[Raymo853]

The postponement causes me anguish as it now the same weekend as the Stokesville Stade that I already signed up for. The Stade is a gravel grinder with 33 or 66 mile options run by Chris Scott’s organization. I suggest BAFSers look to do that as well. 66 miles Saturday near H-Burg and then 50 miles near Richmond.

https://www.bikereg.com/stokesville-strade

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6771390

[Raymo853]

@KayakCyndi 108861 wrote:

bigger dilemma is which bike to ride — Viaje with 40s or just go get the new El Mar Ti good and dirty. Anyone have thoughts?

I am using my old (first year) El Mar Ti with all disposal parts and a rigid front fork. (I call that my monster CX bike)

If I had a CX bike that was carbon or with new components I could not afford to replace, I would not ride it. All the grit and dirt I expect will cause loads of wear. I would really worry about a fork, I’ve seen nearly new Fox forks ruined by muddy gritty races.

[Raymo853]

@DaveK 108858 wrote:

I don’t know the answer as to what I’ll wear but it won’t be any kind of rain shell or similar. In a 3-4 hour race you’re going to just be cooking inside anything that isn’t breathable. If I had one I’d wear a Castelli Gabba for this race. The best advice is to wear a wool layer next to your skin so you’re able to stay warm even once it soaks through, then layer on top of that as needed.

I have tried many wool bottoms and tops and hated each and every one. I find them so uncomfortable I cannot keep them on long enough to every really explore the benefits of these items. To me, wool only belongs in socks.

[Raymo853]

@Tim Kelley 108852 wrote:

You’ll likely go past the start/finish line more than once so you might have some options to readjust if needs be.

Thinking this will be a 4 hour ride, making the plan for clothing is tough. Based on the forecast at this moment, my plan is:
Bike: Geared (1 by 10) monster cross with 32c tires and flat bars. Front SKS X-Board fender (helps a lot)
Shoes: Shimano Winter (MW81?) that are not super warm. Will add chemical heat packs at start if it is below freezing
Head: One open top head covering, no neck covering, clear glasses
Gloves: My light but waterproof Pearl Izumi. (I have warm hands, can ride without gloves at 32)
Socks: Wool mid weight ones that do not change much in “warmness” if wet or dry.
shorts/jersey: My summer weight club’s kit.
tights: Not super warm but ok water resistant ones
jacket: This is though, I do not have a good one for near freezing and potentially raining. May do warm layer under jersey, super warm arm-warmers, my red waterproof vest over my warm but not water nor wind resistant jersey/jacket with the arms cut off at the elbow. I can handle wet upper and lower arms with no issues.

I bet I will pull off the vest and arm warmers on the second lap if it is not raining while wishing I could swap the tights for knickers. Will not consider doing the latter as it would take too long and expose my derriere.

I think I’ll carry an extra pair of gloves. If they get super muddy & wet from a fall I’ll want new ones midway.

[Raymo853]

@Raymo853 108721 wrote:

I am worried about this event and my choice of category and bike. And if the beer is friendly or not. I signed up for cyclocross and planned to use my flat bar monster CX bike with 32 nobby tires. Now considering changing to either the single speed CX or MTB categories, but both my single speed mountain bike and single speed cross bike are not fully assembled. I have all the parts for both, they just need a good amount of work. Assembling a bike Fri night for a Sunday race is a recipe for disaster.

I am assuming the event will be postponed. Heard the area got nearly one foot of snow. Between that melting and the forecast, I suspect VA DCR will not allow the event to take place.

Just read the registration page text. It claims there will be no postponement due to rain, snow or weather. Also, I am not sure I understand if there is a fee to change categories. It just does not clearly state anything on the matter. Switching your registration to another racer does incur a charge of the difference between what you paid and what the fee is now plus an additional surcharge of $15.

Text from the website.

Race is rain, snow or shine! (the high temps the past 3 years have been 53, 52 and 70 degrees)

No refunds, but you can swap your entry with another racers, but must pay any change in current
fee.

During the two weeks prior to the race there will be an additional $15 fee to swap any entries.

I still suspect VA DCR may say no to the event happening.

[Raymo853]

@AFHokie 108684 wrote:

I’ve got to ask; are you the guy behind ‘gems’ like these on Strava?

– “Flagged because KOM chasers pose a hazard to other users on this multi-use path”
– “It is not about a hazard to you, but the hazard you pose to others”

I am not sure about all of “message/nagging title segments”, but I made that second one in response to the ones threatening me by name. My segment was originally titled with a response to the author of the threats and included my Strava user name and contact info in the title. The threatening segments got deleted quickly after I posted here about them, so I then changed the title to something more generic.

[Raymo853]

@Sunyata 108695 wrote:

When you are cruising down a hill on your sleaze ride and realize that you have no front brake due to ice in the line… Whoops.

But keep riding anyway. Because snow.

That has been happening to my fiance’s Trek Crockett. I hope to pull the housing and fill it with light grease soon to stop that.

[Raymo853]

@Sunyata 108697 wrote:

It looks like Sunday is going to be a slushy mud fest. Luckily, I signed up for the short race to begin with and was planning on riding my mountain bike anyway (seeing as I do not have a cross bike). Everyone else in my group is looking at changing categories, though. Mountain bikes are probably going to be the best choice for the day.

The beer at the end better be good. 😮

I am worried about this event and my choice of category and bike. And if the beer is friendly or not. I signed up for cyclocross and planned to use my flat bar monster CX bike with 32 nobby tires. Now considering changing to either the single speed CX or MTB categories, but both my single speed mountain bike and single speed cross bike are not fully assembled. I have all the parts for both, they just need a good amount of work. Assembling a bike Fri night for a Sunday race is a recipe for disaster.

I am assuming the event will be postponed. Heard the area got nearly one foot of snow. Between that melting and the forecast, I suspect VA DCR will not allow the event to take place.

[Raymo853]

Bi-polar Bears. – I am happy to see the Bipolar Bears move into fourth third place ahead of the Not Named team. Regardless we got to be aware they are aiming to overtake us. [ATTACH=CONFIG]7866[/ATTACH]

[Raymo853]

@bobco85 108703 wrote:

Warning: pathetic apology post

I apologize for the fact that I will be MIA for a couple of days from the Freezing Saddles competition due to a planned trip to Florida where I will be for the next week. I do plan on biking for a day or two while down there, but the saddle will very much not be frozen. I’ll do some apology rides when I come back.

No worries. I too have been pretty much off the bike the last week. Hurt my wrist riding my CX bike in Fort Dupont. Hope to be back on the bike tomorrow.

[Raymo853]

@KayakCyndi 108285 wrote:

And so are vvill, dcv, and culimerc.

God I hope it isn’t snowing!

I hope it is colder next Sunday than this Sunday is forecast to be:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Richmond&state=VA&site=AKQ&lat=37.5536&lon=-77.4606#.VN5iF2OZis0

[Raymo853]

@vvill 108388 wrote:

Nah… all’s fair in love and Freezing Saddles!

But until you’ve done a commute via Harpers Ferry you’re not really playing. :rolleyes:

White’s Ferry, maybe. Harpers ferry, not even with a motorcycle as a commute but maybe on March 18th when I take the day off.

[Raymo853]

@vvill 108375 wrote:

The real solution (as an innocent bystander) is to ride more. If you are within a team century of them (1100pts?), you’re not really that far behind. Corollary: if you are within a team double century of them you’re still not really that far behind.

Next you try to tell me I am to be judged on my actual merits and not those my merits my mother told me I had.

[Raymo853]

@rcannon100 108359 wrote:

I tried feeding him lots of pie this morning to weigh him down. I think he just converted it into additional riding fuel. I think someone should invite Vin on a Saturday coffee ride, that does not actually go anywhere.

Lots of pies sounds like a good start. How about banana bread with the amount of butter in the recipe doubled.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7826[/ATTACH]

[Raymo853]

@ShawnoftheDread 108335 wrote:

No, no. The president is Stalin and Boehner is Himmler. McHugh is just himself.

Plus, let’s be honest, without Marshal Ustinov there is a strong possibility Nazi Germany would have not been defeated.

[Author]

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