I'll start since I was the first one to come off the course and begin licking my wounds.

Saturday night dinner was outstanding. Present were Me and the always ravishing Mrs. Kimbercop, TzRacer, his wife & sweet little girl. Colorchange going stag, Scummer also stag, the ravishing and bubbly Smokingmiles (also stag), Psimet, the Mrs and their 2 year Andrew (my buddy). Dinner and conversations were awesome and lots of fun. Believe it or not,, very little bike talk around the table. Concerns were running high due to the weather forecast for the ride (41 & rain/snow).

Awoke to a sunny day. Met up with the same group from last night for breakfast including Cylowe97 his wife and 2 adorable lil girls and Aham23.

Rode over to the park and got quite the view. Between 20-30 BF riders all raring to go. What an awesome sight. Cant remember you all so my apologies but the turnout was most impressive. The ride jumped off at 0830 sharp. Down the path to county road H. The pack was tight and everyone was in great spirits. After about mile #2 we hit the first hill (for me it was a small mountain). I was pleased with my chugging up the hill when it happened. My 1st flat tire while out on the road. I blame colorchange because he needed a CO2 cartridge so I gave him my spare. Anyway, off goes the pack and Dave (iab) the ride organizer stops to help. We get the tire changed in about 15 minutes and off we go. Of course by then the rest are gone and from here on in its the Kimbercop / iab show. We plugged along and had a great ride together. But OMG, those freaking hills wiped me out. I'm not used to them and way too heavy to be a good climber. I managed tho somehow. Never quit and made all the big climbs. We caught the rest of the "B" group riders with a few miles left. At least we thought we caught them. Only to find out they took multiple breaks and pauses waiting for us. But we rode in as a group.

Made it back to the start to find the "A" group eager to get rolling so off they went. I was too gassed so I sat the last loop out while the rest of the "B's" took off. I went back, got a nice long hot shower and relaxed. Met up with a few of the group at lunch. Recursive was there with the injury. Too bad, I was looking forward to watching him blast off.

Wife and I headed home to pick up the kids and thats all she wrote.

Kudos to iab for not only hanging at the back with me, but for setting up this awesome ride. It was nice to see all those BF members who I had never met before. Looking forward to the next gathering for sure.

I want to say thanks to iab for lining this up, Great Route. Saw a lot of nice bikes, with rowdy's Waterford catching my eye. I love steel!
I only did the first loop. Too few miles in me to hold up for a second loop. (Crappy spring!) I rode most of the ride with Psimet, after being dropped by the A group on the first big hill. Great time, the weather ended up being perfect, just a tad cool but not cold. Bright sun and some fantastic downhills as rewards for the suffering on the uphill side. Great to see such a large turnout, meeting and putting faces with names. Can't wait for next year.
Dann

I also bailed on the second loop to come home and spend some time with the wife on her Birthday. I wasn't able to keep up with the A group, but was always able to keep in visual contact with them. Thank goodness for the neon yellow jacket worn by Shider. Regardless, we made decent time/speed numbers despite the wind and hills. Spent a good bit of time on the second half of the first loop chatting with Tim (CyLowe97) and wished the group a 'bon voyage' after we returned to town as I hopped in the station wagon and headed home.

It was a pretty sweet turn out and good to see that the ominous weather predications didn't come to pass or keep too many folks from coming out. Ans a special thanks to David, aka iab, for setting this up.

Before any ride reports, we all need to give a hearty thank you to iab, whose idea it was to gather in New Glarus. It was excellent!

And amid all the blingity bling blang and cool steel at the starting line, we all need to thank tzracer for riding a bike equipped thus to stave off the neurotic weather predictions and keep the day dry...

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1993.jpg

Great weekend in great company. More words and images later on tonight or tomorrow.

A good time was had by all. On three hours sleep I drove two hours from Kenosha. I was very poorly prepared, I had to change in the port-a-john because I brought the whole closet. Weather reports were varying between 17" of snow @ -9d and 75 and sunny. It ended up being pretty nice staying cool enough for L/S + tights. I also did not bring water, and didn't get any water on the first loop besides a very generous ration. Ooch.

Bigger problem for me was a problem in my rear wheel/tire that was giving me some nasty rear wheel wobble on descents. Apparently it was visually obvious to the B's who passed me. And that would be the last drop I would really try to bomb. After that I could be seen sitting up like a wind sail and scrubbing off w/my front brake. Oh well, I never went down or flatted.

Those were some ridiculous hills, thank you. The second loop was much harder than the first also, no matter what you say. Bought some beer and samples at the brewery, then went back in town solo and had a delightful burger and beer at... a pub. Nearly fell asleep driving home.

Can't wait to see the stats Psi!

iab - Awesome ride. It help to round out a long weekend of suffering for me. Full report later after I get settled in. Great turnout!

I was in the A- group for the first loop and opted to do the short second loop with the B's.

Nice route, great people. Good scenery and a great place to spend the afternoon eating and shopping.

Dave (iab), this ride made my birthday the best one yet! What a most difficultly awesome course. I loved every hill and every descent and all the in between! I definitely would have ridden the second loop again if I could have talked anyone into it. Thought I might have a chance with Scummer or Voldemort but, alas, we were done after about 50 punishing miles. I think I could have gotten Rob back out there, but he needed to join his lovely wife and adorable son for sure.

Let me say right now, I don't dislike hills. I LOVE them. The miles just fly by because the whole mind and body is occupied with the task at hand. I love the challenge of the hills and the thrill of the descent. All I could think about was riding out there till dark..which then set me to thinking about DLD. ;)

Woke up to my 45th birthday (Jose....happy Bday to your wife as well) and a surprisingly good complimentary breakfast at the Chalet. It was great chatting with folks and hearing a little bit about everyone. It was indeed a great turnout when we gathered at the park. Rather a spine tingling sight to see what a numerous, and might I add, studly looking group we had. Some fabulous bikes to look at as well.

One guy we were with did slow us down a bit at the start as he couldn't decide which sort of "steed" he would ride for the day.....the equine variety or the carbon fiber. Alas, a helmet dilemna ensued and we insisted he decide..equine or not....and we were finally on our way. If you need a clue about this guy, think Harry Potter.

I rode out with the B group and was priviledged to have their company all day. Can't imagine a better group to ride with. :love: Our first loop ended up perfectly with iab and Kimbercop catching us after being delayed with his flat. They were still smiling and looking strong. Rolling back into the sprawling metropolis that is New Glarus we were debating our second loop.

The second loop we had iab lying to us that only the first hill was really "bad" After he enticed us back out there, we found many more challenges but much more good scenery to keep us inspired. We contemplated our last hill for quite some time before finally attacking it and rolling back into the park. (Picture a lot of people saying....so we have to go up there, huh? :p )

I must say that dinner the night before was really nice and a different kind of endurance award goes to Psimet's son and tzrazer's daughter for being so wonderfully behaved for such a long t :eek:ime. It was great to meet the wives of tzrazer,Kimbercop and Psimet. Later I got to meet aham's wife as well. Lovely ladies indeed! I sure hope they all had fun and enjoyed the weekend! I enjoyed spending time with them.

Arrived home to my dear husband waiting to unload my bike and heard what none of us wants to hear...your car smells hot. (Not kidding...at first I thought he said "you look hot" but unfortunately it was my vehicle:eek:) Found out that during a water pump repair 3 weeks ago a hose was reinstalled improperly and was laying against a belt which had worn all the way through and I was leaking antifreeze. Really glad that I made it home without breaking down.

Can't wait to see you all again. It would be fun if we could all do the Dairyland Dare and head up to Wisconsin again.

Thanks again, Dave, and thanks for the hydration. To Kimbercop, those birthday gels saved me. I really needed a little something to make it that last loop....plus the orange one matched so well. :D I looked good eating it..maintaining some sort of fashion while riding is, well, something that rarely happens for me!:p

We sure got lucky on the weather. That was awesome.

Recursive, drats, heal well! We missed you. Crystal

I also bailed on the second loop to come home and spend some time with the wife on her Birthday. I wasn't able to keep up with the A group, but was always able to keep in visual contact with them. Thank goodness for the neon yellow jacket worn by Shider. Regardless, we made decent time/speed numbers despite the wind and hills. Spent a good bit of time on the second half of the first loop chatting with Tim (CyLowe97) and wished the group a 'bon voyage' after we returned to town as I hopped in the station wagon and headed home.

It was a pretty sweet turn out and good to see that the ominous weather predications didn't come to pass or keep too many folks from coming out. Ans a special thanks to David, aka iab, for setting this up.

That's always what I associate with shider (along with being wicked fast) He was a beacon for me in RAIN wearing that color.

What a great day riding with the B group! It was great chatting with the whole lot of ya while struggling up those early-season climbs. Iab, thanks again for putting this together, it was a great turnout and a good route. Let me know the next time you flatlanders decide to come up for some hills and I'll try to join you. HHH/DLD training rides, anyone? I hope everyone recovers quickly, happy riding!

iab thank you very much. i now have a new favorite 30 mile loop. well, with my wrong turn it was 43 miles on the first loop, but it was still awesome. much thanks for a great ride.

the Saturday warm up ride with CyLowe was 24 miles, 3000 feet of climbing, 25 mph wind & a 50 mph decent. it was fantastic. seriously, i loved every minute of it. CyLowe is like the master of everything. this means he can navigate his way in a strange land without maps or fancy electronic devices while keeping an entertaining conversation the entire way. i learned two things on this ride; if you are wearing a number 7 diaper its time to start potty training AND if you say "Last one to the top buys the first Spotted Cow" you better be ready to go, because CyLowe will be gone.

Saturday stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5517144)

Sunday did not let us down. it was sunny, clear and calm at 7am. sure it was cold, but once properly geared up i barely noticed the temps. like anticipated the ride blew up quickly with the first hill. it was an in your face violent wake up call.

five or 6 guys formed the A group and shot up that hill. i was off the back of that group with CyLowe and a couple others. my legs knew it was April, but my head wanted to play like it was August. i chased and that was my downfall. i was chasing guys that if i did catch i wouldnt be able to stay with :rolleyes: we did meet up with them again due to some construction blocking the road, but my time with them was short lived. then i fell off the wheels of CyLowe and Jose which left me solo. i had hope and direction though as i had them in my sights through the beautiful peaks and valleys of the route.

i was hurting and eventually lost sight of the guys in front of me. out came my map, i mean que sheet. i didnt bring the map. it appears i am a poor navigator as i mad a wrong turn. about two miles the wrong way i decided to turn back. i did, but there were two riders coming my way. they had the map and felt we were on track. three of us couldnt be wrong? uh, we were. we decended into a small town on hwy 92 and quickly determined we were well North of NG. we asked some locals for directions and with their help and that map decided on an approach. we didnt back track as we tried to pick the shortest route to NG.

we added 8 to 10 miles to the first loop and two kick arse climbs with this detour. i rolled into the park to see the A listers still there waiting. i felt kind of bad that my miss turn may have delayed there departure, but then figured they would take much joy in dropping me again anyway :D.

i rolled out for the second loop with the mountain goats & jack rabbits. this loop also starts with a pretty nasty hill. guess what, i was off the back. at the bottom of the decent i spotted CyLowe slowing up and waiting for me. we made an excutive decision to take the offered short version of the second route to avoid complete spontaneous combustion. lucky for me Cy had the map and was able to guide us effortlessly.

short didnt mean easy. this short version of the second loop had several decent hills including a killer one at the end. one i had struggled up yesterday as a matter of fact. however, i took this last challange fairly well and felt good as i made the final decent into town.

for me it was 60 miles, 5000 feet of climbing, lots of suffering and lots of fun. Spring Classic Stats (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5517145)

i am a big fan of NG and can see myself back up there later this summer. we had a great turnout and it was cool meeting everyone. thanks to iab and the weather for hosting a great ride.

with the sudden century no more, we need a May ride. who's next? :D

later.

Thanks to iab for putting this ride together. The scenery was really nice and I would have enjoyed it alot more if I wouldn't have suffered so bad at the hills. ;)

The restaurant we met up at 6pm the night before was nice and the food was really good. It was fun to chat with SmokinMiles and tzracer's wife who I was sitting closest too. When I wasn't chatting I enjoyed a tasty IPA and an even tastier spotted cow. We heard the story from recursive injuring himself. I wish him a good and fast recovery. 4th place with a fractured wrist is quite an accomplishment.

In the morning before the ride I was on the prowl for a breakfast place and I chose to try out the Landhaus. To my surprise SmokingMiles was able to present me with a breakfast voucher for the Landhaus. Thanks Crystal for the free breakfast!! :D

The weather turned out to be quite nice after a few miles into our ride. I suffered from cold toes and cold fingers in the beginning, but later on it became warmer and warmer. Some of those hills were biatches and put out quite some hurt, but it was a great time nonetheless and the mechanical problems were pretty scarce, since I think we only had one flat, which was Kimbercop in the B group.
Afterwards we found out he gave out his CO2 cartridge to ColorChange if I recall correctly since he doesn't get flats very often but in the future he's most likely going to think twice about it :D

After the 50 miles of west and east loop were finished we visited the New Glarus Brewery for some beer sampling (Spotted cow, Road Slush, Strawberry Tard) and a free sampling glass for keep. The beer was excellent, but instead the Tard I wished for a sample of the Fat Squirrel. But that's OK, as I picked up a six pack of some fat squirrel in the gift shop. Yumm yumm.

Had an uneventful drive home and my legs are slowly recovering for the Tuesday night races.

I had a great time, and I will be behind the cheese curtain next weekend for the Quadrupedal. More hills, yeehaw! :D

Thomas

What a great time! Nice job Iab (except for one thing I'll get to later :().

I pull into the hotel after 3PM on Saturday and there is CyLowe and Ahem getting ready to go out in hills and brutal wind ... I chose the pub. :)

Had a surprisingly good meal the night before in some hole in the wall place in Monticello. Really good food and great company and conversation. We're sitting at the bar and a woman comes in with great legs and TZracer and I say to each other ... that's got to be SmokinMiles. Thanks for the CO2 cartridge Kimber … even if it did jinx you for a flat.

I normally like to eat at least 2 hours before a big ride. Unfortunately, the dining room didn't open until 7 and push off was 8:30. Oh well. Started the ride right off the bat with the A group up the first hill. In a pattern that repeated itself over and over again, I could hang with Cyclepsyco and Shider about 2/3 up the hill. Then my fat and 4 months off over the winter would take over and they would walk away from me up the hill.

Then, gravity and my Cervelo/Zipp combination came to the front and I would blow by them on the downhills … only to be left hanging on the next climb. It was pretty funny, when you ride closely with guys you quickly see strengths and weaknesses. Shider destroyed me on the hills but struggled on the flats. Cyclepsyco had no weaknesses … at least that I could expose (where were you Recursive when we needed you). I climb like a turtle but descend like a rocket and can hold my own on the flats. So, this three way juggling act continued the full first leg but finished Cyclepsyco 1, Shider 2, me 3. Lost my cadence magnet early on so had no power data the whole ride.

We finished quite a bit ahead of the rest of the A group and had a long wait for rest of the pack. We started out on the second leg right up a big climb and history started to repeat itself with Shider blasting up the hill, then Cyclepsyco, then me. Caught up on the downhill and here we go again.

Started to notice that Cyclepsyco was struggling a bit and thought maybe he was shot after the first leg. Ha … after about the first third of the second leg he started to come back … damn. This was about when Shider and a couple others who were with us started to fade. So, after we went about 5 hilly miles out of our way due to my lousy directions (doh!), Cyclepsyco and I take off. When we realize we made a pretty good break from the pack Cyclepsyco asks … “Want to wait?” I say nope. Off we go and working pretty hard. A lot of riding into the wind. At one point, we crossed the highway leading back into town and both of us looked at each other and thought long and hard about just cutting right back into town. Had we know the hill that was coming, we would have!

OK, so we’re trading pulls and hoping for the road back into town … and it never seems to come. Checking the map again to make sure we’re not lost, we trudge on. We finally get to highway N turn and then we see it. We were really tired now and there’s this big long climb. I wasn’t pulling my fair share of the weight before then but I look over at Cyclepsyco and say … “You’re going to have to get us up this hill.” It lasted forever and I shout “Who the hell put this at the end of the ride?” Damn you Iab! ;)

Cyclepsyco hauls my fat arse up the hill and then through 3 or 4 more short ones at which point we’re really looking for Highway H back into town. We finally get there and it’s a big downhill. Thank goodness! Cyclepsyco sees the new brewery up the hill and we both find motivation in that to finish the ride. As we come into the park I tell him there’s no way I’m going in ahead of you after you hauling me up the later hills so he takes the front and we finally get back. Finish Cyclepsyco 1, me 2. Most of the people were already gone, we relax and then head to the brewery.

Great ride, good fun. Ahem, I think I've got your water bottles.

^^^^ you do. maybe we shall meet again at the Udder Century (6/1) (http://www.mchenrybicycleclub.info/mcbc_Udder/UDDER-Main/mcbc-udder.htm). its a decent century that we normally try to hammer out. if not, no big deal.

bummer on the magnet as i would have loved to see some power data from your groups efforts.

later.

I would just like to thank iab for putting this together. It was a great location and ride. Now that I know some of the area I plan on taking a few trips up to the area this summer for some training.

Pictures will trickle in throughout today. Lots of new names/faces today, so if I get any handles incorrect, please forgive me, send me a PM and I'll edit the post(s) to correct it. :o

Here's are a few to whet your appetite from the breakfast buffet scene at the Chalet Landhaus:

Psimet, Psimet, Jr., and Kimbercop
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1978.jpg

Rowdy, Scummer, ColorChange, and SmokinMiles
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1979.jpg

tzracer
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1980.jpg

aham23 showing some Bike Forums So Cal love with the big old red star. Background: Psimet in Slurpee jersey.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1981.jpg

Yum. (obligatory meal/table photo.... a tribute to botto)
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1977.jpg

Some shots from the start in New Glarus.

Look at the background. That's Highway W rising above the current New Glarus Brewing house. Fun climb.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1996.jpg

Psimet2001, SmokinMiles, and iab.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1987.jpg

aham23 in his 240 bpm wind jacket.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1988.jpg

shider rolling up on the new white wonder carbon rocket
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1989.jpg

Kimbercop on his recently built steel Pinarello in the most excellent and timeless orange paint. Beauty of a bike.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1990.jpg

tzracer on the wonderful Trek that controls the weather. :beer:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1992.jpg

ColorChange on his black carbon wonder rocket descending machine
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1994.jpg

rck
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1995.jpg

helmetless voldemort. tsk tsk tsk...
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1997.jpg

dannwilliams. Not shown here is the cool Leinie's Honey Weiss jersey he was sporting under the windvest.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1999.jpg

Sekaijin and jbmadtown
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2000.jpg

cyclpsycho on his new Blue carbon wonder rocket with the sweet WC striped bar tape. Now I know where Dave Z got the inspiration for this year's 'stache.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2004.jpg

rck and laryanshabaz
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN1998.jpg

CyLowe97 and Scummer
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2002.jpg

Jose Perez out on the road near Blanchardville.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2006.jpg

CyLowe-the three initials are "rck". Allow me also to thank jab for the setting the ride up. Although it was somewhat embarrassing to be crushed in my own backyard I really did enjoy the ride and the company. Thanks to all for waiting at the top of the hills! I'll be saving the cue sheet and will ride it again a bit
later in the year. It will be good practice for DD.

about two miles the wrong way i decided to turn back. i did, but there were two riders coming my way. they had the map and felt we were on track. three of us couldnt be wrong? uh, we were. we decended into a small town on hwy 92 and quickly determined we were well North of NG. we asked some locals for directions and with their help and that map decided on an approach. we didnt back track as we tried to pick the shortest route to NG.


Very kind of you, aham, not to call out the guy responsible for getting you lost. Well, it was me. It was the Hwy G/Hwy A/Hwy JG intersection around 27 miles that got us confused.

I take full responsibility for leading astray the guy I was with (sorry, not sure of your handle - orange Waterford) and some responsibilty for your detour aham (only some, since you were already off track when we caught up with you! :) ). But hey, we got to visit lovely Mount Vernon, WI, and amuse some locals with our curious outfits.

All in all I enjoyed both loops, though I overdid it on the first loop with the A group, and then (taking orders from my protesting legs on that first Hwy W climb seen in the photo) bailed into a shortened version of the 2nd A loop.

I would have loved to stay for the brewery tour, but soccer dad duty called.

^^^^ no worries. i was already dazed and confused when you guys (rowdy was the other i believe) rolled along. i was really happy to see you as it gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that i had not (again) made a wrong turn at a BFNIC ride.

looking at some early stats that detour and those two nasty climbs on it added around 800 feet of climbing to our trip. i went for hills and i got just that. i enjoyed the company too.

later.

iab thanks for setting up a great ride.

The family had a great time. Due to high winds we did not get in the ride my wife wanted on Saturday.

It was great to meet everyone and put faces with names. Should do this more often.

I do need to work on my climbing, legs were burning by the end of the day. I am glad the rain bike voodoo worked and we had good weather.

Rode in the B group, we had a good time. Unfortunately kimbercop had a flat early. He and iab spent almost the rest of the ride playing catchup. 2nd loop was worse than the first, being out of shape probably didn't help much.

Nice riding with you tz. Thanks for bringing the rain bike and keeping us dry. I would love to see your Waterford someday! (how about posting some pics on the great lakes bike pics thread?)

Cool pix! And yes, that is me at the breakfast table and later in the white long sleeve shirt. That additional layer of clothing saved me :D

Nice riding with you tz. Thanks for bringing the rain bike and keeping us dry. I would love to see your Waterford someday! (how about posting some pics on the great lakes bike pics thread?)

Had a great time riding - until my legs gave out on the 2nd loop. More hills for me.

Have a pic up on the great lakes bike thread, but here are a couple since I didn't bring it.

http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Etzracer/waterford.JPG

http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Etzracer/DSCN1385.JPG

http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Etzracer/DSCN1386.JPG

http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Etzracer/DSCN1387.JPG

http://personalpages.tds.net/%7Etzracer/DSCN1389.JPG

Your bike looks great. I like the chrome lugs. They add some pop to your frame.

The short version:
I came, I climbed, I had fun, I bonked. Thanks iab for the organization!

The long version:
Driving up that morning I had packed both my commuter (AKA bad weather) bike and my new road bike. As you all know, the weather forecast had been flopping back and forth daily and it was a pleasant surprise to see decent weather. Driving up taking the back roads, I looked over at my helmet sitting on the passenger seat and was reminded of Voldemort’s Udder century indiscretion the previous year. Realizing I didn’t have a spare helmet (I had brought spares for just about everything else) I hoped nobody would forget theirs. Shortly after that I took a wrong turn and spent the next 5 minutes trying to find my way back on course. Having done that I decided not to play navigator during the ride and rely on the kindness of friends, while making sure I carried a map, just in case.

I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout especially considering the chilly conditions and previous threats of rain or snow. The ride started off fairly normally for a BFNIC event with riders taking a pull and then falling to the back. By the time I was second in line, right behind Psimet, I was already dreading taking my turn at the front into the wind. Just then things took a turn and we started up the first hill. Psimet stood up and I nearly ran into the back of him. Now in front, I barely noticed the wind and merrily spun my way up to the crest. That was about it for riding in a large group. Thinking back now it’s kind of funny signing up for the A group or the B group. With the exception of mechanicals and those who helped, we were all in the group we were going to be in regardless. As it turns out I was blessed with the company of ColorChange (who I chased down each hill) and Cyclpsycho (who I chased up each hill) and that kept things plenty interesting for the first loop.

Waiting around for the group (Aham23) to come in I was thankful that ColorChange had been such a good guide up until this point. I ate some food, drank some water and generally got chilly but it was still good times. Once we were all together again we set off for the hill we had spent much of the time standing around staring at. Still I felt good and was glad to be warm again. The second loop, although equally scenic, just didn’t have the same level of enjoyment for me, perhaps it was the wind or the straightness of the roads, or just the slightly different terrain, but it was still fun until someone realized we were off course. No problem, we took a look at the map came up with a new plan, and promptly cycled several miles further off course. After the second rethink, we got back on track and it was about then that it left me. My energy was gone. I bonked. Let me restate that, I BONKED. The second half of the second loop was pure misery. My legs didn’t hurt; they just wouldn’t work. I tried to keep up for a while but kept going slower and s l o w e r and s . l . o . w . e . r. Seeing Highway 69, I realized that I could cut the ride short and make it back. I should have, but my pride got the worse of me and I kept going. Eventually I was way off the back and the guys waited for me at the top of a hill to make sure I had a map. The gesture is greatly appreciated, but I had one and so the rest of the trip would be a solo effort.

The hills didn’t make any difference at this point. If I kept shifting down to a gear where I felt comfortable I quickly ran out of gears so I just left it in the 34-18 and tried my best to keep the cadence above 60. When I finally got back, I was asked how I liked the final big hill. I probably looked dumbfounded because at that point it was all the same - I was either trudging along or coasting down hill. Regardless I was happy to make it, the alternative being lying in the ditch. I even made it to the brewery in time to say thanks to my two riding buddies.

I had been looking forward to this ride for quite a while and it definitely lived up to expectations. Many thanks to all those who made it possible!

Apologies here, but the below is a Saturday Preview Ride and was just too fun to not post.

This was a great weekend of riding. The weather forecasts had me freaked out a bit, but we loaded up the family truckster and headed up to New Glarus on Saturday. After a nice lunch at Toffler’s (great turkey melt!) and having the kids play at the park for a while, we headed over to the hotel and got checked in. The best thing about the hotel was that they had an indoor pool, which meant that the family had plenty to do while I was out….. riding my bike!

Despite it being a very windy Saturday (I’m guessing 20-30 mph winds… constant), aham23 and I decided that we didn’t drive all that way to hang out at the hotel, so we layered up and headed out for a mid-afternoon course preview. We headed out to H and into the teeth of the breeze and uphill. I realized at that point we’d have to find some short cuts so we didn’t end up riding the whole route, but that I didn’t have the map/cue sheet with me. Now, for all you with the fancy Garmins this might make you nervous, but I’m a bit lower tech and higher confidence. I mean, GPS is for guys who like to stop at gas stations for directions, right. Pfft. What guy does that when the sun is out?* So I say to aham, hey, let’s take the next right. It got us out of the direct wind, though the crosswind was still pretty strong. As we head down the road, we decided to take another right, which ended up being a fantastic downhill ride for a few miles that took us back into the south end of New Glarus.

We had only been out for a short time at that point, so I thought it was time to preview the climb up W. aham was looking a bit apprehensive, but with a 25 mph tailwind that climb isn’t so bad, is it? And with that same tailwind, the hill on the other side ain’t so bad, either. With little to no effort except for tucking in, I looked down and saw 48 mph….. looked up….. glanced down…. 51.1 mph. Yowzaa! Thrilling stuff that. :eek: :D

After the next hill I didn’t want to get caught too far east and facing a headwind, so we cut south on County CC and wound our way back toward New Glarus (still mapless, but that sun was still up, right?). Great hills back in there and we eventually ended up on some of the B Loop roads, finishing up and down the wicked steep Kubly. We get to the bottom of the hill and decide we should head up the other road, but I thought I might have a flat. So checking the tire was okay, but my wheel was a bit shaky…. loose skewer! :eek: Ignorance was bliss, but knowledge is fear, so I decided to tighten it.

We then went south on Elmer to Valley View. That’s when aham said something like, Last one to the top buys the first beer. What other motivation is called for? I wiped him off the road! At the top of the hill a guy in a truck slowed down and said, “Pretty steep, huh?” Understatement. The Badger State has it all, doesn’t it? ;) So we cruise back down the hill and as we near Kubly, aham says Double or nothing back up that road? I hesitated, thought, where else do we need to be? and said, Sure.

I don’t think the stats bear it out, but at one point up Kubly, aham’s Garmin said 22%. It was pretty steep. So as the hill slackens near the top, I’m ahead (there’s another beer on the line, yeah?) and mentally going over low gears in my head when I hear someone rolling up on my left. Wait, we’re not at the top, yet? Alright, let’s go! Result? Beer, baby, beer! :beer:

With that, I think we were cooked and it was almost dinner time, so back down Kubly we went. In all, one of the most fun 24 mile jaunts I’ve had in quite a while.

If Saturday’s ride was this great, Sunday could only be better. But more on that later.


*This is code for CyLowe97 is jealous of those with Garmins.

Loose skewer and 51.1 mph .... OH Momma!

It was funny, Shider comes into the brewery with kind of a dazed look and I asked him "What happened?" He says he bonked. I ask about the final b(*tch hill and he kind of looks at me, "it was all the same." I laughed.

We kept looking on our map for Kubly 2...you know, the other Kubly that gets you where you need to go without a 22% grade. :D That's the one we pondered for...oh...about 15 minutes...enough to get us through discussing at least the last 2 years of RAIN.

I can still see iab's face when we asked him if the first long hill on the second loop was the worst one and he said, "oh yeah, that's the worst; it's much flatter but less scenic than the first loop" Right!!!! Demonic, that guy is...pure evil :p

into the teeth of the breeze That is some impressive imagery!

After upload the max gradient I show over the whole course is 19.8%.

Apologies here, but the below is a Saturday Preview Ride and was just too fun to not post.

This was a great weekend of riding. The weather forecasts had me freaked out a bit, but we loaded up the family truckster and headed up to New Glarus on Saturday. After a nice lunch at Toffler’s (great turkey melt!) and having the kids play at the park for a while, we headed over to the hotel and got checked in. The best thing about the hotel was that they had an indoor pool, which meant that the family had plenty to do while I was out….. riding my bike!

Despite it being a very windy Saturday (I’m guessing 20-30 mph winds… constant), aham23 and I decided that we didn’t drive all that way to hang out at the hotel, so we layered up and headed out for a mid-afternoon course preview. We headed out to H and into the teeth of the breeze and uphill. I realized at that point we’d have to find some short cuts so we didn’t end up riding the whole route, but that I didn’t have the map/cue sheet with me. Now, for all you with the fancy Garmins this might make you nervous, but I’m a bit lower tech and higher confidence.* I mean, GPS is for guys who like to stop at gas stations for directions, right. Pfft. What guy does that when the sun is out? So I say to aham, hey, let’s take the next right. It got us out of the direct wind, though the crosswind was still pretty strong. As we head down the road, we decided to take another right, which ended up being a fantastic downhill ride for a few miles that took us back into the south end of New Glarus.

We had only been out for a short time at that point, so I thought it was time to preview the climb up W. aham was looking a bit apprehensive, but with a 25 mph tailwind that climb isn’t so bad, is it? And with that same tailwind, the hill on the other side ain’t so bad, either. With little to no effort except for tucking in, I looked down and saw 48 mph….. looked up….. glanced down…. 51.1 mph. Yowzaa! Thrilling stuff that. :eek: :D

After the next hill I didn’t want to get caught too far east and facing a headwind, so we cut south on County CC and wound our way back toward New Glarus (still mapless, but that sun was still up, right?). Great hills back in there and we eventually ended up on some of the B Loop roads, finishing up and down the wicked steep Kubly. We get to the bottom of the hill and decide we should head up the other road, but I thought I might have a flat. So checking the tire was okay, but my wheel was a bit shaky…. loose skewer! :eek: Ignorance was bliss, but knowledge is fear, so I decided to tighten it.

We then went south on Elmer to Valley View. That’s when aham said something like, Last one to the top buys the first beer. What other motivation is called for? I wiped him off the road! At the top of the hill a guy in a truck slowed down and said, “Pretty steep, huh?” Understatement. The Badger State has it all, doesn’t it? ;) So we cruise back down the hill and as we near Kubly, aham says Double or nothing back up that road? I hesitated, thought, where else do we need to be? and said, Sure.

I don’t think the stats bear it out, but at one point up Kubly, aham’s Garmin said 22%. It was pretty steep. So as the hill slackens near the top, I’m ahead (there’s another beer on the line, yeah?) and mentally going over low gears in my head when I hear someone rolling up on my left. Wait, we’re not at the top, yet? Alright, let’s go! Result? Beer, baby, beer! :beer:

With that, I think we were cooked and it was almost dinner time, so back down Kubly we went. In all, one of the most fun 24 mile jaunts I’ve had in quite a while.

If Saturday’s ride was this great, Sunday could only be better. But more on that later.


*This is code for CyLowe97 is jealous of those with Garmins.

great post. you captured the day perfectly. AND next time i will not be wearing that darn 240 bpm flappy jacket. you could here me coming for miles and miles.



After upload the max gradient I show over the whole course is 19.8%.

we hit 22% on Saturday. recall that last decent on Kubly that brought us back into town. there was road kill near the bottom smack dab in the middle of the road. you have to go the opposite direction to get some 22% gradient love. :)

later.

we hit 22% on Saturday. recall that last decent on Kubly that brought us back into town. there was road kill near the bottom smack dab in the middle of the road. you have to go the opposite direction to get some 22% gradient love. :)

later.

Even there I get a max decent grade of 16.9%. I agree it was steep and most likely steeper than anything we actually climbed, but just throwing out that the Garmins - in general - absolutley suck when it comes to specific points of data.

keep in mind that the garmin edge's do 'smart recording' in that they don't actually store every inch of road that you covered.

you could have 10 different garmins go up that hill and get 10 different readings. all i know is mine said 22% at the very moment i was going up it. so its good for me. :) seriously though, if you checked the uploaded stats to MotionBase the elevation maxes out around 17%?

later.

First, thanks to all that showed for the ride, it makes it that much better to have a large turnout and to meet a lot of new people. We also had a great turnout of lugged steel, some vintage, some KOF and we had some very nice modern rigs. I’m embarrassed that as the organizer I left my vintage bike behind but I was worried about the rain and in hindsight, the choice of gears on the modern bike was a godsend. Sorry to those who could not make it, we had no ironies from botto, no awesomeness from Timmy McQuest (or whatever his name is) and I can safely say recursive was not in front of me for every KOM or town line sprint :p (sorry to hear about the wrist).

48 hours prior I thought there would be no ride for me, I don’t do rain. But it turned out to be sunny and 38 at the start of the ride. There may have been about a 10 mph wind from the WNW, but not bad for a spring day. Voldemort and I carpooled to New Glarus that morning, he bought me a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit – it was good, but almost was a mistake.

As kimbercop wrote, he flatted at nearly the crest of the first climb on H. I stopped to lend a hand but because of my ”help”, it took us 30-45 minutes to change tubes. I know, I know he said 15 minutes but he obviously has no sense of time (that's my story and I'm sticking to it :p). The wonderful scenery on H certainly diminished the pain the hills caused. I’ve had dogs bark at me before but this was the first time I had a rooster crow at me. I thought the last climb on H just before Blanchardville would do me in but I made it and I believe technically there was a switchback, so it must be pro level ;). There was also that washed out section of H as you entered town, shider I hope you got no chips from the gravel on the swanky new bike. Kimbercop and I took 10 at the Blanchardville cemetery, I was a bit nauseous and thought I was going to experience that bacon, egg and cheese biscuit for a second time.

I have a lot of reasons for going slow but only one for going fast, the wind was behind us after leaving town. Kimbercop and I put in an effort that can only be called by the Italians as l’eroica, or heroic in English. After cresting the last hill on A, I caught a glimpse of the B group, maybe 1 km ahead of us. We gave chase and caught them about 2 miles from town, we made up at least 40-55 minutes on them ;). We go as a group into town but again I am behind Kimbercop when we approach the town line. I get out the saddle, make my move to the left and then simultaneously, both of thighs seize up with cramps. I lost the sprint (although I am not sure kimbercop knew I was sprinting).

We got back to the parking lot and the A group claimed they had been waiting for an hour. But remember, kimbercop and I had to make up nearly an hour for his flat and my nausea. Without the early flat, they would have been in our dust :rolleyes: (again, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). They take off for the second loop and the Bs leave a few minutes later. I’m sorry but I don’t remember your name, but the guy riding the Schwinn started getting the death wobbles at 40 mph on the first descent of W. That must have scared the sh!t out of you. Now you know, you need weight like mine to dampen any possible wobble, yay fat guys. And speaking of W, it was the second climb that did me in and I didn’t realize it until the slight riser into Dayton, I was toast. So me and rck took a short cut to save a whopping 2 miles. But he, tzracer and I took an alternative route to avoid the last climb that added another 2 miles. Also, what were the 3 things about turning 70? – Don’t pass up a bathroom, don’t waste a hard on and ???

We got back to town and it seemed everyone liked the early spring challenge. I believe at least ColorChange was cursing my name (and quite probably more) for putting that last climb on N at the end of 60 hard miles of the A group. I knew it would be a bit difficult. A good group of us went to the brewery and the 3 samples really hit the spot for me. I bought a 6 of the organic beer, it is very good, I had one when I got home.

Thanks again for everyone who rode.

Sounds like a great ride.

Every year when you guys put something together I wish I could come do the ride, and if it were not for the 6-7 hour drive I would. Oh well I guess I can read your post and imagine that I was there:D

I mentioned this is another thread on the boards, but I just wanted to thank iab for the ride along with everyone that let me latch onto their wheel. I was the guy on the old but real Motobecane. It was my first real group ride and the first time I ever pacelined (WOW). It was one of the best and fastest rides I have ever been on. Thanks for the great time.

Great post iab and a most excellent ride! I can't wait to see how you top this one next year :D

After the break, climbing the first hill, I knew I was in trouble. My legs didn't have the turnover they had on the first loop. I started consuming my on-board smorgasbord in mass quantities hoping it would catch up before I Shider, I mean BONK. Shortly after our stop and check the map, it kicked in!

Colorchange, Shider, it was a blast riding with you guys! :beer: Even if you do have low-grade carbon :roflmao:

A special thanks to TZ for holding off the rain/snow ;)

For jab: 3 things a man doesn't do as he gets older-you don't pass a bathroom, you don't waste a hard-on, and you don't trust a fart. My apologies for the colloquial english.

Fantastic ride iab.:beer: Thanks for setting it up, (and driving). That ride was an excellent challenge to my so-called skills. Already thinking about the next group ride (bring helmet...bring helmet...bring helmet...bring helmet). Missed my chance at becoming legendary by cycling through Wisconsin with an equestrian hat/helmet. Thanks for the offer, SmokinMiles:bday:, any brain bucket is better than none. But I REALLY want to thank ??? (I suck at names, sorry) for offering his brand new, still-in-the-box helmet to use for the ride.

I'm shocked and pleasantly surprised that I was able to handle all those hills. Holy (spotted) cow, those were some major long climbs. And getting a nice clear view of several of them from a distance before tackling them only made it that much more intimidating. I kept looking around for a sag vehicle to hitch a ride on but...
Truthfully, I really enjoyed the challenge. I like testing my abilities to the limit (many high speed ski crashes in the past would seem to indicate I exceed my abilities sometimes). "Faster and faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death"... worked for a skiing mantra, but not for cycling. :rolleyes:

Just remember next time we're riding, bring a spare helmet for me:o:D

Oh yeah SmokinMiles...I was able to buy myself some Uff Da Bock afterwards, because although I was by no means in the front, I wasn't off the back.:p And whoever had the 51 mph...BIG DEAL. My top speed, per my computer (obviously on one of the steeper downhills), was 737mph...and we all know computers never lie. Why my average mph at that point was only 12.7 or something, i just don't know.;)

I think one of my favorite parts was, I think on Kubly, I was with Psimet and you get to that "lull" after the first climb. At that point it looks flat but I thought my legs weren't kicking back in. Then he looks at his 305 and says "even here it's 11%". The conversation had to end there and we went back to the Finding Nemo/Elmo climbing song.

I mentioned this is another thread on the boards, but I just wanted to thank iab for the ride along with everyone that let me latch onto their wheel. I was the guy on the old but real Motobecane. It was my first real group ride and the first time I ever pacelined (WOW). It was one of the best and fastest rides I have ever been on. Thanks for the great time.

Steel is real *high five* :D

OK, Got some data. As this graph shows, I lost my cadence magnet (and therefore power - blue line) early on in the first leg and this picture shows where I lost it. It also didn't start right away and some people might recall at the beginning I pulled over to try to adjust it quickly when we just turned on to H.


http://www.pbase.com/image/96334191/original.jpg



Here is the zoom of the graph where I had power data.


http://www.pbase.com/colorchange/image/96334235/original.jpg


Here is the summary of the first leg (partial power data only).

Data Value Unit
Duration 1:58:07
Sampling Rate 1 s
Cycling Efficiency 10.0 %

Energy Expenditure 1721 kcal
Number of Heart Beats 18310 beats
Recovery -21 beats
Minimum Heart Rate 87 bpm
Average Heart Rate 155 bpm
Maximum Heart Rate 183 bpm
Standard Deviation 12.6 bpm

Minimum Speed 2.3 mph
Average Speed 17.6 mph
Maximum Speed 38.6 mph
Distance 34.6 miles
Odometer 188 miles

Minimum Cadence 30 rpm
Average Cadence 82 rpm
Maximum Cadence 123 rpm
Coasting Time 1:35:59 (81.3 %)
Coasting Distance 29.2 miles (84.4 %)

Minimum Altitude 728 ft
Average Altitude 899 ft
Maximum Altitude 1148 ft
Ascent 2041 ft
Descent 1955 ft
Slopes 5
VAM 1037 ft/h

Minimum Power 2 Watts
Average Power 266 Watts
Average Power (0 W incl.) 48 Watts
Maximum Power 1048 Watts
Pedaling Index Average 23 %
Pedaling Index Maximum 49 %
Left Right Balance Average L51 - 49R Left - Right
Left Right Balance Maximum L88 - 12R Left - Right

Here is the second leg.

http://www.pbase.com/image/96334300/original.jpg


It's not that the final hill was so bad ... it's just that I was tired by then. ;)

Data Value Unit
Duration 2:00:10
Sampling Rate 1 s

Energy Expenditure 1765 kcal
Number of Heart Beats 18748 beats
Recovery -18 beats
Minimum Heart Rate 125 bpm
Average Heart Rate 156 bpm
Maximum Heart Rate 171 bpm
Standard Deviation 8.1 bpm

Minimum Speed 2.1 mph
Average Speed 17.9 mph
Maximum Speed 46.6 mph
Distance 35.8 miles
Odometer 224 miles

Minimum Altitude 764 ft
Average Altitude 869 ft
Maximum Altitude 1083 ft
Ascent 1880 ft
Descent 1814 ft
Slopes 5
VAM 939 ft/h


So, 70.4 miles, 3,921 feet of climbing. Leg 1 17.6 mph, Leg 2 17.9 mph

^^ Yeah, that means nothing to me and I feel dizzy now. ^^

:o

Here's where I chased and caught the Super A group riders on the first loop. All I could think was, "Oh man, they better not make us turn around! The turn we need is just past where the road is covered with water!"

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2007.jpg

Here is the group cooling down waiting for others to trickle back to the park before the second loop. Note shider sporting the Great Lakes jersey. I think a lot of folks wore theirs, too, but they were hiding beneath the warming layers.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/cylowe97/2008%20New%20Glarus%20Bike%20Forums%20Ride/DSCN2008.jpg

I thought that the gravel looked awful fresh on that spot. Judging from the picture and the time it was taken, it was about 2 hours old by the time I got to it :D

CyLowe, there's no way I was going to carry the extra weight of a camera. That's what kept you off the front man!

I thought that the gravel looked awful fresh on that spot. Judging from the picture and the time it was taken, it was about 2 hours old by the time I got to it :D

They were just opening up the road as we got there. A worker in a field about 1/4 mile before the bridge hollered out that the road was closed, but we all blithely rode on anyway and rode around the orange fence across the road just before the bridge.

Was the orange temporary fence still in place just before the bridge when you got there?

CyLowe, there's no way I was going to carry the extra weight of a camera. That's what kept you off the front man!
Yeah... that's the ticket!

Wearing full gloves is not conducive to on-bike photos, accounting for all the pics of people just standing around.