"Training Log" 05/24/2015 - 05/24/2015 Detroit Randonneurs "Thumbs up 400k"

This week consisted of riding my bike to the in-laws on Sunday for the annual Indy500 cook-out, my weekday commutes to and fro work, and this weekend I was able to make the Detroit Randonneurs "Thumbs up 400k". 

http://detroitrandonneurs.org/

Bike: (as always)
Surly Cross
Downtube friction shifting
Full fenders
Shimano Dyna hub
Revo light
GPS
 Arkel Handlebar Bag

Gear:

Shorts
Nylon short sleeve shirt
long sleeve merino wool shirt
3 pairs of socks
Keen sandals
Long leg tights
wool buff
wool long finger gloves
bike short fingered gloves
Frogg Togg outer shell (I carry on all my rides)
Plastic bags, plastic bags, and plastic bags (for the feet)
Rubber gloves (wear over my wool long finger gloves)
reflective vest and ankle bands

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.   

This was my makeup for the missed Indiana Randonneurs 600k.  The ride was to start perfect.  Temps in the 50s, sneaks into the low 60s, but then the rain comes in around noon and temps drop, and drop they did.  You have to love Michigan weather in late May.  I also have to add that the wind was treacherous the entire day.  The best part of the wind is when we were headed southwest the wind came out of the southwest and when our route changed to the north the wind, you guessed it, switch and now was coming out of the north. It was a constant 16mph wind with gusts in the 30s.  Absolutely brutal riding into 16mph winds for about 170+ miles.  Add in the rain and temperature drop only made things more interesting.

The rain started in Frankenmuth, but it temps were in the mid 50s, so not bad.  We got within 50 miles from the Sebewaing control and I donned my Frogg Togg shell.  At the Sebewaing I added leg tights, wool long fingered gloves, rubber gloves over the wool gloves, and plastic bags over my socks inside my sandals.  Yeah, I looked great, but was warm enough.  Battling the wind to Port Austin was draining and bitter, but we made it.  At Port Austin we had dinner, drinks, and tried to warm up, it was really cold at this point.  When we left Port Austin we had a great tail wind to the finish but we were very cold and drained from battling the wind.  It was a miserable ride to the finish.  Only article of clothing I wish I would have brought was my waterproof shoe covers, I would have been a little more comfortable, other than the shoe covers I think my clothing choices worked well, with the help of the plastic bags of course.

Next week is the Indiana Randonneurs 600k... Scheduled too close?   We'll find out.  If completed I receive Super Randonneur status.

By bike:  304 miles
By feet: 0 (Saving legs for Rando series)

"Training Log" 05/17/2015-05/23/2015

          This week's miles consisted of all commute miles.  Sunday was a family stroll around town.  Monday Friday was my weekly bike commute with some extra miles on Friday because of the stroll to the chiropractor.  On the ride back from the chiropractor I was clipped my the mirror of a pick-up truck, no damage but the guy was way too close on a road that wasn't busy, kind of upsetting.  Saturday was A1 Cyclery's Saturday Slow Ride which I rode to and fro. I'm still not running because I'm in the middle of the Randonneuring season so I'm trying to save my legs for the long rides. 

By bike: 151miles
By feet: 0miles

"Training Log" 05/10/2015- 05/16/2015

This week was supposed to be a big week.  Indiana Randonneurs 400k was Saturday.  I was both excited and nervous about this ride, supposedly the 400k is one of the most difficult brevets, and this 400k had 11,000 feet of climbing.  But.... all this came crashing down when I came down with the flu.  I was so disappointed.  Now I won't be able to complete the series or qualify for Paris- Brest- Paris.  I lost two days of work because of the flu so my bike miles were down this week as opposed to 255miles greater. 

By  Bike: 56miles

By Feet: 0miles

"Training Log" 05/03/2015-05/09/2015

Nothing special this week.  My daily commute to work and a trip to the bank for an additional 7 miles.  My legs have been tired so while the Rando series is in effect I probably will save my legs by not running.

By Bike: 79miles

By Feet: 0miles

"Training Log" 04/26/2015 - 05/02/2015 Indy-Seymour-Indy 300k Brevet

Big, Big mileage week for me.  I recently moved so my bike to/fro work increased to 18 miles round trip.  I took two trips to the chiropractor and also I rode a 300k Brevet for a grand total of 211 miles this week.  May be a record for me.  The ride was a little rough,  I really didn't have my legs with me, I felt tired from the start, but I struggled through and finished with a better time than last years 300k.  And I guess I didn't struggle too much because I signed up for the 400k may 16th.  

Didn't shoot too many photos during this ride, but here is a picture that I like.  Two loan riders on the open road. 

By bike: 211 miles

By feet: 0 miles. 

"Training Log" 04/19/2015 - 04/25/2015

This week I was trying to take it easy.  My back is still sore and I have a 300k next week.  Bike miles were commuting to work, plus a bike commute to the chiropractor.  My back is feeling much better and I should be in good shape for the 300k.  No miles by feet again, babying my back in preps for the 300k Brevet. 

By bike: 68miles
By feet: 0miles

"Training Log" 04/12/2015-04/18/2015

This week consisted of my regular 48 mile work commute along with 40 miles commuting to the chiropractor.  Finally got sick of my back not allowing me to do what I want.  Plus I have a 190 miles bicycle ride 05/02 and 17 hours in a saddle with a sore back doesn't sound like fun.

By bike: 88 miles
By feet: 0 miles