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

I fully understand Ward's 'problem.' I have it, too.

Today I did the Holland Hundred, which starts at the Herman-Miller furniture factory in Holland MI. With Chris on his NoCom and me on my M5 CHR, we took off at about 7:15. The first half mile was a nice 5% climb. Then we got rolling. Once we were warmed up, we tried to hold 23-24 mph on the flats. We were settin' 'em up and knockin' them down at that speed. Early in the ride we tend to speed up even more for the big packs; and we did a few fly-bys that were up near 30 mph.

We bypassed the first rest stop and continued to pass everything we could see. One part of the route had us going down a big hill (35 mph riding the brakes,) then onto a MUP and across the river on a wooden bridge, then up a nice, matching hill. As I rode my brakes getting ready for the bollards at the entrance to the MUP, some DFs caught up. They rode across the bridge along with me, then charged up the hill. Of course, as soon as the hill crested, I re-passed them. They gave chase as we had a few more minor grade changes, but when we finally got a small downhill, we made them disappear from our mirrors! By the next stop they were 10 minutes behind us (I watched for them!)

The second rest stop was a quick one for us. I grabbed some fruit and a glass of water while Chris hit the kybo. Then we were off again. More of the same after the second stop. We had a couple of great passes. You know, the kind were the timing is perfect and you zip past the uprights just as they're standing for the steepest part of the hill? Yeah!

Out in the middle of the route, I can't remember if the meal stop was the third or fourth one. I still wasn't hungry after eating right before registration; but I grabbed some orange juice. The bikes were getting some studied looks as they were parked near the entrance. After the meal stop (breakfast,) the next stop was 39 miles further. Not very good planning! Again, a quick stop.

At the fifth stop, I was getting water when I heard one kid (18-20?) wondering how many calories he was burning at 24 mph? I told him about 800 for his weight, but less if he's in a paceline. Then admitted he was in a group of 10, and then he remarked that they hadn't been passed yet. They were the fastest bikes out there! Ya know, that's just bad Karma to say something like that! 'Specially with me to hear it.

His group took off while Chris was in the rest rooms. Hey, stop #5 was classy! I figure they got at least a 2-mile head start. The next rest stop was all of 11 miles up the road. They were unable to stay ahead of us.

Due to a car at one of the intersections that Chris didn't stop for and I did, he was a bit ahead of me at #6, which was in Saugatuck; so I didn't see that he'd bypassed it. Once I figured that out, I took off after him. Saugatuck is just about *on* the lake shore, and as I rode away from the lake, I hit an endless hill. Due to the grade being so even, it was an invisible hill; but I could only manage 14 mph. Still, I was passing bikes right and left; so other than being uncomfortable I was doing OK. A series of zig-zags along I-196 took me back to the Herman-Miller factory.The same hill that was at the start, I got to coast down at 32 mph.

When I got there, Chris wasn't. I got a drink, cooled off a bit, then rode around to my truck and mixed a recovery drink, drank it, then went back around to the registration area. There he was, looking like he just rolled in! He missed a turn coming out of Saugatuck and got an extra mile. I must have taken the last section faster than him, because he was more than a couple miles behind me to have missed me before I left for my truck!

Total damage for the ride was, oh, about 2000 uprights passed. Only the 5 that passed me on that one hill were able to say they passed me; and even then only temporarily. Cruising speed was running in the 22-26 mph range but with all the hills our on-road average was down to 20.6 mph. Despite leaving a bit later than average, there were very few century riders back before us. That was my first century of the year, and of course my legs are toast this evening as I type this.

 

That sounds like it was a butt load of fun!

 

John,

Great write up! Wish I had your legs!!!

 

Did a 55 Mile club ride today with 3 uprights and a tandum. We road from Stephens City VA to the top of the Mysterious Mount Weather, VA

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/323347

The climb started at 300 feet and ended at 1811. We didn't get chased by any secret agent men or anything.

We were going to do 80 miles but we cut it short due to the heat. I think I would rather be cold than hotter/Humid.

 

cove loop this pm

Had a great day capped off by a fine ride on the cove loop near Townsend, TN. Started off by meeting the lovely Keila and chatting about the shop and the proposed SE Rally. What a great ambassador for Townsend and Recumbents she is. This lady and her town are indeed enough to make me come back for the spring 2012 rally.
Due to some scheduling complications I had to make the ride this pm and the traffic on a Sunday afternoon/evening was probably not as bad as it could have been but there was a load of stop and go. Still a great ride and the hills weren't deadly and I did see deer, bunnies and a ton of Northern Migratory Sightseers (NMS). NMS were in full bloom exhibiting the plumage of Wmart, Tgap, and U of (take your pick) while belching the CO of every city.
I will do this ride again but try to make the Wed or Sat time frame without the ride partners of NMS, GM, Ford, KIA,......

 

Drafting partner

You experienced 'the loop' with too many distractions, you must try it during the bike/walk times. A word of caution however: Be watchfull on that one-lane 10' wide road for those who are walking their dogs with a 15' length leash! Also, if you like to bomb the uphills so the desent on the other side is more rapid, watch out for those groups of church kids walking in a pack going the wrong way that always seem to be just over the crest of a hill!

FYI: After 8:00PM (any evening) you can get a loop ride in during the light of day during the summer, but even a dark night ride is quite pleasant. Still, the animals may be more inclined to be on the road at night and could be around one of those tight corners where your headlight beam doesn't bend (out of view until the last moment)! Take a 'drafting partner' after dark not only for 'buddy system' safety but for conversation as well.

Ya'll come back!

 

Wow, great write ups guys!!! If I smoked I'd have to have a v-slims...that is some nice riding there. I think I am getting face cramps from smiling so much.

 

RRI is about finding other people to ride with. Today I rode with Jerry Morris from Charlotte NC. We rode the Knoxville greenway and through a lot of the construction. Rode a total of 16.4 miles and had a great time talking and getting to know each other. I videoed some of the ride.

 

It's hot.

There are, as a consequence of that, very few riders out and about... and so my rides are not as cardio as they could be.

Few people to chase, you see.

There are the two women I see riding their bikes almost every time I ride:
they must be hopelessly addicted to the sport.
I will not chase women.
It's too creepy: stalking, you know?
Besides, I've passed them before, when they were riding with the local club.




Last week, there was one D.F. driver who slowed down while passing me to ask:
(I was checking the brakes, turning on the lights and generally pre-flighting the bike in my driveway)
"Are you O.K.?"
I replied:
"Fine, thanks: I live here."

-and gave chase.
(Of course.)

We were headed toward my favourite road where I practice sprinting.
Oh, this was looking good.

The cyclist actually stopped at the stop sign!
(Cool.)

He casually asked:
"Out for your morning ride?"
"Yup."

(Oh, this is getting better and better... can't wait....)

We turned off onto the flat, 2 mile long stretch...
the cyclist got into the drops...
...and I was cruising at 20mph, bumping up to 21....
We were both catching another D.F. rider, when "my" bicyclist
wicked up his speed.
I got dropped.
Smoked.

I lost my "target" in the distance.
I think he turned right, to work out in the long hills.

I turned around, to chase down the other D.F. rider we'd been coursing after: I easily reeled him in, after a few miles.
He was tired... but not too tired to comment:
"I thought recumbents were fast!"
I replied,
"Not this one: that guy smoked me."

My ride that day ended 20 miles later.

----

I'm actively considering resuming construction on my
composite-construction, home-made, custom-fitted mid-racer.

Speed is good and, of course, more is better.

 

Oh, I'm sorry.

 

I was bored so I jumped on the bike and got 10.5 miles in I left at 9 and it was superhot and i cut the ride short.

I think its better to ride in the cold, but i was just complaining about that a few months ago.lol

 

HEY you stole my V-Rex..lol

 

You noticed. But mine goes a lot s l o w e r .....

 

Just did 16.2 miles and it is 95 degrees out and I think the same humidity. I bet I lost 5 pounds of water today!!!

 

Hot, hot, hot! Terrible weather and we are not alone. Lots of us in this nation are in the heat and hopefully this is the peak of the summer heat, although they forecast even hotter tomorrow. If so, I'll either ride early morning or not at all.

Even though the weather is brutal, I just could not stop myself from getting in a quick 20 miler. Here is my pony:



Picked it up yesterday but could not get in a ride last night and couldn't ride until this afternoon. It was a sweet ride indeed. Even though I ride with two store-bought hips now, this thing makes the ride especially nice and I was amazed at how much it smoothed out some of the rough roads. So in the next few weeks me and my new ride will be getting acquainted. So far, so good.