Great Lakes - RAIN Results

Whose got 'em?

Personal best for me...7h 23min, 48th finisher. I though it was tougher than a couple years ago since the wind was out of the northwest. The temps were great.

Also, heard someone was killed early on. Can someone confirm or have info? I know there were a couple of wrecks...certainly hope everyone came out OK and that no one was that badly injured.

It sure was nice around here today

It sure was nice around here today

Probably 'cuz you didn't have me on the roads. :)

I saw a man lying at the side of the road apparently in great pain about 15 miles into the ride. There were plenty of people attending so there was no need for us to stop. I have no details.

There was a traffic accident at Camby Road/SR67 intersection. Police and fire were on the scene when we passed. The word that I got from someone after the finish was that 3 cyclists pulled out in front of a motorcycle. I don't know if the cyclists got hit or their condition or the motorcyclists fate. Apparently the southbound motorcyclist veered and crossed the grass median and struck a vehicle head-on. The motorcycle ended up in the ditch on the other side of the road. That is all the information that I have.

I got some sketchy information about some cyclists having an incident near an airport?

2009 RAIN was not very safe for whatever reason.

I finished in 10.5 hours, 8 hours 53 minutes riding time. This was a full hour faster than 2008 and and hour and twenty minutes faster than 2007. My speed was only slightly faster so most of the time savings was less stop time. I consider this to translate into faster riding since I did it with much less rest.

I drank about half as much water this year as prior years. Since I was mixing my Perpetuem based upon a higher fluid consumption I was not getting enough calories and had to make up for it by consuming food at rest stops.

A veteran rider that I talked to felt we mostly had a not so helpful crosswind this year. What is everyone else's opinion?

Anyone care to state the mileage. Indiana. Little climbing. ? Couple hundred feet maybe. I've done 143 miles in about 10 hours. But , it involved about 7000 feet of climbing.. Wonder which is worse. Big Sur at 143 miles of flat Indiana at what ever distance RAIN involves.
. Thanks for posting. Rain is one tour , I'd like to complete.

Anyone care to state the mileage. Indiana. Little climbing. ? Couple hundred feet maybe. I've done 143 miles in about 10 hours. But , it involved about 7000 feet of climbing.. Wonder which is worse. Big Sur at 143 miles of flat Indiana at what ever distance RAIN involves.
. Thanks for posting. Rain is one tour , I'd like to complete.

According to my Garmin, this years route was 159.3 miles. I showed 3780 feet of ascent. It would be interesting to compare to a topographic map, as the Garmin for me in the past has pretty drastically understated elevation changes.

I saw a man lying at the side of the road apparently in great pain about 15 miles into the ride. There were plenty of people attending so there was no need for us to stop. I have no details.

There was a traffic accident at Camby Road/SR67 intersection. Police and fire were on the scene when we passed. The word that I got from someone after the finish was that 3 cyclists pulled out in front of a motorcycle. I don't know if the cyclists got hit or their condition or the motorcyclists fate. Apparently the southbound motorcyclist veered and crossed the grass median and struck a vehicle head-on. The motorcycle ended up in the ditch on the other side of the road. That is all the information that I have.

I got some sketchy information about some cyclists having an incident near an airport?

2009 RAIN was not very safe for whatever reason.

I finished in 10.5 hours, 8 hours 53 minutes riding time. This was a full hour faster than 2008 and and hour and twenty minutes faster than 2007. My speed was only slightly faster so most of the time savings was less stop time. I consider this to translate into faster riding since I did it with much less rest.

I drank about half as much water this year as prior years. Since I was mixing my Perpetuem based upon a higher fluid consumption I was not getting enough calories and had to make up for it by consuming food at rest stops.

A veteran rider that I talked to felt we mostly had a not so helpful crosswind this year. What is everyone else's opinion?

I think there were several safety issues. The first was no police escort through Terre Haute. Where we normally have the 20mph leadout, I'm guessing our average to the westside of TH was approaching 25.

Next, a large number of cyclists who haven't registered show up and do the ride, joining a mile or two in. I can't tell you how many Nebo Ridge guys that were there doing this, which is just one more reason I won't patronize them. Not only does it add to the confusion, especially with people cutting accross SR40 from the westbound lanes to get to the eastbound lanes, it creates a hazard for vehicular traffic, already impeded by 1200 cyclists.

Finally, you just have people doing stupid stuff. We all complain about motorists doing stupid stuff, intentionally or not. The more I've heard, I think the person on the motorcycle was the person who died (if indeed someone did die). I'm sure we will hear what happened, but I certainly hope the person on the motorcycle didn't die because of some stupid move of a cyclist. Ride hard, ride competitively, but in the end it's only a ride.

We should lead by example.

Probably 'cuz you didn't have me on the roads. :) So thats why it was so calm?

So thats why it was so calm?

Yep. You get a reprieve today, too. I'm not even going to look at a bike.


Well, I might go and do 30 later. :thumb:

[QUOTE=tjspahr;9307042]Whose got 'em?

Personal best for me...7h 23min, 48th finisher. I though it was tougher than a couple years ago since the wind was out of the northwest. The temps were great.QUOTE]

I'm sure you and I rode some together along the way. I finished two minutes behind you and was riding a red Pinarello Prince and wore a green and blue jersey.

Did you get the finish order from the folks at the finish line? I was curious where I finished and it sounds like I'm probably in the low 50's. What a terrific day to ride a bike. It was my first RAIN and didn't know quite what to expect. Very nice event.

[QUOTE=tjspahr;9307042]Whose got 'em?

Personal best for me...7h 23min, 48th finisher. I though it was tougher than a couple years ago since the wind was out of the northwest. The temps were great.QUOTE]

I'm sure you and I rode some together along the way. I finished two minutes behind you and was riding a red Pinarello Prince and wore a green and blue jersey.

Did you get the finish order from the folks at the finish line? I was curious where I finished and it sounds like I'm probably in the low 50's. What a terrific day to ride a bike. It was my first RAIN and didn't know quite what to expect. Very nice event.

Yeah, they had them in the tent area at the finish. We must have been almost together at the finish...what kind of kit and/or what kind of bike were you on?

[QUOTE=tjspahr;9307042]Whose got 'em?

Personal best for me...7h 23min, 48th finisher. I though it was tougher than a couple years ago since the wind was out of the northwest. The temps were great.QUOTE]

I'm sure you and I rode some together along the way. I finished two minutes behind you and was riding a red Pinarello Prince and wore a green and blue jersey.

Did you get the finish order from the folks at the finish line? I was curious where I finished and it sounds like I'm probably in the low 50's. What a terrific day to ride a bike. It was my first RAIN and didn't know quite what to expect. Very nice event.

Geez, it helps if I read the whole post before I reply!

Yes, I'm sure we rode some of the pacelines together...I think we were with a guy on an Orbea Ordu TT bike for awhile... I was in a blue and orange team kit (Speedway Wheelmen) and riding a black BMC SLC01. Not too many bikes that I had envy for on the ride, but the Pinarello's are flat gorgeous.

I had to drop out of the paceline as I was basically out of water and waiting for my SAG. In fact I dropped off to call the SAG again. I was really surprised, I think I caught you and another rider about 1/2 mile from the finish. I didn't think that would happen, as you guys were moving pretty well when I dropped off.

I rolled in about 1hr 20 min. after these guys[8h 45m] but it was a PB for me as well. Two and a half hours better than last year and almost an hour faster than my previous best. With the possible exception of my first RAIN, where I truly surprised my family and myself by finishing, yesterday was my favorite day ever on a bicycle.

Nice ride guys, I was 71st at somewhere under 7:40, I didn't get my official time. Rider count was over 1,300, no police escort made the start faster. I fell off the lead pack at about mile 35. Great day, cool temps and NW wind made for a fast day. I had 159.7 miles and about 3,700 ft of climbing. There is a series of longer rollers where I got dropped and I just couldn't get back on. We had a lot of riders there (green/orange) many did a lot of pulling, but highest local finished was 7th.

One of our SAG's witnesses the motorcycle crash, apparently the m-cycle was stopped watching the bike and got hit by a car that didn't see him/stop. One of the SAG's was a nurse and cleared his airway and I thought they said he regained consciousness, but we didn't hear any more. They waited for EMT's etc... We'll pray for him any families that are in need.

[QUOTE=jppe;9309991]

Geez, it helps if I read the whole post before I reply!

Yes, I'm sure we rode some of the pacelines together...I think we were with a guy on an Orbea Ordu TT bike for awhile... I was in a blue and orange team kit (Speedway Wheelmen) and riding a black BMC SLC01. Not too many bikes that I had envy for on the ride, but the Pinarello's are flat gorgeous.

I had to drop out of the paceline as I was basically out of water and waiting for my SAG. In fact I dropped off to call the SAG again. I was really surprised, I think I caught you and another rider about 1/2 mile from the finish. I didn't think that would happen, as you guys were moving pretty well when I dropped off.

Yeah-we rode off and on with different groups. We fell off the front group about the same time, too. I wondered if that was you-I finished next so I guess I was 49th. I had ridden especially hard the last 30 miles and didn't have much left the last mile+. The fellow with me insisted I roll across first. Classy gent!

[QUOTE=tjspahr;9310343]

Yeah-we rode off and on with different groups. We fell off the front group about the same time, too. I wondered if that was you-I finished next so I guess I was 49th. I had ridden especially hard the last 30 miles and didn't have much left the last mile+. The fellow with me insisted I roll across first. Classy gent!

I almost didn't want to pass you guys, you did such great work in the paceline.






Notice I said "almost." :rolleyes::innocent:

I ended up pretty disappointed with my first RAIN. The plan earlier in the year was to ride with one of my friends and we would stick together, our wives driving SAG. As RAIN got closer though about 10 other guys decided they wanted to ride with us and my partner really wanted to stick with them. My partner and I started right near the front and I was frankly hoping to just ditch the other guys but after riding about 4 miles at 10 mph off the start while we waited for them we just ended up stopping to wait for them. Nearly everyone in the ride passed us as these guys were just about pulling tail end charlie. You just can't get too much worse of a feeling after having trained for 5 months straight than watching 1000 people on bikes ride on by. Once we got going we must have hit every light in Terre Haute. We did however see the wreck right outside of Seelyville that dekindy mentioned:


I saw a man lying at the side of the road apparently in great pain about 15 miles into the ride. There were plenty of people attending so there was no need for us to stop. I have no details.

The guy passed us (like everybody else) on his aero bars drafting another rider. About fifty yards in front of us I saw him wobble hard, then two more times before he went down into the curb and a gravel drive. Pretty spectacular with rocks, dust, arms, legs and bike flying everywhere. A total yardsale. We didn't stop because we were too close and simply trying to avoid it. By the time we looked back there was already a gaggle of helpers with cellphones.

I was pretty much miserable all the way into Brazil (my home town) trying to think of some way to get away from this group I was stuck with but since my wife and partner were in the same SAG it just wasn't going to happen. I considered faking a mechanical and calling quits but what little maturity I have told me to just chill out and enjoy my first RAIN for what it was.

The next down person we saw was at about mile marker 27 as you head down McKinley hill, the ambulance had just arrived and they were getting out a backboard as we went by. The guy was laying in the grass in the ditch, paramedics on the scene, with blood on his face. He didn't look real good.

Rode by my house at mile 28.5, that was a little pick me up as the kids and family were all out at the road to cheer us on. A lot of you probably saw them as they waited, and waited, and waited for us to go by. :notamused: It took us almost two hours to get there. The same time it normally takes me to get to Terre Haute and back solo.

First rest stop went pretty good as I tried to think of ways to get moving without our anchors, to no avail. Pretty much just slogged along all the way to the lunch stop feeling like I was riding with my kids.

The motorcycle accident was a mystery to me as well. There was a firetruck, and other equipment on scene as we got there. Motorcycle on the side of the road, a car stopped in the middle and another car setting off behind a fence in a field. Pretty confusing.

Then my friends 6 month old Roubaix started making the worst sound I've ever heard coming from a bike. Imagine take 3-4 dry marbles and squeezing / rolling them in your hand, that was the noise coming from his cassette / rear hub. We stopped to try to correct it but there really wasn't anything I could do, we did however get a little speed up while we caught back up to the group before lunch.

Lunch took too long.

After lunch some people caught up to our group and decided to join our 15-18 mph 'paceline'. In this group (and I hope it was none of you) was a lady calling out every conceivable obstacle. 'Hole', 'left turn' 'cars might not stop' 'car up' 'car back' 'car around' 'white line parallel to roadway', 'grey hard surface made of small stones held together with a mix of tar'.

Finally my friend broke, and we left them all behind at about 110 miles in. Them and all there 16.5 mph on the bike average. :love:

Once on US40 again, I pulled us to the next stop at 20-24mph and finally I was having fun. The wind, in my opinion was certainly a help. The next crash victim was somebody we passed right before the last rest stop. My friend noticed he was pretty badly bloodied on his right side and asked him what happened. He said he was pulling into the first rest stop and looking around when the next thing he knew he was lying on the ground. The interesting part of that story was that he cracked his Livestrong helmet given to him by none other that Lance himself who had dated his sister for a couple of weeks. Or so he said.

From the last stop to the end was a little more like I had imagined the whole day going, three guys caught up with us and we pacelined the last 20 miles or so, the five of us trading pulls. I ended up finishing with a smile on my face after 10:05 total time, 8:37 on the bike, certainly no record breaker but ok.

Lesson learned for next year: Don't commit to riding with anyone, I know I wouldn't have made the lead group the whole way, but I sure would have liked to have given it my best. In the end overall I had a good time and at least have a goal / time to shoot for breaking next year.

The next crash victim [...]The interesting part of that story was that he cracked his Livestrong helmet given to him by none other that Lance himself who had dated his sister for a couple of weeks. Or so he said.
Apparently he hit his head harder than he realized.

Or else he was the mysterious third Olsen twin.

Did anybody else get stopped at the train crossing in Terre Haute? It was an intermodal and I thought it would be a longer train than it actually was. The stop still cost us several minutes.

Dang trains. They have us stop for parades and cross country races now. Maybe the bbc should get ahold of csx next year.

Minor thread hijack.

I was wondering if anyone knows when next years event will be held?

Minor thread hijack.

I was wondering if anyone knows when next years event will be held?

Should be about the same time...normally it is one of the Saturdays that runs between the 10th and 20th of July. They will probably have it up in the next couple of weeks on the RAIN site.

This has been my best RAIN to date. I finished around 9:25 total time, 7:50 ride time. I showed up just as the ride started. It took a while to move up from the back of the pack, but I was feeling good. I made a promise to myself that I would just enjoy the ride this year no matter what happens. No stress, no headaches, just a fun, fast-ish ride. Last year I had four flats, and a bad mood so I came really prepared with new tubes, a road morph, and good attitude.

The weather turned out great....mid to high 60's and overcast for most of the ride. I joined a paceline or two until the first stop, but mostly it was just a big jumbled mass of riders heading the same direction. After the first stop I was pretty much on my own. I would catch a group here and there, take a pull, then break off at my own pace. My wife and kids were a great help this year. We had already planned exactly where to meet so finding them was easy. They had my new bottles and snacks ready by the time I showed up so my stops were pretty quick. My bathroom stops sucked up any time they saved so it was a wash.

As usual, the lunch stop took longer than I would have liked, and the solo trip around Indy was long, lonely, and windy. Once I was back on 40 I kept on trekking, passing Casey's (i think) and hit some of those rollers on the way to the last stop. HHH is a great training ride for RAIN IMO. I stayed in the 50 ring throughout the whole ride this year...yay me. On the last 30 mile leg I kept leap frogging another group. They were going slower than I was so I just rode by, only to have them catch, and get in front of me. Then they slowed down again, so I would pass them. Over and over again for about 20 miles. I tried to just settle in their line but I got stuck behind a guy that just couldn't, or wouldn't hold his line. This dude was all over the place, slowing, speeding up, and just plain frustrating to stay behind. I pulled out one last time and just upped my pace a little right up to the finish where my wife and kids were cheering for everyone. Fun time. Not sure if I want to do this again next year...I'll have to see the jersey design for 2010 first :D

Speaking of jersey's...this year's was made by Primal...very comfy. I would say a little more form fitting than the voler, but I think I got fatter too.

Apparently he hit his head harder than he realized.

Or else he was the mysterious third Olsen twin.

Pretty much my thoughts as well.

Did anybody else get stopped at the train crossing in Terre Haute? It was an intermodal and I thought it would be a longer train than it actually was. The stop still cost us several minutes.

Yep, I was stuck with the train as well. In fact I had forgotten about that. :lol:

Here is a video of the start-see if you can spot yourself. PAlt and I roll through at 36 secs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPJsQUCP3LY

Cool, that's me at about 28-32 seconds in the Hammer kit.

My legs and torso are also featured prominently from 1:22 - 1:32 in this one that was suggested off the link you gave:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuEeZdmEzWQ&feature=related

Cool, that's me at about 28-32 seconds in the Hammer kit.

My legs and torso are also featured prominently from 1:22 - 1:32 in this one that was suggested off the link you gave:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuEeZdmEzWQ&feature=related

My bike and shoulders down are shown at about 25 seconds in, and they show me rolling off the line. I would likely have been interviewed if I hadn't gone to the restroom.

Gee, my loss. Really. :rolleyes:

Anyone know about how long it takes them to post the results? I put on rides and realize they are most likely relying on volunteers-folks have their own lives, etc. Just curious how long it usually takes.

Anyone know about how long it takes them to post the results? I put on rides and realize they are most likely relying on volunteers-folks have their own lives, etc. Just curious how long it usually takes.

Don't quote me, but I think they normally have them up in 3-4 weeks.

I have enjoyed reading all the reports. Sounds like you had a good day overall.

RacerOne, Crystal Smith-Louden here. I grew up in Brazil and I think you might have met my mom a few weeks back out riding. I left there right after high school (couldn't get out of Brazil fast enough..ha) You learned a valuable lesson about having a goal and trying to accomplish it while wrangling around with others. However, your posts made me laugh soooo hard so you have a great sense of humor.

You'll get another day and even be stronger by then.

Great job, everyone!

Don't quote me, but I think they normally have them up in 3-4 weeks.

I was thinking 10 days to 2 weeks.....but don't quote me either.ha

I have enjoyed reading all the reports. Sounds like you had a good day overall.

RacerOne, Crystal Smith-Louden here. I grew up in Brazil and I think you might have met my mom a few weeks back out riding. I left there right after high school (couldn't get out of Brazil fast enough..ha) You learned a valuable lesson about having a goal and trying to accomplish it while wrangling around with others. However, your posts made me laugh soooo hard so you have a great sense of humor.

You'll get another day and even be stronger by then.

Great job, everyone!

If she lives on Pinkley St yep that was me. Small world. I saw her again about two weeks ago on the Heritage trail, she said she was doing a century up near Chicago, I hope it went well for her. As far as getting out of Brazil goes, I left, then came back - I must have a sense of humor! :twitchy: She had mentioned both you and your brother ride, a true cycling family :thumb:

Preliminary Results are posted:

http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/finisher09_prelim.pdf

Looks like I was #602 across the line, more in front of me than behind me.. dang.

I have enjoyed reading all the reports. Sounds like you had a good day overall.

RacerOne, Crystal Smith-Louden here. I grew up in Brazil and I think you might have met my mom a few weeks back out riding. I left there right after high school (couldn't get out of Brazil fast enough..ha) You learned a valuable lesson about having a goal and trying to accomplish it while wrangling around with others. However, your posts made me laugh soooo hard so you have a great sense of humor.

You'll get another day and even be stronger by then.

Great job, everyone!

So wait a minute. If you grew up in Brazil, how come you speak Spanish and English, not Portugese and English? And you don't look portugese or Spanish.:notamused:

So wait a minute. If you grew up in Brazil, how come you speak Spanish and English, not Portugese and English? And you don't look portugese or Spanish.:notamused:

I certainly read Portuguese and probably can speak it if I need to...no thanks to Brazil INDIANA. I worked that Brazil thing one summer at camp...had the whole place convinced I was from South American...:lol:

RESULTS ARE UP BTW

389th. Not bad for my first century of the year ;) Teenage daughter wants to give up navigating to ride it with me next year. Guess we should start her training now.

I certainly read Portuguese and probably can speak it if I need to...no thanks to Brazil INDIANA. I worked that Brazil thing one summer at camp...had the whole place convinced I was from South American...:lol:

RESULTS ARE UP BTW

You gave up too easy.. you should have played the game here as well. Us Brazilians gotta have fun with our hometown somehow!

Rode with 3 first timers. Did it for the first time last year after buying a bicycle at the tail end up April and
doing the ride 2.5 months later. I logged about 2700 miles before last year's ride.
I logged 120 miles before this years ride. Lol.... I moved to Charleston, SC from Indianapolis and just haven't felt that great about riding around here. Not very safe downtown. I need to just get in the car and get out to some country roads.

At any rate, the ride was pretty awful for the most part. I mainly attribute that to my lack of training. By mile 35 I was feeling like someone had beaten me with a baseball bat. That continued all the way through... meh, I deserved it.

My friends had a good time. They were kind enough to wait for me at rest stops along the way. We'd get started together and then I'd wave them on as I couldn't keep up anymore. They are both fairly athletic. One guy plays an insane amount of soccer and the other is a long distance runner.

It was definitely good to be back riding in Indiana again, but I think that I will be training for next year's ride. As we are getting older and going our separate ways, we're going to try and make this an event we all attend each year.

Take care,
Alex