Anyone up for a whole lot of pain in SW Wisconsin in August?
08-12-13, 07:41 AM
#901
Full Member
My first DD and last with these gears...wish I had a lower granny... 2 of the hills almost had to dismount, but I pushed through.
52-42 front with a 6-speed 13-25 rear end.
I dropped my chain only once!
52-42 front with a 6-speed 13-25 rear end.
I dropped my chain only once!
Can everyone who DID the WDD list their gear sets and what they would do differently? It is better to learn from others than to try and FAIL by one's self! 
Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL!
'
Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL! '
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A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
08-12-13, 08:45 AM
#902
Senior Member
Can everyone who DID the WDD list their gear sets and what they would do differently? It is better to learn from others than to try and FAIL by one's self! Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL!
'
Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL! '
I did something else that I think worked out. Normally I would just use a nice light tubular wheelset - I have an Ambrosio Nemesis set I was originally planning to use. But in thinking about the mathematics of light weight vs aero benefit I decided to use a set of Mavic Cosmic clinchers which have Michelin pro4 tires. You spend a good deal of a ride like this on descents and reasonably long flat sections and the combination of an aero rim and very nice tires made me faster than anyone around me on the rolling stuff. And for the first 4 hours I was just creeping up the hilly stuff as easy as I could and still keep a cadence. Many people, especially early, go harder than necessary uphill then back way off over the top and literally coast until the next uphill. I sort of do the opposite and very often I would catch and pass whatever group went by me on the way up. My gearing is 50x39, 12x27.
08-12-13, 09:02 AM
#903
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I have a feeling I would have to reGear most any C&V I have (except for my modern Felt which has a triple) to take on the DD. 42x28 might not be low enough to grind some of those hills. Pacing ones self IS important, and that time in the saddle is a big issue too.
08-12-13, 09:07 AM
#904
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It was very nice seeing everyone on Saturday. I didn't ride but joined the riders with my family at the finish line and enjoyed a couple of beers there and dinner at the brewpub. I have to do the event next year for sure and hopefully some other rides around Chicago with some of the locals I met that day. Great group of people.
Last year I rode a 1960 paramount with a 52/44 front and 12/24 back, very painful but I didn't walk any hills. I had a bike ready for the ride this year but the rider was not in riding shape.
Last year I rode a 1960 paramount with a 52/44 front and 12/24 back, very painful but I didn't walk any hills. I had a bike ready for the ride this year but the rider was not in riding shape.
08-12-13, 09:55 AM
#905
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Remember the Pro Photographers taking pictures on the route? He is beginning to post the photo's. Check back for more as the day & week progresses.
See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/al_lada...7635018390047/
See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/al_lada...7635018390047/
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
08-12-13, 10:24 AM
#907
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I think I was the only one on the ride with no derailleurs. I was running a Rolhoff 14-speed IGH. I had several people ask me out on course 'is that a fixie?' The gears on the bike proved to be adequate, but boy I sure wasn't. I prefer to spin but that is pretty hard when you are only going 3mph
I had been training pretty hard (for me) the previous two weeks, with my last ride on Thursday. It was a 5 1/2 hour drive from St. Paul but I got there with an hour to kill on Friday so I went for a ride. A couple suggested that we all go up to Gov Dodge State Park. That was fine- until we actually (and for my own part, innocently) entered the park and went on a massive descent, with an attendant climb at the other end (I've taken to calling such hills 'headwalls', as on some places on the routes they look completely vertical when you first see them after cresting a hill). Anyway I was more tired than I wanted upon getting back. Got my packet and headed over to the Walker House, met some C&Vers, went back to my room and did my best to get some sleep. BTW, in the book 'Haunted Midwest' there is a whole chapter devoted to the Walker House....
Being that this was my first race *ever*, I really had no idea (other than comments on this thread) of what to expect. I kept up fine for the first half of the first leg, but even then it was obvious that I was way out of my league. Next year more training!! I tried really hard to take it as easy as I could... my main concern was with the 45+mph descents, that fatigue might be the main concern from a judgement point of view (staying upright). It did not occur to me that I could just slow down a little.
I was really starting to feel the Brooks saddle after a few hours. It became the limiting factor as to how long I could stay on the bike.
So there was some pain, but there was a lot of fun. No matter how fatigued and hurting I was it was easy to have a smile on my face. Everyone seemed in such good spirits- the volunteers, the police, other riders and people along the way, just out to cheer us on.
I had been training pretty hard (for me) the previous two weeks, with my last ride on Thursday. It was a 5 1/2 hour drive from St. Paul but I got there with an hour to kill on Friday so I went for a ride. A couple suggested that we all go up to Gov Dodge State Park. That was fine- until we actually (and for my own part, innocently) entered the park and went on a massive descent, with an attendant climb at the other end (I've taken to calling such hills 'headwalls', as on some places on the routes they look completely vertical when you first see them after cresting a hill). Anyway I was more tired than I wanted upon getting back. Got my packet and headed over to the Walker House, met some C&Vers, went back to my room and did my best to get some sleep. BTW, in the book 'Haunted Midwest' there is a whole chapter devoted to the Walker House....
Being that this was my first race *ever*, I really had no idea (other than comments on this thread) of what to expect. I kept up fine for the first half of the first leg, but even then it was obvious that I was way out of my league. Next year more training!! I tried really hard to take it as easy as I could... my main concern was with the 45+mph descents, that fatigue might be the main concern from a judgement point of view (staying upright). It did not occur to me that I could just slow down a little.
I was really starting to feel the Brooks saddle after a few hours. It became the limiting factor as to how long I could stay on the bike.
So there was some pain, but there was a lot of fun. No matter how fatigued and hurting I was it was easy to have a smile on my face. Everyone seemed in such good spirits- the volunteers, the police, other riders and people along the way, just out to cheer us on.
08-12-13, 11:54 AM
#908
Full Member
Here Here...I second that. 
I want to thank Robbie for providing all the arrangements, including my motel room. You were really missed this year. During the event, a cyclist on a Centurion passed me several times and wanted it to our Bikeforum Master Planner.
It was extra fun to have all the Bikeforums people around for dinner and drinks. This is the best combination of people and cycling found anywhere.
It was extra fun to have all the Bikeforums people around for dinner and drinks. This is the best combination of people and cycling found anywhere.
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A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
08-12-13, 11:59 AM
#909
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Can everyone who DID the WDD list their gear sets and what they would do differently? It is better to learn from others than to try and FAIL by one's self! Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL!
'
Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL! '
If I really need to, I can "recover" a little bit even on most of the steeper sections.
08-12-13, 12:58 PM
#910
Have bike, will travel
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__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 08-12-13 at 01:03 PM.
08-12-13, 01:11 PM
#911
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That's right up my alley and looks prettier than my Ultegra 6700 to boot. I'm not sure that it would shift under pressure as well though. Functionally Shimano has that pretty much knocked in their latest chainrings.
08-12-13, 01:45 PM
#912
Senior Member
Well there was a tall skinny guy riding a dark blue vintage steel fixed gear in our 7:15 start. He walked up some of the steeper grades on the 50K and it would kill me to see him have to choke the fun out of the downhills. Last time we saw him was at the MP rest stop so I don't know how far he made it.
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Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
08-12-13, 02:04 PM
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Well there was a tall skinny guy riding a dark blue vintage steel fixed gear in our 7:15 start. He walked up some of the steeper grades on the 50K and it would kill me to see him have to choke the fun out of the downhills. Last time we saw him was at the MP rest stop so I don't know how far he made it.
08-12-13, 02:17 PM
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I started at 0745, and saw him a couple times. He was very impressive on his climbs, but I rocketed past him on the steepest, longest descent (with the bridge at the bottom). I saw him later at the last rest stop before looping back to Dodgeville, and he said that he was going to call it a day at 50k.
08-12-13, 02:19 PM
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08-12-13, 03:24 PM
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08-12-13, 03:29 PM
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Oy. 54 minutes well spent at the rest stops!
#5 on the 100k rides with my group. He just kills us up the hills.
#5 on the 100k rides with my group. He just kills us up the hills.
08-12-13, 04:28 PM
#918
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Top 300K rider, just over 10 hours.
A 70 year old guy completed in under 12 hours. I'm happy to just be over 16mph on the 200k, but I have a couple decades to train...
A 70 year old guy completed in under 12 hours. I'm happy to just be over 16mph on the 200k, but I have a couple decades to train...
08-12-13, 06:09 PM
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08-12-13, 06:20 PM
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Can everyone who DID the WDD list their gear sets and what they would do differently? It is better to learn from others than to try and FAIL by one's self! Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL!
'
Having rolled some of those Wisconsin hills in my youth, I DO remember some of them as being rather steep! My Schwinn Typhoon had to be walked up some...but my roadbike (wish I could remember the gears I had) crawled em ALL! '
Last edited by scotjonscot; 08-12-13 at 08:36 PM. Reason: grammar/spelling
08-12-13, 07:38 PM
#922
08-12-13, 07:54 PM
#923
Full Member
It appears that I finished in 184th place in the 200 group how slow can you go..lol. well I finished first in the 220k ride (at least getting lost made it so)...hahahaha
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A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
08-12-13, 08:05 PM
#924
Full Member
So how did you finish in the triple crown? You did fantastic...so cool to see the you and your steel ride hang with all the other more modern steeds. Great job!
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A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
A want is not a need, so I have more bikes than I need, but not nearly what I want...+1
08-12-13, 10:56 PM
#925
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Wow - congrats to Chrome Molly - that's an impressive feat. Tony and I were an hour slower than Bibliobob and Co. on the 100k. We gotta spend less time at the rest stops and work on our cadence and speed. But most importantly we had a great time. Couldn't agree more with Barrettscv about the terrific combo of cycling and people. Someone else mentioned the terrific scenery as well. That valley along Weaver, Upper Wyoming and Dyerson was stunning. And I have to hand it to the race organizers and the people of Mineral Point and Dodgeville - super well organized and very nice. My only complaint was that some of the directional markers painted on the roads weren't as clear as at the Apple Cider Century. The DD markers were very faint in places. I wasn't paying attention to my cue sheet and added a mile or two and an extra hill to our itinerary at least once. Ooooops!