My Most Recent Ride 2011 (Part IV of the series)

Pics can be resized to any level in PhotoShop. Just be sure to "save as" and maintain your original.
In IE, right click on the file name. Click "Resize pictures." It will ask for what size. Files will be automatically renamed based on the size chosen UNLESS you want the original replaced with the smaller file (Don't do that!).

 

I have set up a special file directory for you. if you want to, upload them here. (http://wardspictures.ppc.fastmail.fm) Tell me how big you want them (x% of original) and I will leave the original and the reduced copy in the same directory. You can then download them into your document. And let me know when you do this so I know to go and look at that directory.

 

You will find that although your original file may be many megabytes, for most publication purposes less than one megabyte is more than adequate. In fact unless you're doing full page or need the resolution, a file size of a 0.1 to 0.2 megabytes (100 to 200 kilobytes) is often plenty.

BTW, the "Resize pictures" feature in Internet Explorer allows you to select one, many, or all files and resize them as a group. Saves a lot of time.

 

Ward, they are done. Dave wish I knew that about IE. I use Firefox and I haven't found a commensurate feature, but love the rest of it so much, I wouldn't go back to IE. I re-sized these one at a time. Didn't take long but doing them in bulk would have been faster.

OK Ward, now you are on the spot for getting your Bike VA report to us soon!!! I can't wait to read it!!

 

Ditto...

 

Went out yesterday and at 90 deg. I was baked after only 25 miles.

So today I drove to Bean Station to visit mom, then rode to Rogersville. Was a flatter road and did a faster 40 miles with a heat index over 100 deg. Go figure.

 

2 rides 30

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOO93r4hOfA&feature=share&h=RAQD6Ilfn

 

Yesterday I did One Helluva Ride, which starts in Chelsea Michigan and *used to* to through ****, Michigan (figure it out from the name of the ride) on the way to the lunch stop. With several mileage options available, we chose the 75-mile one. Chris on his NoCom and me on my M5 CHR took off at about 7:10, which was early enough to hopefully avoid some of the heat later and late enough to have lots of bikes to pass - bikes had been leaving since 6:30 or earlier!

After negotiating some construction in town, we eased out of Chelsea and headed north. We gradually picked up speed until we were cruising at 23 mph, and in some places even faster. I made a conscious decision to not push hard on the climbs. Small though they were, I'd have worn myself out in a hurry!

Out about ten miles, we came to an intersection marked with several arrows. Blue (century color) went right, so we took it. We didn't see any bikes for a long time! We finally met two other cyclists, who told us that **** was 2 miles up the road. Apparently the blue arrow was from some other ride, not OHR. We rode there to get out bearings, and discovered that our wrong turn had sent us 5 miles out of the way. After getting back on the route, we finally hit the first rest stop. We both took a quick kybo break, got some water, and headed out again. We were now showing 10 extra miles, but we were still having a great time passing every bike on the road.

The roads between rest stop #1 and #2 are somewhat familiar, so I knew where the rough spots were. We had a great time passing more bikes. Most were in small groups, but there were a few larger pacelines. Funny how some of the bigger groups rode thinking they were the fastest things out there! We really surprised them! At rest stop #2, I emptied what was in my water bottle then refilled it and was ready to go.

By now we were getting nonchalant about doing speeds of 25 mph and more. We were starting to take the attitude of hunting those pacelines. If we saw one ahead, we'd back off the pace as we approached, then with fresh legs we'd blast by, sometimes at speeds over 30 mph. I poseur-passed one group by coasting past the leader doing 32 mph. Then after I was in front I pedaled away.

Lunch was at rest stop #3, at Portage Lake. I was pretty hungry, and since my normal problem is not getting enough fuel, I made myself TWO sandwiches. That was too much. But, after letting it settle for 10 minutes and then hitting the rest rooms, we took back off.

Right out of the park, a group of 3 upright riders in matching team kits tried to pass us. Chris saw them and was having none of that! So, that was the end of my warm-up. We held 22 mph the rest of the way up the hill, and before too long we were back up doing 25. I think most of the big groups were doing the century, because after the route split and the 100-mile riders were off on the extra loop, we didn't see very many big groups; just smaller ones. We paid them little attention, other than passing them like they were fence posts.

By rest stop #4, we were starting to feel the heat. I had a bit of a stomach ache from lunch. I drank as much water as I could hold, and eventually got a couple of nice belches. That made me feel better. Along with the heat, we noticed that a small breeze had come up from the NW. The next section went a bit east, then north, so we got a good chunk of mild headwind. Of course, that only makes the 'bents look better by comparison! We passed a few groups along there, too. Then the last stretch, a nice run east back to Chelsea. OMG! Chris took off and I gave chase, and I couldn't make an inch on him! We were blasting past singles, doubles, even 6-8 at a time. Sometimes we went past them so quickly I felt like Maverick buzzing the tower! We came off a small hill at 30 mph, then accelerated to 33 out across a swampy flat area, before we finally had to slow down for a railroad crossing. I finally closed the gap, and was right behind him when I spotted the city limit sign. With a final push I went around him and won by inches!

Overall, we got in 85.00 miles and averaged 20.2 mph. My average speed was lower this year than last, even though I think our cruising speeds were higher. I think it was because of our detour to **** and the fact that we went slow to lead those other cyclists back onto the route. Walking our bikes around at the rest stops didn't help, either. Next week is Holland Hundred. That'll be my first century of the year. I think for that one I'll put the spoke covers on and see if I can pick up an extra mph or two.

 

My First 400k is done.

I started off with 10 other riders at 8pm and we all missed the storms that passed through. I felt like 2-3 drops and that was it all night. The route started in Warrenton, Va headed up through Middleburg and into Purcellville. Then on to Linden, Madison and pat Charlottesville airport. We then turned North through Orange, Remington and ended back up in Warrenton.

The night portion was great, other than the occasional middle finger from passing motorists or a scream of curses "get a life!'..LOL..The portion of the ride during the day with the heat was brutal. I though about calling it quits a half a dozen times, then I almost got sick with 25 miles left- I was getting mad thinking i was so close to the end and wouldn't make it but i kept going. I road with 3 other riders from the DC Rando group most of the time (David, Tom and Thai) and David told me I may be drinking to much water. So I cut it back and felt a lot better. Overall it was fun and a a great experience but Idon't think I will Ride a 600K anytime soon.

250.1 miles total --25 hours 25 mins total ( 21 hours peddling 3:25 stopped)

Moving speed was around 11.2 total speed stopped was 9.9- They said it was around 15,000 feet of climbing but the GPS route I mapped is different.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/525140

 

Wow Brian, that sounds like an Epic ride. That is amazing. Thanks
for sharing. Your progress is phenomenal.

 

I yield Brian, 250 miles you win. Well done! On both of my 12 hour rides I have had stomach issue's, just part of learning to push your body for a long time I guess.

John sounds like a good ride.

 

I feel like "Grandpa Jon" when I read these incredible rides. WELL DONE EVERYONE!!!

And thanks for sharing. Make sure you go to the Epic Rides section to read about Ward's 1st day of riding the Bike VA. Great story and lots of pictures too!!!

 

Here are some pics that were taken of us during the 400k

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16080702*N02/sets/72157627040834223


and here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55818138*N03/sets/72157627149935170/


http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvr48Js

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvgpXPD

 

Hey Brian,

I tried to look at those links and Flickr says they are both bad. Want to try again??? I would like to see them.

 

Well "Grandpa Jon" got out for a ride today. Rode 22 miles in 94 degree weather. Rode the Cherokee Blvd greenway. Usually I see a couple of dozen bikes during my ride. Today only TWO. What a bunch of weenie riders!!!! Grandpa Jon maybe slow but I don't let a little heat stop me!!!

Just entered the ride in Bike Journal and see I am within 13 miles of 1,000 mile this year.