vvill
Forum Replies Created
-
I did it last year (my first century). It was very well run, and there’s a lot of riders out there so it’s not hard to stay with a group your pace. The organized PPTC pace groups are good to ride with too. You can really conserve a lot of energy.
My only issues last year were –
a) stay to the right, preferably single file – not everybody followed this. local police apparently weren’t too happy
b) an unrestrained dog running out and barking at riders at one point
c) dressed too cold at the start (this is before i had invested much into cool weather clothing)
d) these things were not very tasty or easy to eat
“Powerbar Energy Bites” aka balls
[img]http://weusedthat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/balls.jpg?w=277&h=300[/img]
everyone complained about them at the stops and threw them outI’m curious to know how many people attempted and completed the full loop. ~230 registered, ~180 finishers. Some registrants didn’t start obviously (e.g. Joe D), and some switched to the medio route.
@SteveTheTech 31459 wrote:
There were many people out there without even a compact saddle bag…that is just brave.
Brave, or just foolish. I had my usual stuff for punctures, a 2nd spare tube (although I lost it somewhere), a printed map of the course, and multitool though I didn’t bring an extra chain link.
I only slapped on a front 25 a couple days before the event – I was toying with the idea of using my standard 23 (which I’ve never flatted on) – very glad I did that, although the raised profile of the particular tire (Panaracer RibMo) made me feel a bit less confident on the descents. I’d also put on a new 11-28 cassette and new chain a couple months earlier in preparation, and a new Gatorskin on the back a few weeks ago. I could’ve probably used a lock-out front shock though too
@SteveTheTech 31459 wrote:
training on the rollers in our area is nothing for a 3 or 4 mile climb.
Agreed. And the dirt climbing is really different to anything I’m used to. On paved surfaces, if you get tired, you can mash a bit more or drop down to a lower gear and still go up, just slower. On dirt/gravel, you are constantly trying to make sure you have enough traction, and also avoid holes, sharp rocks, etc so there is no respite at all – you have to watch where you going much more closely, and you get much less momentum. If you stop it’s harder to get on your bike and clip in again. I’m definitely more used to riding as a “rouleur” than a climber. My wrists and especially left elbow (never quite been the same since my crash last year) were as sore as my legs after the event. My legs actually weren’t all that bad.
@SteveTheTech 31459 wrote:
I recall at least two occasions when I said to myself…My wife was right…maybe I shouldn’t have done this….maybe the medio was the way to go…I can’t do this. I was reassure when I hit the time cut site and they said we were still an hour ahead of the cutoff time. [/quote]
We hit the time cut offs with plenty of time to go but I knew I reached my physical limit around 68 miles – there were a few times later on the Reddish climb where my vision was getting “grainy” and a few times when I was riding solo later on when I was letting my eyelids close for a couple seconds at a time. I think I experienced my first true “suffering” experience on a bike on the last miles of that climb up Reddish. Looking down at your mileage progress is always a mistake when you’re going 5mph! 68.1… 68.1… 68.1… 68.2…
@SteveTheTech 31459 wrote:
I do not know that I will do that again (but I will most likely have to try again) but I’m planning on Mountains of Misery double next year.
Immediately after the ride I thought to myself I’ll never try that one again, but now I think I could be persuaded, especially if there’s the same great group of people to ride with. The scenery was indeed beautiful. But I’d like to be able to ride up something like Reddish or at least this segment a few times to train if I was going to ride it again. And I’d spend less time at the rest stops – I spent 1hr 20mins stopped during this ride – including 20 mins at the first rest stop alone.
I’ve thought about that Mountains of Misery double too (I think I mentioned it to Megabeth who replied something like how fun sounding a name for a ride it was – of course this was only a few hours after the Fondo.) I think after the Alpine Loop, Mountains of Misery would actually be easier even though it’s longer and more feet in climbing – assuming it’s paved.
