"Training Log" 07/05/2015-07/11/2015

This week consisted of my daily commute to work and a couple runs to the local stores.  Sunday however I completed a 200k, more to come. 

By Bike: 103 miles
By Feet: 0 (Training for PBP, all spare time has been devoted to the bike)

"Training Log" 06/28/2015-07/04/2015

This week consisted of my commute to work of 72 miles plus a 105 mile ride on Saturday to MMF (Morgan Monroe Forest) and back home.

For the ride Saturday I wanted to ride the bike set up for PBP.  I've done this a couple times and I'm making slight changes for the better I hope.

I tried to ride every hill climb I could find for the route and with 5200 feet of elevation gain in just 100 miles I think I found the good stuff.  It's easy to find hill climbs in this section of Indiana, just search out every road that has a lower, low, or hill in the name.

I started at 3am for two reasons, first to give me some more night riding and second so I can get back home and still have time to hang out with the family.

  
As the sun came up I was able to start taking pics.  We've had a lot of rain this year and creeks have been up.

Here at the turn around point heading back home. 

So far

After 3.5hrs of riding in the dark on rural roads I was happy when it became light.  But its a love hate relationship.  When the sun came out the cars came out. 

Breakfast stop for a re-fuel. 

Since this ride was an out and back on the return I was able to see what I missed when I rode through in the dark. And I rode through some beautiful country.

A favorite of mine, Link observatory.

Gear:

       Bags:

• Arkel handlebar bag.  It's small, but small bags force you to pack less.  In this bag will be a a quick access puncture kit, tubes, and some quick nutrition. 
• Revelate seat bag.  This bag will have cloths, other tools, and the remainder of the between controls nutrition. 

      Cloths:

• Frogg Togg shell (I take everywhere) Waterproof and warm. The shell doesn't compress well so I strap it to my rear rack.
• Wool short sleeve shirt. 
• Bike shorts
• 3 pairs of socks.
• A pair of wool gloves with a couple pair of rubber glove shells. 
• Long tights
• Reflective vest and ankle bands
• Light cotton long sleeve button shirt  
• Bike gloves

      Tools/tubes:

• Multi-tool
• adjustable wrench
• allen set
• spare crank bolt
• 2 tire levers
• pump
• 2 spare tubes
• patch kit
• 2 chain links
• rag
• zip ties
• spoke wrench
• duct tape
• plastic bags

      Accessories:

• 2 red lights
• 1 dyno front light
• 1spare battery front light
• 3 water bottles 
• rear rack
• 8 spare AA batteries
• 6 spare AAA batteries
• zip lock bag for phone, wallet, and brevet card
• Laminated cue sheet
• GPS with French maps and route
• 200 Euros
• sunglasses and clear glasses
• cycling cap and helmet
• head lamp

      Food:

• 15 Cliff bars/block combo
• 20 recoverer drink mixes 

     Things to do:

• Install new tires
• Install new shift cable and housing
• Install new brake pads
• Look into new dyno hub
• Buy and install new chain
• Buy French maps for GPS
• Doctor PBP cue sheets 
• Look into batter USB backups
• Bubble wrap for bike transport
• Eye droppers for chain lube
• Butter container 
• Tums

Week totals

     By Bike: 157 miles. 

"Training Log" 06/21/2015-06/27/2015 24 hours of booty

This week consisted of my 72 mile weekly commute to work. Sunday I had a couple around town trips and a 20 mile ride to the in-laws.  Friday and Saturday I participated in the 24 hours of Booty.  This is a 24 hour bike challenge to help raise money for the IU Cancer Center. 

http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/events/indianapolis/

For the 24 hours of booty I basically wanted to do it as a training ride for PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris). I'll need a couple 24 hour rides in order to complete PBP.  I also wanted to ride my bike set up as I'll have it during PBP.

The weather forecast for both days of the event was grim, strong thunderstorms and rain, but it didn't turn out too bad.  Actually the only complaint about Saturday was the wind.

I biked 25 miles to the event from my house.  I left the house a hour later than I intended so I could try and catch a break in the weather, luckily I stayed dry.  We started under cloudy skies and by about 10pm the rain unloaded on us.  The roads became flooded in parts, it became difficult to see, but I trucked on.  Even through the rain there were fans cheering us on.  Some people had food and drinks available to the riders. Yes even one guy was giving out beer.  There was lemon aid and cookie stands hosted by kids, there was a pancake stand too.  The community really comes out for this.  It was a lot of fun riding down the road giving high fives to kids while they ran alongside you and your bike.  

I rode with a fellow Indiana Randonneur and together we both trucked on.  The heavy down pour finally subsided and gave way to a constant rain shower which lasted into the next morning. We bared down and knocked out laps.  I kind of zoned out for a while, just grinding away at the time.  This event was quite different than a distance event where you can pedal harder and finish quicker.  No matter how fast you are at the 24 Hours of Booty it's still 24 hours of seat time.  

About 5am we broke for breakfast.  I became cold, so cold that I couldn't hold my coffee because I was shivering and shaking. The guy I've been riding with decided to take a nap, I decided to grind on.  Riding warmed me up thankfully.  Lap after lap after lap went by.  Before long others began to notice that I was on the route a lot.  Some realized that I rode the entire night.  From what I heard I was the only rider to ride straight through.  I began to gain some fans and they began to cheer the guy on that rode throughout the night. This was a nice boost I needed to finish strong.

I finished with 270 miles and rode the entire time.  The guy I rode with finished with around 260 miles.  From what I heard we were the highest in miles and seat time. 

The Bike: (fully loaded with water comes in at 50lbs)

Surly Cross Check.  I love beating this bike.  30 speed downtube shifting with a alfine generator hub and revo light combo.  During the ride a someone yelled out, "here comes the guy with a light of 1,000 suns!"  That about explains the power I have.  

Day before the ride I noticed my cassette was wobbly.  I took it apart Thursday morning and noticed the cassette freewheel was cracked.  Some calls to the local bike shops I finally found one.  I installed it and made adjustments.  Ended up going to work on 2 hours of sleep because of bike maintenance, but my ride to work was wonderful on a machine that functioned properly.  

Gear: 

       Bags:

• Arkel handlebar bag.  It's small, but small bags force you to pack less. 
• Revelate seat bag.  This bag will have cloths and tools excluding tire repair kits which will be in my handlebar bag. 

      Cloths:

• Frogg Togg shell (I take everywhere) Waterproof and warm. The shell doesn't compress well so I strap it to my rear rack.
• Wool short sleeve shirt. 
• Bike shorts
• 3 pairs of socks.
• A pair of wool gloves with a couple pair of rubber glove shells. 
• Long tights
• Reflective vest and ankle bands
• Light cotton long sleeve button shirt  
• Bike gloves

      Tools/tubes:

• Multi-tool
• adjustable wrench
• allen set
• spare crank bolt
• 2 tire levers
• pump
• 2 spare tubes
• patch kit
• 2 chain links
• rag
• zip ties
• spoke wrench
• duct tape
• plastic bags

      Accessories:

• 2 red lights
• 1 dyno front light
• 1spare battery front light
• 3 water bottles 
• rear rack
• 6 spare AA batteries
• 4 spare AAA batteries
• zip lock bag for phone, wallet, and brevet card
• Laminated cue sheet
• GPS with French maps and route
• 200 Euros
• sunglasses and clear glasses
• cycling cap and helmet
• head lamp

      Food:

• 8 Cliff bars
• 18 Cliff Blocks
• 20 recoverer drink mixes

I maybe forgetting something, I'll update as I remember. Also future PBP training post will have a revised list I'm sure.

By bike: 395 miles
By feet: 0 miles

"Training Log" 06/14/2015-06/20/2015 BikeRafting Alpacka Raft and Raliegh Twenty

This week consisted of my 72 miles commute to work and a 10 miles pedal for a bike rafting ride in White Lick Creek. 

BikeRafting with my Raleigh Twenty.  This is prep from the night before.  The Alpacka Raft is in my Osprey backpack and everything is ready.  We’re expecting another storm early in the morning so this should  make an already fast White Lick Creek faster.  This will be my first time in the raft so quick moving water with a bike strapped to the top of it should be ample training. The plan is to leave from my house, head up to Washington park in Avon, launch my raft with my bike attached in White Lick Creek, and paddle back to Plainfield.  

 The open road. Heading north to Washington Park in Avon to connect with White Lick Creek

I love this rail bridge in Avon. 

As good as a spot as any. Time to unload everything, inflate the raft, strap the bike onto the raft, and paddle back to Plainfield. 

Inflating the Alpacka Raft.  

Loaded up. 

Water was up and running fast.  The Alpacka Raft handled like a dream, it eats the rapids up.  I hit plenty of holes and submerged the bike a couple times, but it was definitely worth it.  What a great time.

First Portage of two.  I'm not a very experienced paddler so I played it safe. 

Second portage.  There was nothing I could've done here.  There was a large fallen tree blocking the entire creek.  This is a 40+ year old bike I have tossed in the tall weeds.  Poor bike. 

Paddling home on a beautiful day.  I don't think it could have gone any better.  I had some stressful moments on the account of trying to control the vessel in the quick moving water, but I worried more than needed.  A trip I'd love to do again. 

By bike: 82 miles.

By raft 7 miles.