pdlamb

I can hardly believe nobody's posted for so long, so here's something to chew on...

How to start off the year?

I came down with a sinus infection while on travel the other week, so I've been quiescent/off the bike for the last two weeks. And I have a couple choices for a 200k to start the 2014 brevet season.

One choice is this Saturday, the day after Valentine's day, about three hours from home. Typical terrain (meaning there's some climbing). I don't mind driving a couple of hours to a start the morning of a ride, but three hours might indicate a motel for the night before, which means leaving home shortly after dinner (on Valentine's day!). Weather is predicted to be pretty decent!

Second choice is to wait another week, and that one's a flattish ride. Right at 2 hours (in the other direction) from home, but who knows what the weather will be like then?

So, dear readers, which would you choose, and why?

delcrossv

Depends on how much time you've spent on the trainer over the winter and how p.o.'d your SO will be with your blowing out on Valentine's day.

Chris Pringle

I suggest waiting another week, train more near home over the weekend w/ decent weather and hope for good weather the next. Enjoy the time with your honey on Valentine's rather than rushing through the dinner date. As much as I love biking, it can wait for certain special occasions.

unterhausen

we've had so much bad weather, I disinclined to ride my road bike around here. I have been going to the first 200k I can get to each month so my R12 stays alive. Starting on R36, so this has been a working strategy.

DaHaMac

If you are near or willing to travel to Middle Georgia, Audax Atlanta is running a 200k this weekend. Best climbs in Middle GA! Come'on down www.audaxatlanta.com.

Since this will be the anniversary of my first brevet, I'm hoping to do the route in 8 hours but will be happy with a sub-9 hour. This was my very first brevet last year - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2138754

DaHaMac

After re-reading OP, take SO to the hotel the night before for a romantic V-day before the Brevet day. Such strategy has saved me from SO's wrath as I decided to seek an R-12.

rodar y rodar

That strategy is now noted in my Escape Manual

StephenH

You should do them both. That is the Rando Way.

pdlamb

Trainer? I've got one of those for the wife, but I've been able to keep up commuting (until our first snow hit today). Longer rides have been more difficult, but two weeks off is hard for me to recover from in just one week, so I may cross my fingers and wait another week.

pdlamb

Good point. I was married for over 30 years before I started randonneuring, and I'd like to make it to 35.



OTOH, we've had decent weather about one weekend out of three this winter, so it's a bit of a forlorn hope for the following weekend.

pdlamb

Almost sounds plausible, but what does your SO do while you're riding? Asking her to sit and watch either the weather channel or the motel walls doesn't sound like a tactic I'd want to emulate.

delcrossv

Lucky you! Frozen solid for months up here in the Great White North.

rodar y rodar

Maybe SO works a control. If he or she is a people watcher or sociable type, it`s a nice way to spend at least a good chunk of the day.

DaHaMac

While I am riding my SO sleeps late, enjoys free breakfast at the hotel, goes shopping and/or sightseeing, and we get to do dinner together the night after the ride. Of course this is primarily for 200k's so far. I'm not sure she'd be as thrilled sitting around on some longer rides unless of course its in Paris in 2019 :-)

Dudelsack 

Isn't the entire state of Georgia closed down right now?

DaHaMac

That is the beauty of Georgia; today a high of 32F but Saturday a high near 60F. Although I admit to wishing it was going to be a little warmer at the brevet start as it is supposed to be about 34F for the ride start. The colder it is the slower I roll.

pdlamb

Most of the snow removal equipment in the south consists of a clock. Wait until noon, it'll melt.

For a big snowfall, say 4-5", you might have to use a calendar. Give it a day or two.