Air Force Association Challenge ride

[txgoonie]

@Tim Kelley 53909 wrote:

start out towards the back, stay out of the passing lane and watch any of the tight turns.

This applies to everyone, btw While this isn’t a race, there are people riding for time and some pretty swift-moving pacelines out there, so observing group riding rules keeps everyone safe and moving well. Stay right, pass left. Hold your line. Check behind quickly before you change your line. If things are a little tight, pointing left or right to indicate your intention to move is always welcome. If you draft off someone, make sure they know you’re back there. Basically, just stay aware and use common sense.

[Rod Smith]

Damn. I forgot to sign up last night. Hopefully there will be some spots available on the day of the event. I’ll bring a cowbell and cheer you all on if I can’t ride. On the climb in a Redskins helmet and Speedo running along side and shouting at you. (With the red circle and diagonal line symbol over the team logo so no one thinks I’m a racist.)

[dasgeh]

@4st7lbs 53928 wrote:

How bad is that hill? Are we talking “out of saddle” all out climb or “just keep your speed up”?

I did that hill on a Bullitt with a toddler in front on Memorial Day. With that set-up, it’s hard, but doable. In my head, it’ll be like a flat on a road bike. I believe max grade is 8% for a short section into the memorial; most of it is 5-6%

[Jason B]

@4st7lbs 53928 wrote:

How bad is that hill? Are we talking “out of saddle” all out climb or “just keep your speed up”?

as Tim said, sit and spin, but if you do need to stand, there is a yellow pedestrian sign on the right that would be a good goal to do so. It is where it gets a tad bit steeper and you only have a bit to go. It might not be a Ped. Sign but it is your only sign on the right as you are motoring up.

[Bilsko]

@Jason B 54135 wrote:

as Tim said, sit and spin, but if you do need to stand, there is a yellow pedestrian sign on the right that would be a good goal to do so.

This one?

[NicDiesel]

@Jason B 54135 wrote:

as Tim said, sit and spin, but if you do need to stand, there is a yellow pedestrian sign on the right that would be a good goal to do so. It is where it gets a tad bit steeper and you only have a bit to go. It might not be a Ped. Sign but it is your only sign on the right as you are motoring up.

Thanks for the heads up. I usually ride in traffic when I do my long rides so this is going to be a nice change for me since there won’t be any stops. Being over 350lbs I’m still kind of leery about making it through the whole three and a half hours but if this hill isn’t that bad I’m sure with plenty of rest the night before, water, Stinger waffles, and short breaks I’ll do ok since it’s not stop and go.

[NicDiesel]

@Bilsko 54138 wrote:

This one?

Whew, I drove up that yesterday and it wasn’t even close to what I imagined (think Martha Custis Drive hill in Farlington). It’ll still be a struggle but not a killer.

[dbb]

Because the route is repeated, you have the option of skipping some of the hill components. The hill segment is off Route 110 and then rejoins 110 at the same point.

For most of us last year, it was a fun ride not a competition

[Dickie]

@consularrider 53903 wrote:

Ok, the Challenge Ride website changed the map of the course to what was run last year from what was originally posted. Last year’s route was 15 km (9.32 miles) per lap and the new route was supposed to be 16.5 km (10.25 miles) per lap. The website still lists the route as 16.5 km, but I’m betting it is only 15 km. That’s a difference of 9 km (5.58 miles) for six laps. For for six laps of 99 km in 3.5 hours (no breaks), you need to average 28.25 kph (17.57 mph), if it is only 90 km you need to average 25.72 kph (15.98 mph).

Do you have the Strava map from last year Chris? More curious than anything.

[consularrider]

@Dickie 54156 wrote:

Do you have the Strava map from last year Chris? More curious than anything.

Here is my 2012 Strava. Based on my Garminconnect readout, I think I hit the stop button instead of the lap button on the final lap. It shows me riding only 2:22:50 total time starting at 7:35 am. I actually finished up before 11 am, hung around for just a little to cheer on fellow VeloDCity riders and then headed out at 11:13. I know the official timing for the event (dbb’s spreadsheet) gave me credit for six laps finishing in 2:55:09.

Here’s the Garminconnect info from 2011. It’s a little off on the first lap because it was slow locating the satellite as we started (it had turned itself off while waiting at the start), and I forgot to turn it off at the finish.

[Dickie]

Thanks Chris!

[txgoonie]

@4st7lbs 54146 wrote:

Thanks for the heads up. I usually ride in traffic when I do my long rides so this is going to be a nice change for me since there won’t be any stops. Being over 350lbs I’m still kind of leery about making it through the whole three and a half hours but if this hill isn’t that bad I’m sure with plenty of rest the night before, water, Stinger waffles, and short breaks I’ll do ok since it’s not stop and go.

The good thing about the hill is that it’s right before the water stop. So you’re expected to slow down/stop right after it to catch your breath anyway. Then you go right back down the hill, which is super fun! It’s one of those things where sitting at the bottom of it, you think “oh crap,” but once you’re actually on it, it really doesn’t seem so bad.

[consularrider]

@txgoonie 54180 wrote:

… hill …, it really doesn’t seem so bad.

Except the fifth and sixth time around.

[Bilsko]

@dbb 54150 wrote:

Because the route is repeated, you have the option of skipping some of the hill components. The hill segment is off Route 110 and then rejoins 110 at the same point.

This is one aspect that I don’t quite understand -if an entire mile or two portion of the ride is optional, then does that impact the completion of the Gold/Silver/Bronze categories? Or do you have to ride that section (and be tracked with their device) to prove that you did the entire circuit?

Ostensibly, two riders could both get to gold via six laps, and one of them would have ridden almost an entire laps-worth of distance less than the other if he/she excluded that portion of the circuit….right?

[Bilsko]

@Bilsko 54188 wrote:

Ostensibly, two riders could both get to gold via six laps, and one of them would have ridden almost an entire laps-worth of distance less than the other if he/she excluded that portion of the circuit….right?

OSTENSIBLY? Are you kidding me? Jesus, Bilsko, that’s almost as bad as begrimed.

[Author]

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