This week consisted of my weekly work commute and Indiana Randonneurs 600k Saturday and Sunday starting in Columbus Indiana.
Here is a pic from the start. A couple of hard core riders here. A few riders will earn their first SR (Super Randonneurs) series and qualify for this years PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris).
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7472430
http://www.rusa.org/
https://sites.google.com/site/indianarandonneurs/
Receiving instructions.
My plan was to take it easy. Soak in the scenery, eat plentiful, and drink that extra cup of coffee. I finished with 2 hours to spare so I think my plan worked pretty well. The plan for sleeping was to ride the 400k portion, there is a 400k loop and a 200k loop, in under 24hrs, take a 3 hour nap in the car, and finish the 200k portion after the nap. My thinking was that once the 400k was finished the 200k with a relatively flat route would be easy work.
Sun coming up on my way to the 1st control. My legs were feeling okay, I commuted 80+ miles prior to this ride and last weekend I went up to Michigan for the Detroit Randonneurs 400k. I was worried about recovery, but I felt pretty good until I woke up for the 200k portion.
I finally made it to the 1st control, a McDonalds in Trafalgar. Throughout the ride I wanted to make sure I was eating enough and since I can carry only so much on the bike the majority of my eating was going to come from controls. At the Mcdonalds control however, I was still full from my wife's awesome breakfast burritos, so I stuck with water and a hash brown. After a short stay at Mcdonalds Bloomington was my next target.
Bloomington was an open control and when I saw Subway I had to attack. A foot long with chips and lemon aid hit the spot. Pulling out of Subway I saw a fellow Randonneur eating a sandwich at Scholars Inn, so I decided to stop for my extra cup of coffee and see how things were going. After Bloomington the next control was a Starbucks in Bedford, a chance for another cup of coffee and a sandwich, so far so good.
This is a pic of the B-line trail in Bloomington. Some was gravel, a lot paved. Very nice trail, and nice not to worry about cars.
Here I tried to justify some of the hills I was climbing. To this day I've never been able to snap a picture of a hill that expressed the pain it gave me.
Here at Bedford. My phone doesn't have cell network capabilities, so while on Starbuck's WiFi I figured it was a good opportunity to show I pic to the social media world. Here is my beast waiting for more punishment.
After Starbucks came the section of the route with the most climbing. I even walked up one hill. Usually my "man hood" would prevent me from walking up a hill, but recently I feel if you're climbing at a walking pace might as well get off the bike and walk, you'll save energy and plus it's nice to take a break from the saddle.
Next stop: a filling station in Jasper.
I love bridges.
It may be hard to make out, but this is a little Painted Turtle I found in the middle of the road. I couldn't leave him there so I carried him to the side of the road. If ever you're in this position move the turtle to the side of the road it's facing, if not the turtle will just turn back around and try to cross the road again.
Big open roads on the way to Jasper. The route was terrific. Once at the Jasper control my stomach started to not agree with me so I didn't eat much. I filled up my water bottles, drank a vitamin water and a chocolate milk, and headed for Seymour, the last control before the hotel and a nap.
Riding through French Lick I caught a pack of riders. They were stopped at a Dairy Queen, which looked tempting but it had a long line and I didn't feel like waiting, so I powered on. Eventually that group caught me and we finished the 400k portion somewhat together.
Sun setting out of French Lick. My photos cease when it gets dark because of poor quality, so this is the last pic until I start my 200k leg of the trip.
We finally pulled into the Seymour Control. I got my Vitamin water, chocolate milk, and filled my water bottles. Here our group split up. One guy was falling to sleep while riding his bike so he decided to stay at the control and take a nap, another guy didn't waste time at the control and left alone, and the third guy was a little slower than me so I rode most of the way back to Columbus by myself. Once I got to the hotel I got my card stamped, ate a couple oranges and bananas in the car, and took a 3 hour nap. All that was left was 200k and I was feeling pretty good.
Good morning. The first leg was a 50 mile ride to Batesville Steak n' Shake. A control with food, I love these controls.
That sun became very hot. The trip from Columbus to the Batesville control and Batesville to the Seymour control was each a desolate 50 miles with no stores, no place to refill water or grab some food, and I ran out of water on each of these stretches. I was hot, tired, and at some points miserable.
I guess this is why the road is called Indian Underpass Rd. The Batesville control is right around the corner.
With a cherry on top. A much needed feast and break in an air conditioned restaurant. The heat outside was increasing, I've been out of water for the last couple miles, and the headwind was strong. As I was leaving I saw another Randonneur pulling up. He was a veteran randonneur and a very good rider, he said he didn't think he'd finish and he didn't, this ride wasn't easy.
After the Batesville control I quit taking pictures. My morale was sinking along with my energy. It was another 50 mile pedal to the Seymour control. A 50 mile hot pedal battling 15-20 mph head winds in a farming area without trees to give relief from the sun and wind. Again I ran out of water, this time with about 15 miles before the control. There were no filling stations or stores along the way, just farm fields and residential houses. About 20 miles before Seymour I saw a randonneur on someones front lawn, he stopped and asked a local for water, which I never considered. He caught up to me and we rode together for a few. About 5 miles to the Seymour control I caught another group of riders at a locals house. Two of the guys were working on a bike and a third guy was on the deck drinking water and talking to the kind lady that was helping them. I was introduced to the lady, Cindy I believe, and she filled my water bottles and we chatted for a few. The break in the shade drinking ice water allowed me to ride onto Seymour refreshed. Another added boost was the fact that I was almost done.
Once at the Seymour control I got some liquids and ice cream, hopped back on the bike for the 20 mile tailwind induced ride back to the final control.
This ride was a battle. There are few rides in my life when I actually felt like getting off my bike and not riding anymore. At certain points, though just for a few seconds, this thought crossed my mind. But I powered on, just kept grinding at the pedals and was rewarded with a Super Randonneur title and a chance for PBP.
Bike: (as always)
Surly Cross
Downtube friction shifting
Full fenders
Shimano Dyna hub
Revo light
GPS
Arkel Handlebar Bag
Gear:
Shorts
My long sleeved cotton button down shirt (a staple in my cycling wardrobe for sun protection.)
3 pairs of socks
Keen sandals
short fingered gloves
Frogg Togg outer shell (I carry on all my rides)
Plastic bags (Now another staple. After the Michigan ride I stuff a couple plastic bags under my saddle.)
reflective vest and ankle bands
Less gear than I used for the Michigan ride. The weather was more promising and about 40 degF warmer.
Food: (Not including what I buy at controls)
Cliff Bars
Cliff power blocks
Recoverer power electrolyte for water bottles
Water
All other food/water I buy at controls.
By bike: 205miles
By feet: 0miles
