Indiana Randonneurs Populaire (04/09/2016)

A populaire is considered a ride that is 100k - 199k.  Indiana Radonneurs populaire was 100k.  Since my knee during the Death March did so well I decided to ride to this event, compete the event, then ride back home.  The ride was 60miles with about 60miles to and fro the start/finish, giving me around 120miles.  The ride started at 8a.m. so I left my house at 5:30a.m.

On the ride to the event I found a driver that had veered off the road and had a terrible wreck.  I called 911, however the driver did not survive.  I don't know when the accident occurred.  It was unseasonably cold this morning, low 30s, there was snow on the ground and the driver was outside of the car, I believe he went through the windshield.  It was still very dark at this time.

After giving the police my report I continued riding, considering what to do.  I felt bad, I was running late now, and didn't know if I wanted to continue to the ride.  Eventually I decided that riding a bike to the point of exhaustion would be best for me.  So I continued my commute north to the start of the populaire.

I pushed hard trying to make the start of the ride.  When I showed I was tired, my water bottles were filled with frozen water, and I discovered that I forgot my wallet.  I brought very little food thinking that I would buy food at the controls.  So now I have frozen water and little food for the start of this ride where I'm already tired from pushing, and a little chilly. 

I would assume the temp never increased greater than 40 degrees the entire ride.  The wind was very strong from the north adding to the chill.  The 60 miles populaire was a lot more difficult than I anticipated.  When finished I had to pedal 30miles home, at least I was heading south with the wind to the back.  This was a very challenging start to the season, a very good test for my knee, which it thankfully passed.

Gear:

Bike shorts
long tights
convertible Columbia pants
wicking shorts sleeve shirt
long sleeve wool shirt
frog togg shell
base sock
wool sock
5 10 shoes

Food:
2 cliff bars
1 cliff power block
1 recoverer drink mix
 3 water bottles that froze but eventually thawed for the ride home.

Death March 2016

      My knee injury suffered in France was/is a lot worse than expected.  I've been fighting this issue since arriving back in the states.  Off the bike for a week, on the bike for a day, off the bike for a month, back on the bike every other day.  This is the most brutal issue I've ever had to fight with.  I feel good, I feel as though I can ride, but as soon as I start pedaling I find I can't.  I've had multiple goals to try to accomplish to work my way back on the bike.  Talking with the Ortho specialist and he confirmed my plan.  There is the annual Death March I have ridden the last four years.  This year however, I won't ride to the event I'll drive.  Next is the Indiana Randonneur 100K Populaire, 200k, Ohio Randonneur fleche.

Death March 2016:

Still riding my trusty Redline Monocog.  Added the Brooks saddle because, well, it's a Brooks.  

View from the fire tower.  

Post ride standard.  Foam rollers, Lacrosse balls, and ice packs on both knees.  Both knees?  Yes, trying to protect my "bad" knee, I've developed pain in my "good" knee.  Not a good start.  But I did finish the 55 mile ride with some 4,000ft of climbing steep gravel grades in Hoosier National Forest so I am happy thus far.  

"Training Log" 08/16/2015-08/22/2015 Paris-Brest-Paris

Well it's Sunday the 16th.  Time to get ready to ride 1235km in under 90 hours. I guess I really didn't know how to feel other than anxious to get it started.  Because I was sort of lost on what to do I ended up heading to the start/finish about 2 hours early, I couldn't sleep/nap anyway.  

Start/Finish

I knew from reading multiple trip reviews of Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) that the fan fare was amazing and the the reviews didn't disappoint.  

Start/Finish

It was an amazing feeling having all these people cheering for you, doesn't happen too often to a full time bicycle commuter. 

Start/Finish

17:30 start group

I showed up 2 hours early and the pre-ride meal I paid for was gone.... Thankfully there was a lady selling chocolat croissants at the start.  I pounded about three of them.

Corral

Waiting in my letter code corral.  Here I still didn't know what to expect for the next 3 days, I'm just going with the flow.

1930 start

I'm happy to be here at the start line.  After all the planning, training, and logistics I'm finally here. Now I can do what I came here to do, ride my bicycle 1235km in under 90 hours.  

On my way to Brest. There were "fans" cheering at every major intersection.  Cars would honk and wave with all their fingers, which is new to me.  The locals like this bicycle event as much as the riders.  

Nice shot of my badge number.  Should've done a better job of mounting.

 We passed through many small villages such as this.  Absolutely beautiful ride.  And unlike the states, no matter the restaurant or cafe there was a 100% guarantee the coffee and espresso would be great. 

 Every little town seemed to have a large church at the center.  

Back out to the country side

 Only a few times away from towns early in the morning I didn't see another rider, all other times you were riding with someone  

Outdoor eating anyone? France had plenty of it.  I don't think I ever want to eat indoors again, well until the mid-west winter hits.

My wife said she felt sorry that I didn't get to see everything in Paris she saw.  I told her I felt sorry she didn't get to see everything that I saw.  I really enjoyed these small towns.

Proof I made it to Brest.  A little before Brest I noticed an uncomfortable feeling in my left knee that only got worse.  My seatpost dropped at some point during the ride and I didn't notice until my knee was screaming at me.  I think when the seat tube was knocked out of round during the flight it didn't clamp completely on my seatpost allowing it to drop.  My knee hurt so bad at some points I started to wonder if I'd finish.  In fact its three weeks after PBP and I'm still not on a bike (Dr. orders) because of a strained MCL.  Hopefully next week I'll get back on the bike. 

There were many signs along the way stating "bravo" and "courage"

Some controls were like finishing a mountain stage on Le tour. 

Pictures pretty much stopped here, it was grind mode to the finish after this control.  The next stop was Loudeac, which I took a little nap, then it was fight for the next 30+ hours back to the velodrome. 

I didn't have a life altering ride or feel like I've changed after this experience.  However, it was a terrific experience I just felt, well, tired when I finished.  Tired and proud that I did finish. 

I did have a strange occurrence on the ride though.  After riding 30+ hours on the last stage headed to the velodrome I began to hallucinate.  It was the strangest thing.  I felt that I've ridden those roads leaving Dreux before.  Not only that, the people around me that were riding, I felt I've ridden with all of them before and to this day it feels the same.  It was like a dream, I didn't know their name but I knew all of them, I felt like we were all together. It was the most bazaar thing. 

When I got back to the hotel I slept for 20 hours straight which was another new experience for me.

To sum up totals I rode 770ish miles in 87 hours.  I was fully prepared for the ride physically and mentally.  Other than my knee giving me issues the ride was enjoyable, enjoyable because of all the work I put into it. 

"Training Log" 08/09/2015-08/15/2015 J'arrive en France! Pardon my French.

This is it!!!! the week I fly to France.  I only plan on working Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday will consist of final gear check, pack, and bike dis-assembly, Thursday I fly to France.

 Just a few things not to forget.

Friday we landed in Paris, grabbed a cab to Saint Quentin En Yvelines, the start of Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP). 

First order of business for me once I arrived at the hotel was bike re-assembly.  I'm anxious to make sure that nothing was damaged and I packed all that I needed.  When assembling my bike the seat tube was beat around during the flight and my seat post had to be forced in.  More on this later.  Once the bike was assembled time for a test ride.  I was able to put around 10miles on my bike Friday and all seemed well.  Saturday is the bike check and registration, so time to eat and get some rest for tomorrow.  

Saturday I got my first glimpse of the Velodrome National, and I have to say I was quite impressed, it is massive. 

  Absolutely amazing.  Look at that line down there.  I felt like I was in lines all day.  Can't really complain though because workers did the best they could trying to organize 6,000 riders.  

Line #1, bike check

Just a few bikes for bike check. 

There she is.  Now to get my Brevet card, visible jersey, and PBP jersey.  

Line #2 Brevet card.  

Line #3 Jerseys.  

After everything checked out it was time to explore the area a little.  

So far the coffee and espresso have lived up to the hype.  

After dinner with a few of the Indiana Randonneurs time to run back to the hotel and hope for a nice night sleep, that last night sleep in a bed for at least three days.  

By bike: 78

Tomorrow we start PBP.