the same, or if we'll get rideable sections.
Shortly we find out, as we hit section number 2 and it's chunky. embedded baby-head rocks, mud holes and more. I figure there are two ways to ride a road like this: balls out or slow. I go with the former and go for it. Beast is in its element, huge tires absorbing the terrain and floating over everything. Strong frame never for a second letting you know it was anything but willing and able to take whatever you're willing to. Sprung Brooks allowing for comfortable and smooth seated climbing. A paved watercrossing brings the chunky stuff to an end and it smooths out to fast and slightly soft gravel.
We emerge in Lockport and ride through, stopping to check out the old lock on the Kentucky River. We continue on and cross over to Gratz, hoping for some lunch. No such luck, we start climbing a steady 3-5% for the next 5 miles it seems until we hit Monterey and pausing to ask a local where we can find food, finally get to some lunch. Best chili cheese dogs I've had.
Coming back in we intend to hit a section of gravel, but it seems to have been rerouted, long ago. We see where the bridge is, but not were the road is. Figuring it's still there, as we can see a house on the other side of the creek, we circle around until we find it. This is a nice section of gravel, pretty flat, well tended, with only a few mud holes to move left or right or center to avoid. Somewhere along he I seem to have punctured. A pinhole it takes me several miles of having trouble keeping up to realize. I add some air hoping it won't leak out too fast, but stop to change the tube as we pass back through Lockport.
We then backtrack the smoother gravel section of the road we'd ridden to ride into Lockport, and then turn onto a section we'd not traveled yet. The first two miles of it was probably the most technical of our riding all day, with not many workable lines to get through, massive mud holes that couldn't be ridden around. Somewhere in here my chain swallowed a rock. I spent the next 3-4 miles with a bike that would skip or shift every 3rd pedal stroke.
When we arrive at the main road, and knowing that it was paved the whole way back, I stop to fix the chain, finding the busted link and removing it and replacing with a quicklink. I drink the last of my water as we roll out knowing that I have 8-10 miles left and not being thrilled about it. The extended distances of riding with mechanical difficulties have worn me out, as has the overly aggressive position I've been in for over 7 hours at this point.
This was by far the most epic ride I've done on Beast, and exactly the kind of riding it's been set up for. It's really too slow for more civilized gravel and a bit too aggressive for much longer rides. A different set of bars may correct the aggressiveness of the positioning, but not much can be done to get the gearing any higher or the ride more compliant. The new bike will be better for those rides.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Distilling
The ordering process has begun. Frameset, Headset, Crankset, Bars, Wheelset and Tires are on their way.
The process has not been quite as cheap as I'd hoped, as after looking into it, scavenging parts off my currently existing bikes would have rendered them useless and not have saved all that much money. So, other than bags, pedals and a Brooks Flyer, the whole thing will be new.
The wheelset I ordered is not ideal, but it is cheap and will get me riding until I can build (yes, myself...with supervision) a set that is more to my liking. They're gonna be heavy, as they are more all-mountain wheels than XC wheels. On the plus side, they should be sturdy. On the downside, they're centerlock hubs, meaning I'm spending money on adapters for the brake rotors...
Next up: Brifters, derailleurs, brakes, cassette, chain and odds and ends.
The process has not been quite as cheap as I'd hoped, as after looking into it, scavenging parts off my currently existing bikes would have rendered them useless and not have saved all that much money. So, other than bags, pedals and a Brooks Flyer, the whole thing will be new.
The wheelset I ordered is not ideal, but it is cheap and will get me riding until I can build (yes, myself...with supervision) a set that is more to my liking. They're gonna be heavy, as they are more all-mountain wheels than XC wheels. On the plus side, they should be sturdy. On the downside, they're centerlock hubs, meaning I'm spending money on adapters for the brake rotors...
Next up: Brifters, derailleurs, brakes, cassette, chain and odds and ends.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Perfectly affordable gravel bike
It's always fun to spend time dreaming about bikes you can't afford, combing over the details and thinking of the changes you'd make to the factory spec.
A bike like the new for 2012 Co-Motion Divide is a prime example. It nearly perfectly fits what I'd like as a gravel grinder bike. Cross/touring geometry, full brazeons, steel, discs, room for true 29er rubber. It's a true work of art, with all the custom paint options you could ask for. Looking at the stock build spec, I can't think of many changes I'd make. I'm undecided on the whole triple crank thing. If I was doing the Great Divide Race, I'd probably go for it, but as a gravel grinder, it seems a bit much. Bars would be switched out for Salsa Cowbells. Tires would be more like the Bontrager XR1. Build spec says bar ends, but the bike in the pic is briftered. I'd go with the brifters. The BB7 brakes, while well-respected and typically thought of the the better brake, are simply more adjustable, which all the extra movement actually degrades performance, so BB5s would be my choice.
Regardless, it's not in the budget.
But it turns out there is a frameset that is similar, if of lower quality materials and craftsmanship, and is well within my pricerange. Origin-8 CX700 Steel Cross! I don't recall exactly how I ran across this, but it seems to fit all my needs for a gravel bike. Sure lowrider mounts would be nice to have as an option, but I don't currently plan to use a front rack and panniers for the gravel events I hope to pursue. Retail on it is around $250! It has room for 2.1" tires, which is pretty awesome. Chainstay mounted discs mean no having to unbolt the calipers to fix a flat. (which I've heard is a problem with the Karate Monkey).
Problems? Well, I've heard the quality control and shipping practices leave a lot to be desired and frames can be kinda bent up upon arrival. Also, the 200g lighter, 2011, black model is out of stock.
If I don't find another route to go, I could reasonably justify getting this frame in short order.
A bike like the new for 2012 Co-Motion Divide is a prime example. It nearly perfectly fits what I'd like as a gravel grinder bike. Cross/touring geometry, full brazeons, steel, discs, room for true 29er rubber. It's a true work of art, with all the custom paint options you could ask for. Looking at the stock build spec, I can't think of many changes I'd make. I'm undecided on the whole triple crank thing. If I was doing the Great Divide Race, I'd probably go for it, but as a gravel grinder, it seems a bit much. Bars would be switched out for Salsa Cowbells. Tires would be more like the Bontrager XR1. Build spec says bar ends, but the bike in the pic is briftered. I'd go with the brifters. The BB7 brakes, while well-respected and typically thought of the the better brake, are simply more adjustable, which all the extra movement actually degrades performance, so BB5s would be my choice.
Regardless, it's not in the budget.
But it turns out there is a frameset that is similar, if of lower quality materials and craftsmanship, and is well within my pricerange. Origin-8 CX700 Steel Cross! I don't recall exactly how I ran across this, but it seems to fit all my needs for a gravel bike. Sure lowrider mounts would be nice to have as an option, but I don't currently plan to use a front rack and panniers for the gravel events I hope to pursue. Retail on it is around $250! It has room for 2.1" tires, which is pretty awesome. Chainstay mounted discs mean no having to unbolt the calipers to fix a flat. (which I've heard is a problem with the Karate Monkey).
Problems? Well, I've heard the quality control and shipping practices leave a lot to be desired and frames can be kinda bent up upon arrival. Also, the 200g lighter, 2011, black model is out of stock.
If I don't find another route to go, I could reasonably justify getting this frame in short order.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
New rides?
It's that time of the year, all the new 2012 bikes are getting introed and making me drool. Could this year be a new bike year?
I currently own three bikes: 2008 Jamis Coda 19.5", 1999 Trek 930 19.5" and 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX 58cm. All are really a bit small (if you follow Riv's sizing guidelines) and I'd like to correct that. Riv says I should be on a 60-62 for road bike sizing. I'd also like to have disc brakes on all of them. The main advantage of the Coda, is that it has full braze-ons for racks and fenders. If the Fantom CX had those I'd not need the Coda. So finding a CX or relaxed geometry road bike with discs and full braze-ons means I could replace two bikes with one. I've found a few bikes that would meet those requirement (and could be considered affordable)
Specialized Tricross Elite Disc Apex Compact. The priciest of the bunch, and Aluminum. Highest standover, shortest toptube and longest stays. Steeper headtube and more rake make it the lowest trail of the bunch, which combined with the long stays could make it the slowest steering as well. The rear caliper hanging back behind the seat stays could cause rack issues. It's probably a pass.
Raleigh Roper. Missing lowrider braze-ons. Shortest stays. Lowest standover and shortest headtube. Probably the sportiest of the group. Not impossible to consider.
Redline Metro Classic. The only triple in the group, which doesn't thrill me. But otherwise the best gearing for my riding style. and Avid BB5's are well respected. The color and styling are great. This is the new front runner.
Soma Double Cross DC. Only available as a frameset. Tange Prestige tubing is the best of the steelies. best known clearance for wider tires, but still only 38s, which just isn't enough for serious gravel grinding. No lowrider mounts on the DC fork. Building from a frameset is probably the most expensive option, unless I were to run cantis/v's and switch over everything from the Fantom CX.
As mentioned none of these has the kind of tire clearance required for serious gravel grinding. Which means I need another bike! I'd considered another 26er frame and switching everything over from the Trek, but if I want discs that means a new wheelset, brakes and levers and at that point it may just make sense to go 29er.
Bikes in the running:
Surly Karate Monkey. Pretty much a classic. Track ends aren't my favorite. Only available built as a SS, but frameset is reasonable and if I'm ditching the Fantom, I can scavenge the brifters from there.
On One Inbred. Lighter tubeset than the KM. Carbon fork. Switchable dropouts with many options available (including Alfine!) Built bike is pricey, but frameset reasonable, and similar scavenging can be done as the KM.
Origin 8 Paladin 29. In a dream world where I was light enough to think that carbon was a good idea, and I needed a light bike to win, this could become a serious option. Fully Rigid, carbon 29er. Could be built very light and should (if all I hear about carbon is true) be very comfy on gravel with big soft meaty tires.
Much to think about and numbers to be run, but as we get to the "off season" it means plenty of time to plan out the road map.
I currently own three bikes: 2008 Jamis Coda 19.5", 1999 Trek 930 19.5" and 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX 58cm. All are really a bit small (if you follow Riv's sizing guidelines) and I'd like to correct that. Riv says I should be on a 60-62 for road bike sizing. I'd also like to have disc brakes on all of them. The main advantage of the Coda, is that it has full braze-ons for racks and fenders. If the Fantom CX had those I'd not need the Coda. So finding a CX or relaxed geometry road bike with discs and full braze-ons means I could replace two bikes with one. I've found a few bikes that would meet those requirement (and could be considered affordable)
Specialized Tricross Elite Disc Apex Compact. The priciest of the bunch, and Aluminum. Highest standover, shortest toptube and longest stays. Steeper headtube and more rake make it the lowest trail of the bunch, which combined with the long stays could make it the slowest steering as well. The rear caliper hanging back behind the seat stays could cause rack issues. It's probably a pass.
Raleigh Roper. Missing lowrider braze-ons. Shortest stays. Lowest standover and shortest headtube. Probably the sportiest of the group. Not impossible to consider.
Redline Metro Classic. The only triple in the group, which doesn't thrill me. But otherwise the best gearing for my riding style. and Avid BB5's are well respected. The color and styling are great. This is the new front runner.
Soma Double Cross DC. Only available as a frameset. Tange Prestige tubing is the best of the steelies. best known clearance for wider tires, but still only 38s, which just isn't enough for serious gravel grinding. No lowrider mounts on the DC fork. Building from a frameset is probably the most expensive option, unless I were to run cantis/v's and switch over everything from the Fantom CX.
As mentioned none of these has the kind of tire clearance required for serious gravel grinding. Which means I need another bike! I'd considered another 26er frame and switching everything over from the Trek, but if I want discs that means a new wheelset, brakes and levers and at that point it may just make sense to go 29er.
Bikes in the running:
Surly Karate Monkey. Pretty much a classic. Track ends aren't my favorite. Only available built as a SS, but frameset is reasonable and if I'm ditching the Fantom, I can scavenge the brifters from there.
On One Inbred. Lighter tubeset than the KM. Carbon fork. Switchable dropouts with many options available (including Alfine!) Built bike is pricey, but frameset reasonable, and similar scavenging can be done as the KM.
Origin 8 Paladin 29. In a dream world where I was light enough to think that carbon was a good idea, and I needed a light bike to win, this could become a serious option. Fully Rigid, carbon 29er. Could be built very light and should (if all I hear about carbon is true) be very comfy on gravel with big soft meaty tires.
Much to think about and numbers to be run, but as we get to the "off season" it means plenty of time to plan out the road map.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Darkness
Just as we start plunging into darkness, my much loved B&M Ixon IQ has failed. Luckily, it has done so before the end of its 2 year warranty, and it now in a box on its way back to Peter White Cycles, the distributor.
However, its failure has prompted me to purchase a backup light, the Planet Bike Blaze 2w. Sadly it will likely be over a week before either arrives to cut through the night and point my way. That leaves me relying on my old Niterider Ultrafazer Max 1w. The Max is waterproof and dependable, but lacks the beam shape and power of the Ixon IQ. It also won't share the same mount as the Ixon, which the PB Blaze will. It's battery life is pitiful as well.
While ordering the Blaze, I went ahead and ordered new brakes for the Motobecane. Shimano M590s and Travel Agents. The same setup I have on the front of Beast will now be on both ends of my main ride. Hopefully this will adequately solve the wet weather braking issues I've had.
However, its failure has prompted me to purchase a backup light, the Planet Bike Blaze 2w. Sadly it will likely be over a week before either arrives to cut through the night and point my way. That leaves me relying on my old Niterider Ultrafazer Max 1w. The Max is waterproof and dependable, but lacks the beam shape and power of the Ixon IQ. It also won't share the same mount as the Ixon, which the PB Blaze will. It's battery life is pitiful as well.
While ordering the Blaze, I went ahead and ordered new brakes for the Motobecane. Shimano M590s and Travel Agents. The same setup I have on the front of Beast will now be on both ends of my main ride. Hopefully this will adequately solve the wet weather braking issues I've had.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Hot Fudge!
Today was the final ride of the season for my Floyds Knobs Ice Cream route. One of the Ice Cream stands closes tomorrow for the winter. It was cold and rainy. 7 hearty souls showed at the start, with 3 bailing after the first stop. I had provided a bail out cue sheet for them to get back safely.
I had never before ridden so many miles continuously in rainy conditions. I could have been dressed warmer for it, but was fine, adding my rain jacket for the final 20 miles. A heavier wool jersey would have been better than the light-weight one I wore.
Two much more important lessons were learned:
1- cantis suck. Despite pad changes, and much study on setup and trial and error to get them right, they just lack the power of v's. It also reaffirmed my statement that my next bike will have discs.
2- even when cold and wet, hot fudge makes ice cream desirable.
I had never before ridden so many miles continuously in rainy conditions. I could have been dressed warmer for it, but was fine, adding my rain jacket for the final 20 miles. A heavier wool jersey would have been better than the light-weight one I wore.
Two much more important lessons were learned:
1- cantis suck. Despite pad changes, and much study on setup and trial and error to get them right, they just lack the power of v's. It also reaffirmed my statement that my next bike will have discs.
2- even when cold and wet, hot fudge makes ice cream desirable.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
2011 Old Kentucky Home Tour
It's my third time riding OKHT, having first tackled the course on my Jamis. I bonked around mile 84, to the point I was riding off the side of the road. I rolled to a stop and the bottom of Pottershop, and walked nearly every inch of the road, but I did make it to Bardstown under my own power...in about 11 hours.
Last year I hit it on the Motobecane, and cramped. It had started raining on the way into the Lincoln Homestead SAG (Sarcasm and Grief) stop. Pouring actually It was like someone turned on a hose inside my shoes. I had been hot, and hammering to make decent time. Turning onto the decent into the SAG, I realized I had less than zero brakes. I seemed to actually go faster with them on. I waited at the SAG for it to stop, of course they were out of everything. So with suddenly cold muscles, wet feet and no nutrition, I tried to take off for Pottershop, and both calves cramped. I made it 80 miles. I called a friend for a ride.
This year my Motobecane and I have already visited Pottershop, and climbed it successfully. We've done many more centuries this season, and I've gotten much better at fueling. It should be an awesome ride.
The night before I rode up the the registration on Beast, with all my camping gear in tow to put it in a friends vehicle. I was having some neck problems. Not the normal right side neck/shoulder I've been struggling with, but the left lower neck/spine. I return home descending HWY-42 after dark on Beast. flat out..and slow. The panniers, my baggy clothes and an unwillingness to really go for it kept me under 40mph. Aerodynamics are the key on that descent, even something like knickers can drop 3-4mph easily...back to the ride.
I wake early Sat to get ready for the ride, I want to be out of the house and riding to Sawyer for the start by 6:15 at the latest. Minor problem. My neck won't bend enough to let me look out over the bars, much less get into a tuck. About 10 minutes while the coffee is brewing with a tennis ball and a wall and I get my neck into position. Still can't turn it much, but it's good enough to ride. By the time my neck is made workable and breakfast, shower and such are ready I'm already late out the door and I still need to get bottles and such on the bike. I finally get out at 6:45.
My morning wakeup is Wolf Pen Branch, with is the lowest traffic way to get to Sawyer Park. Still pitch black and quite cool and damp compared to what we've had lately. I feel strong on the climb. I'm just easing up it, not hammering, but my legs are working well and feel great. I continue on my way and roll by Sawyer thirty minutes later than I really wanted to. I had really wanted to stop and hang for fifteen minutes or so and roll out at 7:15, but 7:27 will have to do.
I have a simple way of knowing if I left soon enough: if I roll past the Lilly Pike SAG before they open. They open at 9:30 and are 29 miles away. Pretty much I need to average 15mph over 2 straight hours non-stop. My GPS is showing me splits every 6 miles, 15.4, 14.7, 15.0...averaging 15 over the first 18 miles...no room for error, must pick it up. I see people in front of me peeling off and visiting each of the SAGs, I'm not stopping, pretty soon I realize that other then the racers who are heading up to open Lilly Pike, I'm the first rider. The 12-18 miles split comes in 18mph! Just bought myself 4 minutes! I'm awesome! Then come the 18-24 miles split, 13.9. I just lost almost half of my gain! I end up passing the sag in 1:58:43, meaning I beat the opening time by just under 5 minutes. I keep going on to lunch, and get there 19 minutes later, the first one. As I eat others start showing up, the Scouts know this and despite the fact that they're not officially open until 10, they're ready for us 15 minutes early. I'm later shocked to find I spent 27 minutes eating a sandwich and chips. Despite the massive waste of time, I'm still the first to roll out.
Continuing on to the next SAG, which my friends the MAD PUPS put on at Mt Zion church, which is the point where you have to finally decide on the 70 or 100 options. On the way some faster riders finally start passing me by, a group of racers I know about 7 in total, and a pair of riders who were lunching next to me and left right after I did. I knew I would spend a bit of time here, and a pleasantly surprised to find it was only 24 minutes, of quality eating and socializing. I make sure everything is full and I carry on.
It's 28 miles to the next SAG, Lincoln Homestead, and from the moment you make the turn onto the Century course it starts punishing you. after the first 3 you begin to wonder if you made the wrong choice. The punishment continues for the 6 more after that. A few lazy miles travelling through Willisburg and Mackville, and you soon arrive at what is probably my favorite section of road, a flowing slightly downhill section of patched up concrete called Mays Creek Rd. which you get to enjoy for 6 miles. I tend to get feisty on this road and will hammer for a bit if there is anyone to chase or drop. This year it was a tri-tool of some sort, who I saw out of my mirror having his aerobars pointed at my back in full tuck. I can guess he was going to ovetake the big guy with the fenders and bags in short order, but I ever so subtly put some more effort into it, not getting out of the saddle to make it look like I was working but powering a gear higher, pushing on the downhills and soon I'd dropped Mr. Carbon not to see him until a couple roads later coming into the SAG.
I dropped down the hill into Lincoln Homestead and arrived at 1:26, putting me at 5:59 for 78 miles, with 51 of that so far at SAGs, that number was about to go up a bunch. I was going to fuel up here for the final push to Pottershop. 38 minutes. I had a sandwich, some fruit, gorp, M&Ms, Payday. Bottle of Gatorade.
Lots of people telling stories of previous attempts at Pottershop. I tell someone to take it easy and rest in the miles coming up to get ready...of course I don't bother to mention that the next 10 miles are pretty punishing. He later passes me and asks how exactly he's supposed to rest up. I mention the 6 miles leading up to it as being fairly easy, which they are and quite welcome at that point. I take it easy, taking 1:20 to cover the 18 miles to the HILL!!!
Time to climb. I still have my neck bothering me, any out of the saddle efforts aren't going to be fun. I slide forward on the saddle, lean into the bars and press my palms into the drops. Stay to the right and just go. I'm really shocked that it's only a 5 minute climb up the first. I only have to paperboy it a couple times at the bottom. I spend way too long at the top of Pottershop. I feel good, but have been riding alone all day and want to socialize. 28 minutes for no reason.
The rest of Pottershop continues as before, just go, I know I've gotten up these hills before, so there's no point in thinking I'll have to walk this time.
I finish up in 9:07 total, with a 14.1 av rolling speed. I'd say I'm not overly thrilled with those numbers, but heck I finished OKHT and feel great, like I could ride more miles. I was stopped for 1:53, I could probably do better, but it's supposed to be social, and not having anyone to ride with, my social times are stopped.
Last year I hit it on the Motobecane, and cramped. It had started raining on the way into the Lincoln Homestead SAG (Sarcasm and Grief) stop. Pouring actually It was like someone turned on a hose inside my shoes. I had been hot, and hammering to make decent time. Turning onto the decent into the SAG, I realized I had less than zero brakes. I seemed to actually go faster with them on. I waited at the SAG for it to stop, of course they were out of everything. So with suddenly cold muscles, wet feet and no nutrition, I tried to take off for Pottershop, and both calves cramped. I made it 80 miles. I called a friend for a ride.
This year my Motobecane and I have already visited Pottershop, and climbed it successfully. We've done many more centuries this season, and I've gotten much better at fueling. It should be an awesome ride.
The night before I rode up the the registration on Beast, with all my camping gear in tow to put it in a friends vehicle. I was having some neck problems. Not the normal right side neck/shoulder I've been struggling with, but the left lower neck/spine. I return home descending HWY-42 after dark on Beast. flat out..and slow. The panniers, my baggy clothes and an unwillingness to really go for it kept me under 40mph. Aerodynamics are the key on that descent, even something like knickers can drop 3-4mph easily...back to the ride.
I wake early Sat to get ready for the ride, I want to be out of the house and riding to Sawyer for the start by 6:15 at the latest. Minor problem. My neck won't bend enough to let me look out over the bars, much less get into a tuck. About 10 minutes while the coffee is brewing with a tennis ball and a wall and I get my neck into position. Still can't turn it much, but it's good enough to ride. By the time my neck is made workable and breakfast, shower and such are ready I'm already late out the door and I still need to get bottles and such on the bike. I finally get out at 6:45.
My morning wakeup is Wolf Pen Branch, with is the lowest traffic way to get to Sawyer Park. Still pitch black and quite cool and damp compared to what we've had lately. I feel strong on the climb. I'm just easing up it, not hammering, but my legs are working well and feel great. I continue on my way and roll by Sawyer thirty minutes later than I really wanted to. I had really wanted to stop and hang for fifteen minutes or so and roll out at 7:15, but 7:27 will have to do.
I have a simple way of knowing if I left soon enough: if I roll past the Lilly Pike SAG before they open. They open at 9:30 and are 29 miles away. Pretty much I need to average 15mph over 2 straight hours non-stop. My GPS is showing me splits every 6 miles, 15.4, 14.7, 15.0...averaging 15 over the first 18 miles...no room for error, must pick it up. I see people in front of me peeling off and visiting each of the SAGs, I'm not stopping, pretty soon I realize that other then the racers who are heading up to open Lilly Pike, I'm the first rider. The 12-18 miles split comes in 18mph! Just bought myself 4 minutes! I'm awesome! Then come the 18-24 miles split, 13.9. I just lost almost half of my gain! I end up passing the sag in 1:58:43, meaning I beat the opening time by just under 5 minutes. I keep going on to lunch, and get there 19 minutes later, the first one. As I eat others start showing up, the Scouts know this and despite the fact that they're not officially open until 10, they're ready for us 15 minutes early. I'm later shocked to find I spent 27 minutes eating a sandwich and chips. Despite the massive waste of time, I'm still the first to roll out.
Continuing on to the next SAG, which my friends the MAD PUPS put on at Mt Zion church, which is the point where you have to finally decide on the 70 or 100 options. On the way some faster riders finally start passing me by, a group of racers I know about 7 in total, and a pair of riders who were lunching next to me and left right after I did. I knew I would spend a bit of time here, and a pleasantly surprised to find it was only 24 minutes, of quality eating and socializing. I make sure everything is full and I carry on.
It's 28 miles to the next SAG, Lincoln Homestead, and from the moment you make the turn onto the Century course it starts punishing you. after the first 3 you begin to wonder if you made the wrong choice. The punishment continues for the 6 more after that. A few lazy miles travelling through Willisburg and Mackville, and you soon arrive at what is probably my favorite section of road, a flowing slightly downhill section of patched up concrete called Mays Creek Rd. which you get to enjoy for 6 miles. I tend to get feisty on this road and will hammer for a bit if there is anyone to chase or drop. This year it was a tri-tool of some sort, who I saw out of my mirror having his aerobars pointed at my back in full tuck. I can guess he was going to ovetake the big guy with the fenders and bags in short order, but I ever so subtly put some more effort into it, not getting out of the saddle to make it look like I was working but powering a gear higher, pushing on the downhills and soon I'd dropped Mr. Carbon not to see him until a couple roads later coming into the SAG.
I dropped down the hill into Lincoln Homestead and arrived at 1:26, putting me at 5:59 for 78 miles, with 51 of that so far at SAGs, that number was about to go up a bunch. I was going to fuel up here for the final push to Pottershop. 38 minutes. I had a sandwich, some fruit, gorp, M&Ms, Payday. Bottle of Gatorade.
Lots of people telling stories of previous attempts at Pottershop. I tell someone to take it easy and rest in the miles coming up to get ready...of course I don't bother to mention that the next 10 miles are pretty punishing. He later passes me and asks how exactly he's supposed to rest up. I mention the 6 miles leading up to it as being fairly easy, which they are and quite welcome at that point. I take it easy, taking 1:20 to cover the 18 miles to the HILL!!!
Time to climb. I still have my neck bothering me, any out of the saddle efforts aren't going to be fun. I slide forward on the saddle, lean into the bars and press my palms into the drops. Stay to the right and just go. I'm really shocked that it's only a 5 minute climb up the first. I only have to paperboy it a couple times at the bottom. I spend way too long at the top of Pottershop. I feel good, but have been riding alone all day and want to socialize. 28 minutes for no reason.
The rest of Pottershop continues as before, just go, I know I've gotten up these hills before, so there's no point in thinking I'll have to walk this time.
I finish up in 9:07 total, with a 14.1 av rolling speed. I'd say I'm not overly thrilled with those numbers, but heck I finished OKHT and feel great, like I could ride more miles. I was stopped for 1:53, I could probably do better, but it's supposed to be social, and not having anyone to ride with, my social times are stopped.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
TMD Uphill TT
Tommorrow is the third time I will attempt the Moser Knob Uphill Time Trial. The first time I attempted it I was fairly new to the LBC, and I went up it fully loaded on my Jamis Coda hybrid. It weighed something like 40lbs. I took 12:26, only one person was slower. Last year I attacked it on my Motobecane, stripped of luggage, bottles and fenders. I took 13:23. I was the slowest person up the hill, even beaten by someone with a broken wrist riding a mountain bike on flat pedals! I was having allergy problems and had to stop half way up to catch my breath. I have no idea how I'll do this year, better would be nice, but a three-peat as the slowest male would be interesting as well...
September Populaire
Awesome!
I decided to ride this months' populaire with the group. I knew I wanted to hammer it out and try for a very good time. I switched out cassettes last night from my 13-30 to an 11-26, so I had some gears to hammer on, instead of spinning my high gear like I tend to do on flattish rides. I've only used the 11-26 cassette on a few other rides, where I knew there were no major climbs. And this was just such a ride, never requiring me to drop to the small ring, or to cross chain (meaning I never used a gear lower than 46x23)
I had a goal of 4:00 hours on the bike. I didn't make it, with a rolling time of 4:08:27. I was 4 minutes faster on the return, despite there being a good bit of rain on that leg. The middle section of roads were a bit rough, and knowing this going in I dropped the pressure on the tires by 5psi front and rear. The CX geometry and 28s were made for this, and the bike acted awesome, floating over all the choppy pavement and really encouraging me to just go for it. Averaging 16.7 over 69 miles is pretty damn fast for me. I've done faster rides, but never over such a distance. Honest Abe, which I consider my "TT Century", has never had me average better than 15.96.
The route wasn't exactly flat, but rolled pretty much the whole way with no significant climbs, but still even the one guy who came on a SS with rack and panniers managed to get in within the time limit. My gps shows 2562ft of climbing, making it the "flatest" ride I've ever created, and less than 200 ft more than the July Populaire Steve created.
I decided to ride this months' populaire with the group. I knew I wanted to hammer it out and try for a very good time. I switched out cassettes last night from my 13-30 to an 11-26, so I had some gears to hammer on, instead of spinning my high gear like I tend to do on flattish rides. I've only used the 11-26 cassette on a few other rides, where I knew there were no major climbs. And this was just such a ride, never requiring me to drop to the small ring, or to cross chain (meaning I never used a gear lower than 46x23)
I had a goal of 4:00 hours on the bike. I didn't make it, with a rolling time of 4:08:27. I was 4 minutes faster on the return, despite there being a good bit of rain on that leg. The middle section of roads were a bit rough, and knowing this going in I dropped the pressure on the tires by 5psi front and rear. The CX geometry and 28s were made for this, and the bike acted awesome, floating over all the choppy pavement and really encouraging me to just go for it. Averaging 16.7 over 69 miles is pretty damn fast for me. I've done faster rides, but never over such a distance. Honest Abe, which I consider my "TT Century", has never had me average better than 15.96.
The route wasn't exactly flat, but rolled pretty much the whole way with no significant climbs, but still even the one guy who came on a SS with rack and panniers managed to get in within the time limit. My gps shows 2562ft of climbing, making it the "flatest" ride I've ever created, and less than 200 ft more than the July Populaire Steve created.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Scrambled Eggs
A short run down of stuff:
Brakes. The one thing you really don't want to spend any time thinking about on your bike. You want them to just work, require little care and don't want to hear a peep out of them. Sadly that's not how the stock brakes on Beast have been. They've required a readjustment every time I removed and replaced a wheel, the feel has been poor, as has been the overall power. Frankly it was pissing me off. I decided to do something about it, and replaced the front brake with a new Deore BR-M590 in black. Amazing! Really, since I'm running the odd combo of a bar end lever, v brake and Problem Solvers to make them compatible, this may be the most awesome combo ever. The old brakes had longer arms (even though the M590 says "New! Longer Arms!" the old were even longer) which meant the lever/problem solver combo was a bit short on pull and therefore stopping power. The M590 is really an awesome brake for very little money. I should have gotten both front and rear.
Work. I now have a second part-time job. I'm working a couple days a week at one of the local bike shops. It's not a ton of money, but every little bit helps. It seems weird working on plastic bikes. It's a nice commute, with nearly 1000' of climbing on the way in and 1500' for the 22 mile round trip.
Heck of the North. Currently it's beginning to look like it may not happen for me this year. While I think the race will be fun, and I'm in decent enough shape to complete inside the time limits, in reality the main part of the trip was the fact that I'd get to go visit friends that live up that way. Sadly, it doesn't look like it will be a good time for a visit and I don't want to spend the money to travel up there if I'm not going to get to see them.
The next Populaire is this Sunday. The route is not finished, as my first attempt to drive it was today, and a closed road, with a large construction area blocking it, meant it's back to the drawing board. I could make it a very fast route by staying on the main roads, and there is a chance it may come to that, but I'm trying to get it on at least some side roads, but in that area there's a good risk those are gravel. While I'm fine with that, most of the people coming out for the ride wouldn't be.
Brakes. The one thing you really don't want to spend any time thinking about on your bike. You want them to just work, require little care and don't want to hear a peep out of them. Sadly that's not how the stock brakes on Beast have been. They've required a readjustment every time I removed and replaced a wheel, the feel has been poor, as has been the overall power. Frankly it was pissing me off. I decided to do something about it, and replaced the front brake with a new Deore BR-M590 in black. Amazing! Really, since I'm running the odd combo of a bar end lever, v brake and Problem Solvers to make them compatible, this may be the most awesome combo ever. The old brakes had longer arms (even though the M590 says "New! Longer Arms!" the old were even longer) which meant the lever/problem solver combo was a bit short on pull and therefore stopping power. The M590 is really an awesome brake for very little money. I should have gotten both front and rear.
Work. I now have a second part-time job. I'm working a couple days a week at one of the local bike shops. It's not a ton of money, but every little bit helps. It seems weird working on plastic bikes. It's a nice commute, with nearly 1000' of climbing on the way in and 1500' for the 22 mile round trip.
Heck of the North. Currently it's beginning to look like it may not happen for me this year. While I think the race will be fun, and I'm in decent enough shape to complete inside the time limits, in reality the main part of the trip was the fact that I'd get to go visit friends that live up that way. Sadly, it doesn't look like it will be a good time for a visit and I don't want to spend the money to travel up there if I'm not going to get to see them.
The next Populaire is this Sunday. The route is not finished, as my first attempt to drive it was today, and a closed road, with a large construction area blocking it, meant it's back to the drawing board. I could make it a very fast route by staying on the main roads, and there is a chance it may come to that, but I'm trying to get it on at least some side roads, but in that area there's a good risk those are gravel. While I'm fine with that, most of the people coming out for the ride wouldn't be.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Ridin' Around
Took Beast out for a spin yesterday. I had made a couple minor changes: removing the front rack/bag and the rear fender. This lightens it a bit, maybe 3 lbs, and cleans up the aerodynamics a good deal. It also lightens the steering and lets a bit more road vibe through. Oh, and because it was raining a bit when I was out, means the tire throws a lot more crud in my face, off the top of the tire, and the downtube crud guard does a decent enough job keeping my bottles clean.
On the flats, with no headwind, I can keep a pretty consistent 18-19mph as it was. Honestly that seems pretty similar to the speeds I run with the bag, rack and fender. The front crud guard really does catch a good deal of air, and I remember it slowing me a good 1.5mph when i installed it. But for the gravel event it needs to be on, and I see no reason to not train with it.
I ended up with a pretty flat 71miles, and a moving average of 14.9mph. I rocked out my first 8.3 miles at 17.8mph. Probably my best sprint on Beast.
In all, training is going well. I'm not quite where I'd like to be, with a proven loaded, sub 8hr century. Madison will be my benchmark for that, and I should get out and ride it again soon, loaded. Last attempt was 8:37, it got warm that day, with my GPS showing highs of 96 (not counting the stupid temps seen when stopped)
On the flats, with no headwind, I can keep a pretty consistent 18-19mph as it was. Honestly that seems pretty similar to the speeds I run with the bag, rack and fender. The front crud guard really does catch a good deal of air, and I remember it slowing me a good 1.5mph when i installed it. But for the gravel event it needs to be on, and I see no reason to not train with it.
I ended up with a pretty flat 71miles, and a moving average of 14.9mph. I rocked out my first 8.3 miles at 17.8mph. Probably my best sprint on Beast.
In all, training is going well. I'm not quite where I'd like to be, with a proven loaded, sub 8hr century. Madison will be my benchmark for that, and I should get out and ride it again soon, loaded. Last attempt was 8:37, it got warm that day, with my GPS showing highs of 96 (not counting the stupid temps seen when stopped)
Sunday, August 14, 2011
I Scream Populaire
Today was the second of the trail run of LBC sponsored Populaires. It was also the first route I had designed entirely from scratch. I think I aimed too high, as the response from the five people who showed up was overwhelmingly positive! Five people was about half as many as I had hoped for, but it was a good group. I had been warning people that it was pretty climby, and I might have scared a few people off who might have come otherwise, and would have been fine. Depending on what you use to measure it, it comes in @3700, 4800 or 5200 ft of climbing. My Garmin 500 is at the low end. RidewithGPS is at the high end.
I couldn't have even hoped for as fine of weather as what we had today, with highs around 80F, cloudy skies and pretty light winds. Skies threatened rain, but other than a few sprinkles, held off. It made me very sad that I was driving a van from control to control to do the paperwork, as I could schedule this every weekend and not manage to luck into the kind of weather we had today. When I had scheduled it way back in May, I had expected a mid-August Populaire to be hellishly hot and humid.
The riders are asking me to put this on again, and no doubt considering the amount of time and effort I put into designing it, I will. However, I don't think I'll put it on too often, as I think it's special enough to dole out sparingly. Perhaps twice a year at most, probably once as a Populaire and another time as a club ride. I'm really tempted to see if I can continue to schedule it as a "Picnic-Alternative", and use it as a Populaire at some other point of the season, perhaps in Spring as soon as Polly Freeze opens. Trying to do it when the leaves are turning is problematic as a Populaire, as I have to schedule so far in advance that I could end up scheduling it on top of Harvest Homecoming, and the route overlap in enough sections to be confusing, which could endanger the HH riders.
I couldn't have even hoped for as fine of weather as what we had today, with highs around 80F, cloudy skies and pretty light winds. Skies threatened rain, but other than a few sprinkles, held off. It made me very sad that I was driving a van from control to control to do the paperwork, as I could schedule this every weekend and not manage to luck into the kind of weather we had today. When I had scheduled it way back in May, I had expected a mid-August Populaire to be hellishly hot and humid.
The riders are asking me to put this on again, and no doubt considering the amount of time and effort I put into designing it, I will. However, I don't think I'll put it on too often, as I think it's special enough to dole out sparingly. Perhaps twice a year at most, probably once as a Populaire and another time as a club ride. I'm really tempted to see if I can continue to schedule it as a "Picnic-Alternative", and use it as a Populaire at some other point of the season, perhaps in Spring as soon as Polly Freeze opens. Trying to do it when the leaves are turning is problematic as a Populaire, as I have to schedule so far in advance that I could end up scheduling it on top of Harvest Homecoming, and the route overlap in enough sections to be confusing, which could endanger the HH riders.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Midnight Runs
Or: It's too damn hot to ride.
It's been over 2 weeks now since I last rode my bike. Heat indexes in excess of 110F will do that. It's been just miserably hot and muggy. Not riding makes me crabby and want to smoke (cigarettes, not cigars which I tend to puff on once or twice a week regardless.)
I've decided that to help counter this, I'd break out the running shoes a few nights a week at midnight. I'll pop in my headphones, toss my Garmin in my pocket (though it's not highly accurate in there), and pound the sidewalk. A couple simple rules: not on nights when I've been drinking (to avoid injury) or on nights when I plan to ride the next morning (to avoid soreness). Yes this means I have to be honest about whether I'm actually going to ride the next day, but I tend to be pretty good about that, and if I really planned on getting up and riding, I'd probably not be thinking about running at midnight anyway.
I have been planning on getting more serious about running anyway, as I promised a bunch of friends that I'd do the Bourbon Chase with them in 2012 (we couldn't get registered for the 2011 version or we'd do it then) and that means I need to be in good enough shape to run 15 miles split up in 3 legs over the course of a weekend. Oh, and the team of 12 has to maintain a 10 minute miles pace. I'd like to not be the slowest person, so I'm shooting for 8:45 as my goal pace. That's a bit better than the average pace of the average marathoner. So considering the shorter distance, I think it's probably easily obtainable with some effort and with over a year to get there, I hope to be able to achieve it.
It's been over 2 weeks now since I last rode my bike. Heat indexes in excess of 110F will do that. It's been just miserably hot and muggy. Not riding makes me crabby and want to smoke (cigarettes, not cigars which I tend to puff on once or twice a week regardless.)
I've decided that to help counter this, I'd break out the running shoes a few nights a week at midnight. I'll pop in my headphones, toss my Garmin in my pocket (though it's not highly accurate in there), and pound the sidewalk. A couple simple rules: not on nights when I've been drinking (to avoid injury) or on nights when I plan to ride the next morning (to avoid soreness). Yes this means I have to be honest about whether I'm actually going to ride the next day, but I tend to be pretty good about that, and if I really planned on getting up and riding, I'd probably not be thinking about running at midnight anyway.
I have been planning on getting more serious about running anyway, as I promised a bunch of friends that I'd do the Bourbon Chase with them in 2012 (we couldn't get registered for the 2011 version or we'd do it then) and that means I need to be in good enough shape to run 15 miles split up in 3 legs over the course of a weekend. Oh, and the team of 12 has to maintain a 10 minute miles pace. I'd like to not be the slowest person, so I'm shooting for 8:45 as my goal pace. That's a bit better than the average pace of the average marathoner. So considering the shorter distance, I think it's probably easily obtainable with some effort and with over a year to get there, I hope to be able to achieve it.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Populaire Kick-Off
Today was the first of the LBC Populaires. This is a trial series of events to see if there is sufficient interest in having the club host a full P-12. The RBA and I have decided to do these as social and intro to randonnuering events. With good food and post ride socializing, we hope to get a decent following.
This first event went well, with an outstanding turnout of 38 riders, most of which completed the course with not issues. There were a few lost brevet cards and a pair of people just missed the time limit.
The fairly challenging, but scenic route, offered a great intro for the new riders. I was one of the first-timers. Despite the fact that I've never done a brevet before, I was one of the driving forces behind the event, taking care of the marketing end (drumming up interest) and helping to get club approval to put it on.
I was a bit astonished at how long I took, mostly at how long I wasn't moving. One hour and forty minutes my bike sat still. Massive waste of time. While these are social rides, I need to be a bit more deliberate in how I spend my time. I will have to learn that by the next Populaire, a route which I planned. I have no choice, as the next route has 50% more climbing than today. If I waste as much time as I did today, I'll not make the time limit.
This first event went well, with an outstanding turnout of 38 riders, most of which completed the course with not issues. There were a few lost brevet cards and a pair of people just missed the time limit.
The fairly challenging, but scenic route, offered a great intro for the new riders. I was one of the first-timers. Despite the fact that I've never done a brevet before, I was one of the driving forces behind the event, taking care of the marketing end (drumming up interest) and helping to get club approval to put it on.
I was a bit astonished at how long I took, mostly at how long I wasn't moving. One hour and forty minutes my bike sat still. Massive waste of time. While these are social rides, I need to be a bit more deliberate in how I spend my time. I will have to learn that by the next Populaire, a route which I planned. I have no choice, as the next route has 50% more climbing than today. If I waste as much time as I did today, I'll not make the time limit.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Beastly Mileage
Today I rode Beast 100 miles (okay 95 point something to be technical) for the first time. Beast was, as I tend to ride it these days, fully loaded. I averaged 15.7 mph...for the first half, after that I slowed considerably. Final average moving speed was 14.6ish. Add in stops and it took me 8.5 hours to go the distance.
How much of that slowness was the weight of the bike, and how much was me not being ready for that distance on that bike, how much was the heat (it hit 95F) and how much was just stupidity (like not riding enough during the week, poor nutrition preride, poor feeding strategy during the ride.) I'm sure i will never know.
There were sections of flat road where I was only moving 8-9mph. I felt horrible, mostly about keeping the RC out that long. I had thoughts of throwing in the towel and calling for a ride, but didn't actually want to give up, just didn't want anyone else watching me being so out of sorts. I was actually quite cheerful and my attitude stayed positive throughout, the there is that. I knew I could make the distance, just had no idea how long it might take me. I had hoped for a sub 8 hour century and will have to keep working to make that goal, as I hope that a sub 8 hour road century will translate to a sub-10 hour gravel century.
How much of that slowness was the weight of the bike, and how much was me not being ready for that distance on that bike, how much was the heat (it hit 95F) and how much was just stupidity (like not riding enough during the week, poor nutrition preride, poor feeding strategy during the ride.) I'm sure i will never know.
There were sections of flat road where I was only moving 8-9mph. I felt horrible, mostly about keeping the RC out that long. I had thoughts of throwing in the towel and calling for a ride, but didn't actually want to give up, just didn't want anyone else watching me being so out of sorts. I was actually quite cheerful and my attitude stayed positive throughout, the there is that. I knew I could make the distance, just had no idea how long it might take me. I had hoped for a sub 8 hour century and will have to keep working to make that goal, as I hope that a sub 8 hour road century will translate to a sub-10 hour gravel century.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Beastly Heft
Beast, my 99 Trek 930, was never light. While I removed the stock suspension fork (also not light) and replaced it with a Surly 1x1 rigid fork (lighter, but still not featherweight), it's still well north of 20lbs. As I normally ride it, with fenders, a Nashbar Mini Rack and matching bag that has tubes, tools and other stuff, it tips the scales at around 32lbs (plus water)
Interestingly, that not much heavier than the normal as-ridden weight of my aluminum road bike. Of course, it has fenders, bags and such as well. By "not much" I mean about a single pound.
Start adding in stuff to be self-supported for a 100mile gravel road race in October in MN and suddenly it get really heavy. Current estimate is about 45lbs heavy (this time counting water, but not counting the water in my 2L hydration pack). 13lbs heavier. A bit over 8lbs of which is water. 3.5L (plus bottles)...and that's assuming I don't decide that a total of 5.5L is cutting it too close for 100 miles. It will have to be pretty cool, or I may have to find a way to carry more.
Currently the spare tire, 3 tubes, tools, puncture kit, spare quick-link, and first aid, and other personal items packed are all in the front bag. In a Jandd frame pack is the 2L bladder, with the small pocket having some energy bars. I like having this there, as it really helps to balance the bike and all the front weight means the front tire doesn't tend to lift on climbs. I have a Profile bento box mounted at the stem, it'll hold about 10 gel packs. That's usually more than I need for a century, but I know it won't be enough for one where there are no other food sources than what is on my bike. In the rear is a Carradice Super C Saddlepack. It's listed at 5L capacity. The plan for this is food and clothing. Clothes will depend on the weather of course. Food is going to be a trick to figure out. I'll need something calorie packed, shelf stable (as the start time means it'll be packed in the bag the night before), and satisfying.
Oh, and if I want to keep the bike under 45lbs, I only have room for 3lbs of clothes and food. I have this feeling that my hopes to take along a change of socks and gloves might be nixed to make weight.
Interestingly, that not much heavier than the normal as-ridden weight of my aluminum road bike. Of course, it has fenders, bags and such as well. By "not much" I mean about a single pound.
Start adding in stuff to be self-supported for a 100mile gravel road race in October in MN and suddenly it get really heavy. Current estimate is about 45lbs heavy (this time counting water, but not counting the water in my 2L hydration pack). 13lbs heavier. A bit over 8lbs of which is water. 3.5L (plus bottles)...and that's assuming I don't decide that a total of 5.5L is cutting it too close for 100 miles. It will have to be pretty cool, or I may have to find a way to carry more.
Currently the spare tire, 3 tubes, tools, puncture kit, spare quick-link, and first aid, and other personal items packed are all in the front bag. In a Jandd frame pack is the 2L bladder, with the small pocket having some energy bars. I like having this there, as it really helps to balance the bike and all the front weight means the front tire doesn't tend to lift on climbs. I have a Profile bento box mounted at the stem, it'll hold about 10 gel packs. That's usually more than I need for a century, but I know it won't be enough for one where there are no other food sources than what is on my bike. In the rear is a Carradice Super C Saddlepack. It's listed at 5L capacity. The plan for this is food and clothing. Clothes will depend on the weather of course. Food is going to be a trick to figure out. I'll need something calorie packed, shelf stable (as the start time means it'll be packed in the bag the night before), and satisfying.
Oh, and if I want to keep the bike under 45lbs, I only have room for 3lbs of clothes and food. I have this feeling that my hopes to take along a change of socks and gloves might be nixed to make weight.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Pain, Pottershop. Pottershop, Pain.
Pottershop. A nasty section of road leading into Bardstown, KY. 3 major climbs and two bonuses, peaking at 24%. I've failed to successfully climb this road twice. I would not fail a third time. From a stop sign the road goes about 50 feet and then become a wall.
Yesterday was the clubride version of Pottershop. Unlike the Old Kentucky Home Tour version, where Pottershop is placed at mile 96, on the clubride version it comes before lunch at mile 46.
For the first leg, I took it easy, falling in with the second pack of riders and enjoying some light conversation, talking up some of the upcoming roads with people who didn't know the area "No, we haven't actually been on any hills yet" "You, sir, have been misinformed"
After the first store stop, as we roll out I take a position in the front of the pack and start getting the legs warmed. I want them to be used to putting out some extended effort. Myself, another solo and a tandem start creeping away from the pack and then separating from each other. The other solo glides off the front and, despite our yelling, misses a turn, leaving the tandem and myself as the front two bikes. A series of rollers has the tandem slip out of sight, and checks in my mirror show no signs of the pack behind me.
I spend about ten miles traveling alone on my way to meet my foe. Steady effort keeping the legs working, a few out of the saddle efforts on climbs. I stop for a minute to flip and refold my cue sheet. Three more miles. A sudden realization that I'm actually coming to the road from the opposite direction than I had expected. Cool.
Quarter mile. Downshift and glide in. Right turn. HILL! Ease into it. Don't attack. Keep the cranks turning over. Half way up the first hill, false flat (it's still actually 8%), pick up a mph or two, keep the power steady. Top of the first climb. That's the second hardest one. Pick up speed to help carry you over the first bonus. Downhill. Work the legs a bit to loosen them. Second climb. keep it steady, don't work it too much. That's the easy one, it only peaks at 18%. Long downhill. Don't bother bombing it. Stretch the back and shoulders. Climb three. It only peaks at 22%, but is the longest, with a half mile 3% false flat splitting the two steeper sections, curving around hiding what's coming next. My legs are tired, my back is aching, I'm climbing this hill, dammit! I get passed right before the final crest. I tell him I was beginning to hope that I would be the first solo bike to make the end of the road, and then call him a skinny bastard. The final bonus is nothing at this point, just a 5% grade to get up to the main road.
Heavy traffic on this road. small climb. then bomb down hill...what is that? what is that! The road ahead looks weird. It's been torn up to repave! traffic behind me, can't slow down. this is gonna hurt....Blllahluhluhluhluh! It's only a quarter mile section. Catch the tandem ahead. and go to lunch. Other riders pull in right behind us so we have a good size lunch group.
As we roll out from a decent paceline works into a headwind to get out of town. a series of stiff rollers splits the group again. I join in chatting with another rider for a few miles and then get joined by a couple more, including the guy who passed me back on Pottershop. We're rolling on having a nice conversation and beginning to look forward to the final stop and begin talking of ice cream and hopes that there will be some to be had. I quip that there won't be any to be had if I get there first, which get slammed with a reminder of there being another hill between us and the store. Challenge accepted! A quick dash in a futile attempt to catch a green sign gets a good head of steam going to the hill. The one rider outpaces me, but mirror checks confirm that I'm keeping the other two at bay. At the top, a long flat is laid ahead with the other rider about a quarter mile up. spin, spin, spin. 23, 24. I think I'm gaining. 25, 26. He's within reach. We scream into the parking lot at 27 mph. I'm up maybe half a wheel length. We all eat some ice cream. Other riders join us at the store and we all gather up and ride the last 12 miles as a group.
Yesterday was the clubride version of Pottershop. Unlike the Old Kentucky Home Tour version, where Pottershop is placed at mile 96, on the clubride version it comes before lunch at mile 46.
For the first leg, I took it easy, falling in with the second pack of riders and enjoying some light conversation, talking up some of the upcoming roads with people who didn't know the area "No, we haven't actually been on any hills yet" "You, sir, have been misinformed"
After the first store stop, as we roll out I take a position in the front of the pack and start getting the legs warmed. I want them to be used to putting out some extended effort. Myself, another solo and a tandem start creeping away from the pack and then separating from each other. The other solo glides off the front and, despite our yelling, misses a turn, leaving the tandem and myself as the front two bikes. A series of rollers has the tandem slip out of sight, and checks in my mirror show no signs of the pack behind me.
I spend about ten miles traveling alone on my way to meet my foe. Steady effort keeping the legs working, a few out of the saddle efforts on climbs. I stop for a minute to flip and refold my cue sheet. Three more miles. A sudden realization that I'm actually coming to the road from the opposite direction than I had expected. Cool.
Quarter mile. Downshift and glide in. Right turn. HILL! Ease into it. Don't attack. Keep the cranks turning over. Half way up the first hill, false flat (it's still actually 8%), pick up a mph or two, keep the power steady. Top of the first climb. That's the second hardest one. Pick up speed to help carry you over the first bonus. Downhill. Work the legs a bit to loosen them. Second climb. keep it steady, don't work it too much. That's the easy one, it only peaks at 18%. Long downhill. Don't bother bombing it. Stretch the back and shoulders. Climb three. It only peaks at 22%, but is the longest, with a half mile 3% false flat splitting the two steeper sections, curving around hiding what's coming next. My legs are tired, my back is aching, I'm climbing this hill, dammit! I get passed right before the final crest. I tell him I was beginning to hope that I would be the first solo bike to make the end of the road, and then call him a skinny bastard. The final bonus is nothing at this point, just a 5% grade to get up to the main road.
Heavy traffic on this road. small climb. then bomb down hill...what is that? what is that! The road ahead looks weird. It's been torn up to repave! traffic behind me, can't slow down. this is gonna hurt....Blllahluhluhluhluh! It's only a quarter mile section. Catch the tandem ahead. and go to lunch. Other riders pull in right behind us so we have a good size lunch group.
As we roll out from a decent paceline works into a headwind to get out of town. a series of stiff rollers splits the group again. I join in chatting with another rider for a few miles and then get joined by a couple more, including the guy who passed me back on Pottershop. We're rolling on having a nice conversation and beginning to look forward to the final stop and begin talking of ice cream and hopes that there will be some to be had. I quip that there won't be any to be had if I get there first, which get slammed with a reminder of there being another hill between us and the store. Challenge accepted! A quick dash in a futile attempt to catch a green sign gets a good head of steam going to the hill. The one rider outpaces me, but mirror checks confirm that I'm keeping the other two at bay. At the top, a long flat is laid ahead with the other rider about a quarter mile up. spin, spin, spin. 23, 24. I think I'm gaining. 25, 26. He's within reach. We scream into the parking lot at 27 mph. I'm up maybe half a wheel length. We all eat some ice cream. Other riders join us at the store and we all gather up and ride the last 12 miles as a group.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
About Weight
Let's just go ahead and get this out of the way: I'm a big guy. A tad over 6' tall and currently 232lbs.
And that weight is a vast improvement over what I was just 2-1/2 years ago. 295. Ouch.
I like food. I love to cook. I also enjoy good beer and whiskey (okay, pretty much all fine adult beverages)
Interesting thing is, in the winter I lose weight and in the summer I gain it. Cycling season means weight gain. Yes it's muscle. Yes my body shape is still improving. Yes I'm getting stronger and I can climb hills better, I'm faster. I can finally reach the drops on my road bike.
My belts are out of holes, my pants are falling off of me. My shirts are all baggy. My boxer-briefs, on the other hand, are getting a bit tight around the thighs.
I still want to get back into my favorite suit. I weighed 185 when I bought it. Best I can tell I still need 2 more inches off the waist. Considering the current muscle makeup of my body is drastically different from back then, I'm guessing I might fit back in at 205 or so, if I keep the muscle and lose the fat.
But my main gripe about gaining weight is the fact that, even though I'm stronger, I still have to drag that weight uphill. If only I could lose fat as quickly as I seem to be able to pack on muscle. Sigh.
And that weight is a vast improvement over what I was just 2-1/2 years ago. 295. Ouch.
I like food. I love to cook. I also enjoy good beer and whiskey (okay, pretty much all fine adult beverages)
Interesting thing is, in the winter I lose weight and in the summer I gain it. Cycling season means weight gain. Yes it's muscle. Yes my body shape is still improving. Yes I'm getting stronger and I can climb hills better, I'm faster. I can finally reach the drops on my road bike.
My belts are out of holes, my pants are falling off of me. My shirts are all baggy. My boxer-briefs, on the other hand, are getting a bit tight around the thighs.
I still want to get back into my favorite suit. I weighed 185 when I bought it. Best I can tell I still need 2 more inches off the waist. Considering the current muscle makeup of my body is drastically different from back then, I'm guessing I might fit back in at 205 or so, if I keep the muscle and lose the fat.
But my main gripe about gaining weight is the fact that, even though I'm stronger, I still have to drag that weight uphill. If only I could lose fat as quickly as I seem to be able to pack on muscle. Sigh.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I'm just not that mad!
My bicycle club, the Louisville Bicycle Club, puts on a challenging series of centuries every year called the Tour de Mad Dog (TMD), it's 21 stages, two of which are shorter Time Trials, one flat and one uphill. Other than the TTs, all times are fictitious. As a way to encourage people being social, times are based upon the size of group you finish with, you need six in your finishing group to not incur a penalty, with the winner pulled randomly from all who finished the stage. There are also difficulty bonuses (for longer or harder routes) and bonuses for having crap attached to your bike (or carried on your back) that are also drawn randomly. All these "times" are added up and at the end of the event used to award the yellow jersey winner and the white jersey for best young (under 24) or new (never completed the TMD) rider. I really want the white jersey. I've stated it as my goal since before this tour started.
Up until today I was running second for the white jersey and I knew the white jersey leader wasn't going to make this stage. I didn't ride. I really wanted to. This stage would have been my longest bike ride ever: 140 miles. It would have been my most climbing in a ride ever as well: listed at 11,000+ft (though gps tracks tend to place it a bit lower than that). Completing this ride would have given me good insight into how well my training is going for the gravel event I have in October.
About 14 riders showed up at the 6am start, but only 10 rolled out of the parking lot. A line of strong thunderstorms was putting on a pretty serious light show and headed to intercept. The 4 of us watched them roll out and hung around in the lot for about 20 minutes, watching the radar and waiting to see how bad it was going to get. By the time we felt the first drops, the flashes had already started surrounding us. It was going to be a rough day. The rain was heavy. I've ridden in worse. The lightning, though, I've not pedaled through a storm that electrifying. I don't want to.
Have I lost out in my quest for the white jersey? Maybe, three of the people chasing me did ride. Two of them will pass me today, assuming they don't have something preventing them from finishing the ride, one of those had stated that they will have to miss later rides, so who knows. I may still have shot at white.
I had earlier in the season considered abandoning if I wasn't in a position to take home white. Abandoning requires missing more than four stages in a row, or failing to complete back to back stages. I've abandoned that idea. I've decided this will probably be the only year I try to complete the TMD. Not that I won't continue to ride the rides, but that if I miss some I won't worry about it next year. I'll take home a finishers jersey, white or not, and be proud of the accomplishment. Chasing White or Yellow requires both luck and a level of madness that I just can't compete with.
Up until today I was running second for the white jersey and I knew the white jersey leader wasn't going to make this stage. I didn't ride. I really wanted to. This stage would have been my longest bike ride ever: 140 miles. It would have been my most climbing in a ride ever as well: listed at 11,000+ft (though gps tracks tend to place it a bit lower than that). Completing this ride would have given me good insight into how well my training is going for the gravel event I have in October.
About 14 riders showed up at the 6am start, but only 10 rolled out of the parking lot. A line of strong thunderstorms was putting on a pretty serious light show and headed to intercept. The 4 of us watched them roll out and hung around in the lot for about 20 minutes, watching the radar and waiting to see how bad it was going to get. By the time we felt the first drops, the flashes had already started surrounding us. It was going to be a rough day. The rain was heavy. I've ridden in worse. The lightning, though, I've not pedaled through a storm that electrifying. I don't want to.
Have I lost out in my quest for the white jersey? Maybe, three of the people chasing me did ride. Two of them will pass me today, assuming they don't have something preventing them from finishing the ride, one of those had stated that they will have to miss later rides, so who knows. I may still have shot at white.
I had earlier in the season considered abandoning if I wasn't in a position to take home white. Abandoning requires missing more than four stages in a row, or failing to complete back to back stages. I've abandoned that idea. I've decided this will probably be the only year I try to complete the TMD. Not that I won't continue to ride the rides, but that if I miss some I won't worry about it next year. I'll take home a finishers jersey, white or not, and be proud of the accomplishment. Chasing White or Yellow requires both luck and a level of madness that I just can't compete with.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Beastly Pain
I'm a cyclist...or more accurately. I'm a guy who likes riding bikes. I've got three of them: a black 2008 Jamis Coda hybrid (which gets ridden shockingly little), a blue Motobecane Fantom CX (which gets the majority of my mileage) and Beast.
Beast was a 1999 Trek 930 I picked it up off CL in '08. It had barely been ridden, still wearing its stock tires. I used it as a beater, throwing racks and fenders on it and heading to the grocery and beer runs. It saw quite a bit of use this winter when I decided not to fix my truck after it died.
I removed the stock tires shortly after purchasing it, as the sidewalls looked a bit sad and put on some cheap Kendas I had never used that came on yet another bike, a long dead BSO. Later I decided that during the warmer months, when snow or ice wasn't to be expected, I'd like to have some proper road tires for Beast. A set of Kenda Kwests were picked up at my local shop.
Despite 2 years of use the bike still barely had 450 miles on it.
I started to read about how much fun people were having riding on gravel roads. "Gravel Grinding" they call it. A group of local riders calling themselves the River City Cycling Society, started posting about their leisurely, yet epic, gravel rides. I wanted in. Time to wake up Beast.
A new, rigid Surly 1x1 fork was ordered, as gravel, while rough, doesn't need suspension, and the stock suspension wasn't really up to having me man-handle the bike. New bars, levers and cables were ordered. I caught a great deal on some very expensive tires Schwalbe Racing Ralphs and Nobby Nics, all with lovely red stripes and in 2.25" widths.
It's coming together, it feels good, I can get it to move down the road fairly well. I changed the cassette for one with gears spacing more appropriate to its use. It still had not seen gravel.
Then my mistake. I saw a posting about a gravel road race. In Minnesota. I have friends I'd like to visit in MN. It's "free", as in I don't have to pay a fee to race, but transportation, food and lodging all cost. By attempting to enter a race, can I call myself a racer? I sent in my postcard, assuming I wouldn't actually get drawn. I got drawn. I'm a racer. shit.
Okay, fine. I'm in. Originally the logistics of the race (I'll just call it an event from now on, as I'm about as likely to win, as I am of getting abducted by aliens) included getting a chance to resupply at the halfway point. Good. I already know I can ride 50 miles non-stop carrying everything I need. The only thing I was worried about was making the 10 hour cutoff time. on a mountain bike. on gravel.
Further looking at the expected conditions of the course: about 6 miles of singletrack and muddy stuff it is. The 2.25" tire shoved into the back where a 1.9" tire was supposed to go. No mud space. The search for an appropriate tire for the rear led me to two options: Panaracer Fire XC Pro 1.8" or Kenda Small Block 8 1.75". Neither is available in the States. I could only find the Kenda in Australia. Shipping was insane. The Panaracer I could get from Great Britain. I could also get it in a red striped version that kinda matchs the Schwalbes. I'll take two please, and a downtube mudguard, as the others I have won't clear the meaty Racing Ralph up front. A second set of wheels so I can easily switch between slicks and my "event tires"
The skinnier rear tyre means a bit less cush in the back. The current saddle will never cut it for 100+ gravely miles. I'll need a Brooks. With Springs. Flyer in Black, please. I check with a couple local stores. All out. They call the distributor, they're out of stock, too. I check a few of the webstores I frequent. All backordered. I finally find one, at a pretty good discount and free shipping, too. It'll be here next week.
Now I find out the event organizer has decided his event isn't tough enough. Why coddle these riders by offering to haul their gear to the halfway point? Make'em carry everything they'll need for 100+ miles. Yeah, that's the ticket. No outside support. Crap!
By my estimation, I own $500 worth of cycle luggage: panniers, handlebar bags, rack packs, saddlebags, bento boxes. And that doesn't count another $150 worth of ranks and brakets to mount them all. Make that $560. No combination of bags I have seemed quite right. Make that $600, no $615. Three new bags on their way.
Still more training and testing to fine-tune the setup. Beast has passed 1100 miles in a short period of time and so far it's still not seen gravel. But I have learned one thing: Free races are expensive to ride.
Beast was a 1999 Trek 930 I picked it up off CL in '08. It had barely been ridden, still wearing its stock tires. I used it as a beater, throwing racks and fenders on it and heading to the grocery and beer runs. It saw quite a bit of use this winter when I decided not to fix my truck after it died.
I removed the stock tires shortly after purchasing it, as the sidewalls looked a bit sad and put on some cheap Kendas I had never used that came on yet another bike, a long dead BSO. Later I decided that during the warmer months, when snow or ice wasn't to be expected, I'd like to have some proper road tires for Beast. A set of Kenda Kwests were picked up at my local shop.
Despite 2 years of use the bike still barely had 450 miles on it.
I started to read about how much fun people were having riding on gravel roads. "Gravel Grinding" they call it. A group of local riders calling themselves the River City Cycling Society, started posting about their leisurely, yet epic, gravel rides. I wanted in. Time to wake up Beast.
A new, rigid Surly 1x1 fork was ordered, as gravel, while rough, doesn't need suspension, and the stock suspension wasn't really up to having me man-handle the bike. New bars, levers and cables were ordered. I caught a great deal on some very expensive tires Schwalbe Racing Ralphs and Nobby Nics, all with lovely red stripes and in 2.25" widths.
It's coming together, it feels good, I can get it to move down the road fairly well. I changed the cassette for one with gears spacing more appropriate to its use. It still had not seen gravel.
Then my mistake. I saw a posting about a gravel road race. In Minnesota. I have friends I'd like to visit in MN. It's "free", as in I don't have to pay a fee to race, but transportation, food and lodging all cost. By attempting to enter a race, can I call myself a racer? I sent in my postcard, assuming I wouldn't actually get drawn. I got drawn. I'm a racer. shit.
Okay, fine. I'm in. Originally the logistics of the race (I'll just call it an event from now on, as I'm about as likely to win, as I am of getting abducted by aliens) included getting a chance to resupply at the halfway point. Good. I already know I can ride 50 miles non-stop carrying everything I need. The only thing I was worried about was making the 10 hour cutoff time. on a mountain bike. on gravel.
Further looking at the expected conditions of the course: about 6 miles of singletrack and muddy stuff it is. The 2.25" tire shoved into the back where a 1.9" tire was supposed to go. No mud space. The search for an appropriate tire for the rear led me to two options: Panaracer Fire XC Pro 1.8" or Kenda Small Block 8 1.75". Neither is available in the States. I could only find the Kenda in Australia. Shipping was insane. The Panaracer I could get from Great Britain. I could also get it in a red striped version that kinda matchs the Schwalbes. I'll take two please, and a downtube mudguard, as the others I have won't clear the meaty Racing Ralph up front. A second set of wheels so I can easily switch between slicks and my "event tires"
The skinnier rear tyre means a bit less cush in the back. The current saddle will never cut it for 100+ gravely miles. I'll need a Brooks. With Springs. Flyer in Black, please. I check with a couple local stores. All out. They call the distributor, they're out of stock, too. I check a few of the webstores I frequent. All backordered. I finally find one, at a pretty good discount and free shipping, too. It'll be here next week.
Now I find out the event organizer has decided his event isn't tough enough. Why coddle these riders by offering to haul their gear to the halfway point? Make'em carry everything they'll need for 100+ miles. Yeah, that's the ticket. No outside support. Crap!
By my estimation, I own $500 worth of cycle luggage: panniers, handlebar bags, rack packs, saddlebags, bento boxes. And that doesn't count another $150 worth of ranks and brakets to mount them all. Make that $560. No combination of bags I have seemed quite right. Make that $600, no $615. Three new bags on their way.
Still more training and testing to fine-tune the setup. Beast has passed 1100 miles in a short period of time and so far it's still not seen gravel. But I have learned one thing: Free races are expensive to ride.
Of Rye...
Hmm...a blog. Do I need a blog? Do I even have any intention of letting anyone know that I have a blog? The answer to the first is: Probably not. The answer to the second is eerily similar to the first.
But it could be nice to have somewhere to organize my thoughts...we'll find out.
But it could be nice to have somewhere to organize my thoughts...we'll find out.
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