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.