2007 TOMRV Report

[Shemp]

The Quad City Bicycle Club put on the 30th Tour Of the Mississippi River Valley this year. The ride gets a thumbs up from me with minor quibbles. Saturday, you ride North from Bettendorf to Dubuque, going through Illinois a a small bit of Wisconsin for a total of ~106 miles. The return is 88 miles using all Iowa roads, unless you're the self-hating type and opt for the century option which adds 12 miles to bring you to 100. There is an alternate short route that starts a good way up the road for the less ambitious.

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The forecast was perfect, upper 70's and slight winds. My wife dropped my off at Scott Community College. Everything was a go until I went to turn on my Garmin. The stupid thing wouldn't power up despite being fully charged when I packed it the night before. No, it's not essential, but it is a curious piece to have, and it is nice to know what ime it is and how far you have left when you're doing a century. So I let that put a damper on my morning for a few moments.

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With my wife driving up to Preston, Iowa to start the short route, I rolled out from the college toward the Mississippi River (above). Seriously, a more perfect bicycling day could not be had. It wasn't long before a group caught me in LeClaire, Iowa while I waited at a construction red light. I took off with them and we hit the nice long flats for the morning warmup (below). Turns out they were 3 Chicagoans who had done Ironmans. They were great people to chat and ride with.


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It wasn't long before we hit some very small rollers to get you really going. They were the perfect size for someone of my build... you could get enough momentum downhill to make it up the next without much work.

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Entering Sabula, "Iowa's only island city," so says the entrance sign.

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From Sabula, it's a nice flat stretch along a land bridge through the Mississippi backwaters heading toward the bridge to Illinois.

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We stopped for lunch at Mississppi Palisades State Park before heading toward Galena, Illinois. It's all relative, but you know there's a decent ascent by Illinois standards when you're heading toward Chestnut Mountain Ski Resort. I know it's just a recreation ride and no one's racing, but I was a little nervous how I'd look next to some of these folks. No less, I can say none of those people in the photo were at the top before me.

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More of the rolling terrain near Galena. Somewhere near here was a 15% downhill grade. Didn't have time to take a photo there! Lots of work gone in 30 seconds of biking bliss!

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Hey, don't I know that chick? Oh yeah, that's my wife I caught up with. Hi dear, bye dear, see you in Dubuque.

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I can't imagine what all those Galena tourists must have thought when 1000+ lycra clad folks came rolling through the center of town. Our little group of 4 did weigh the option to stop for ice cream, but managed to keep plugging on.

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[Shemp]

Making it to Galena doesn't mean the rollers are done. Somewhere after this, we got so far as to cross into Wisconsin before heading to Dubuque.

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Passing through the not-so-natural bluffs on the way to the 151 bridge.

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Hey, it's ole muddy, the mighty Mississip.

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I need food and a shower or you better get me one of these! One last cruel hill to climb to the college!

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[Shemp]

DAY 2

So it turns out, the easy part is getting there. Getting back turned out to be a chore and downright miserable at times.


Nothing like starting off first thing with a couple ups and downs, especially when there's still a bit of chill in the air and you're not warm.

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We dropped down to the Mines of Spain Recreation Area. It's a nice quiet little ride through there. I'll have to figure out what the heck the "Mines of Spain" are all about though....

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Back up as we leave the "Mines" and you can see a bit of the NE Iowa terrain. And there goes my wife! Get tucked in good for that downhill dear!

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I Ryanf'd all those folks. I stopped in the middle of the road, yelled, "Chines fire drill" took their photo and left them choking on my dust. That or I got a round a few folks into a clear area and stuck my camera over my shoulder... whichever story you prefer.

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I love a good descent. If you were on this ride and I blew by you, just remember Momentum is force * mass and I'm not lacking for mass. I take my free speed when and where I can get it.

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I know, I know. How does this guy take such decent over the shoulder shots? I pass a group, get a clearing and here's the real secret, I hit the button several times at different angles and pick the best one.

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I wish I could have gotten a shot descending to Bellevue. There was a very nice view of the Mississippi from above, but it was a screaming downhill toward the City on US52 and I had someone drafting me that I had been working with for a few miles. Oh well, it's still in my head. Bellevue has a terrific riverfron, nearly all of which is greenspace/park.

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Here's the beast that carried my big butt. Not one word about the stem, I got it after having a fitting done and the bike is already Trek's XL size, so that's as big as it gets.

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5 miles south of Bellevue, the road got real lonely. I watched about 20-25 cyclists continue on the official route, and not one take the optional century route. I got about a quarter mile down the century route and looked back and I was still alone. Phooey. I guess I just realized how much easier it is to feed off the energy of other folks.

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So I was off on a 12 mile long solo break in the middle of a group ride. Not nearly as much fun. Around mile 12, I saw a paceline behind me, finally, relief. I hooked up with them near Sabula. We turned west and started uphill away from the river. Some guy in a QCBC kit really turned it up for most the short but difficult climb. It wasn't a pace I'd have done alone! Unfortunately, he burned up some folks. By time it was my turn to lead, I got up fron, kept my cadence and kept peeking back to see the rider behind me. I pulled off and made the mistake of slowing to allow the group by to catch on the end. Turns out there was only 1 person behind me and since I slowed, she was off without me and I wasn't about to try and catch her 6% body fat self.

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[Shemp]

So the group of 6 or seven that had caught me managed to self-destruct within 20 minutes of catching me, ugh. I wonder how long they were together before me... I think I gathered they were two groups that had merged shortly before getting to me.

It got real ugly after this. Stopped in Preston for a brat burger where the century route rejoins the short route and the "regular" route. Man that was great. Took off heading south into the SW wind that was blowing in the teens with gusts from 20-25mph during the midday. I took off from lunch by myself and that was hell. A paceline passed and I did all I could to hang on. Unfortunately, you had to be at the rider in front of you's 7 o'clock to get a real wind break. The paceline was so long that this put those of us on the tail line at or over the yellow line. The rider in front of me gave up and I was forced to follow suit soon after. Must have been quite a puller on the front of that line!


No photos as this was all hell and 100% work. Got to Elvira, Iowa and was disappointed in the rest stop. I'm not a big grape or strawberry fan, and the only other thing at the official rest stop was bananas and water. Rather underwhelming compared to the description on the cue sheet.

So after refilling with water, I headed to Low Moor. Same wind, same slow going. Then it happened. I stopped at a c-store, bought a Snickers and a Pepsi. I barely had the Snickers out of the wrapper and it was eaten. I figured the Pepsi was probably a bad choice with 25 miles to go, but it sounded so good. No sooner than I took a few gulps, I saw a paceline coming up. Thought it was my chance, so I hopped aboard. Between a paceline and the Pepsi, I was feeling like a new man 75 miles in on day 2.

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So a lady in the group yells sprint to the general store as we approach McCausland. I don't know if it's the Pepsi, the testosterone, or the fact she had a blonde pony tail, but I took off after her in a mad dash. I told her she was going to kill me when we got to town. I think I figured out she was the Florida RR champ a few years back.

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As we neared the end, most of them took off for one of their homes rather than going all the way back to the college. As I sensed I-80 was close, I got a little more anxious to get done. I also wondered how steep that last hill was to the college as I rode along. But no worries, I was so happy to complete my first back to back centuries that I stormed up the hill to the college, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, or at least the adrenaline at the end made it a breeze!

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If you're up for a good couple days on the bike, I'd highly recommend this ride in 2008!

[Sage23]

Nice report. I cannot believe that they didn't keep you on one side of the river. Highway 151 wouldn't be my idea of a fun road to cross the river on a bike! :eek: