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Tour de Cure 2013 ride report.

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Tour de Cure 2013 ride report.

Old 04-21-13, 11:35 AM
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Tour de Cure 2013 ride report.

First, I only took a few pictures at the end. I've never tried taking any while riding(nervous about the wife's point and shoot) and wasn't riding with anyone(didn't know anyone). Some photos are from other sources.

Woke up before the alarm (set for 0330--don't want to disturb the wife). It's still raining outside, but the forecast for my area and the ride area is for the rain to stop around 0600 to 0700. Check-in starts at 0630 and the ride start is at 0730. I putter around on the computer and making some final preparations--re-checking gear and supplies to be sure I have what I'll need. I did a lot of prepping the day before. Don't want to get dressed until closer to the time I want to pack the car and leave. I'm in the robe and slippers until then. Eat a PBJ&B sandwich around 05:30.

I get suited up and pack the car. Not going to put the rack on and have a drowned bike to start--so I back the car to the garage door, lower the back seats, remove the front wheel, and put the bike in the trunk(front is behind the driver's seat). I'm sure glad I got that Sugoi Hydrolite Jacket(wind jacket and water resistant). Check and re-check the contents in the car and check the house to ensure I don't leave anything critical behind. I start off and 2 miles down the road I literally shout, "Crap! My route wrist strap!" Well, turn the car around and go home and get it--have a devil of a time getting the darn thing on.

I always like to be early and, as it was, I started off for the site later than I wanted and now it's even later, but, not wanting to be further slowed down by an Officer or get in an accident, I drive the speed limit(well, around 4 miles over where safe to do so with wet roads). It's still raining a bit.

When I finally arrive(≈0645), there is a slight mist which stops really soon after with temps around 55ºF, windy, moist air and wet roads. I park, pull out the bike and ride to find the Team Red tent but no one is there. At the breakfast location, I just have small amount of eggs, half a biscuit, half a banana, an orange wedge and a small apple juice.

It's nearly time and we line up at the start to hear a small group from a local church do a wonderful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner and have a moment of silence for the victims in Boston.

And the 100 milers are off.

Top image is of the start and the one below is during the Star Spangled Banner(not my image, obviously).





I get behind a group that is riding a bit slow for me for about 30 minutes when I decide I've got to get ahead of this group. I don't push hard, but finally manage to get beyond the group. I want to take it easy but not that easy. I ride at a relaxed pace and only stop at the first rest stop to re-fold the cue sheet to show turns to the next rest stop. I stop at every rest stop to fuel, replenish water, and use the bathroom(except for the first and last stops). There is nothing except some homes which are few and far between rest stops so I was not going to chance needing anything. I ate a few of the things I brought, but the rest stops where well stocked and were only about 10~15 miles apart(mostly 15)--ate mostly peanuts, bananas, orange wedges. At two of the stops I ate ½ a PBJ&B sandwich(37 miles and 61 miles).

I'm sure glad I'm wearing that wind jacket as it was chilly with the wind and overcast sky. The sun finally came out around noon and packed away the jacket at rest stop 5. Still a bit cool, but the sun was out and it was getting a bit warm with the jacket. Of course the sky became overcast and the wind was keeping up so I was cool, but not chilled--kept going fighting the wind and inclines a lot of the way(long and most not big, but more than I'm used to).

At around 70 or so miles, my butt was getting to me probably because I was in the seat most of the time. On the route I do at home, I have a lot more stops, stop signs, traffic, and do more standing for getting re-started and such and don't have issues. But this ride there were a lot longer segments where I was riding before doing any stopping and I'm not as used to that. I would stand every once in a while to relieve my butt. I am wearing a really good pair of shorts and I've done long rides, (80, 86, and a 108 miler), with them so I was used to how I'd feel--not the shorts, just length of time in the saddle.

At every rest stop, and intermittently along the route, there were people cheering us along. Two ladies, and I wish I took a photo of them, were at nearly every stop holding a sign up and cheering, "Go Red Rider!," and "Super Job!" They'd pass us after a while in their car and yell out the window, "Go Red Rider, Woohoo!"

I finally make the last turn on the final road to the finish. As I approach I hear cheering and noise makers. When I turn to go to the finish, they announce my name over the loud speakers and cheer.

Moving time on my computer was 6hrs 30 minutes(which includes time walking the bike at rest stops and pulling up to a house). Had I not been stuck behind that slow group in the first 30 or so minutes, and on many stretches(with false flats and inclines) not been fighting 12~15 mph winds with gusts of 20 to 30 mph headwinds, I think I would've had shaved 15~20 minutes off the traveling time--maybe a bit more. Total time, with stops and all was about 7hrs 30 minutes which would've been less had I not had to wait in long(15 deep) line at my first bathroom stop and not pulled to a house because I thought I missed a turn.

I want to conclude that the roads where really well marked(especially since there was wind and thunderstorms late the night before and into the wee hours of the AM)--many turns were manned. I could've done this without a cue sheet and maps(but wouldn't want to do so)--the cue sheet though helped me gauge how much time I had between rest areas. The volunteers, "cheerleaders," and police were super. The police manned several major intersections and did a great job--thank you.


Cyclocomputer showing 103.4 miles of travel(official distance is 102.9 miles). Extra distance over the official due to walking bike at rest stop, going to that on house, and riding to where I took the photo.





Self portrait after doing the ride.






Shot of bike with ride number.






Finisher medal and ADA dog tag hanging from bike.






Close up of finisher medal and dog tag.






Post ride meal at event. Chicken, pasta, and salad--quite tasty






Some of the event images--not mine.





Crappy cell phone pic of pie

Called the wife when I finished and told her I wasn't up to cooking dinner. I wasn't up to anything sit-down(ordering), so we went to Golden Corral.
Of course I had Pie...and no, I did not eat all this. I ate the whole no-sugar added blueberry pie, and about 1/4 to 1/3 each of the sugar free pistachio cake, the chocolate pie, and the cookies. The remainder, the wife ate some of(each)--we often do this, share dessert since she knows I will only indulge a little.

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Old 04-21-13, 02:08 PM
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You da man! Where did ride start and what was the general route? Would it be a fairly convenient route for a non-supported century?
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Old 04-21-13, 02:23 PM
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Mikey, this made my day, probably will be my whole week for that fact. Great report, I felt like I was riding with you. Nice pics, yours and the others, looks like a good turn out for the ride. Congratulations on the ride and that is a fantastic accomplishment, well done.

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Old 04-21-13, 02:27 PM
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Thanks, both of you.

Originally Posted by curdog
You da man! Where did ride start and what was the general route? Would it be a fairly convenient route for a non-supported century?
Here's the page with links to maps: https://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/Tou...onal&sid=11166

One big issue I would think you would have in an unsupported ride would be the lack of bathrooms along the route. There is literally nothing but farm houses and homes, and sparse at that, through most of the route. You might be able to use the woods as relief but some of the woods is by the dismal swamp. Also, if you had a malfunction that you couldn't fix, it might be difficult to get assistance. I have no idea of the cell phone coverage, but I think cell phones would be useable throughout--not like you're in the mountains.
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Old 04-21-13, 02:29 PM
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Congratulations:

You look 103 miles Older.

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Old 04-21-13, 07:21 PM
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I think I'm going to do the New England two-day ride from Mass to Maine next year. Can't this year because we'll be in Europe this summer, when they hold it. Last year, I did the local MS ride, and decided that asking my friends and colleagues to support me for two fund-raisers was asking too much.

I'm a controlled Type-2, and I think that after 103+ I could have a guilt free piece of pie. Maybe several pieces.
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Old 04-21-13, 07:48 PM
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Bikey Mikey, great report and congrats on doing the hundred. I have my first tour de cure in San Antonio on May11th and looking forward to it. I'll be doing 100 miles also.

Congrats again!!
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Old 04-21-13, 08:17 PM
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It's a good thing you took the pic of the pie or we would have made you do it over!
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Old 04-21-13, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikey Mikey


Crappy cell phone pic of pie

Called the wife when I finished and told her I wasn't up to cooking dinner. I wasn't up to anything sit-down(ordering), so we went to Golden Corral.
Of course I had Pie...and no, I did not eat all this. I ate the whole no-sugar added blueberry pie, and about 1/4 to 1/3 each of the sugar free pistachio cake, the chocolate pie, and the cookies. The remainder, the wife ate some of(each)--we often do this, share dessert since she knows I will only indulge a little.

So the wife has a small appetite then

Well done on the ride.
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Old 04-22-13, 03:59 AM
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Nice report. I was waiting for the pie photo and you didn't disappoint.
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Old 04-22-13, 07:59 AM
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Nice report, thanks for sharing!
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Old 04-22-13, 08:05 AM
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Way to go. By the time I read your list of extenuating circumstances , I was expecting to see a slow time, but that was very respectable. Good report and a good cause.
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Old 04-22-13, 01:51 PM
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anyone know if the medal with the chain around it is something others could purchase in bulk for other events? Wonder if it's mass produced or just made for these events?? I'd interested in something like that for events I'm involved with.
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Old 04-22-13, 02:03 PM
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Bikey Mikey,

Thanks for the nice ride report--I really enjoyed it.
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Old 04-22-13, 05:23 PM
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Thanks all.


Originally Posted by jppe
anyone know if the medal with the chain around it is something others could purchase in bulk for other events? Wonder if it's mass produced or just made for these events?? I'd interested in something like that for events I'm involved with.
You could contact your local ADA office and see if they can tell you. I know the Jerseys(for Red Riders(diabetics) are supplied by Primal Wear.
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Old 04-22-13, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Banded Krait
Bikey Mikey,

Thanks for the nice ride report--I really enjoyed it.

And from me too. Outstanding.

Richard (40 years T1 now)
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Old 04-22-13, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by wobblyoldgeezer
And from me too. Outstanding.

Richard (40 years T1 now)
Thank you. BTW, Type II diagnosed since I was 36, 19 years--was probably diabetic/pre-diabetic a while before that.
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Old 04-23-13, 05:19 AM
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Congratulations!

On the report not the ride.

I knew you could do the ride
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Old 04-23-13, 07:59 AM
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Great ride report, awesome accomplishment, and outstanding pie!
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Old 04-23-13, 10:24 AM
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Very Nice - congrats!
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Old 04-23-13, 05:34 PM
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Interesting discovery this AM. I didn't ride Sunday and my plans to ride Monday fell through. So this AM I was going to ride and discovered my rear tire was really low. I inflated it and rode 11.5 miles(started raining and bailed as I was close to the house). When I got home this afternoon after a Sub job, I checked the tire and it was at 60 psi. Pulled out the tube, found the tiny pin hole, ran my finger inside the area corresponding to the hole and found a sliver of metal(likely a piece of steel belt). I'm sure I picked it up during the tour as the tire was fine the morning of the TDC...not sure where/when during the ride I picked it up, but that hole may account to the toughness of some of the ride--not just the inclines and wind.
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Old 04-23-13, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikey Mikey
Interesting discovery this AM. I didn't ride Sunday and my plans to ride Monday fell through. So this AM I was going to ride and discovered my rear tire was really low. I inflated it and rode 11.5 miles(started raining and bailed as I was close to the house). When I got home this afternoon after a Sub job, I checked the tire and it was at 60 psi. Pulled out the tube, found the tiny pin hole, ran my finger inside the area corresponding to the hole and found a sliver of metal(likely a piece of steel belt). I'm sure I picked it up during the tour as the tire was fine the morning of the TDC...not sure where/when during the ride I picked it up, but that hole may account to the toughness of some of the ride--not just the inclines and wind.
Yeah, I'm guessing it was a bit of steel belt too. I've had three or four of those over that last five years. However, the holes are easy to patch, when you find them.
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Old 04-24-13, 03:02 AM
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Of course, I could've picked it up 50 feet from the finish too, LOL.
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