Great Lakes - Dairyland Dare Ride Report

First let me start by saying that the next flatland century I do will be a piece of cake compared to this.
Secondly, there is no way to properly train for this ride in my neighborhood. Survival was the goal.
Third, make sure you have the correct gearing. I noticed when I put my bike away in the garage that I had the 11-23 instead of the 12-27 on and I suffered for it.(53 -39) but 20"wheels make it like a compact.
Starting roll call was Cylowe, Dave342, Smokinmiles, and Kenal0. 6;15 roll out, temp was cool and skies were overcast. We were together for about a block and half before we were split up. At the first rest stop,(20 mile mark) I caught up with SM, Cy and Dave were already gone. I had my first taste of what I was in for and I was a tad worried.I knew I was in for some suffering! I rolled out of the first rest stop and was passed very shortly by SM. Then came the RAIN!
windy, stormy and rainy. A nice steady rain that just added to the suffering. The second big steep hill before rest stop number 2 was a killer. I had my Garmin set to beep and auto pause at 3.5 mph for my regular riding. Well halfway up the hill, it was beeping and pausing like crazy. I was barely cranking the pedals(wrong cassette did not help) and was going 3MPH!. I did make it without walking so there was a minor accomplishment. The descent was wet and fast. I went past one guy that was a mess in a ditch. Evidently his bike slid out around the turn going about 40mph. Ouch!.
Rest stop 3 was a little closer (7 miles from rest 2) and after another killer hill, I realized why. I think SM skipped that stop and went on but I had to stop for a just a minute. The last 7 miles of the ride were dry and the sun was coming out. There is not any part of this ride that is flat, you are either going up or down. A nice long slow steady ascent up Highway Z into the wind put the finishing touch on my legs and also had me questioning why I would do this to myself. I swore to never do this again but now I can't wait until next year. I can only imagine the fun Cy and Dave were having doing the second 100K in the hot sun. Oh yeah(Dave had a double) no compact!
I will throw a few pics up later but due to the weather and my suffering I did not take many. Not really on my mind during the ride.

Kenal0

Not to self- Request EPO at the rest stops next year.

CyLowe, dave, Kenal0 and I started off at 6:30 into a humid yet blessedly cloudy morning. The start was downhill and spirits were high as we rolled across the timing mat and the event photographer snapped our photos. I was excited to do the ride yet had this nagging feeling that I was truly unprepared for what lay ahead. I'm no idiot. Chipcom, if you're reading, you know how I suck on hills!

The early hills weren't that bad and soon the 4 of us had gone off on our own paces. The scenery more than made up for the suffering. As Kenal0 said, we were either going up or down. I was in NO hurry on this one and found myself slowing even on the downhills as the speedy ones flew past me just to take in the gorgeous scenery. There were meandering creeks, scenic dairyland rolling vistas and lovely forested areas. It was awesome. I stopped for awhile realizing my Garmin was in "running" mode and drank water and just piddled.

The first 20 miles weren't really that hard....some challenging climbs but they weren't that long. My stomach was growling as I pulled into the first rest area with Kenal0 soon following.

Kenal0 and I swapped hellish hilly at both rest stops. It was fun chatting with you Ken! Great ride!

As I pulled out of the rest area there was the smell of rain in the air and the wind was picking up. The distant rumble of thunder had me thinking we were gonna get wet....or wetter than we already were from the humid conditions. I had checked to see if I was growing gills. I kept thinking if the sun did come out it would just be horrible but it didn't.

It rained....it rained until I was about 5 miles from the finish. The second section was much harder with a really hard climb that had a gatorade/water stop at the top (or was that in the first section....my mind is trying to block it out!) I zigged zagged back and forth across the road creating my own switchbacks along with about 10 others struggling up this monster. I loved the solidarity of hearing only the breathing. No one was talking or even looking at anyone else yet there was a sense of being in it together. We all were working as hard as we could to get to the top. I wouldn't have made it without the compact.....no way.

The ride into the 2nd rest area was really treacherous as it was raining quite hard and the roads were slick and we were descending a lot. I hate descending really fast especially with a lot of bikes around me but that was how it was and I survived it clocking 48 mph on one downhill...my fastest ever. Yikes.

As Ken guessed I didn't stop at the last rest stop. There was only 14 miles to ride to the finish but there was a rest stop with about 7 miles to go after the Town Hill climb. That was a ridiculously long, hard climb. I really kept thinking I wasn't going to make it but I did and didn't think I needed anything to get to the finish. I wish I had stopped just to rest awhile as the last 7 miles were just horrible.

The wind was blowing so hard...seemingly from every direction and we were on a fairly busy highway and I could feel the wind buffeting me into the roadway. I kept watching for traffic behind me. I was all alone:cry: in this section ...couldn't see anyone ahead or behind me. The hills were long and the downhills weren't really helping because the headwind was so strong that I was still pedaling pretty hard to make headway on the downhills.

All I could think of was Dave and Cylowe out there for the 200k as the sun started peeking through the clouds. Yikes, the wind was just gusting and swirling. Not fun.

I was glad to finally be passing under 151 and see the Dodgeville exit sign to know I was almost home. My Garmin had quit about 10 miles before the finish. I wonder if the battery was expended quicker by the cloud cover and trees. I usually get 10 hrs out of it and I hadn't been out there that long!

Checked my cell as I rolled over the finish mat. It was 11:35 and I think we started right about 6:30 so about 5 hrs including my stops ....probably around 4:30 riding time. Whatever. I was just glad to have finished it and to have ridden the whole ride without having to walk a hill.

I highly recommend this ride. The scenery was great; the course was well marked with almost no traffic, the roads were nice (well, except for that one that had the skull and crossbones sign warning us to walk our bikes because of a washed out area in the road. I didn't see anyone walk but we did slow down to get through there) The rest stopped were stocked with tons of goodies and lots of volunteers.


I am already planning how I'd train for it next year. If the weather was perfect and I was ready, I might just even entertain the 300k...maybe just maybe....but definitely the 200k for next year. But for today the 100k gave me all I wanted!

Crystal

PS....nvr, I looked for you today! Sorry we missed you.

kenalO,
We must have riding fairly close to each other as I passed the guy in the ditch shortly after it happened. He looked pretty stunned and I know that they picked him up with the ambulance, In re: to gearing, I was running a triple 48-36-28 with a 12-34 7 speed cassette and I was liberal with my use of all that was available. Going up some of those hills forced me to turn off the beeper on my HRM-it kept telling me that I was having a near death experience! Awaiting the pics.

What do you mean, no pictures? You couldn't ride along snapping photos hurling down a hill or suffering up one? I could hardly even reach for my water bottle. :D EPO....too funny.

I'm glad I didn't see that guy...would have further embedded my downhill riding fears. I've probably almost burned up all of my brake pads and the most sore part of my body is my hands from gripping the bar in sheer terror.

kenalO,
We must have riding fairly close to each other as I passed the guy in the ditch shortly after it happened. He looked pretty stunned and I know that they picked him up with the ambulance, In re: to gearing, I was running a triple 48-36-28 with a 12-34 7 speed cassette and I was liberal with my use of all that was available. Going up some of those hills forced me to turn off the beeper on my HRM-it kept telling me that I was having a near death experience! Awaiting the pics.

A near death experience is a perfect description! There is something enticing about the challenge. I will do it again.
Kenal0

I can't give much of a report considering I didn't ride it, but Dave342 did stop in at Water Stop 3 to see me and say hello. I'm sure I saw some of the rest of you and just didn't know it. Congratulations to everyone who finished. Especially if any of you include the couple of guys I saw doing the 300K on a fixie.

What do you mean, no pictures? You couldn't ride along snapping photos hurling down a hill or suffering up one? I could hardly even reach for my water bottle. :D EPO....too funny.

I'm glad I didn't see that guy...would have further embedded my downhill riding fears. I've probably almost burned up all of my brake pads and the most sore part of my body is my hands from gripping the bar in sheer terror.

By the time I thought about pics, you were so far ahead of me, a zoom lense would have been needed.
You just missed the guy crashing, you were just ahead of him. They blew past me on the nasty hill before the 2nd rest stop the wiped on the downhill. Drinking from the water bottles was not my thought. I was ready to ditch them to lighten the load. On the last hill I dumped one of them over my head. All in all I had a great time and for some strange reason I feel like doing it again.
Kenal0

I can't give much of a report considering I didn't ride it, but Dave342 did stop in at Water Stop 3 to see me and say hello. I'm sure I saw some of the rest of you and just didn't know it. Congratulations to everyone who finished. Especially if any of you include the couple of guys I saw doing the 300K on a fixie.

Come on!!! a fixie!! No way!!!!!

Kenal0

i did the 200k (barely). it was the single most difficult thing i've ever done in my life and i went through the mental anguish of telling myself to quit, but i really wanted to finish. i too had my 53/39 matched with a 12/27 and i was always wishing i had another gear on the steep climbs. living in lake county does not allow me to properly train for an event like this. i didn't get to bull valley like i had wanted to but i'm not sure how much that would have helped.

this ride my first experience with these kinds of descents and when it was raining, i got a bit nervous as my brakes didn't really do much. i got kind of wobbly on a few so i started taking it easy until the rain stopped.

edge 305 data:
total moving time: 8:43.57
distance: 128.22 miles
avg. speed: 14.7mph

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3630552

i have some pics that i will upload later. my moots is so dirty :(

i did the 200k (barely). it was the single most difficult thing i've ever done in my life and i went through the mental anguish of telling myself to quit, but i really wanted to finish. i too had my 53/39 matched with a 12/27 and i was always wishing i had another gear on the steep climbs. living in lake county does not allow me to properly train for an event like this. i didn't get to bull valley like i had wanted to but i'm not sure how much that would have helped.

this ride my first experience with these kinds of descents and when it was raining, i got a bit nervous as my brakes didn't really do much. i got kind of wobbly on a few so i started taking it easy until the rain stopped.

edge 305 data:
total moving time: 8:43.57
distance: 128.22 miles
avg. speed: 14.7mph

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3630552

i have some pics that i will upload later. my moots is so dirty :(


Congrats. I see your heart rate got to 194! I made it into the 180's

Kenal0

i did the 200k (barely). it was the single most difficult thing i've ever done in my life and i went through the mental anguish of telling myself to quit, but i really wanted to finish. i too had my 53/39 matched with a 12/27 and i was always wishing i had another gear on the steep climbs. living in lake county does not allow me to properly train for an event like this. i didn't get to bull valley like i had wanted to but i'm not sure how much that would have helped.

this ride my first experience with these kinds of descents and when it was raining, i got a bit nervous as my brakes didn't really do much. i got kind of wobbly on a few so i started taking it easy until the rain stopped.

edge 305 data:
total moving time: 8:43.57
distance: 128.22 miles
avg. speed: 14.7mph

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3630552

i have some pics that i will upload later. my moots is so dirty :(

Super Congrats!!! That is just awesome! I was sending good vibes your way all afternoon. My bike and I were totally filthy as well. And....even *I* am planning on cleaning it and the chain tomorrow.

I know what you mean about the downhills.

I also know what you mean about the training...I kept wondering "would_________help on this ride?" or would it not even really matter because it's just gonna be hard no matter what.

Glad you're in safe and sound. Great accomplishment. Crystal

I had a rough night (just couldn't sleep) and I ended up getting started much later than I had planned. I hate getting late starts on long days! Oh well, I rolled across the starting mat at a little before 7:30- by now convinced that I would not be attempting anything longer than the 100K. I just wasn't feeling that good with so little sleep under my belt. With that in mind I decided I would challenge myself against my time from last year on the 100K to see how far I've come in a year of cycling.

Riding solo gives you a chance to meet other people, and I hooked up with various groups of riders throughout the day and enjoyed chatting with all of them, as well as trading pulls. I met one group who drove 7 hours from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to ride today- did anyone come from further away?

It started raining about 10 miles before the 2nd rest-stop and though I was dreading riding in the rain (brooks saddle, steel frame!) I found that I really didn't mind it. I did hold back on a lot of the descents. I passed the guy who slid out on High Point Road not long after it happened, I think. There was a group with him already and the ambulance was on it's way so there wasn't much I could do but keep pushing on to Tower Hill.

Man- I loved the rest stops on this ride!

The wind really picked up in the last 20 miles- that was uncool. My legs felt pretty burned when I hit the last series of climbs in the last 6 miles or so. I guess that's why I ride a triple!

I finished my ride around 12:30 in bright sunshine. The air felt like a sauna with the water evaporating off of the blacktop and I was happy I didn't attempt anything longer than I did. I certainly would have run into problems today. I don't have any of my ride data as my computer kept shorting out from the rain (at one point I had traveled -648 miles, yikes!). I'll have to wait for the chip-timing data to be posted- but I feel like I did well despite having an "off day" physically.

I'll go 200K another day, perhaps. Congrats to all you who completed any distance- and thanks to the volunteers! (Next up- Wright Stuff Century- 9/2/07) -JB

Congrats. I see your heart rate got to 194! I made it into the 180's

Kenal0

yeah, i was really pushing it on some of the climbs. what's odd is that for the last 25 miles or so, i couldn't get my heart rate about 165. i'm not sure if my body just didn't have enough energy to push my heart rate any higher or what, but it was odd. the last 25 miles actually felt pretty good, if that is possible...

Super Congrats!!! That is just awesome! I was sending good vibes your way all afternoon. My bike and I were totally filthy as well. And....even *I* am planning on cleaning it and the chain tomorrow.

I know what you mean about the downhills.

I also know what you mean about the training...I kept wondering "would_________help on this ride?" or would it not even really matter because it's just gonna be hard no matter what.

Glad you're in safe and sound. Great accomplishment. Crystal

thanks! i actually kept telling myself that instead of quitting early, it will feel like such a great accomplishment when i finish, which was what was motivating me.

Congrats on your finish and I absolutely agree with you on the stops. They made it worth it to do the ride! Delicious!

I also concur on riding solo or even going to rides solo. I've met so many people ....many of whom are now friends or acquaintances just from showing up to ride by myself. It's fun to chat with folks along the way.

Good job on perservering to the finish in spite of your lack of rest! Crystal

I didn't make it the whole 200k, even though this has been a goal of mine since last year's DLD.

I rode the first loops with Dave342 (well, he was kind enough to keep waiting up for me) and then at the split on Upper Wyoming I had to concede that my legs just didn't want to average under 10 mph for another 40 miles. Even the easiest hills I was struggling up at that point, so I wished Dave good luck and I headed back along the 100k route.

The heat and humidity after the rain just sapped my legs. Total miles ended up at 101, so, hey, I did a century! And I didn't walk any hills, despite how slow going much of it was.

Still trying to gather my thoughts. Let's just say I'm trying to figure out why Karma was mad at me on the ride today despite:

more hill training than I did last year
returning the jersey that was mistakenly put in my registration bag,
chalking up part of Section Line Road TdF style with names and forum shout outs only to have the rain wash it out before anyone saw them,
attempting to get Psimet's registration bag (I got a pint glass for him, but they said they'd send the shirt),
and hooking up a rider who had broken his chain at about mile 15 with the spare master link I keep in my saddle bag (another guy had a chain tool and the broken chain guy was back on the road in 5 minutes).


Ahh, whatever, this is still a great ride. And I had a wonderful time at dinner the night before with SmokinMiles, Kenal0, and Dave342 at Brewery Creek restaurant in Mineral Point. Highly recommend that cozy little place for an excellent meal and great service. Ken forgot to take a pic of his pre-ride dinner, but I think he did get a shot of his empty plate.... it was too good to take picture of. Priceless moment: Dave asking for a Bud Light at the brewpub, only to be semi-scolded by our server that he was in Wisconsin and that she could get him a Miller Lite instead.

Thanks to Dave for the good conversation along the route. It was a lot easier that way. I'm just sorry I couldn't take that second loop to enjoy more of the fine southwestern Wisconsin scenery, but think I'd still be out there walking up Shop Hill if I had. :o

Congratulations to anyone who finished any of the distances! Quite a day in the saddle.

D3vin, was that you at the water stop at the top of Shop Hill Road? I would've said hi and made by BFer presence known, but my mind was completely shot. All I could get out was a mumbled "thank you."

I rode the 200k and I think I bit off way more than I could chew. After about 90 miles or so I was bonking pretty bad. I rode the rest of the route in my 30x26, coasting down the hills as much as possible and spinning my tiny gear up the hills, staring at front hub and swearing. The rain was nice during the first half of the ride aside from all the debris and sketchy descents, and the sun was absolutely brutal during the second half of the ride. The entire route after the Clyde rest stop was murder.

I was also a minute or two behind the guy that wiped out on that downhill. He must've had a bad day, the guy was absolutely covered in blood and dirt.

I saw a black bike friday resting by a tree at the Tower Hill rest stop. Was that you, Kenal?

My friend was working as a mechanic at the Tower Hill stop, and he told me that he personally replaced about 70 tubes by the time I made it to the rest stop for the second time. They completely ran out around 2pm and had to start turning people away.

One of my spokes unthreaded itself from the nipple and threw my front wheel way out of true. Luckily it didnt break, and I had a spoke wrench, so I was able to put it back together and get the wheel true enough to continue the ride. Thankfully that was my only mechanical problem aside from one flat around mile 110.

All in all, it was a great day, and I'm definitely going to be back next year!

D3vin, was that you at the water stop at the top of Shop Hill Road? I would've said hi and made by BFer presence known, but my mind was completely shot. All I could get out was a mumbled "thank you."
Yea, that was me. A lot of people were pretty out of it after that climb.


My friend was working as a mechanic at the Tower Hill stop, and he told me that he personally replaced about 70 tubes by the time I made it to the rest stop for the second time. They completely ran out around 2pm and had to start turning people away.
I had also heard that there were a very large number of flats. weird.

Thanks to CyLowe97,Kenal0, and Smokinmiles for a good time Friday night at the restaurant in Mineral Point. Well let me see what I have to do today, clean bike, mow grass,take nap, ride clean bike, and write ride report. Let me do ride report first. My day started at 4:45am as the alarm went off. Had some breakfast and left hotel around 5:30. Met up with CyLowe97, Kenal0 and SmokinMiles at 6:15 in the parking lot. At 6:25 we were off and the ride started down hill and we thought this is too easy well I guess we paid for it later. After a couple of miles or so we split up, sorry I did'nt get a chance to say good bye to Kenal0 and SmokinMiles. CyLowe97 and I stayed together until we came to a hill climb to find somebody walking up the hill with his bike and found out he broke his chain. I was a little ahead and CyLowe97 yells out to me and said go ahead I'll meet you at the rest stop. Come to find out he helped the guy fix his chain. Very Nice. As the day went on the darker it got. Then it started to rain and thunder. Great. As it rained I looked down at my computer and it was not working. I missed about 25 miles or so because when it stopped raining and dried up my computer started to work again.

Let me say something about the Hills they were tough. I have enough hills in my area to train on but if you don't this was going to be a difficult day for you. Some of the hills we came upon people were walking their bikes up the hill. CyLowe97 and I stayed together most of the day. He knew the directions very well and we did not take the wrong turn all day. After the sun came out it started to bake us and you could see that CyLowe97 was not doing very well. We stopped at one of the starting loops and discussed what we going to do. He said that he was going to take the shorter route home (10 miles or so) and that the other route was to finish the 200k. He told me to follow the red arrows and said I would be fine. We thanked each other about the good time we had and splitting the room at the hotel shook hands and we were on seperate ways. I wanted to make sure I said hi to D3V1N because he was working at a water stop at the top of one of the longer and steeper climbs. I found him said Hi and I was on my way. I made it back and was glad to finish. My Hat is off to recursive of bike fourms because he completed the 300k in the 2006 dairyland dare. 200k was about all I could handle. They took your picture as you rode in and I'm sure I looked tired. I returned my ankle strap (chip timing) went over and had a good supper inside Harris Park got changed and got in to my car and had a 2-1/2 hr ride home. I will sometime today get back on my bike and do just a little ride to get the kinks out. For now I have to mow my lawn. Thanks to all. Dave342

Yea, that was me. A lot of people were pretty out of it after that climb.


I had also heard that there were a very large number of flats. weird.

I met with a guy who flatted 3 times his first one was a double. Then he flatted on the rear again. I had no problems.

Membranophone- That was my Bike Friday by the tree. Wet Brooks saddle and all.

Dave- you are a monster on the bike- Riding 200K on a standard double-my hats off to you.
It is very funny how at this time yesterday I was questioning what the heck I was doing, swearing I will never do this again and today I have this strange sadness that it is over and a whole year a way until the next one. I think I might have to pay attention and try to get in the HHH next year as well. This was the most challenging thing I have done physically, not just on a bike but anytime.

Kenal0

my moots is so dirty :(

I offered a guy $50 for his Moots at the first rest stop. Was that you on the Vamoots?

Even if that wasn't you, the $50 offered for the Moots is on the table. :)

I offered a guy $50 for his Moots at the first rest stop. Was that you on the Vamoots?

Even if that wasn't you, the $50 offered for the Moots is on the table. :)

lol, that was me. had i known you were the cylowe, i would have introduced myself.

I was also a minute or two behind the guy that wiped out on that downhill. He must've had a bad day, the guy was absolutely covered in blood and dirt.

my wife was a volunteer at the tower hill rest stop. she said she saw the guy come into the rest stop with horrible road rash. luckily, he was a doctor and was able to take care of himself, as my wife had no clue what to do other than give him the first aid kit.

my wife was a volunteer at the tower hill rest stop. she said she saw the guy come into the rest stop with horrible road rash. luckily, he was a doctor and was able to take care of himself, as my wife had no clue what to do other than give him the first aid kit.

"Dammit Mrs. nietsmas, I'm a doctor."

Congrats guys.

Wish I could have joined in on the dinner the night before. The riding would have been a disaster for me. One of these days I'll get a hilly WI 200K under my belt.

I usually get depressed after I miss a ride, but it really sank in how bad my shoulder was after I decided not to go. It's like I was mentally blocking a lot of the pain just to convince myself I could go. That knowledge coupled with the fact that it rained on you guys helped me sleep well last night. ;)

Well....another ride down. Not too many more left! Check the BFNIC schedule and see which ones you're going to plan on for the rest of the season.

Not to self- Request EPO at the rest stops next year.

:lol: I explained TdF doping to my kids as “special medicine that’s against the rules.” When I told them what I’d be doing Saturday, my 4-year-old son grinned wickedly and said, “take some special medicine!”

Great ride - my ride report still pending.

Don't know if you all saw this but here is some preliminary results.

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=6184

One of these days I'll get a hilly WI 200K under my belt.

Yeah, me, too. :mad:


I was looking at the maps from last year and this year. There's a reason I didn't remember that wicked steep Roberts Road that many of us climbed twice. That's the one in the middle of the second stage that had a water stop at the top where it turned left onto Blue Ridge.

Why didn't I remember that one from 2006? Because last year's route went DOWN that hill. D'oh!

I mentioned to Dave342 as we were on County H the second time that Roberts would be the bellwether for whether I'd make it the whole 200k. I made it up the second time, albeit by swimming left/right/left/right the whole way, but at that point realized that the day's weather had me beaten. That hill was nasty, but it was honest.

[edit... a little noodling on toporoute and I got a 16% reading for about .15 miles of this sucker. 16% is, like, really steep, man. I'm pretty sure I turned that .15 miles into about .4 miles with all the switching back and forth....]

lol, that was me. had i known you were the cylowe, i would have introduced myself.

Yeah, CyLowe97 always making with the funny ha-ha out on the bike rides.....


Seriously, though. $50. Think about it, man. That's cold hard cash.



:D

Yeah, me, too. :mad:


I was looking at the maps from last year and this year. There's a reason I didn't remember that wicked steep Roberts Road that many of us climbed twice. That's the one in the middle of the second stage that had a water stop at the top where it turned left onto Blue Ridge.

Why didn't I remember that one from 2006? Because last year's route went DOWN that hill. D'oh!

I mentioned to Dave342 as we were on County H the second time that Roberts would be the bellwether for whether I'd make it the whole 200k. I made it up the second time, albeit by swimming left/right/left/right the whole way, but at that point realized that the day's weather had me beaten. That hill was nasty, but it was honest.

That's the one where I made my own switchbacks. Good grief! I heard someone go down behind me; probably couldn't turn the crank or get out of his pedals. I heard someone gasp out, "are you ok" and he replied so I never even looked back. I was climbing it with a bunch of older men; these guys are amazing. Two of them were at our hotel and we had chatted at breakfast and then rode quite a while together.

Course you know me and downhills....I'm glad we went up that sucker rather than down it! :D Hurt so good!

You have nothing to be sorry about. Doing 100 there Saturday was a great accomplishment. On a better weather day, you'd do the 200k with no problem. It really was a challenging day with the wind/rain and then the heat/humidity.

Had a great time at the Dare and at dinner as well. Will be back next year for sure. Great job on finishing 100 miles there. Really, I find it amazing. Crystal

:lol: I explained TdF doping to my kids as “special medicine that’s against the rules.” When I told them what I’d be doing Saturday, my 4-year-old son grinned wickedly and said, “take some special medicine!”

Great ride - my ride report still pending.:D Yeah, we all needed some special medicine at the DARE or to have our heads examined! Kids say the best things. :) Crystal

rain, wind, heat, and hills. man, this sounds like some fabulous suffering conditions! i have the 300k on the 2008 schedule ;).

great reports and effort by all who tackled the ride. how about those pictures? later.

Nothing like coming to the base of a hill that you can see up a long way and seeing a slow march of ants barely moving, knowing you will be one of them soon! My recovery ride yesterday was missing the anticipation and dread of that "next climb."
Kenal0

rain, wind, heat, and hills. man, this sounds like some fabulous suffering conditions! i have the 300k on the 2008 schedule ;).

great reports and effort by all who tackled the ride. how about those pictures? later.

Me, too. ;)

Hey all- the official times are up on the DLD website now. My total time was 5:00:57, take away 49:04 of dawdling at rest stops (mmmmm- the cookies) and my time on the bike ends up 4:11:53. Thats approx 4.2hrs- divided by 64.7 miles turns out to be average time of 15.4mph. Is my math right? Maybe I should invest in a GPS unit- or a plastic bag to cover my computer in the rain!

How did everyone else do? I'm curious as to how my effort stacks up to you hardcore BFNIC folks.

Again- congrats to everyone!

Pics?

Not even one?

How did everyone else do? I'm curious as to how my effort stacks up to you hardcore BFNIC folks.

Yeah, it shows me finishing 20th in the 200k results, but that's because I wimped out of the Clyde loop. No intermediate time for me on that one. :o

Hardcore? Hardly! Riding time for the 162k that I managed to ride was like 13.something mph and that average was plummeting by the kilometer.

I did notice a lot of holes on the results sheet w/r/t the rest stop splits. I'll take a leap here and say that a lot of folks skipped a loop or just went for the 100k instead of the 200k. With the rain and then heat/humidity, that's understandable.


As for pics, they have the link to the official ones up on the site now. I didn't have a camera. That's weight I don't need on this kind of killer route. Kenal0 may have a few from the dinner the night before.

I have a few pics from the night before but taking the camera out in the pouring rain whilst suffering was not on the agenda. I did get a few and will throw them up tonight but either going uphill and having a deathgrip on the handlebar or going downhill very fast did not lend to picture taking.
I remember reading that if you did not want to stop at a rest stop then just cross over the timing mat and go right back out.

146th- 11.2 avg. That is about right with my Garmin. I was barely moving on the uphills and the downhills in the rain around blind turns on the 20" wheels were not my specialty. I was amazed at how fast some people were flying by on the downhill even in the area the had the washout sign.
My goal was just to finish so the time was not too much on my mind. Kind of like the first time you do a century. Next year I will shoot for a better time. (Change of bike gearing for sure will help).

Kenal0

Pics?

Not even one?

You can see that we needed psimet with us to remind us of these sorts of things that should happen when forumites get together. We were just muddling along without him.

I even had my camera in my purse and with me....still no pics:(

Congrats to you guys, and gal :D Sounds like I missed a lot of pain, suffering, and rain, not to mention the oh so good feeling of finishing this beast of a ride. I was registered for this ride, but took the family on a spur of the moment trip to the Dells for a day of fun....which turned into an overnight stay, two day mini vacation. I'm a little bummed about missing the ride (am I still allowed to wear the jersey I paid for?), my only consolation is knowing the family had fun together. There's always next year.

You can see that we needed psimet with us to remind us of these sorts of things that should happen when forumites get together. We were just muddling along without him.

I even had my camera in my purse and with me....still no pics:(

Still surprised that CyLowe didn't have his camera in his purse as well....


....seriously don't know why I am picking on CyLowe today. My apologies.....;):D

My purse was loaded down with Junior Mints, Funyuns, and an autographed photo of Richard Simmons.

No room for a camera in there.

Hey all- the official times are up on the DLD website now. My total time was 5:00:57, take away 49:04 of dawdling at rest stops (mmmmm- the cookies) and my time on the bike ends up 4:11:53. Thats approx 4.2hrs- divided by 64.7 miles turns out to be average time of 15.4mph. Is my math right? Maybe I should invest in a GPS unit- or a plastic bag to cover my computer in the rain!

How did everyone else do? I'm curious as to how my effort stacks up to you hardcore BFNIC folks.

Again- congrats to everyone!

Hey, I thought no one dawdled at the rest stops as much as I did! 49:31. This was my first ride like this, and I took the advice to eat and drink a lot. I also hung around a little at Tower Hill listening to the ham radio guy trying to find an ambulance or EMT for the rider down.

At Barneveld I ate mostly fruit ...

At Tower Hill, mostly trail mix ...

At Stew's house, mostly the choc chunk cookies!

My total time was 5:12:32 ... so ride time was 4:23:01, 14.8 mph if my math is right.

I had a great time - hope to do it again next year, and try the HHH as well if I can get a "family pass."

I'm not a BFNICer but the online camaraderie has been great.

51716
The fine dining establishment we chose for our pre ride meal

51715
The BFNIC crew Dave342, Smokinmiles,Cylowe97 and Kenal0
All with cleaned plates

51714
A few more carbs, I did not want desert but the others insisted.

51717
Lots of roads like this most were steeper

51718
I left the rest stop the same time as Smokinmiles, two minutes down the road that is her waay in front.

51719
Come on, I am not the only one to do this shot, besides I needed to show Psimet2001 that I wore the new colors

51720
More of the same lonely roads

51721
The start of another wet hill, lots and lots of these most were longer .

It was after this that I did not have the strenght to reach back for the camera anymore besides there was only more and more of the same empty roads and we all have seen enough of those!
None of these pics do the ride justice.

Kenal0

I have a few pics from the night before but taking the camera out in the pouring rain whilst suffering was not on the agenda. I did get a few and will throw them up tonight but either going uphill and having a deathgrip on the handlebar or going downhill very fast did not lend to picture taking.
I remember reading that if you did not want to stop at a rest stop then just cross over the timing mat and go right back out.

146th- 11.2 avg. That is about right with my Garmin. I was barely moving on the uphills and the downhills in the rain around blind turns on the 20" wheels were not my specialty. I was amazed at how fast some people were flying by on the downhill even in the area the had the washout sign.
My goal was just to finish so the time was not too much on my mind. Kind of like the first time you do a century. Next year I will shoot for a better time. (Change of bike gearing for sure will help).

Kenal0

Do I have to subract the rest time from the total. That will up my avg a little.
Garmin says 13.1 avg.

Nice 7-Elevin jersey!

I'm not a BFNICer but the online camaraderie has been great.
+1. Hey- you're in Madison! Check out madisonbiking.com. There are a few of us who hook up at Bombay Club Rides and an occasional independent ride around the area. I've met a lot of people to ride with through that local forum.

+1. Hey- you're in Madison! Check out madisonbiking.com. There are a few of us who hook up at Bombay Club Rides and an occasional independent ride around the area. I've met a lot of people to ride with through that local forum.

OK, maybe I will ... in a couple weeks. Off to Door County first. Never been yet, looks like some good riding up there.

You can still be a BFNICer even if you live beind the cheese curtain. You just have to bring some good beer to the meetings.

...oh and Ken...Beauty jersey. You know I bleed green...and red...and white...

You can still be a BFNICer even if you live beind the cheese curtain. You just have to bring some good beer to the meetings.

May I recommend a New Glarus Spotted Cow or Capital Brewery's Island Wheat.