iab

Road rash is better. Scabbing over nicely.

Shoulder and ribs are the same.

I was supposed to go camping but now the better half (quite literally) will go. I will pay dearly for that. She isn't much of a camper.

I'll need to run out and get some Cointreau when she's gone. When she finds out it will probably make things worse.

RobbieTunes

Catch a Cub game. Always worked for me.

iab

Huh?

I don't need more disappointment.

Chrome Molly

I don't think you're quite to the "there's always next year" phase yet, at least we're hoping not...

bibliobob

Smart. I think that the keys to a good margarita are good triple sec and lime juice (rather than sour mix or anything pre-made). Better to spend your money on the Cointreau, and economize back a bit on the tequila, than to buy high end tequila and cheap accompaniments.

Like vodka, it's better to save the high end stuff for drinking it neat.

elguicho 

This looks like an interesting event. I'm thinking about joining you guys at least for the 100k. I had a question for they guys in Chicagoland, where do you train for hill climbing around here. I know I can do 100km any day now but living in the city I don't really find a lot of hill around here.

RobbieTunes

Some solace for those in flat areas, somewhat like here in Eastern NC, though there are hills where I am....

If you are always on the big ring, moving to the small ring and climbing with big rear cogs is a nice change, and the hills are then not quite as daunting as you think. I've had plenty of workout rides where I never get higher than the 15t cog, so when I finally do get at a place where I use a small ring and big cogs, it's not horrible. Sure, I get outclimbed by scampering, fit fellows, but I get to the top, no cramping, and I'm fine. Climbing fast is one thing. Climbing, using the available gearing, is another.

In flatland areas, remember, you are always pedaling and here, at least, there is always wind, so you have "steady legs," which will help you climb, too. We have folks from mountain states and hilly areas come to some of the down East centuries, and they find the constant pedaling as difficult as I find climbing.

I'm working on a meal/cookout for the night before, at a residence, church or fire station, for C&V folks. I have had two, maybe 3 locations offered.
Some kind of pasta and Cornish pasty to accommodate us, and so far, I've given a head count of "around 15-20," but the more, the merrier.
Some local church women may do the cooking, $10/head, and if you're interested, hit me on PM's.

If we skip High St and take the parallel Doty St up through Mineral Point, there is a bank about 2/3 of the way up that may offer us a rolling photo op.
The distance will be the same, the climb the same, but a bank employee may be able to take photos and then email them to us, or put them on CD.

I'm working on a SAG vehicle just for us. I figured I'd bring my tools, and if we have unique tire/wheel/chain/etc needs, I can put them in that vehicle and we can simply call it via cell phone, not often more than 15-20 minutes away from just about anywhere on the course.

If I'm going to drive 1200 miles to do this, I'd at least try to make it fun and be a good host. You never know, we could "start something..."

iab

In my neck of the woods, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12845

Don't believe the elevations profiles, these hills are short, but extremely steep. Take the train out to Crystal Lake and I'll be happy to take you around.

conspiratemus1

Yikes! Poor you!! The good news is you are still bounce-back-able. Heal quick, now.

elguicho 

Thanks, I'll PM you about it.

elguicho 

Wow Robbie, that's a lot of work you are putting into this. I don't think I'll want to miss it.

gomango

Yes, Robbie and iab.

Your efforts are noticed and appreciated.

Has all the makings of an annual for us.

Lots of folks in the Midwest and I know Robbie doesn't mind a short car trip.

teetime

I'm more curious about this ride. It would really be a stretch for me, but it's intriguing. Has anyone here actually done the ride? If so, what distance/time and age at the time?

iab, sorry about crashing, been there. I looked at your Crystal Lake loop, and the max grade was 3%, where the grades on the ride are more like 12%. How long does a loop take you? I know you said no computer, but you must have a close idea of the time on the CL loop. Have you ridden this before, or have friends? How old are you? You must have good legs to ride an older bike on such a long, hilly ride. I'm figuring you will probably running a low gear of somewhere in the 30 gear inch range, or mid 2 gain ratio for this ride, or do you climb like Pantani?

If I do this ride, I don't want to be guy everyone waits for.

gomango

You obviously have nothing to worry about, as I will be there.

That puts you in at least the second slot, so no worries.

I haven't done this ride, but we are doing several weekends on gravel down in southern Minnesota before this sorty.

In addition, I have ridden recently in western Wisconsin and there are no easy routes out there with long climbs on the way to New Richmond.

I did fine. Just lowered my speed and spun away.

In my favor is the fact I am riding now most days of the week, so base miles won't be an issue.

Really though, at my age, there is no dishonor in walking up a hill.

I'd sign up and join in if you have the time!

iab

As I wrote, disregard the elevation profile. I find that they are always inconsistent. My friend's Garmin says South Valley Road on the Bull Valley loop is 20%. Ride with GPS says 3%. I have ridden it many, many times. It is much closer to to 20% than 3%. When you approach it, it looks like a wall. If you are going down it and you are doing 15mph at the top, you can easily hit 50mph at the bottom without any effort.

It terms of steepness, I'd say the Bull Valley hills are equal to or greater than any hill in SW Wisconsin. The difference being length. The hills around here are 1/2 to 1/4 the distance of those in SW Wisconsin..

I am 46. I try to ride 12-15 hours per week. I have done the 100k HHH and the while I have not ridden the DD, my mother has a house 15 miles form the start, i am quite familiar with the roads. They are more difficult than any ride around here. If you really wanted to simulate the DD around here, I would recommend doing repeats on the Bull Valley, South Valley and Cherry Valley hills. Personally, that is way too boring for me. I do routes that can incorporate those hills at the start and the end of a route so technically, I have never ridden the route I posted. Again, way too boring for me.

If you want a comparison, Pantani would out sprint me and Cavendish will out climb me.

For training, currently the bike where I put the most miles has a 50/34 compact. The large cog is a 27. That is about 49 gear inches with the 50 front. For the DD, my granny will be a 42/24, or about 46 gear inches. I would have never contemplated that 2 years ago. I'd limp through on a 34/27. Roberts Road, on the 200k route at about 100 miles is a real ass kicker. It won't surprise me if that hill stops me. I don't want to walk, I'll stop, rest and go for it again. But who knows what will happen that day. Pinnacle Road is is also a tough one. The DD does not go up Barlow Road. I hate Barlow Road. The DD also doesn't do Blue Mounds Road. That is the most difficult in the area and you do it twice in the HHH. As a matter of fact, they do a time trial called the Alp d'bluez.

As for waiting for you, that is irrelevant. The first rule of climbing is you ride your pace. Whatever you do , do not slow down or speed up to another rider's pace. On a course like the DD you expect to be split up. Downhills are a good place to catch up or at rest stations. They happen about every 16 miles on the route.

RobbieTunes

Exactly. I've been on both ends of that equation, and don't expect to be leading any hill charges. I'll ride and have fun, hope the red-winged blackbirds are not so aggressive, and then lay up to meet and greet.

teetime

I do better going up, too scared going down. I'm on my brakes above 40mph. I get dizzy, depending on the overlooks. I never catch up on a downhill. I would have to drive 5 hours to get to a hill above 6%, but I do have the wind in my face in every direction I ride

What was your time in the HHH? So I can compare it with guys I know who have done it. 12 hours a week is a fair bit of riding. I can't ride everyday these days, and when I did, 18 was on the edge of divorce territory. I have 22 hours in the last 6 weeks, and only a mile of climbing in that period. At current fitness levels, it would take me 6 days to do the 200km. I know I could do the 100km, but it would hurt, badly.

Still mulling it over, need to talk to my WI peeps.

Thanks.

iab

I think total time was a little over 4 hours. It was quite some time ago so my recollection is hazy. I didn't stay at the rest stops as the food at the HHH is horrible. Not worth hanging around. Grab some water and get out. It was pretty hot that year. I'm doing more hours per week this year (except for this last month) than I did when I rode the HHH.

Try to get your hours up to 8 a week. Do 5-minute intervals to "simulate" hills. You should be fine.

iab

friggin' birds

RobbieTunes

Have your people talk to my people.

teetime

Mine are on the other side of the state. One friend, who is younger and fitter than me did the 100k in just under 6 hours in 2011, finished in the mid 200's, place wise. He kicks my butt when we ride.

6+ hours on the saddle are one too many for me.

RobbieTunes

16mph on that route is getting right along. Then again, I don't want to be done at noonish. I'm not driving 1200 miles to race anyone.

teetime

Robbie, I think your math may be metrically challenged. That would be 16km/h, or about 10mph. Point being, this guy does a lot of riding/climbing, and if it took him nearly 6 hours, it would take me 7, and I don't care to be on a bike that long. I have done other 100k events, but with less climbing, and finished them in around 3.5 hours. That's about as long as I care to be on a bike. My longest ride this year was just short of 100k, solo, with about 2000' climbing, some grades just over 10% . That took me about 3h50m.

The ride sounds very cool, but beyond what I consider fun. Anything over 4hrs, and my enjoyment level plummets considerably.

RobbieTunes

Yes, it's USMC math, designed to fool everyone else. I was thinking 100m, not 100k.

Here's my take on "k's:"

50k is a good workout, and after a short rest, I can cut the grass or go to the mall with my wife, both things being equally distasteful but the ride would deaden me to further pain.

100K is about the same for me as for you, depending on the terrain. Around here, they start at 8 and often provide lunch, which is nice timing, because I can have a beer after noon.

150k puts me at what my body thinks is lunchtime, with 31 miles to go. I've done them solo, and for me, getting to 80 miles is the key, then I can ride the last 13 miles in 3-5-mile increments, if I have to. Because there really is no "lunch break," I find them a bit more difficult, but still have time to take a shower and take my wife to dinner, which I have to do if I ride most of the useful day.

200K, for me, is a "before lunch" and "after lunch" situation. I know, for some, it's "only" 124 miles, but my body, at this point, will not run that far, with climbing, without a decent break. As this ride starts at 6:10 am, I'd ride the 100K, which brings us back to Lands End. I would walk around, probably change shorts and jersey, re-apply the Body Glide, and then try to be on the road by 11:00. This gives me about 5-6 hours, if needed, to enjoy the scenery around Governor Dodge Park, then get home, get a shower, and be at Tony's Tap for dinner with iab before Tony tells him too many embarassing things about me.

Beyond 200k, well, next year, when I can actually have some more riding under my belt. Last summer would have been fine, but not this summer.

So, for this ride, I'm committing to the 100k, and then 90% sure I'll do the next 50k, keeping tabs on the Chicago instigator and other C&V folks. If it's early enough in the day when I get that 50K done, I'll either run the next 7 miles and call it a full century or run the last 31 to get my 200k stamp and then start organizing whatever I can for my C&V colleagues.

gomango

Robbie and all.

I really don't care whether I do 50, 100, or 150.

It will be a great chance to see and meet everyone.

If more people attend because we commit to a 100, then that's the way I'll play it as well.

BTW I think I have a couple of friends from St. Paul to drive out and participate with me.

I just have a little logistical battle to conquer due to soccer that weekend, but I'll be there one way or another.