IR 600K

374 miles
13,500 feet of elevation gain (Ride with GPS) 14,500 feet of elevation (personal GPS)

For the 600k I shared a hotel room for the night before and the overnight.  I felt so much better with the additional sleep because of the hotel.  I will continue to get a room for future IR600 and 400 rides. 

IR600 uses the same 400k loop as the IR400. Weather was similar (pleasant), hills still hurt, but I finished the 400k loop of the 600k 2 hours quicker than the 400k a couple weeks ago, thus giving me more sleep during the overnight (3hrs). 

My bike setup remained the same from the 400K, and I plan on using for the Granite Anvil 1200k in late August. 

Gear:

I did take a Platypus water container for additional water on the 200k portion of the 600k.  There are few services on this stretch, it is always hot, and I have run out of water the last 2 times I completed this ride.  The Platypus turned out to be a savior.  For the first time I was able to arrive at the last control with water to spare.  Granted, it wasn't as hot as it has been in previous rides, but I still call the decision to bring he Platypus a success and will keep this option open for future rides.

Detour 1. Gas main failure, closing road.  #ThatsRando

Detour 2.  Luckily the only flooding.  #ThatsRando

Nothing like the feeling of having a flat 10miles remaining to finish a 600k. 

Training Log: 6/5/2017-6/23/2017

This training log consists of a Couple more trips to ride my Puglsey on trails, (50miles 1,300 ft of elevation gain), my rides to martinsville (50miles 2,500 ft of elevation gain), my weekly commutes to work, and around town rides. I was also able to get a run of 5miles in. 

Plainfield-Martinsville-Plainfield pics:

By bike: 314 miles
By feet: 5miles.  

IR 400k

251 miles
+11,000 ft

This year I made the mistake of driving 1.5hrs the morning of the ride for the 5am start.  Of course, I didn't go to sleep the night before at a decent time, maybe 11pm.  I had get up at 2:30am the morning of the ride in order to make the 5am start.  By the Jasper control (half way point) I could barely keep my eyes open.  At the Jasper control I actually napped on and off for about an hour.  It was a tough battle through the night, I was so happy to reach the Seymour control which means a flat 20 more miles to the graveyard (finish). 

The most difficult section of this ride is the Bedford-Jasper segment, which is loaded with steep rollers during the hottest part of the day. 

The Bike:
After a couple brevets not using a handlebar bag, I've decided that I like the handlebar bag, so it is back on. 
I like this bike setup and may keep it for the foreseeable future.
My frame bags are never very full, a trick I learned from Mike Hall. Fumbling around with overloaded bags takes time and increases the chances of losing stuff. 

Gear Checklist:

Sunrise the 1st morning

Sunrise the 2nd morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Famous road on the route due to the 3 walls we climb.  

Final tally:

Training log: 5/14/2017-6/3/2017

Combined a couple weeks on the training log, I've been slacking. 

I have been holding off on the running to try and save my legs for the busy rando weeks. 

Still commuting to work, around 90miles per week.  Weather is beautiful, so no gear list needed. 

Wednesday 5/17 I knocked off 20miles of single track with friends.  I need to keep putting miles on that Pugsley, I still have intentions of Tuscobia 160 this winter season. All the red was not planned.

Line up!

This training log also has mileage from IR's 400k starting 6/3.  More to come on the 400k. 

This training log bike miles: 422miles
By feet: 0

IR 300k

Indianpolis-Seymour-Indianapolis
187 miles, 6,100 ft of climbing. 

This year I was able to finish the ride in about 15hours.  The ride was pretty straight forward with no issues.  The weather was absolutely perfect, unlike last year's 40degF light rain conditions. I feel stronger than last year, but the rides are still very difficult. 

Still riding the CrossCheck without handlebar bag. 

300k Checklist

Love the open road early morning bike pics!

Training Log 5/7/2017-5/13/2017

Weekly work commute: 90 miles
Fleche continuation on Sunday, 73miles
Indiana Randonneurs 300k, 187miles on Saturday. 
Weekly total by bike: 350miles
No energy to run this week. 

More from the IR300k to come. 

Ohio fleche 2017

Team name: Sagamores of the Wabash
Fleche information: wiki_fleche
2016 fleche write-up: 2016_fleche
247 miles in 24 hours. 

Fleche is a very fun form of randonneuring. I love the team aspect and look forward to another opportunity at a fleche in the future.  

This year's fleche was nothing compared to the 22hrs of constant rain, a couple mechanicals, and a spill on railroad tracks last year fed us.  This year was almost dream conditions.  We had great tailwinds for almost the entire route.  Cruising long straight roads for what seemed like hours keeping an easy pace of 20mph was stuff out of stories.  The bike gods were re-paying us for putting us through Malebolge last year.  It was such an event free ride there are no great stories to attribute to it. I ride without stories is just a ride.  

The Bike:

Gear:

Pics:

Love the bike Lineup

Into the Night

Detour

Training log: 4/30/2017-5/6/2017

Weekly commute to work: 72miles
Ohio Fleche Total miles 223, miles on Saturday 150.

Ohio fleche info to come.

By bike: 222miles.
By feet: 0miles. 

042017 Indiana Randonneurs 200k

126 miles

4,214 ft of climbing. 
Indianpolis-Story-Indianpolis

I rode to the start at Major Taylor Velodrome, about 25miles.  I left my house at around 5am, in thunderstorms.  I arrived at the start at around 6:40am, in thunderstorms.  It rained until about noon, a nice constant rain.  I had a puncture at about mile 40, of course in the thunderstorms. 

I would have posted some beautiful Indiana back country pictures, but my phone did get wet and began acting up.  The only picture during the ride I was able to take is below, which gives a feeling of the ride:

This ride was also the test of another version of my bike. All frame bags, no more handlebar bag.  

I have to say I like not having any extra weight on my handle bars, I believe this will assists my hand discomfort on rides of 600k and up.  

Gear:

Bike frame: 

1. Pump
2.  GPS
3. Front Light
4. Rear light
5. 2 water bottles
6. Revelate Designs Tangle bag
7. Seat tool bag
8. Revelate Tank bag

Tangle Bag:

1. 2x bread bags for feet
2. 2x spare tubes
3. Spare shift cable
4. Ziplock bag for brevet card/wallet/phone/pen/chapstick
5. Eye glasses (sun and clear)
6. 3x cheese sandwiches
7. Windbreaker/rain jacket

Tank Bag:

1. 4x larabars
2. cue sheet

Seat tool bag:

1. Rear light
2. allen wrenches
3. Multitool
4. spoke wrench
5. adjustable wrench
6. zipties
7. Hollowtech tool
8. chain popper

Body:

1. watch
2. cycling cap
3. helmet
4. cycling jersey
5. cycling shorts
6. base sock
7. teva shoes
8. High viz vest
9. ankle bands.  

I did get chilly, my windbreaker didn't keep me warm in the rain like my Frogg Toggs do.... this will be a decision between the two I will have to make before, what looks like a chilly rainy fleche this upcoming weekend.

I'm sure more adjustments will be made as my rides continue this season. 

Training log 4/23/2017-4/29/2017

Weekly bike commutes to work: 72miles
Indiana Randonneur's 200k plus the 25 mile ride to the start: 150miles
Sunday 4/23 Neighborhood run: 6miles. 

No unusual weather, no unusual gear needed for commutes to work. 

Indiana Randonneurs 200k info to come. 

Week by bike 230miles
Week by feet 6miles. 

Training log 4/16/2017-4/22/2017

Weekly commutes to work: 90miles
Errands and cruises around down: 2miles
Ptown - Wilbur - Ptown: 50 miles.  2600ft of climbing.  Windy windy ride. Only averaged 14.2mph, last week without wind I averaged 15.7mph. 

Chilly start, well not bad I guess.  44deg. 

Gear:

1. Balaclava and cotton cycling cap.  Removed balaclava at halfway point. 
2. Wool short sleeve shirt, windbreaker, and hiviz vest.  Unzipped windbreaker early on.  
3. Tights and cycling shorts.  
4.  Base sock and shoes.  

On bike:

1. Handle bar bag: Spare tube, socks, sunglasses (hopeful), larabar
2. Seat bag with tool kit. 
3. pump
4. gps

Sunday 4/16 I ran my weekly 6mile run.

By bike: 142miles
By feet: 6miles.  

Training log 4/09/2017-4/15/2017

Weekly commute to work consisted of 72 miles.  No more cold weather, no "special" gear needed. 

I went on my ride from ptown to Wilbur again.  This time I average 15.7mph for the entire 50 miles.  With 2,420 ft of climbing I am proud of that speed.  Not blazing for most people, but I am not a fast rider.  This means I'm getting stronger. 

Gear for the ride:

1. Cycling shirt
2. HiViz vest
3. Shorts
4. base sock and Teva cycling shoes.  
5. Cotton cycling cap
6. GPS
7. 1 lara bar
8. tool kit
9. 2 tubes
10. pump
11. handlebar bag

I'm considering another alteration to my brevet bike.  Ditching the handlebar bag, more to come if this gets done or not.

Also went my my regular 6mile run on Sunday morning.  This was after the 125mile bike ride on Saturday.  Man it was rough.  My legs still don't feel fully recovered. 

By bike: 122miles
by feet: 6miles.  

Training log 4/2/2017-4/8/2017 Indiana Randonneurs 100k

My work schedule has increased to 5 days per week which pushes my weekly commuting miles to and fro work to 90 miles.  I was unable to do any around town errands this weekend, but I did ride Indiana Randonneurs 100k Saturday.  I rode to the start of the 100k so my total miles was around 125.  Sunday I woke up and ran a tough 6 miles.  My legs are still still screaming.  Great weekend pushing it!

I left my house for the 100k Saturday morning at 6am.  It was 34degF at the time.

Clothing for the ride to the start of the 100k:

Wool Balaclava and cotton cycling cap. Good. 

Cycling jersey and windbreaker. Good. 

Cycling shorts, long tights, and shorts. Good. 

Base sock, wool sock, and Teva shoes. Good.  

Wool gloves. Good.

Start of the ride temp increased to 44degF so I changed the windbreaker for a long sleeve wool shirt.  I was comfortable.  

For the ride back home the temps were in the 50s so I took off the wool long sleeve shirt and wool socks.  I was good for the ride home.  

Food: 

1. 2 cheese sandwiches
2. 2 Lara bars
3. 2 water bottles
4. I bought some additional nutrition at controls.  

Other gear:

Seat bag with tools.  

Handlebar bag.

1. 2x tubes
2. 2x cheese sandwiches
3. clothes /spare wool shirt/windbreaker/wool gloves
4. wallet 

GPS.
Cue sheet.
frame pump.

Miles by bike: 217
Miles by feet: 6

Training log 3/26/2017-04/01/2017. Sanibel Island FLA

This week I didn't get many miles as I was on vacation in Sanibel Island Florida.  This is a bicycle friendly island, the whole week was by bike, I just didn't get many miles.  I did however, get a couple miles by feet in the mornings. 

Redline Monocog waiting for the week of work. 

Loaded.  Heading to the beach.

No sharks in Lake Michigan.  Just sayin'

Many tremendous sunrises on my morning runs.

Hitting the local preserves.

At the beach, and it doesn't suck.

By bike: 74 miles.
By feet: 9 miles.

Training log: 3/19/2017-3/25/2017

Commutes to work were 75 miles.  No out of the ordinary low temps so no gear information to share.  This week, on Friday I left for Sanibel, so I didn't get my longer ride in this week.  I was able to get a 6miles run in, however. 

By bike: 94miles
By feet: 6miles.

Training log: 3/12/2017-3/18/2017

Again, I'll start with my usual bike to work commute of 75miles. This week consisted of rides 20degF below normal, so it seems one more push from winter.  The coldest commute was on the 15th, which was 18degF to start.

18degF commute:

1. Balaclava, cotton cycling cap, and fleece band.  Good
2. My fleece gloves. Started cold but ended comfortable. 
3. A tee, long sleeve wool shirt, and my Frogg Togg shell.  Good
4. Base sock, wool sock, Teva shoes, and NEOs.  Good.  
5. Work pants and rain legs.  Good.  

Thursday I rode to Wilbur which was 28degF to start.

Gear:

1. Balaclava and cotton cycling cap good
2. short sleeve wool shirt and wind breaker good
3. craft pants good
4. base sock vapor barrier wool sock and Teva shoes.  chilly

The ride ended up being 50.2 miles with 2700' of climbing in around 3hrs.

Friday went for a nice 10mile ride around the neighborhood with company.  

Saturday I ran for 6miles.  Steadily gaining the mileage by feet.

By bike:  142 miles
By feet: 6miles. 

DeathMarch2017

Just in case:
http://www.dinoseries.com/death-march/

This was a chilly Death March.  Temps started at 27degF and ended around 31degF I believe.  The ride ended up being around 45 miles with 2800' of climbing.  It was another great time in the forest.  We definitely don't "race" this ride, its more of a social gathering, the 12+ Milwaukee's Best Lights during the route proves it.

Gear:

Balaclava w/cotton cycling cap. Good

Short sleeve thing wool shirt with my wind breaker.  Good. 

Craft pants. Good. 

Base sock, vapor layer, wool sock, and 5.10 shoes.  Good. 

Started with fleece glove, but switched to thin wool gloves. Good.  

Training log: 3/5/2017-3/11/2017

My weekly commute to work was 75miles.  I had relatively warm commutes to work this week, so no gear log needed. 

I went out for an easy 20miles cruise on the rig I'm using for the Death March this Saturday just to give it a quick run through.  It handled well.  Temps were in the 60s and I was riding in shorts.

Seems ready:

45miles on bike from the death march, plus a few miles running errands brings my bike totals:

By bike: 162 miles.
By feet: 0miles.

Training log: 2/26/2017-3/4/2017

My weekly 75miles commute by bike.  2/26/2017 was the coldest commute in some time 20degF.

20DegF:
 Balaclava with fleece headband for the nose. 

My heavy mittens.  

Tee shirt, long sleeve wool shirt, and Frogg togg shell.  

Work pants and chaps.  

Base sock, wool sock, 5.10 shoes with neos.  

It warmed up the next couple bike commutes to work, but got cold again Friday for my fun ride. 

Fun ride started at 27degF and maybe hit 30degF by the end. 

Balaclava with cotton cycling cap

wool thin gloves, good. 

wick tee, long sleeve wool shirt, wind breaker. Ended removing the sleeves of the windbreaker and fully unzipped halfway through the ride.  

Craft pants. 

Base sock vapor barrier, wool sock, and 5.10 shoes.  Little cold, but good. 

Rest of my bike commuting was around town.  

Thursday I went on a 3mile run. 

Saturday I had my 5mile run.  8miles this week running!

By bike: 140miles

By feet: 8miles

Training log 2/19/2017 - 2/25/2017

Another above average week of work.  Nothing low enough to share clothing.  75 miles. 

My fun ride was hot hot.  Close to, or in the 60s the entire trip.  Sweat dripping off the brim of my cycling cap, top tube full of sweat hot.  55miles in around 3hrs20mins.  2700ft of climbing.  It was nice to ride in the 60s again. 

The rest of my bike riding was local commutes. 

Saturday it got cold again.  I ran my 5mile route in the 20s and snow with a strong headwind.  Great run. 

By bike: 147miles
By feet: 5miles. 

Training Log 2/12/2017-2/18/2017

My weekly commute consisted to 75 miles.  Above average all week.  I don't think I had a commute in the 30s.

My weekly fun ride was 53 miles in 3.5hrs.  2800 feet of climbing.  A very warm ride in the 50s.  Sweat was dripping off the rim of my cycling cap.  I still wore a long sleeve wool shirt and shorts.

On Saturday I went on a warm 5mile run.  My knee is holding up well and am very satisfied, I may try to kick it up a notch....

By bike: 147 miles
By feet: 5miles.

Training log 2/5/2017-2/11/2017

This week consisted of my weekly commute to work.  Sunday-Wednesday.  75 miles.

This weeks commute temps were only a low of 30degF.  This winter has been un-winter.

Friday I went on my longer distance ride to Wilbur IN.  Temp was in the 40s and good enough for a wicking shirt, long sleeve wool shirt, craft pants, wool gloves, balaclava and cotton cycling cap.  On the feet I used a base sock, wool sock, and 5.10 shoes.

Distance: 51.4 miles

Time: 3hrs44min

Elevation: 2,968

On Saturday I went for another 5 mile run in around 40minutes.  

By bike: 147miles

By feet: 5miles

Training Log 1/29/2017-2/4/2017

This week consisted of 75 miles commuting to-fro work.  

This week's work commute low temps:

16degF.  

Head: Balaclava and cotton cyling cap.

Upper body: Cotton tee, Frogg Togg shell.

Hands: Global Warmer mittens. 

Legs: Cotton pants, Frogg Togg shell. 

Feet: Base and wool sock, 5.10 shoes, NEOs 

26degF

Head: Balaclava and cycling cap. 

Upper body: cotton tee, Frogg Togg shell

Hands: Fleece windproof gloves

Legs: Cotton pants w/Rainlegs chaps

Feet: Base and wool sock, 5.10 shoes

Thursday I went on my "hilly" training route from Plainfield to Wilbur.  Windy and chilly ride.

Temps stated at 22degF with a 11degF windchill

Head: Balaclava cotton cap.  Good

Upper body: wicking tee and Softshell jacket w/zip adjustments. Good

Hands: Fleece windproof gloves. Sweaty and chilly

Legs: Craft pants. Good.  

Feet: Base sock, vapor barrier, wool sock, 5.10 shoes, and NEOs. Good. 

Ride stats: 

Distance: 50miles

Time: 3hrs35mins

Elevation: 2,889ft

This is a good ride to squeeze in while my kids are at school.

Also had commuting to the kid's school a couple times and restaurants.

Saturday I was able to tach on a 5 mile run.  This is the most miles at one time since my knee injury.  Dr says without surgery I'll never be able to run a half.... not trying to overdo it, but I'd like to get a half marathon in again.  

By bike: 147 miles
By feet: 5miles.  

Training log 1/22/2017 - 1/28/2017

Starting the "Training Logs" again after a hiatus caused by my knee injury.  I have some big rides coming up, these training logs really help me. 

This week consisted of 54 miles commuting to work.  Temps were above average for all my my work commutes so nothing new in the ride temp clothing list. 

I also had a 50 miles bike ride from home around Heritage lake and back.  The ride was in the low 30s along with 20mph head winds with sleet for 25 miles.  I was rewarded with 20 mph tailwinds, which was beautifully fast. This ride only has 1600 feet of climbing, but runs along farmland, which can create a lot of difficult headwinds and crosswinds.

Bike:
Surly Cross Check
Handlebar Bag
Seat bag with tools
Pump
Spare tubes

Ride Clothing:
Balaclava with cotton cycle cap
Wicking short sleeve shirt with Patagonia soft shell with zipper adjustments.
Thin wool gloves
Craft pants
Base sock, vapor barrier (bread bags), wool sock, Teva cycle shoes.

Spare clothes:
Long sleeve wool shirt
Spare gloves
Spare Fleece windproof gloves

Food:
1 Larabar.

Also had some local town commutes.

Miles by bike: 131 miles
By feet: 4 miles.  

Triple D 2017

 60 miles.  Don't recall the elevations.  There were a couple steep climbs, but nothing insane.  

http://tripledrace.blogspot.com/

My sick aspirations have me wanting to complete some winter ultra bike rides.  Now, being in Indiana we can have a decent winter, but nothing like Wisconsin (Tuscobia 160) or Minnesota (Arrowhead 135).  In order for me to attempt Tuscobia 160, the ride I want to complete before I even consider Arrowhead 135, I need some "winter riding experience" per organizers.  I decided on Triple D in Iowa. 

My Pugsley the night before the ride.  

The only bit of information I remember from the pre-ride meeting the night before is ice, ice, ice, glare ice.  Not good considering I didn't have studded tires this day.  Had I known of the ice I would've used studded tires. 

The start

I believe around 60 riders attempted the 100k ride.  Ride temp at the start I believe was around 17degF, with a high temp maybe hitting 30degF. 

Not much snow, but there was plenty of ice.  My clothing choice worked well, my bike choice was fine, but I really wish I used studded tires.  I hit the ground at least 4 times, 2 times very hard.  Thankfully I walked away with only a couple of large bruises and cuts on my elbows, knees, and hands.  Nothing broken. 

My plan was to only stop at controls to get my name signed in and get back on the bike.  I didn't want to stop for food or water refills.  The only food I brought were Larabars, which I ate one every hour.  This plan worked out well for me, I never was too hungry.  For water I used my Camelbak under my shell with the hose through the inside of my sleeve.  This worked well, water never froze and I was able to keep completely hydrated.  I also wanted to finish in the daylight.  There, to me, could have been some tricky routing in Dubuque at night.

I finished in the top 15.  With about 15minutes out of a top 10.  I can't help to wonder if I could have broke the top 10 with studded tires... I think I could have.   It was slow going on the icy sections without studs.

The Bike:
2015 Surly Pugsley
Revelate Frame bag
Seat bag
Bar Mitts
Headlight and a blinky rear light.
GPS

Riding clothes:
I never added or removed, except for gloves, anything.
Balaclava and cotton cycle cap. 
Wicking short sleeve shirt with a Patagonia soft shell jacket.  A little sweat with a couple zipper adjustments.
Bike shorts and Craft pants. 
Thin wool gloves and Bar Mitts.
Base sock vapor layer (bread bag) wool sock, 5.10 shoes, and Neos.  Feet were good. 

Spare clothes:
Long sleeve wool shirt.
Spare thin wool gloves and spare fleece windproof gloves.
Spare balaclava and cotton cycle cap
Fleece band.
Spare base sock and wool sock

Food:
6 Larabars. 

Tools:
2 spare tubes. 
My regular tools in my seat bag.
Pump and gauge. 

Gravel Grovel 2016

61 miles

3,900 feet of climbing. 

http://www.dinoseries.com/gravel-grovel/

I've wanted to attempt this ride many times in the past.  This year I made it a point to attempt because, at the time, I had inspirations to attempt the Dirty Kanza 200.  I've never rode a "gravel" bike before, so I used this ride to judge how I would handle the gravel version on my brevet bike.  

Gravel Bike. 

Over all the ride went well, I think.  There is a combination of gravel, paved, and single track on the route.  The single track really beat me up, but on the gravel and paved sections I was able to ride much faster than I would on my mountain bike.  I think the bike performed well and is capable to finish the Dirty Kanza 200.  Sadly, 2017 Dirty Kanza overlaps Devil's week, (1500k in 7 days), that I will attempt, if all works out, so no Dirty Kanza 200 this year.  Maybe Dirty Kanza 2018?  I know I have a bike for the job.  

Post ride

The bike doesn't look too sad after the beating it took in Hoosier National Forest.  

There were very fast riders during this ride.  I didn't push my hardest, but I did push considering it was only 60miles.  I finish around 100th out of just over 200 riders.  My finish time was under 5hrs.  I'm satisfied.

Brevet bike.

There have been few renditions of my brevet bike.  Main changes are to hopefully correct hand soreness, saddle sores, and left knee pain.  Surely sticking with the Surly. 

Above is my Surly Cross Check as ridden on the CtoCtoC 1000k in Ohio.  This is basically the set up I have rode many brevets on.  Saddle sores, hand pain, and knee issues on longer rides are causing me to make adjustments.  

Above is the current set-up.  

Changes: 

1. WTB rocket V saddle.  Replacing the Brooks saddle.  Lighter, more modern characteristics, and thinner.  Hoping to relieve saddle sores on 600k and up Brevets.  
2. 12-32 cassette.  Replacing a 12-25 cassette.  Hoping to ease knee pain with a higher cadence on hill climbs.  
3. Shimano 105 STI shifters.  Replacing Tektro long pull brakes and downtube friction shifting.  More comfortable hoods and allows me to keep both hands on the handlebars, hopefully helping hand pain.  
4. Gatorskin 32c tires.  Replacing Schwalbe Marathons.  Quicker tires.  Easier to pedal, easier on me physically.  
5. Lose the rear rack.  Not much heavier, but temps me to carry more stuff that I probably won't use.  
6. Went back to plastic bottles.  Replacing Klean Kanteens.  Easier to drink. Lighter.  But mainly, easier to drink while riding.  

So far I'm digging the changes.  The bike seems easier to pedal and relatively comfortable.  Longest ride thus far has been a couple 200ks.  Have had many 100k rides.  I have a Fletche coming up in early May, 360k, which will be a good test.