SiR (http://seattlerando.org) is holding a 100km "populaire" in seattle this sunday the 2nd, it should be a great route. If you're thinking about getting into randonneuring, well now's your chance! Or if you just want to ride with about 50 other cyclists, then you're also in luck.
"Ride Summary: So you’ve done some winter training, and maybe even rode with the masses on Chilly Hilly. Now, are you ready for the big time? Join your fellow cyclists on Sunday, March 2nd for Seattle International Randonneurs’ official kick-off to the 2008 brevet season, our 100k spring populaire. The ride starts near the University of Washington in Seattle, and ends a few blocks away at the Big Time Brewery. The course makes liberal use of bike routes and paths in a sometimes pretty, sometimes gritty, tour of our namesake city, putting the “S” in SIR. The route takes in some of the best views the city has to offer, so don’t forget your camera. Channel your inner, urbane self and join your friends new and old for a day of cycling pleasure and camaraderie."
For details & registration info, see this page (http://seattlerando.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234&Itemid=26).
I don't think you need to be a SiR member to do the ride, but you do need to register (either online or the day of). Also, full fenders are highly recommended if it's wet outside.
BengeBoy
02-27-08, 05:34 PM
I was just looking at this ride the other day on the SIR site...what's the pace on these rides like?
mattm
02-27-08, 06:17 PM
There have been riders of all abilities on the rides, and since the pack usually splits up on the first big hill, you can pretty much take your pick as far as pace goes.
So no worries if you're not the fastest rider out there, no doubt you'll end up next to somebody with the same or similar pace as you. And if you consider yourself fast, you might be pleasantly surprised (as I was) by the speeds some of these guys & gals throw down on the front of the pack!
Hope to see you there.
marqueemoon
02-28-08, 01:56 AM
Sounds like fun. I may do this.
BengeBoy
03-01-08, 10:16 AM
I'm currently planning to do this; thanks for the heads up!
I note on the site that registration starts at 8; the ride starts at 9 -- do you think it's necessary to be there that early -- doesn't sound like it will be that crowded... ?
mattm
03-01-08, 11:15 AM
I usually show up about 15 minutes before roll-out time, although you can even show up late & still sign in and get a cue sheet (and then catch up, of course). At about 8:50 they'll make announcements about the ride, but usually it's the same stuff from the site.
Also, you can pre-register on their site, it might save time the morning of. And although they'll supply cuesheets/maps at the ride, it's a good idea to print it out at home and bring it, as they run out sometimes.
I'll be on a Miyata (http://cyclinginseattle.blogspot.com/2008/02/old-yet-new-miyata-commutebrevet-bike.html) bike with downtube shifters, see ya there! What'll y'all be on?
-matt
P.S. in regards to the pace, I should clarify that these are "allure libre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allure_libre)" (self-paced) randonneur-style rides. (As opposed to the Audax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audax_(cycling)) style)
BengeBoy
03-01-08, 02:43 PM
Unless it's raining (which it shouldn't be), I'll be on this:
http://i30.tinypic.com/1z38hg7.jpg
marqueemoon
03-01-08, 08:13 PM
I was feeling a little under the weather earlier today, but I think I'm going to make it.
Keeping with the Davidson theme, I will most likely be on this:
http://velospace.org/files/Davidson.jpg
...unless it is raining. I'll be the tall-ish guy in the black Limar helmet.
BengeBoy
03-02-08, 04:57 PM
Hey, I was there...sorry I didn't spot either of you (I was looking). I guess everyone was surprised by the crowd!
Great ride, nice group of people...a ton of nice bikes, too.
My computer told me 3,731 feet of climbing. I'm always surprised what a haul it is up and over West Seattle. There ought to be a tunnel straight thru from the ferry dock back over to the eastern edge of West Seattle.
I'm half thinking (but only half thinking) of joining the club and doing the 200k ride in two weeks...I think the longer rides are a bit more than I have time/energy for, but the 100k rides feel like a good fit.
marqueemoon
03-02-08, 06:21 PM
I ended up with the fast group after the early climbs and made the mistake of trying to hang with them. By the time I got to Lincoln Park they were long gone and I was in pretty bad shape. I joined up with a later group at the Lincoln Park control, but they lost me almost immediately on the hills and I never saw them again. I kind of found a second wind at Seward Park and cruised the rest of the way from there alone.
It was kind of discouraging in one sense, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Next time I will bring more to eat on the bike.
I don't think I'm ready for 200K just yet, especially not if the route is like that.
mattm
03-02-08, 06:55 PM
i was a little late starting, and had to catch up (minus a cue sheet)! i'd at least looked at the cue last night, so i knew about the right on ravenna and spotted some riders there, and found a bunch more by the time we hit that first big climb. i liked the route! they definitely love to climb, and i guess i do too.
i saw lots of people walking up that 1st climb, but i somehow made it up in the 39x23.. anyone get a grade reading on that one? i heard someone say 17% at one point.
btw i was on a blue/white ciocc, i can't remember if i saw any davidsons out there. if y'all come out for the 200k we'll have to ride together at some point or another.
BengeBoy
03-02-08, 07:02 PM
anyone get a grade reading on that one? i heard someone say 17% at one point.
i can't remember if i saw any davidsons out there.
Well, my Garmin says the steepest climb topped out at 23%. That seems too high to me, not sure if that reading is accurate, but for sure it was over 15%. For what it's worth on my printout I see 17 hills over 10% grade. I was watching the Garmin while going up the hill in West Seattle and I saw it hit 16% for a brief period.
You faked us out with the Ciocc. I was looking for a Miyata!
As for Davidsons, I'll bet I saw a dozen, if not more. My informal survey says the 2 most popular brands on the ride were Rivendell and Davidson. I only saw one Rodriguez; thought I would see more.
mattm
03-02-08, 07:33 PM
You faked us out with the Ciocc. I was looking for a Miyata!
yeah sorry bout that, it was last-minute; on yesterday's ride the miyata's bb was making a clanking sound, so i decided to let it rest.
definitely some nice bikes out there, i want a ramboulliet (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/rambouillet.asp), but i don't think they make them anymore.
Marinman
03-02-08, 08:05 PM
That was a great time, I had soo much fun. Great weather, great riders and tons of fun; kudos for those that put this on.
Daveyboy
03-02-08, 10:16 PM
Nice looking Davidsons.
BengeBoy - what size is yours? Looks like a pretty tall head tube with a little extra in the stem.
BengeBoy
03-02-08, 10:33 PM
Nice looking Davidsons.
BengeBoy - what size is yours? Looks like a pretty tall head tube with a little extra in the stem.
It's around 62 cm if you measured the "virtual" top tube (my top tube has a bit of slope in it). It is a very tall frame, and the stem is super high. I haven't cut the stem yet...I have always had problem with soreness in my neck and shoulders on long rides so I asked for this bike to be designed pretty upright. You'll notice that it has a steel fork....the head tube is so tall we couldn't find a carbon fork that had a steerer tube tall enough for the bike and still provide fender clearance.
The bike is very comfortable for me but on long rides -- around the 50 mile mark -- I still get a sore neck. I've been lifting weights all winter to try to build more flexibility/strength in my shoulders and neck but still not there yet.
vrkelley
03-03-08, 12:14 AM
BengeBoy, I believe we talked while waiting for the Chilly Hilly Ferry to go back to Seattle. It was very nice to meet you and your buddy. Glad you found someone to ride with. I went solo and had a very nice time meeting so many great cyclists!
-VR
mattm
03-05-08, 11:41 AM
btw the results (times) have been posted for this ride. [link] (http://seattlerando.org/sir_content/scripts/viewResults.php?id=31)
also on my blog i've sorted those results, just to see who's where. i'm towards the bottom! it was a slow day i guess.
average time was 5 hrs, 20 minutes. fastest time was 4 hours and 5 minutes! wow.
BengeBoy
03-05-08, 01:50 PM
Hey, I don't suck as much as I thought. Would have done better if I had realized that I needed to have my time card stamped at the end (I was wandering around the pub, looking at the beer menu).
Posted time: 5:07, including 4 or 5 minutes of looking for a beer before I had my time card stamped.
Mattm, can someone who rides at 5:00 100k do a 200k in 11-ish hours? Is the 200k route on the 15th difficult?
mattm
03-05-08, 03:44 PM
nice time! you certainly beat my time (5:50, we took it pretty easy).
for the 200k (http://seattlerando.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=235&Itemid=26) you've got 13 hours to complete the whole thing. so in theory, you could do each 100K in 6 hours 30 minutes, and make it in time, although barely. sounds like you'd be fine.
from what i hear the 200k on the 15th has more steady climbs, less rolling hills. if you've done 75-100+ miles before, it shouldn't be too bad, 200k is "only" 124 miles or so.
here's the route from bikely: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/SIR08-200K-Cox-Chili-Feed
from looking at the elevation profile, looks like there's a pretty hefty climb up to 1,800 ft! That must be the Black Diamond portion, in the foothills. can't wait!
so i'd say that the 200k will be a decently tough ride, but i haven't done the route yet myself (this is my first rando season), so i can't say for sure.
marqueemoon
03-05-08, 08:50 PM
I made the top 10? :eek:
HardyWeinberg
03-06-08, 10:06 AM
I keep thinking Sir Populaire is one of the missing knights of the round table.
CliftonGK1
03-06-08, 01:52 PM
I keep thinking Sir Populaire is one of the missing knights of the round table.
He and his friends are the ones that make fun of Sir Unpopulaire and the other knights who've been forced to sit at the 'square' table.
InTheRain
03-06-08, 10:07 PM
I have a question about some of these rides. I understood that fenders were required on bikes if you were to participate in these rides... is that true? A few of the bikes shown above don't have fenders. If they aren't required, then I'd like to ride my road bike (cannondale synapse) on rides less than 200km. Otherwise, I'd be on my touring bike that weighs in at around 28 lbs which makes the climbing a bit more difficult.
marqueemoon
03-06-08, 11:39 PM
I have a question about some of these rides. I understood that fenders were required on bikes if you were to participate in these rides... is that true? A few of the bikes shown above don't have fenders. If they aren't required, then I'd like to ride my road bike (cannondale synapse) on rides less than 200km. Otherwise, I'd be on my touring bike that weighs in at around 28 lbs which makes the climbing a bit more difficult.
No fender requirement for this one, but I can't speak for the others. It's generally a good idea though.
mattm
03-06-08, 11:59 PM
i doubt they would send you away for not having fenders, but on a rainy day someone might suggest you get some. (not me, i just take the spray and wipe it off later, although it does suck to eat grit)
a full (no more than about 2" above the ground or less) rear fender makes everyone's day nicer on a rainy day for sure. (even 4" above the ground will spray riders behind you). a full front fender makes your day much nicer, and your feet will thank you.
even a "race blade" fender in the rear doesn't really come down far enough stop the spray (even after i mounted a water-bottle extension on mine). i eventually squeezed a full SKS rear fender on my Bianchi Eros, so there is hope for some road bikes. (now i've switched to a much heavier sport-tourer miyata, mostly for fender reasons)
at worst, you'll just be forced to ride at the back of the pack! or just bring out your touring bike, you'll see plenty of others on these rides.
btw, there are only three more rides less than 200k this season: [link] (http://www.seattlerando.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=4&Itemid=28)
BengeBoy
03-07-08, 12:20 AM
I just checked the RUSA rules and nothing there about fenders. However, lights are required during night rides and riders must use lights when on a night ride, even when riding in a group.
thechamp
03-09-08, 11:42 AM
Fenders are just nice. I rode the snoozeville poulaire in Portland yesterday without fenders and I felt like a bit of a jerk a few times. In the larger pack your spraying everyone, in smaller groups you can never take the lead and cut the wind without screwing the folks behind you - and if you can't take the front and let others draft, well, that's just not very nice. It wasn't raining but the road was wet enough to make a difference.
In any case, I didn't know anyone there (though I recognized one or two from their blogs!) and I rode alone most of the time and was fine with that, you usually meet up with a few people at the controls. The ride was, I think, exactly 100k and I finished at 5:50. I did have two flats along the way which I fixed pretty quickly, but it stung a little to know that I was less than an hour faster than the two guys on unicycles, who both finished within the time alloted - 6:40. Of course, I think my weekly milage for the last few month has been about 20mi/wk. Still, it was a lot of fun and If I can get out on a training ride or two I might try a 200K.
Since people are talking bikes I was riding my 1985 sekai 2500 touring bike, about 28 lbs. I think I'll try to get the weight down a bit on that.