Psimet2001 

I will be posting a ride schedule for the season shortly, but I am planning on riding the Spring Forward ride this weekend. This ride is usually my forst organized ride of the year and I have done it the last 2 years in a row. They pushed it back 3-4 weeks this year to help ensure better weather. Looks like they're going to score.

Rounding up BFNIC and other BF riders (we're all BFNIC riders at heart).

WHERE: Union, IL Map Link
WHEN: April 29th - 7am
WHO: Open invitational organized ride (read: open to the public) - Hopefully more than a few BFNIC members
HOW FAR: Routes of 18, 31, and 62 (1/4, 1/2, full metric centuries)
HOW MUCH: $15 Registration


Flier: pdf Flier
Web Page: Link

The BFNIC ride last weekend went though UNION - the town this is starting in. I plan on riding, and I would prefer to do the full metric (62-miles). I will look ofr last year's cue sheet (if it didn't disolve in the freezing rain that we had) and post routes to see if the the shorter routes run with the longer one.

Anyone else in?

S_DOG34

I think JD and I are in for the half, but not 100%.

We will be taking a slightly more comfortable pace this time though. I was feeling those calf cramps for 3 days...

voldemort

I had this one marked down long ago. Unfortunately (now don't get too envious), but while the rest of you are out enjoying a baeutiful spring day, I'll probably be sitting inside watching a high school musical. Damn kids, why can't they just sit and veg out in front of a tv or computer? Maybe I can get out for at least half of it. I'll look into it.

midschool22

I'm in! Look for a dude in a KISS Destroyer jersey. See you there.

voldemort

Midschool22, good idea identifying by jersey. What starting time are people thinking of? Earlier is better for me, but that doesn't necessarily mean 7:00 either, unless that's best for the rest. I have to bale out by 12:00. I'm thinking my New Orleans/Mardi Gras jersey. What jerseys are others wearing so Midschool22 can connect? Tommie Skilling says sunny, windy, and warm, strong SW winds.

midschool22

I'm thinking I'll be around Union by 9-10 am. I plan on doing the 30 mile route.

Psimet2001 

Well turns out I am going in at 7 to hit all 62. I am meeting up with an in-law/co-worker/part owner of the company I work for. He just got into cycling (with a little push from me) and is mainly a tri-guy. He has never ridden this distance before, but he ripped out 50 last weekend at an 18mph average.

He is wicked lean and fierce. This is his first organized ride. I invite anyone who wants to ride with him and I to show up at 7:00. If I (and anyone else) can't keep up I've already told him I'd cut him loose. Those who know me know that I will be up for the next few hours still, and I will check this before leaving in the morning. PM me if you want more details about how to meet up. I'm probably going to ride in the following kit:

voldemort

Midschool22, how about 9:15-9:30 or so? 10:00 might be cutting it too close for me. I can't afford to get home late.

Psimet2001 

Well, I made it there by 7. My buddy and a friend of his were ready to go. We hit the road and about 1 mile in I knew this was going to be a hard day. We crossed 20mph and seemed to never look back. I have not pushed my body like that - for speed - in years.

I thought about falling back at the first stop, but kept on. At one point near the second time through the stop a fourth joined the line and after my pull I disappeard out the back. It's been since my long passed racing type days since I was spit out of a group and just sat there 30-40 feet off the back just not making any headway at all. I was out of the saddle cranking and everything - nothing.

The slowed up after a climb and I regrouped.

I was done so early with this thing that I was amazed. The wind at the end slowed our pace up a tad, but I noticed our average actually crept up over the ride.

I'm spent. If I could pull my body out of this chair I could actually get in the shower. I've already been home for 2 hours

midschool22

Hi all,

I rolled into town just after nine. I signed in, got ready and waited for a bit if I might see any BF members. Headed out on a slow pace and felt good. I loved going down this one stretch of hill and hitting 32mph. Sweet. Then later I hit this one road, Harmony Hill. They should have named it P.O.S. Hill. Vibrations galore. Anyways, it was a fun ride and I felt good.

The next event for me is the Blackhawk County Roads May 26th & 27th in Rockton Illinios just north of Rockford. For more info-

https://www.blackhawkbicycleclub.org/bcrregistration.htm

Until then,

Peace.
Aaron J.

CyLowe97

I rode out to Union late morning and caught the last few miles (where it turned left off of Church onto Seeman) of the route. The wind from the WSW was pretty stiff. I looped through Union and then back south home.

Riding east with that tailwind was fun. Easily keeping in the mid-20's for long stretches of time. Not a bad day, considering I've been off the bike for over a week being sick. 39 miles in 17.8 mph.

Sorry wasn't able to make it out there for the whole ride!

Hipcycler

Not a bad day, considering I've been off the bike for over a week being sick. 39 miles in 17.8 mph.

That's a good day in my book any day ma man....nice job.

voldemort

After rolling out of bed late I didn't think I'd make it to Union in time to meet up with any BF people. I know some people are anti-trail but, heh, the Fox River Trail is 1-2 minutes from my house. Going north to Crystal Lake is a nice little ride, but it ticks me off I hardly felt those 20+mph winds. The farther you get from St. Chucks the less bikes there are. Psimet, I'm glad I missed you, because I have this bad tendency to not know when I'm getting in over my head, and proably would have burned out trying to keep up.

RDW3261

Hey voldemort is the Fox River Trail paved all the way? I live an hour away and want to ride it sometime, but cant tell if I should bring my rode or hybrid.
I rode Union yesterday. It was my first organize ride and help me push my speed the whole way. I finished about 1.5 mph faster than I had ever rode for that distance before. They do feed you great. The only bad thing about the route was the two miles you have to ride on IL 23 as part of the 62 mile route.

Psimet2001 

I hated that section. Funny because we planned around that section during the BFNIC century and the Spring BFNIC ride.

As for the Fox River Trail - if I may answer for volderrrrrmort - it is indeed paved for the entire length. You can ride from just south of Aurora up into Wisconsin. I use the trail as my bike commmute path from Elgin to Aurora.

Bring your road bike.

BTW - it isn't really well marked in some secitons, but for 95% it is a really good trail.

Kimbercop

"it is indeed paved for the entire length"

For the most part. There are a couple small spots B/T South Elgin and St. Charles that are limestone. These are only a few hundred yards in length tho. There was a spot just North of St. Charles that was good size gravel, but that was last year and I havent been out that way yet this year so Psimet could be correct. I heard it happened once or twice before Overall its a nice trail however

Psimet2001 

I did forget about those sections. They are both still technically "un-paved", but they are like rolling over hard-packed soil/rock. Smooth as silk. I rode over both of the sections this morning, and apart from them being a little slick from last nights storms, they were OK.

Kimbercop

Hey Psmiet, is that spot behind little woods school paved finallyor do they still have those fist sized rocks there??

voldemort

"it is indeed paved for the entire length. You can ride from just south of Aurora up into Wisconsin. "

Now wait a minute. I've gone as far as just north of McHenry, and all of a sudden the paving stops, and it's old RR bed with the mega-gravel. NOT very road bike friendly. I haven't ridden that far since last year, so unless its been paved since then... I think at that point you're about 10 miles from WI border.

It's a little tricky getting through Crystal Lake. That's probably the worst marked section. And actually when you hit the county line, the name changes to the McHenry County trail.

iab

Avoid the trail through CL, it's no good. Two lights past Hwy 14 the trail takes a right on Crystal Lake Ave and then a left on East(?) St. Skip that left and about a half-mile down CL Ave., take a left on Terra Cotta Rd. Follow that and you will bypass the BS of Veteran's Arces. Terra Cotta winds a bit and eventually runs right next to the trail (the road is called Bay Rd. at that point).

Psimet2001 

I've been North of McHenry at some point and I don't remember crushed limestone....then again I may not have gone far enough.

I went though the sections North of St. Charles that aren't technically paved this evening on the commute home. I looked down and I was going 20. A little dicey with a couple of puddles, but no worries for the most part.

S_DOG34

Terra Cotta

Not a road I would like to ride on by myself that's for sure...at least not the parts that I have been on in Crystal Lake. Fast traffic, moronic drivers, and not much room on either side.

iab

You are confusing Terra Cotta Ave (also Hwy. 176, runs east/west) with Terra Cotta Rd (runs north/south). I ride Terra Cotta Rd 3-4 times per week and there is little traffic and has a pretty good hill. They do cross and you can meet someone at the corner of Terra Cotta and Terra Cotta

amandajm

I thought this was an excellent ride. I rode the 62 mile course completely alone. My friends opted for the 31 mile course. I averaged 18.4 mph. I am sort of new to cycling (I have been riding sporadically for the past year or so). Is 18.4 ok for that course, that day, for 62 miles? I have no idea how to gauge where I am at and how much I need to improve, which is what I am interested in doing, improving. Maybe I will see some of you in Joliet this Sunday. I am doing the century ride.

Psimet2001 

At 18.4 solo for that ride....I don't think you'll be seeing anyone in Joliet...unless you have a mirror. If you've only been riding sporadically then you must be in wicked amazing shape from some sort of other physical activity.

I averaged 18 on that ride while pacing with 2 other guys - both of which are avid runners and in wicked shape.

Basically a lot of us are going to Joliet (see the thread about it in this forum), but I have a feeling that you will want to ride at a slightly faster pace....