High five.

Much better today. Injection site pain nearly gone. Flu-like symptoms completely gone. Regarding the food talk: damn straight. Thanks for the concern.

Hmmm... not such a good weekend for us. We attempted our final randonnee for the season, a 600 in Victoria.

Things conspired against us. Machka made a very brave attempt, but this was on the back of her terrible viral body rash episode *and* another chest virus last week.

Then major flooding meant the ride organiser had to reroute the entire event. And there was the wind and night-time cold; that was just on the first day.

We finished the leg at 6.20am with 377 official km (and 10 or so extra thrown in for a wrong turn) well within the time limit (just over 25 hours at 8.10am), but I knew what the weather forecast was for Sunday -- winds up to 45km/h (actual was well over 50) and the route had us going with no tailwind to speak of. So we called it quits.

The 600 is considered by many the hardest randonnee, even against the 1000s and 1200s because their overall minimum average speeds are slower. You are faced with the decision on whether to sleep or not. And the time limit is 40 hours (15km/h average) so if you haven't time in the bank -- because of headwinds, tiredness or recurrent mechanicals -- you can easily kybosh the ride.

it means we won't get our Super Rando award, but there is always next season, and we've start planning for that. I also always enjoy the travelling aspect and time away from work, so the trip was no big loss. I *am* looking forward to some warm-weather riding, which I hoped this event might have delivered, but didn't.

Finally, I have to get some decent prescription wraparound glasses -- my eyes have been as equally troublesome as my inner quads since the ride.

Funny thing about the flu shot: for the first time I got the mega dose reserved for old farts. So embarrassing. :(

See my above comment about the mega dose.

I admire your effort. Better result next time.

I'm sorry to hear that, @Rowan. As you say, the deck was stacked a bit against you two, but missing out on the SR is a tough pill. As you say, most riders don't appreciate that accomplishment, and for you two to get it done as often as you have, truly speaks volumes. Well done.

On the glass front:

Bifocal Safety Glasses - Safety Glasses USA

I ended up with a set of Wiley X foam padded frames, as I was tired of going blind when the cool and wind hit. They were my savior. These are inexpensive bifocals, which may just fit the bill.

Indeed. I have always been ascared of getting the flu virus inyected into me to fight the flu. Plus, the folks that still get the flu even with the shot, is mind boggling.

Regular tubes w/ sealant. The problem is it did seal, but the air was too low to hold the corner.
And thanks.

Interesting. Maybe I'll try it.

You're one of those people.

Me neither (whilst walking about the house).

I never really noticed anything with the tetanus shot.

Stiff arm, for what seems like weeks. :) I'm a big baby though.


Good you survived your issue, @f4rrest. Heal well.

I always have been.

@Rowan, 235 miles is nothing to sneeze at.

Next year...

One of the best thing about cycling is the planning for the future, the next thing. Don't you think? It's inspiring. And good for the brain. Keeps you young.

:)

Thanks. I've done worse on motorcycles.

With or without crutches?

Without. They've been ditched.

High five?

LAJ, thanks for the commiserations. It's not as though we haven't achieved SRs before, and this time it's really a true case of so near, yet so far. I also have a line on a local supplier of sports glasses, although a batch order of those you linked from the US is now in the mix.

YES! Heathpack. We've taken on the roles of ride organisers for a local SR series next year. Routes designed for us. We can do them as volunteer rides beforehand, or on the day. Half the fun already in planning and actually exploring them on bikes!

For big events out of state or country, we always make them part of a vacation, so if things don't turn out OK, it is only part of the trip, not all of it.

And my interest in 24H time trials is being rekindled. Events that are short, sharp and sweet. We did two UMCA events back in the mid-2000s based at the border of of Iowa/Illinois (Le Claire), and my memories of them are very fond.

Award or not, you're still crazy in my book. ;)

High five.

Did I mention that one of my MTB guides from Scotland is prepping for a 24 hr MTB TT?

It's called the Strathpuffer and it takes place in the Highlands in the dead of winter. The course is around 7 miles and 1000 ft elevation gain. The task is as many laps as you can do in 24 hours.

Her husband did 40 laps! Do the math, it's incredible. He's wondering if he should tackle RAAM. I think they should come to the states & do Race Across the West instead, though. It's less epic but because of that, they could actually have a nice vacation too. He wouldn't be totally wiped.

I live near Peoria (Morton) but I know how to drive a car to the Mississippi River. ;)

My former rando ride partner is right in to MTB endurance races now. That is real hardcore stuff when it gets to 24H level.

The road stuff is more interesting for me. The UMCA rides were something like one big loop (100 miles plus) then a shorter loop repeated until a certain cut-off time, then something like a seven mile loop repeated until the finish. Events were (and may still be) open to recumbents (although the winners on the two we did were on standard diamond frames).

Oh, and dead of winter? About 13 hours of riding in the dark and possibly cold rain and/snow) makes it doubly harrdcore.