Checklist:
Clothing:
For the head I had a balaclava and a wool cycling cap. After about 40 miles I removed the wool cycling cap because my head started to sweat.
I had a wicking tee, RBH VB vest, and a softshell jacket. I had my CamelPak under my VB vest. This setup stayed for the entire ride. My arms did start to sweat before the Surly checkpoint, which wetted the sleeves of my soft shell outer jacket. This caused me to get cold. I'll have to address this.
I wore simple wool liner gloves inside my CobraFists for around 120miles. At the start Mile 10-40, I alternated with my hands outside of the CobraFists and then back inside. This was done to try and regulate the sweating. 15 miles from the finish my hands were getting cold so I put on my OR down mittens. I don't know why my hands started getting cold during the last 15miles, but the mittens solved the issue. This makes me worry about colder temps.....
Also during this last 15miles I put my hood on over my helmet and balaclava. Once I used the simple hood, my body started to warm again.
Lower body I used some Craft Ski pants and a wool tight under. This worked well. Will have to find something else for the sub zero temps. I had down pants if my legs got cold, but they didn't.
For the feet I chose my -40 Sorels, a thick Ice Breaker WigWam sock, RAB VB, and a base swiftwick sock. My feet were fine until mile 80-90, before Surly. Actually, everything was fine until Surly. I think pushing up some of those hills cause me to sweat and I didn't do a good enough job regulating my moister. Maybe remove a layer before every hill..... At Surly, my boots and liner were wet. I don't believe this moister was due to a failed VB.
Ride report:
Main goal was to check the ability to ride without support next year. I wanted to not stop at Gateway, short stop at Melgeorges, no stop at Surly, but have the option to stop if needed. I think I would've failed going unsopported.
Start to the first checkpoint, Gateway, was about 35 miles. It took my about 4.5 hours. I didn't stop, just checked in and left.
Gateway to Melgeorges was about 35miles. This took me around 6.5 hours. I did stop here for some soup, grilled cheese, and a hydro fillup. I knew I would stop here, this was part of my plan. I stayed at Melgeorges for about a 20 minutes.
Melgeorges to Surly is about 45miles. This section has the hills. I pushed a lot. I also started to sweat. This section took me about 9 hours, (hills). Once I reached Surly I knew I'd have to dry off, and unsupported is allowed to use the campfire. My plan was to use the campfire to dry off and not stop into the tent, but the tent drew me in. I had to dry off, I was too wet. I ended up staying at Surly, in the tent for 1.5hrs. But, I was able to dry clothes, which was what my time was spent doing.
Surly to the finish is about 25miles. This section took me about 4.5 hours. I got cold. I didn't dry my jacket enough, the sleeves were still wet. My feet got cold again, probably still a little wet, and my hands got cold. I put on my down mittens, this solved the cold hands. I put up my hood, my body started to warm. I was good to the finish after these adjustments. This section really didn't have much more that challenged me.
Future:
I want to go unsupported next year. Better moisture management, a way to carry all of my water so I don't have to melt snow, but willing to melt snow. I have some time to figure this stuff out.
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