commuterDude: Checking in for April

April 13, 2012

Checking in for April

April is half over in a few days... yikes.... and still no R-12 ride for this month. Yet.

Today was to have been my day, attempting the 300km "Hell of the North" permanent from Liberty, MO. to Albany, MO. and back.

Hills, rough roads... and my wind chimes haven't quieted down since this morning, clanging still in the southern winds which haunt that already difficult route up north.

Thanks to my alarm clock/phone freaking out sometime in the night, however, I didn't make the bell -- slept like a log instead, until the wife shook me awake at 5:30am asking why I was still in the house. Even with the generous hour buffer at the front of every permanent ride, I had only 30 minutes at that point to start a ride that was a 45 minute drive away. Ugh.

I felt sick... but, eventually forgave myself. And started shopping for a proper alarm clock.

Still, perhaps it's better this way. After a sorta rough March 200k, I wasn't really in the mood for the thunderstorms that were ravaging the northland when I checked radar, nor the stiff headwind that would surely punish for 90-some miles on the trip southbound after reaching Albany via 12,000 ft. or whatever of climbing. The sun came out eventually, though, and I got more of a tame, stress-release style training ride on a local rail-trail. Though the 52 miles I logged pales in comparison to what coulda-been, I averaged well and felt strong throughout - so, that's a plus. Wrapped up the ride with a conversation with another cyclist packing up after his outing on the same trail - so, I wasn't alone thinking today was a good day for this.

So, R-12... still half a month left, and the big 400km brevet up into Iowa on the 28th. That's cutting it close... but, it'll have to be the one. I can't see flushing this after 9 straight.... no way. Not even a thought. Sometimes things don't work out... but, on a tough route, with stiff winds, and on this particularly "lucky" day, perhaps there is an unknown blessing hiding underneath my personal disappointment. I'll never know ... and that could be a good thing. Win some... miss some...

Stay tuned.

1 comment:

Assisted Pedestrian said...: I've just been listening to your interview in the Kansas Cyclist podcast Episode 16. That was a really inspiring description of the many aspects of long distance cycling. So much so in fact that I intend to try do a 50km run round one of our west coast Scottish islands in a weeks time while I am over there working, with a view to building up slowly over the summer. I also commute although only 10km each way per day, but it amazed me how quickly I lost weight and built up stamina to do that (admittedly short) run within a very short space of time. Thank you.; April 26, 2012 9:55 AM

What is bicycle commuting?

Simply put, bicycle commuting is the act of travelling to a place of work or education by bicycle. In many areas it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport. Worldwide, the bicycle remains the most common commuter vehicle, and bicycle riding the second most common form of commuting, second only to walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally is unknown, it is clear that significantly more bicycles are manufactured than automobiles. In the United States about 40% of automobile trips are two miles or less; using a bicycle for these short trips can reduce your emissions and expenses. If you live within ten miles of work, you could save thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and automotive maintenance costs each year. This webpage seeks to highlight bicycling as a viable transportation platform and a fun, exciting, healthful way to improve your life! Visit the commuting links below and get started today!

What is Randonneuring?

The French term "randonnée" loosely translates as a long tour or ramble along a defined route, and persons embarking as such are dubbed "randonneurs". In cycling, the term defines a hard-riding enthusiast attempting a long-distance randonnée (called a "brevet", usually 200 kilometers or greater) within a certain time allotment. Non-competitive by design, randonneuring encourages camaraderie: riders test themselves against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not each other. Randonneuring's ethos embodies self-sufficiency and mental toughness; support vehicles are not allowed and brevets are held regardless of weather. Randonneurs USA (RUSA) organizes brevets in the United States under the auspices of the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and the Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM), and rider's results are recognized world-wide. This website seeks to highlight the excitement and challenge of long-distance bicycle riding by sharing personal ride accounts, with the hope of growing the sport. If this type of bicycle riding interests you and you'd like to find out more, visit the RUSA webpage to find rides in your area!

For ride announcements and discussions on randonneuring in the greater Kansas City area, visit KC Ultra Cycling, and join the KC Ultra-Cycling Email List:

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Courtesy Randonneurs USA

What is Ultra-Marathon Cycling?

Just as the 26.2-mile marathon represents a benchmark for runners, bicyclists generally consider the "century", riding 100-miles, a worthy endurance challenge. Ultra-marathon cycling involves exceeding that benchmark, often several times over, offering the long-distance challenge of randonnuering with a more competitive flavor. This is the world of 24-hour races, double-centuries, and beyond. Where randonneuring rewards all finishers equally and emphasizes self-sufficiency, ultra-racers compete for time and placing, maximizing speed by utilizing support crews for hand-ups and fast repairs. Event courses can be long and scenic, but may take the form of many laps of a looped course. Winning ultra-distance events requires the rare combination of endurance and a high average speed. Randonneuring and Ultra-Marathon often complement one another: brevets can offer base-training to prepare for racing, and fast randonneurs often enter ultra events for a new challenge. Visit the World Ultra Cycling Association's website for more information.

Courtesy World Ultra Cycling Association

April 13, 2012

Checking in for April

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