Need to pick out some rubber for the race. Should i try to set the Ksyriums up tubeless? or is that just dumb?
I had Ksyrims set up tubeless with Michelin muds for a few seasons and it was really good. Never had any burping issues. Go for it.
Need to pick out some rubber for the race. Should i try to set the Ksyriums up tubeless? or is that just dumb?
S
See u at hillier. What r u riding?
I didn't make my own route. Just played it smart lolHillier - Metric
It is, by far, the hardest ride i've ever attempted. Er, done.
Something was "off" this morning. The "routine" wasn't regular.
But I was excited - you know, wagging tail type stuff. Out of the house at 6:00, as
I had everything ready to roll - get to the camp at 6:55.
--- blah blah blah part
Do the usual, register, bathroom (long line), put the kit on, Meet some teammates.
Try to get to the 100mi start to say hello to @David Taylor, and @adogg - and see them rolling away.
I've got a half hour, so grab the bike, and get ready.
Nice neutral rollout to our start, the long way. We go up, rather than down. So bonus altitude with bonus miles.
start up a nice easy climb, followed by a nice dh. I'm stuck to the lead group - but where are my teammates?
Well, one is a big fella, and he doesn't climb so well, the other is a fit lady, that doesn't descend so well.
I soft pedal until they catch me - where i pull them for a couple miles, and they cut me loose, cause they didn't
get to swim before the ride, and they'll probably run a quick half marathon afterwards.
So i bridge back up to the lead group. It is @graveyardman67 and a bunch of other people that can't descend.
I wheel suck for a bit, and we get on some roads i know. No hard effort, just consistent - and we put a gap on the group.
Ends up there is one person in front of us, and the gps route diverges from the road markings. We choose the hard way,
which is the gps route. some went the other.
So Bill and I are with two others out front at this point. Somehow we miss an arrow, and make an extra climb.
The gps goes nuts so we turn around - the other two don't cause they claim it is last year's course. they cut about 5 miles and 1000' of climbing off the ride
and finish early.
We roll into the first rest area at mile 25 of the route - which is closer to 30 because of the neutral start. End up catching the tail of the 100 mile group.
On tap is the a climb out by the river, then return for fiddlers. Bill puts in a top 10 effort for the day, and i manage 32/80ish - lots of paperboying obstacles.
i climb it straight up.
here is where it gets funny - i'm on the wall, and switch to the hoods. i accidentally hit the shifter. bam, i upshift! holy crap.
i made some noises, but kept going. finished it out, and bill had looped back for me. Now the long dh before the next climb.
Bill starts pedaling. wtf? I tuck and go with him. Its about a 5 mile dh. We probably passed a dozen people. Anyway, it is time to climb again.
I look at the hill, and my legs seize! just cramps in the aductors, Bill had some endurolyte, and i had hammer in my bottle.
I fight the cramps for the rest of the ride. Temps in the high 80s -
Did i mention i couldn't find my sun glasses, and ended up wearing an aero helmet? yeah, two little vents - i think my head was toasting in there.
Bill soft pedals and i catch him up top - and we ride around merril creek - this is when we find @sarcaro is making her own route - she recovered and crushed the ride.
We tool along for another bunch, and my legs seize up again - i can't hold Bill, and he has stuff to do, so off he goes. the next climb is iron bridge. I'm trying to mentally
prepare - as i go across the bridge, everyone is walking. i'm trying to stay mentally strong, but the quads, and feet are starting to join the cramp campaign. I pass everyone walking
and then give in. But i keep moving. My cadence sensor STB so i have no idea how far i walked, but it couldn't be far. strava says 23/91 - i was out-of-it, so don't remember.
rest stop two - mile 50 on the route. 54 on the ticker. i'm thinking i'm home free, and make the nice, easy climbs on charlestown and school roads - some long, but not steep.
i know the roads back here well - not from riding, just driving through the area. I keep pedaling, as this keeps the cramps from setting in. after the last long descent, it is time to
climb mt lebanon rd. the last one with any steep to it. I stopped to mix my water and gatorade - so only one bottle to deal with.
3 people pass me! holy crap - i can't catch them - the hill is brutal. but it goes by. and i hit the final dh to the camp.
yeah, i gave up 2nd place (to bill's first 30 minutes back) on the last hill!!! (the guys that cut the course actually finished in front of him)
---End blah blah
in the end.
5:37 moving time, 6:10 total
67.8 miles
8,323' climbing
Other than having to get off the bike for iron bridge, i'm happy about the performance giving the cramping.
The mis-shift was the only gotcha with the bike - oh, and my bars were loose, so they were chirping,
and rolled down a couple times when i leaned on them.
This was awesome, i'm in pain!
no pictures - unless you want to see me hugging the ladies at the finish line - (more teammates)
Nice effort, especially considering the weather. 100 next year?
it would take quite a bit of work to get there... we'll see.
So i bridge back up to the lead group. It is @graveyardman67 and a bunch of other people that can't descend
Nice job, especially given the heat!
But wait, did you just say Bill can't descend?
Individual climb times are irrelevant, go for the overall, it helps with pacing over the entire distance and you'll be fresher at the end. PS-I didn't read your thing.
Ok, that is better then.kinda reads that way - but i found myself following bill, again, at 40+ - nothing good can come of that.
@stb222 - i'll need to make IB a target climb of one of my rides...
not for nothing, but the rest stop was in the segment - 13:10 moving time. still well short of rick, but
right in front of DT!!! (oh, wait, he stopped too)