Civil War Century/Tour Riders

[TwoWheelsDC]

@creadinger 30340 wrote:

Who else has been obsessively checking the weather forecast for NW MD on Saturday? It’s depressing to see it get worse and worse as the week has gone on. At least it’s not going to be ridiculously hot, but the rain threat has been only increasing.

So far it sounds like it will be a frontal system moving through so here’s to hoping that if it does rain, it will move quickly in and out in a (non-dangerous) line and leave us alone the rest of the day. Worst case I guess would be large-scale severe thunderstorms with strong winds, hail and lightning. That would not be a good situation with ~1600 cyclists out on the road.

Maybe the worst thing about the forecast so far is that the weather Sunday through Tuesday looks like it should be absolutely beautiful with the first signs of fall moving in. Why couldn’t that come just one day sooner? Sheesh!

I’ve only been checking maybe once every hour or so…that’s not obsessive, right? I’m also hoping that the 40% chance of rain is the same 40% chance that seems to have been the forecast here lately, where it doesn’t end up raining at all. Either way, it’ll be a fun weekend, since my wife and I are staying Friday and Saturday in Gettysburg, and I think we’re going to leisurely tour the park by bike on Sunday. Just gotta climb that 8k of elevation first!

Also…bought some arm warmers today to wear that morning…haven’t had a chilly ride in a while!

[JimF22003]

I did the Tour de Valley ride in Waynesboro last Sunday where there was a 40% chance of rain. Sure enough I got rained on, but it was still a great ride. I’ve ridden in some real soakers this year. It’s never super pleasant, but after all it’s only water right It’s the lightning, strong wind, and massive downpours that are the trouble. A little steady rain is just annoying.

[creadinger]

@TwoWheelsDC 30341 wrote:

I’m also hoping that the 40% chance of rain is the same 40% chance that seems to have been the forecast here lately, where it doesn’t end up raining at all.

40%? The POP is up to 70-80% now.

[KS1G]

Now I can count riding in the Reston Century downpours (and getting knocked over during the 2nd) as prep for CWC! My ride plan is becoming leave even earlier (assuming no Tough Mudder traffic backups), spend even less time @ rest stops (good luck with that!), pedal faster (on those descents in rain???). Maybe I have time to install the crudbuster fenders I was saving for winter riding. Or switch to my commuter (already has lights & fenders). With my luck, I’ll get to experience climbing Jacks Mtn Rd in a storm. At least I know my rain gear will keep me sufficiently warm (evaporative cooling on a descent or right after a rest stop is not fun) even after it’s ceased keeping me dry.

Oh, it’s not obsessive until you are checking the forecasts for Thurmont, Shaprsburg, Boonsboro, Ft Ritchie, Gettysburg, and Thurmont taking into account estimated arrival times and direction (wind).

Everyone have a safe ride Saturday and remember it’s more important to return home in one piece than set a new Strava PR.

[creadinger]

I’ll definitely be leaving the fenders on my bike and will add an extra tail light now. Good news is that with fronts like this there’s usually a stiff southerly wind before it passes so that will help for the stretch from Antietam to Gettysburg. HOPEFULLY the front will pass at Gettysburg so then the wind will shift to the Northwest, aiding the ride back to Frederick/Thurmont. Otherwise that stretch will be very tough.

I don’t have any worthwhile rain gear right now, but the temps should be warm enough that wearing any sort of rain gear would just make me very warm and extremely sweaty, which isn’t any better than getting rained on.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I thought about using my steel CX commuter for the ride, as it has fenders and a comfy Brooks saddle, but it’s just too damn heavy and slow for a ride with so much climbing. So I’ll stick with the road bike and hope the rain misses us…seems like the forecasts lately have been so ridiculously wrong, so I’m still optimistic.

Weather aside, I’ve been in a bit of a panic this week…this will be far and away the biggest ride I’ve ever done as far as elevation goes and I keep feeling like I’m not ready. But I did a ride in NC at the start of the summer that was 6.3k of climbing in 57 miles, so I’ve got that going for me. Problem is that, the big climb (about 2k+ feet in 10 miles) came at the end and I was pretty well spent by the time I reached the top…I think rest stops will help though, as will the amount of riding I did this summer. Still scary though!

[KS1G]

@TwoWheelsDC 30371 wrote:

I thought about using my steel CX commuter for the ride, as it has fenders and a comfy Brooks saddle, but it’s just too damn heavy and slow for a ride with so much climbing. So I’ll stick with the road bike and hope the rain misses us…seems like the forecasts lately have been so ridiculously wrong, so I’m still optimistic.

1st time I rode CWC, it was on my commuter (broke rear derailluer brifter 2 days before the ride). Was thankful for the fenders and the 34×32 low gear! Was not happy about my mal-adjusted canti brakes!

@TwoWheelsDC 30371 wrote:

Weather aside, I’ve been in a bit of a panic this week…this will be far and away the biggest ride I’ve ever done as far as elevation goes and I keep feeling like I’m not ready. But I did a ride in NC at the start of the summer that was 6.3k of climbing in 57 miles, so I’ve got that going for me. Problem is that, the big climb (about 2k+ feet in 10 miles) came at the end and I was pretty well spent by the time I reached the top…I think rest stops will help though, as will the amount of riding I did this summer. Still scary though!

You’ll be fine. If you have low gearing on your bike, use it and try to spin your way up. The nasty climb for me on CWC has been Jacks Mountain Rd – twice I’ve cramped and had to stop, last year I was able to keep going through a combination of sitting, standing, and lots of cursing depending on which muscles were giving it up (quads, hams, all!). “Shut Up Legs!” may work for Jens Voight, but not for me. Enjoy the ride, do whatever prayer, sacrifice, and penance you think will appease the weather $DEITIES, be safe on Saturday.

[JimF22003]

The CWC has lots and lots of rollers, that can take it out of you, and add to the elevation, but it really only has two long “climbs.” The first is right out of town. Take that one easy and dodge the other bike traffic. There will be lots of it.

The other one is the one out of Smithsburg. That is mostly long, but gets steep once you turn off of the main road. Thankfully it’s nice and shady there. There’s one other very steep short section as I recall.

Come to think of it, a little rain might not be such as bad thing after all:)

[creadinger]

@TwoWheelsDC 30371 wrote:

Weather aside, I’ve been in a bit of a panic this week…this will be far and away the biggest ride I’ve ever done as far as elevation goes and I keep feeling like I’m not ready. But I did a ride in NC at the start of the summer that was 6.3k of climbing in 57 miles, so I’ve got that going for me. Problem is that, the big climb (about 2k+ feet in 10 miles) came at the end and I was pretty well spent by the time I reached the top…I think rest stops will help though, as will the amount of riding I did this summer. Still scary though!

What’s wrong with steel? My touring bike is steel. Love it! I’m looking to upgrade my commuter from aluminum to steel now too.

Either way – you’ll be fine. Just pace yourself and make sure you ride at your pace, not someone else’s. Like KS1G said there is no shame in spinning up the mountains in your easiest gear or (in my opinion) taking a break halfway up. That’s my touring perspective on riding. Just pretend like you’re taking a picture of the scenery. Heh. The last time I did this brevet I was struggling over the last 40 miles with some experienced guys who were nice enough to go at my pace. Then at mile 125, we come up to this little hill outside Frederick which was the steepest one yet! I gave the pedals a shot but my legs quit so I got off and walked it. Sure it was a little embarrassing but I still finished the ride well ahead of the cut-off.

I know what you mean about how scheduled events bring out all the nerves. It’s such a pain because all that does is make it hard to eat, and not eating enough makes riding well pretty much impossible. So far this year I’ve done 3 rides of over 115 miles and for each one I’ve luckily been able to start the day with a routine “just going to work” attitude. Also, on each one my legs didn’t feel that great for the first 8 miles or so but once I got rolling I had a great time.

I need to remember “Shut up legs!” for this weekend!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@creadinger 30380 wrote:

What’s wrong with steel? My touring bike is steel. Love it! I’m looking to upgrade my commuter from aluminum to steel now too.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my steel commuter…rides like butter without so much as a rattle. My aluminum bike is just so fast though! Even without my rack and panniers, my CX bike takes much more effort to get up hills, even though it has slightly lower gearing. Based just on my experience, my steel bike feels kind of numb when climbing, like the smoothness is absorbing my pedal energy. But the aluminum bike seems to transfer power to the road much more efficiently and with more feedback…at the cost of some comfort of course. But it’s just so fast!

[DismalScientist]

That’s the general trade off between touring bikes and more racing type bikes. The more relaxed-geometry, comfy bike absorbs your energy in the shock absorption than does a stiffer, racy bike. On the other hand, the stiffer bike may beat the crap out of you. As such, the more comfy bike might be more appropriate on longer rides. When I was young and kid-less, I would take my racy bike on the 60-70 mile rides and my touring bike on the brevets.

[bluerider]

I will be there. Hoping to meet some forum members along the way. Look for the bright blue shoes on a Blue Norcross EX (probably not going to be a common ride out there). Still trying to decide on clothing. Did 56 miles in the rain a few weeks ago without rain gear and was a little chilly here and there. Probably just take the rain gear in the car and decide the day of the race.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@bluerider 30406 wrote:

I will be there. Hoping to meet some forum members along the way. Look for the bright blue shoes on a Blue Norcross EX (probably not going to be a common ride out there). Still trying to decide on clothing. Did 56 miles in the rain a few weeks ago without rain gear and was a little chilly here and there. Probably just take the rain gear in the car and decide the day of the race.

I’ll be in my BikeArlington jersey! Right now, the forecast isn’t showing rain until the afternoon (yay!) and it should be plenty warm (70ish at start time). Problem is that most riders will be turning south right about the time the storms are starting, and it’s supposed to be winds from the south…so what should be a relatively easy 20 mile cruise from Gettysburg back into Thurmont could end up being pretty onerous.

[KS1G]

Rain gear – if it rains much of the day, or just gets heavy for a while, you’re going to get wet anyway. My goal is to maintain warmth where I need it and try to keep the places where rain water is most annoying dry as long as I can. What worked well enough for Reston & I’ll pack for tomorrow: water repellant (not proof) ultra-light vest (packs nice and small), Endura shoe covers (waterproof on top, water can get in through cleats and seepage down leg), arm warmers, cycling cap under helmet. The vest won’t keep me dry, but it will help prevent chilling, especially on the descents. Shoe covers are more psychological than physiological – I hate riding in wet socks. I mounted a set of Crudbuster Racer Mate Mk2 fenders night – they will help keep road spray off me and the bike and I know anyone following me will appreciate it.

Bike is an all-black November, I’ll have multiple superflash-style lights going in the back. Haven’t decided if I’ll leave my Exposure Joystick + Flare on the helmet or not. Haven’t decided on jersey yet. Hoping we get an earlier frotnal passage so the wind shifts when I’m somewhere between Gettysburgh and the last rest stop.

[bluerider]

@TwoWheelsDC 30408 wrote:

I’ll be in my BikeArlington jersey! Right now, the forecast isn’t showing rain until the afternoon (yay!) and it should be plenty warm (70ish at start time). Problem is that most riders will be turning south right about the time the storms are starting, and it’s supposed to be winds from the south…so what should be a relatively easy 20 mile cruise from Gettysburg back into Thurmont could end up being pretty onerous.

TwoWheels,
I will watch for you.

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