commuterDude: Flint Hills 225km in the books

October 13, 2012

Flint Hills 225km in the books

So, I've got "number 4"... it appears we have a bit of a run going again! I'm not really pushing the issue, however - but, I'm falling into the routine that one long ride per month is good for the soul, and tends to keep me honest in terms of "training" and diet - and if that happens to culminate in another R-12, awesome! Tentative goals remain in place, however, and yesterday's ride held good on them - though, I felt some of my edge dull at times.

The Flint Hills 225, if you haven't done it, is quite a remarkable route. Best scenery around, traffic was light, lot of trains - which I always dig - and varied terrain. Mostly, it's flat - although it does advertise 5,500 ft of climbing, I just don't remember that much until the very end - and that's probably because LAST month's ride had so MUCH climbing. The numbers just don't paint the true picture. Overall, it seemed that the Flint Hills route had more long, flat sections - and all of it is exposed to whatever the wind happens to be doing: not my favorite combo.

Full report coming after a bit - there's a lot happening, personally, and I hope it doesn't affect my ability to post. This ride, in particular, deserves that attention - so, I'll do my best to get something out there before the memories get foggy. Rain, wind, darkness, trains, epic views, great pavement, and some of the highest high points (and lowest low points) in recent memory for me on a ride.

Stay tuned!

Until then: Songs in my Head:

"Down with Disease" - Phish

"I will wait" - Mumford & Sons

"We Are A & C" - Arling & Cameron

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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

October 13, 2012

Flint Hills 225km in the books

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