Dark Side Ride - May 2010

It had been a long time since I'd thrown together a Dark Side Ride, so I bit the bullet, checked the forecast - and smiled - and sent out the emails.

The route, tried and true.

The group, solid.

Noah wrote up a great photo-companion here on his blog.  I don't even bother busting out the camera when Noah rides with us - he's got a good eye, and is fast on the draw.  Hard to compete when I'm carrying a lowly Palm Centro "camera", especially after dark.  

In fact in addition to the photos his write up is stellar, so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel here.  Just know this:  if you are the least bit interested in what it's like to ride after dark to the tune of 30-to-40 miles at a modest 13.5mph average, scan this page and join the Dark Side Ride's mailing list.  All that I ask is that you read and understand the rules... but the best advice I can give:  see Noah's blog post again, and check out the photos.  You should look like we do.  You'll do fine, and we'd love to have you along!

Some highlights...

1)  The sounds of night are SO different, and I really love them.  Assuming you stay away from major roads and traffic dies down like it normally does, the entire area changes.  Roads are quiet, as they were Friday night, the frogs sing, the light fades, bugs come out - usually after our lights - and, if you're lucky, a whippoorwill might be calling.  Traditionally heralded as the call of bad luck, I suppose it was fitting to hear the call from the side of the road as we climbed a 15-17% grade on the return route.  No, not all of the DSR routes are that hilly... just this particular one.

2)  In this age of streaming audio, MP3s, SD cards, and multi-functional phones with speakers - well, there is something about the night that begs "techno".  Groove, trance, or just a good tempo to keep the legs moving.  I've made this a habit in the last 10-15 miles of many a long brevet that ends after dark - especially if I find myself alone.  It was just kinda fitting this time out, about 2/3 of the way back to the start line, I busted out the phone and punched up SomaFM's Groove Salad.  The other-worldly, tinny, unidirectional taps and samples emanating from my back pocket just seemed to fit the moment.  Before long, others joined in as the groups spread out on the road.  Pretty flippin cool

3)  Something else that other rides don't offer, and I can't take credit for it:  radio support.  Noah brought along some FRS radios, and the front and back of the group was able to stay in contact.  This was especially helpful during the flat we had, and the other mechanical we experienced later on.  It kept the group from getting too spread-out, and kept the slowest riders protected and accompanied.  A good system.... system.... sysysysstem.... doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom the system... is down.... the system... is down... DO_DOO-DA DOOO!!!!   Yeah, thanks, Noah & DB... that's been in my head for DAYS NOW.  LOL!!!!

4)  Lights, lights, lights.  I love the enabling power of LED lights affixed to bicycles.  The shackles of daytime are cast off, and cyclists take off into the night.... growing ever smaller in the distance, finally blinking out as tiny red dots on the horizon.  Cool.  Headlights have become amazing... from the sheer candlepower bombs of the latest LED helmet lights and other battery-powered wonders, to simple $16 flashlights attached to handlebars with silicon wristbands.  EVERY possible combination of ingenuity and technology meet at these rides.  There's a LOT of ways to do it.  You're probably not wrong, whatever system you run.  If you DO happen to be wrong, your ride leaders carry spares.

5)  Ever see the moon rise from a bicycle?  You're missing out.

6)  Descending on a c-store at all hours like a rogue biker gang... except we're dressed like traffic wardens.  Sweeet confusion for the locals.  

7)  Contrast to the revving engines and close-call flybys of daytime riding, the last few DSR rides we might as well have been in France being cheered by the locals.  Tongue-in-cheek or not, who cares?  There is nothing that lifts the spirits like the cheers of teenage girls in passing cars while you ride your bike.  Nothing.  

Come join us... the Dark Side has cooler weapons.

I can't feel my chain!

This was to be the big test - the longest ride since the BG Fit I'd had done a month ago.  After the 75 mile "Good Day Off" ride that I had a few weeks ago, I was a little nervous about knocking off 600K - and since I missed the 400K, also, it made sense to stick to the shorter distance - if you can ever really call 125 miles a "short ride".  There were back issues, tightness, and a nagging shoulder that until only a few days ago I finally managed to get worked out with a couple steam room and self-massage sessions.  FINALLY, things were falling into place.  

The nine riders that showed up for the 600K rode past me down K-32 in the early morning light as I was still making my way to the KCK motel where the 200K would start from.  Part of me really wanted to be out there with them, but - patience.  I arrived at the hotel, and was pleased to see about the same number of folks unpacking for the 200K ride, so at least I wouldn't be riding alone.  Robert on the recumbent, Kent F. was there, and two new riders Gary and a lady whose name I didn't catch riding a brilliant pink Waterford, plus a few other faces that I didn't recognize.  A good crowd!

The weather was simply magnificent.  After enduring weeks of rain and late-March-like temperatures, something finally broke overnight.  The wind had shifted around to the south, and the temperatures were already in the 60's.  Nice!  The sky was clearing out, too -- it was going to be a really nice, sunny day.  Far better than riding in the greyish haze that'd been the norm for the last month.

The one thing that the fit has definitely provided was more power to the ground - seemingly.  On the longer distance, the 75 miler, I noticed that I was able to maintain speed on the flats for longer periods of time.  My average speeds, even with the winds staying out of the north and northeast in the mornings, had been increasing.  The unknown was whether or not this was some kind of fluke, and things would even out after 80-90 miles and I'd slow back down like I always seem to.  The key was to try and not go out too awful fast.

Well, that's always optimistic.  I'm nothing if not predictable:  I will probably ALWAYS go out too fast.  I don't know why.  Queue the usual speech from Bob Burns, a few questions, and we're off.  South on 78th Street, partially shielded by trees the south wind didn't feel that strong yet - but it didn't matter.  The hills were there, and I was finding my usual way of warming up - climbing.  I like climbing.  I'm not the best at it, but I like it.  I was not alone.  I'd later meet them and go through formal introductions on the road - something I'm always a little slow about:  I tend to start most rides without saying much at all.  Mike, from St. Louis area, is a good climber.  Lean, muscular, tall (from my perspective, but not as tall as Kent F.) and fit, riding a Scott C1r, he'd turn out to be a welcome companion today.  Mark, the Navy guy, riding an Indy Fab Club Racer (tigged steel, very nice) and a wearing a hard-earned California Triple Crown jersey was a powerhouse on the flats:  more on that later.  Rounding out the lead group was Kent F. on his steel LeMond, and Gary - a first time brevet rider - on his olive green LHT, joining me in the "fender'd touring bike" category.  The five of us must have had the right breakfast, and the slight cross/tail wind along K-32 helped matters, as we spun along at 22 MPH on the board flat terrain.  Things were looking good, but I couldn't help having the thought "you're going too fast" rifle through my head every ten minutes.

Edwardsville, Bonner Springs, and Loring Road... all came in a flash and were gone.  Finally realizing (doy, dude, you ain't THAT strong) that I wasn't going to make any miracle breakaways, I settled in next to Mike and we chatted it up, still flying along at 22 MPH or so alongside the railroad tracks.  Mike talked about board-flat brevet routes in St.Louis and western Illinois, and I was reminded of MV24, and how flat that ride was.  In an instant as we turned west on Loring Avenue, the word "flat" left our vocabulary, and I was shown that Mike's game was indeed climbing.  Probably 20 lbs lighter than me, and on a much lighter bike.... sure, sure, it shouldn't matter, but it crossed my mind or half a second:  give me a Roubaix S-works and SRAM Red...  nah:  give me more time to build fitness on this new fit and drop another ten pounds, more like.  Mike was agile and spirited on the long climbs, spinning a beautiful cadence and making headway.  Kent F., tall and lean as well, joined him.  I held my own, but it was a humbling moment.  More work to be done.  I spun out my own rhythm, "Ullrich style", and eventually joined back up.  Mike and Kent would make me work for position on more than a few occasions today.  Good training!

The three of us rolled down the big hill on 158th street, avoided a confused-looking dog that was literally just wandering along the middle of the road - no interested in us at all, just walking along - and finally flattened back out along Golden Road, with a freight train rolling along in the adjacent field.  Green grass, water still standing from last week's heavy rains, sweet smells on the breeze and the feeling of warm sunshine on my arms... I needed this ride today... feeling good.  

Linwood, KS., and the first control - a control that comes too soon, really - and only an hour and five minutes to get there.  Not bad... not bad at all.  Too fast.  Slow down.  Cards signed, drinks, a short rest, and the five of us were back together again for the next leg - the long leg to Ottawa, KS.  K-32 west is generally all uphill, and the crosswind was growing a bit.  I took point and pulled Mike and the group for a few miles as we made our way to the "fun turn" at 222nd street, the first turn south, into the growing wind.  

Ugh.  The speedfest would come to an abrupt end as we turned south, and Mark chimed up..."now the fun starts!".... yeeehaw!  Whipping wind, steady at 20+ MPH already and the day was young.  Gusts.  Trees in song, powerlines whisting.  This was going to be a long leg.  Despite the thoughts of slog and suffer, we stayed smart and grouped up - five strong, me, Gary, Mark, Mike, Kent working together and taking long pulls - as long as we could stand.  Mark, the diesel, showed the value of big shoulders and a slow, strong cadence:  it reminded me of drafting behind Byron R. back in the day.  Just a big machine...   Kent, long and lean and strong - consistent.  Mike... the high cadence metronome... good pulls all around, and I tried my best to keep the rhythm up when my turn came.  One at a time, the southbound landmarks came:  Eudora.... check.  

Eudora... nice little town:  the construction finally complete, it was the first time I'd seen the little town for what it was - and I wouldn't mind living out here, actually.  We crossed K-10, and saw a couple sign-boards outside the local high school announcing that Graduation ceremonies were to commence at 1:00pm.  We joked to each other that if we kept up a good pace we could make it back in time.  Yeah, right.  It was just crossing 9:00am, and there was a lot more road to cover, most of it into the wind, before reaching the halfway point. 

DG-460 and the beginning of the hills... check.  The Kansas River watershed is huge, by the way...  US-56...check.   Getting closer to Wellsville, KS., and a Casey's, which would be a good spot to top off bottles.  DRINK!  

On a few occasions, I thought how easy it would be to do what I usually do after trying too hard to stay in the lead group:  drop out.  Fall back.  Find my own pace.  Today, however - maybe it was me, maybe I was enabled by the improvements the fit was yielding - I banished those thoughts, and took another pull at the front.  On a couple occasions, I got nervous that I'd gone too much:  first, my left knee started to smart a little.  Uh, oh... I kept pushing, and actually said a few words to the heavens about it.  It was interesting to me, and kind of an omen, that the pain started up in exactly the same place that I remember Ort's knee giving way, just north of crossing the Kansas River near Eudora.  I still feel badly about that day - I feel badly that I gave advice that might have made matters worse - and I feel empathy in a big way, because if something would happen that would take me out of the bicycle game, I don't know if I'm strong enough of a person to find another outlet, to cope, to be able to do without something that has molded me as a person, and has helped me deal with life.   I wondered about Karma... I questioned a lot, just in a few seconds while I pedaled and considered what my left knee was telling me.  In a few miles, the pain faded - never to return.  Later, the right leg did something similar - but it also passed... growing into the fit?  Passing another wall?  Who knows... but I asked for a break, quietly, to myself, and to Whomever might have heard me.  For those confused, I'll be clear:  I may not have demonstrated it directly in the past - but I know the talents I've been given, the health, the will, the strength to ride; they truly are gifts.  I don't take them for granted, not for a second.

We made it into Wellsville and paused at the Casey's there, shocked to see other riders... not just any riders; riders that were decked out in reflective gear and equipment that are only appropriate if you are a randonneur.  They were 600K riders.  Ughhhh.... these are guys that started an hour ahead of us, and here they were, fixing a flat that looked to be giving more problems that the norm.  We offered up help, but they were making it work.  It was hard to leave them - thoughts of how much time they had lost, how far they had to go -- man.  We never should have seen them, no matter how fast we five had been riding so far.  Reluctantly, we carried on.

K-68 finally came, marking the last time we'd have to deal with the strong headwinds directly - a quick ride west on the highway shoulder, the Casey's at Ottawa, and we'd be home-free to enjoy a strong tailwind blast back north.  With more of a crosswind than a direct headwind, we were all feeling pretty good about the ride so far.  Mike even remarked at one point - a reference to a anicdote from a Lance Armstrong book - about how he was feeling so strong he "couldn't feel his chain!"  I was feeling pretty darn good, too... come to think of it, the bike felt really smooth and so did the legs.

 PSSssss.....fffftttt....fffftttt....ffftttttt.....   ugh, flat!  Kent became victim to what was probably a slow leak, and eventual low-pressure pinch flat on one of the highway shoulder's many pavement joints.  We all stopped and took advantage of at least the opportunity to rest a little, while Mark and Kent made quick work of the tube change and tire inspection.  Ten minutes, tops, and we were rolling again.  

Back to business, the little rest apparently took more out of me than I imagined... funny thing about rest:  stay off the bike too long, and it's hard to get the same pace back.  Like a freight train throttling up, I slowly advanced up through the gears until I was maintaining a good pace again, but Mark was on point and was hard to stick with despite the good draft from his wide shoulders.  Eventually I was reeled up by Kent, and the two made their way up the road.  About mile 58, the first difficulty of my day, I felt a little tired, a little weak, a little hungry.  I still had the feed-bag method employed, tiny handlebar bag with treats inside, but I hadn't been eating regularly - call it the heat, maybe the pace.  I took out a quick snack, even though we were very close to the control, and took in some water.  Might as well drink more:  the heat was coming up quicker now, and there was no sense saving water with the control so close by.  Something inside me angered a little, though... anger at myself.  Instead of being complacent and being satisfied with my place on the road, I found myself asking myself something to the effect of "what, you're giving up?", and upping the RPMs.  After a half-mile, I'd found a wheel again. 

Ottawa!  Casey's!  Cheese pizza, a 5hr. Energy shot (one of my brevet regulars now, instead of caffiene so much), and a Mtn Dew (whaddid I just say about caffiene?).  Water, water, water.  I'm not sure what the temperature was at that point, but it was far hotter than it'd been in months.  MANY months.  Humid, also.  Bottled were filled, and I relished in Powerade Zero and water from the bathroom taps (who pays for water??, as Danny C would say).  Drink, drink, drink.  I've had far too many personal disasters with hydration, and for me it's water, water, water and more water -- 32oz. Zefal Magnum water bottles, available at most bike stores at least via special order, or Nashbar.  Nothing is bigger, unless you want to wear a hydration pack, or you're lucky enough to have 3-pair of waterbottle bosses on your bike frame.  Drink often - and don't get behind.  On these longer, warmer rides I've gotten into the habit of looking at the clock and making sure I'm drinking at least a sip every ten minutes.  I almost think I need a watch that beeps at me, until it becomes an engrained habit.  In fact, I think my phone has a chime feature..... hmmm.... might be good in training.

After 15 minutes or so, the 600K riders that we'd left back in Wellsville pulled in.  Whew... they're still inside the time checks, but a long day was awaiting.  From here they'd continue west, to Emporia, KS., and then north to Junction City.  Yeesh... again, that feeling that part of me wanted to follow them... but I still hadn't crossed into unknown territory with my fit on the bike, so I was nervous about the return trip at the 200K level - forget 600K today!  Working hard as a group, we'd managed to stay somewhat together and average 16.8 MPH to the halfway point, which was pleasing considering the headwind.  The big question was not IF, but WHEN on the return trip I'd pay for it.  Sure, we'd have a tailwind - but you still have to pedal, and there are the hills to consider.  80 miles?  90?  When would I begin my usual 200K limp homeward... my usual permanent and brevet finish condition?  The payment for going out too fast would come due, surely, and I was ready for it - I can solo.  More than half the first R-12 run was earned that way, after all.  But, with the fit changes would I hurt more, or less, this time?

After everyone was filled up and ready, I emerged from the Casey's to find my bike moved, and someone elses in its place - but more interestingly, I saw a Cateye Strada wireless computer, white, laying on the ground... "hey, someone has a computer just like... waitasec...."  Glancing at my handlebars, my computer was missing... IT was the one laying on the ground.  "What the...  c'mon!"  At some point, my bike did what it's done on three other occasions:  gotten into a wreck of some kind.  Without me on it.  More than likely, the wind caught it and it rolled backwards, pitched the front wheel, and tipped over - this time pushing the right brake hood inward a smidge, and popping the computer off the mount.  Also, another scratch on the rear derailleur.  Fine.  Nice.  These are the kind of mental thorns I don't like - totally not neccessary to deal with.  Check everything, is everything tight?  Are the brakes centered?  Anything cracked?  Loose?  What failures will reveal themselves, and when, on the rest of the ride??  Ugh.  All was seemingly well, and nothing in my seatbag was long enough to reach the brake-hood binder bolt, so it'd have to do in its new spot.  Carry on. 

It had gotten noticably hotter since we'd gone inside.  Wow... especially without the cooling effects of the headwind, we really noticed and remarked about how warm it'd gotten.  Most of us, within a few seconds of those remarks, took an extra drink from our bottles.  There's no time like the present to acclimate to the Kansas heat!  Not content to just let the wind push us back home, the speeds came up again.  18....20.....23MPH... uphill.  Dodging rumble strips and pebbles and debris, we all got into individual rhythms and pedalled along the K-68 shoulder, feeling good.  Looking around at the scenery, it was a perfect day... I love it out here.

Another thing I will say about Mike, from St. Louis; he's a model randonneur.  I find myself going into head-down mode and pedaling away, oblivious - maybe that's because I find myself alone so often, that I don't remember how to behave when I'm in a group.  I start conversations late, forget to say "hi".   Mike was obviously the strong-man of the day, physically.  More than a few times, his orange jersey would often start getting smaller and smaller up the road ahead of me.  Climbing, flats, whatever -- he is a strong rider.  But, he's not the kind of rider that CARES that he's strong:  at every corner, sometimes just at little turn-offs or driveways - and sometimes just in the saddle - he'll stop, put a foot down, and wait for you.  I dig that.  Sure, part of me wanted to chase him down and catch him outright, just to see if I could - but it was nice that he'd lift up on the gas, and wait for us to rejoin him.  A class-act.  The intersection of K-68 and Tennessee Road was no exception, and as our group of three - Kent, Mike and I arrived there, we stopped and waited for Gary and Mark to catch up.  While we waited, though, someone approached us from the corner farmhouse there - the resident, on foot, crossing the road - and put me in a place I haven't been since back in February '08, in Texas.  The "randonneur zone".....(cue creepy four-note piano music)...

"You some of them "preveyers?" she called out.

"Yup... oh, and it's a "B"... "Bre-vet"", I answered.  Since I was the one that spoke, she latched on.  

The next four minutes or so, I'm not exactly sure what happened.  I politely explained what it was the sport entailed, where the word "brevet" came from, and what it meant, and what we were working towards as riders.  At some point, I was asked if I liked it out in the country more than I liked it in Olathe, where I'd told her I was from.  (of course I liked it more, yes)  We briefly touched on bicycling as pure recreation, or as transportation... well, that latched me in deeper because I commute - and I'm proud of that.  Then she brought up resource use, and whether or not we as riders ate more or or less food than normal on rides like this, than on a typical day.  From there, however, there was a sharp left turn into late-night talk radio territory.  It was like I blacked out for a second, literally  asking to myself "how did we get HERE?" -- she started talking about how you can hear the radio waves, and how things out in the country bounce off things, and if she knew my name she could tune into my energy and maybe converse with me on a subconscious level.  Wha???  I noticed right around that point, that there were mumbles about "uh, we have to keep moving", and one by one Mark, Mike, Kent and Gary all started to roll away.  Uh, guys?  I was trapped in a black hole of confusion and conspiracy theory, locked in conversation with someone that had been exiled to the edge of reason and sense... but I can't be rude, can I?!  I took the first escape route I could... as she mentioned that my friends had left, as if I hadn't noticed.... the clock was ticking, and "while I enjoyed our conversation, it doesn't look like my friends are going to wait for me"... like a fish that had just been caught and released, freedom!!!  I sprinted to catch them, for fear of being consumed by some sort of Art Bell granola-powered vegan tractor-beam.

Rejoined, we all had a good chuckle about what I'd gotten myself in to, and proceeded to really relish the first taste of the monster tailwind that had strengthened since we'd come down the road last.  The sun was high, and so were our gears... it was hammer-time.  Before I could blink, we were clearly not taking the return trip "easy".  On much longer distances, the smart randonneur uses the tailwind to conserve energy for those times when they won't have the help, like on a loop route.  Today, I think we all knew that it was a rare treat, that the worst was over, and that we were more than halfway finished.  Today, we were going to work, and use the wind as turbo boost.  Warp-drive, more like.  23mph.... 27...... 32MPH..... TOP gear.... something the Kogswell seldom sees, but I'm glad its there for days like this, rare as they are.  Mike sets a hard tempo, and the hills are coming fast - but I'm feeling gutsy, so I try to keep pace, but MAN... he's a hard man to catch.  It's only when he lets off the pace a little that I can bridge up.  There's so much tailwind, there is zero benefit from drafting, so catching a wheel... it doesn't even matter.  We're FLYING. 

 I finally manage to pass him climbing the hill near the intersection of DG-1061 and DG-460 (roughly 159th street), and we proceed to enjoy the long downhill that takes us back into the Kansas River watershed.  Right in the middle of a sentence, Mark BLASTS past us on the left.... and I mean, like a jet plane passing a Cessna.  Mike and I were "cruising along" at 28 MPH+, seriously, in high gear, and Mark just dumped the gas from behind us, hammering down the hill.  I let out a holler and jumped up on the pedals to try and answer, and got close... but in a flash Mike is on my left, as I fall into the saddle, spent.  But, we're both nearly on top of Mark and right as I drop back into the saddle, my computer blinks over 40 MPH.... JUST for a half-second.  !!!!!!   I've never been a sprinter....I've never top-gear mashed out that kind of number before, on a flat?!  Okay, Okay... at this point, the tailwind is HOWLING at gusts to over 30 MPH.... I had help, but MAN what a feeling!!!  Mike confirmed his computer blinked over to 40.5 MPH when he passed Mark... but, Mark... like I'd mentioned earlier in this post - what a monster:  even after that fly-by he managed to take point and hold it at near 30 MPH for the next five miles, and Mike and I stayed on for the fun.

...and only because of Kent's flat tire and my conversation with the lady at K-68 did we miss graduation back in Eudora by 20 minutes.  NOT BAD, considering how far fetched it sounded to make it back here that fast.  In fact, Mike posited that we'd made the last 12 miles in something like 25 minutes.   Duuuuuuude.

The fun wouldn't last forever, though -- traffic and a few turns in Eudora slowed the pace, and stiffened the legs, and the run across the Kansas River was a little slower, and then the hills pitched back in as we approached K-32 from the south for the turn east towards Linwood and the final control.  Turning east, while we still had a little bit of a tailwind as the gale took on more of a southwest slant, it was not as much of a boost as before.  We made it into Linwood in good time, and I noticed myself having a little bit of a buzzing head and fatigue... ugh, dude... DRINK DRINK DRINK!  The Linwood control was a flurry of air-conditioning, rest, drink grabs, face washing, and more drinking.  In the power-fest of the run back north, I'd let myself slip a little.  Typical.  

I spent the next five miles drinking.  And drinking.  And drinking more.  32 oz, one full bottle, just to start to feel better.  Kent and Mike took point while I silently suffered through trying to rebuild my hydration base while riding along, still at 18+ MPH most times, buffeted by crosswinds.  Even as the road pointed north again, I just didn't have quite the push as before - but I found that inner fire flaring up again... "get on it, man... push!"... and so it was.  Gearing down, I spun up the longest, steepest hills of the day.  While I didn't catch Mike and Kent I didn't completely falter into limp-mode, either.  Reaching the intersection of Loring Road and Loring Avenues, there they were waiting - so I stopped in, and waited too for Mark to catch up.  Admittedly, his monster pacemaking on the flats and downhills didn't translate well to these hills, so we hung out a bit and let him catch up.  Only a few more miles to ride.

More flat, more tailwind... angled, but there.  Mike and Kent were still strong, and started to up the pace yet again.  At this point, I was content to just sit, spin and enjoy the railroad flybys and scenery... but, something in my gut wanted to dig deeper again, so I shifted and tested my "new" legs again.  Sure, I was a little tired, but the push was still there - why not use it?  Each mile I complete quickly will be one less that I have to lumber through when I finally DO crack.  Despite a few brief moments where I figured I'd lose them, I always felt pretty connected - and when they'd gain a little ground, I'd spin up and latch back on again, even took a couple more pulls for good measure.  Eventually, though, I'd be caught out by the last of the hills on 78th Street, the final road before the finish.  Mike is just too good a climber, and I made the mistake of starting off in the wrong gear, losing momentum and adding burn to the legs.  Oh well... it's a personal test, NOT a race.  I managed to get a little bit of rhythm back, but it was too little, too late - but I still managed to keep Mike and Kent within 1/4 mile of me, which - considering ALL this time I'd actually been a part of the lead group on a 200K for the first time in ... uhhhhh.... I don't know!..... I was really, really happy to take a "podium position" in such strong company!

We all signed in at 3:21pm, from a 7:00am start... not bad!  Eight hours, 21 minutes total time, and a rolling time of 6 hours and change --- turns out this is my 2nd fastest 200K time.  Again, not bad!  

Fit notes?  Welp, let's consider this case "closed":  not only did none of the previous month's post-fit issues come out to bother me, I felt really strong all day.  The knee "noise" at mile 30-ish came and went, and as I type this I can see no evidence of issue.  The usual fatigue that comes on in the last 20 miles at this distance wasn't there, and if anything it should have been worse because of the higher effort and pace.  Any issues I experienced, I'm fairly sure they were hydration based -- once I was back on top of water intake, the issues faded.  Wrists, back, shoulders, arms, neck, legs, ankles -- no problems.  Saddle area, no issues.  Even the out-of-line right brake hood that was tweaked from the bike falling over at Ottawa, it didn't cause any problems - I put it back in place once it was back in the garage at home.  Hand numbness, nope.  The upper back issues that popped up on the 75-mile ride, I think the handlebars rolling upward a few degrees fixed that - not even a hint of an issue today.  I figure, if things feel this good at the 200K level, the 300 shouldn't be an issue.  400?  We'll see... that's long enough again that it might bring new issues to light, but they should be minor tweaks.  

  

Am I happy?  With a ride like today, how could I NOT be happy?  Great weather, great company, and the best I've felt on a bike at this distance in a long time.

Cheers!!!

Songs from the road:   i.e., Stuff stuck in my head... no iPod here, by the way:

"Stylo" by Gorillaz  (the rhythm for the tailwind drama)

"Dominoes" by The Big Pink  (substitute "Miles" for "Girls" in the lyrics.)

"The Letter" by Joe Cocker  (one of the best soul breakdowns EVER laid down)

Thanks for reading!

  

Bike Week wraps up, and the big test

Another coupla days logged for Bike to Work Week, and I'm pretty darn pleased.  It's been, well... wet.  Course, fenders and wool socks - no worries with rain here, but it does get a little old after a while.

Lots of irons in the fire this week.  Trying a new taillight, a new chain lube, and wrapping up a month on the new bicycle fit.  I haven't stepped outside my own box like this in a long time.  In some ways, its a bit liberating.  

The chain lube - don't ask me yet:  I've talked it up with Crowbar at work, but I'm not letting the cat out of the bag until several hundred miles, and at least halfway through my next chain.  I didn't really set out to write a review on it, but I might if it adds some value and clarification to the polar-shifting forum posts I've read about it.  It's like that with just about ANY chain lube, which is why it falls into that arena with religion and politics for many folks.  I don't know if I was bored, or just looking for something else to play with - but I jumped on it, and I'm trying it out.  Stay tuned.

Unfortunately, I am a wee injured tonight as I type this - but I can safely say that it's not the bike fit's fault.  The only problem with cross-training is the chance that one activity will lead to cause something that messes with the other.  In my case, I've been attending instructor-led aerobic kick-boxing classes twice a week for about 6 weeks now.  The results are coming, I'm pleased, and I don't feel completely shredded after a class like I did at week one.  What I am nursing is one of those hyper-extension style pulls, like when you miss the stairs or something.  Without turning this into a kick-boxing blog, I basically went to side-kick a bag at the end of a combination, and missed the bag.  The resulting over-reach tweaked my left hamstring and whatever that outer tendon is.  Vitamin-I, rest, and taking it easy on the bike for a bit.  Doesn't hurt when I ride... but riding probably isn't helping.  Hard to tell... and that complicates things really fast for my big fit test:  the 200K this weekend.

It was honestly, when I was planning things late last week, this weekend was going to be a 600K attempt.  

The fit has settled, things have evened out, and the last tiny tweaks finally put everything at ease.  I won't call it a miracle, but I can honestly say that I don't think I've felt this strong on this bike since I bought it, and it kinda shows that theory about attempting to translate my original "took four years to dial in" fit from the first road bike I had and randonneured upon.  After moving that set of dimensions from that first bike, to the 2nd, and the 3rd... and the 4th... back to the 2nd frame... then a bike boom of 5,6 and 7... then trimmed back down to bike 3.... I actually had this all plotted out to show how ridiculous my stable became from late 2003 to 2006.  

Each time, I tried to match bikes with different dimensions to me, the changes so subtle that I never went through any real pains.  Well, now, I basically went to where I shoulda been in one big shot, after riding the current bike in its previous configuration for 3+ years.  So, the pains I was having, shoulder, hands, leg fatigue - that was all to be expected.  The rest of the pains essentially speak to how ones body REALLY wants things once you are off the fixed trainer and out of the fit technicians hands - in the real world.  Any frustration I had was squelched by the thoughts that (A) I did this voluntarily, and (B) tweaks are essential and the right adjustments will come.  It took four years the first time... a month isn't bad.

So, a month later?  Yes, I'm still convinced.  While it still required me to make a few of my own choices once I was "released into the wild", it was overall a much faster process - as I mentioned - than trial-and-erroring things myself as each new distance milestone revealed new body issues.  I think it's absolutely worth the expense if you spend a lot of time on the bike, no matter what your goals.  Again, I had NO complaints before the fit - but the result of the fit put me in a position that I wouldn't have guessed on my own to unlock more speed, more power, (eventually) more comfort, and better climbing technique.  I'm not signing any pro-tour contracts, mind you --- but it's personal:  I'm better than I was before.  That's really the only goal a fit should have.

Again, however, the 200K this weekend will be a challenge in the sense that I'll be stepping into unknown territory with regards to how the fit will ultimately serve me at the 8 hour and beyond mark.  Really, the 2011 brevet season will be pivotal, starting at the 300K.  Then the 400K.  Then 600K.  Each familiar mileage increase may indeed reveal little issues that are impossible to foresee at lower mileages, but I have good hopes.  Realistically, very little about my OLD fit had to change much after experiencing and adjusting from a 300K.  At the 400 and 600 level, it became more about bags, fenders, and the like.  So, we'll see.  My thinking about "welding stems in place" is on hold... if something needs to change, I'll do it.  So, more to come there.

To highlight my comment before about how this weekend was "almost" a 600K:  indeed, that's how good and strong I was feeling.  There is, at this writing, nothing about the fit that makes me concerned about riding THAT long - if for no other reason than to get the learning curve over with in one shot.  But, with the hamstring thing... I'm playing it safe.  

Ride report, all that, coming next week! 

Bike To Work Week!

Yep, it snuck up on me again - but its National Bike To Work Week this week...(interestingly timed with Craft Brew Week...hmmmm)... And I've been doing my part to stay out of the car again. The way I figure, since probably mid April at least, I haven't really driven that much since breaking the streak back in January.. This might be a good time to start another one, but I'm not pressuring myself this time around.
I still prefer riding to work on a bicycle over driving a car...so, I will just go with the flow.

Monday dawned wet, sorta foggy and misty - and for the first time in many Bike to Work Weeks I made it to one of the events: the City of Overland Park hosted a breakfast alongside the trail near 137th and Switzer, which is practically on my route. Bonus! Coffee, juice, granola, and some swag - like a much needed new wallet, made from recycled tubes. Check out www.re-velo.com: local, clever, sturdy stuff. Met up there with Noah of kc-bike.com and Shawn, whom I met on the trails back in January when there was still snow and ice alongside it! Cool to catch back up with a coupla cats I hadn't talked to in person since it was much colder outside.

Proceeded on to work from there, and took the long way home in the afternoon, as the wind was light and I was feeling good.

Saw an honest-to-goodness albino squirrel, too, darting across the trail. This is the polar opposite (stretch) of having your path crossed by a black cat, so I'm planing to enjoy my seven years good luck now.
..or do you get that from fixing a mirror? Whatever.

Day two, on the way to work I'm reminded about one of the core reasons I don't like to drive: it's because I can't afford a dark grey convertible Ferrari 360 Modena cabriolet. Money no object, I'm sure dealing with traffic would be easier if I was basking in fine Italian leather and listening to the soundtrack provided by one of the most sensual engine notes available, wind in my.... beard. Duuuude. I have to be clear: yes, I think people around here drive too much. I think this is a car-centric area, and change is needed. Yes, I want more path miles, bus routes and other alternative transportation options. But...I'm not exactly anti-car. I just don't like the typical JoCo mobiles: Acura, Lexus, regular Merc's and BMWs (as opposed to AMG or Brabus models), minivans, or ragged out teenage Honda projects. I do appreciate performance cars, and love talking about them at length. Owning one, honest, is the last thing I want. I've been kvetching over millimeters with
my handlebars for three weeks.... do any of you think I could handle a bird deucing on the hood of my (say) Porsche GT2 RS (as if I could EVER be lucky enough). Please, you might as well hit me over the head with something really heavy, or just wait for me to implode... But, seeing a fly-by of high-grade Italian or German metal still trips my trigger. Admiration pays more dividends than ownership.
Still wouldn't mind an Escort Cosworth RS with a Thule roof rack... You know, just for that occasional brevet or ultra race that starts more than 100 miles away, once a year or so. Mmmm.

...but this is a bike blog.

One final handlebar tweak this afternoon, and I think I have the fit finally licked. Took the long way home again and reveled in some sunshine, then came home, mowed the grass, and rode to my twice-a-week aerobic kickboxing class to round out nearly (ok, mowing the grass isn't really a workout) five solid hours of physical activity this afternoon.

Type on the blog a bit, sleep fast, and hit the OP city hall tomorrow morning for another round of coffee courtesy the City of Overland Park, and hopefully ride into work with Crowbar if we meet up.

Busy week...but a good one for the bike, always... Despite looming rain chances returning to the forecast tomorrow afternoon.

I hope, no matter from where you read this, that you're having a great Bike to Work Week!

A good day off.

I probably shoulda called or emailed some folks, but this was really on a whim. Anxious to try out the new fit on the Kogs and not having very much luck freeing up weekends lately, a couple of house-stuff appointments (read: cable guy, bug guy) happened earlier and took less time than I thought, and I already had the day off.....so......

Rare treat, I suit up and bite the bullet on a late-morning ride. I don the exact same kit as I wore on the April 300k, to eliminate variables, and head out into a brisk east wind. I figure I'll push into the wind and then enjoy the tailwind back towards home.

I tell ya, I've been a nervous wreck with this new fit. On the one hand, my knees feel better. They never hurt before this, but - yes - they somehow feel better now, stronger. My quads and hams seem more engaged. After a week of setteling in, my ability to spin up climbs and power the flats has not neccesarily gotten stronger, I won't be that bold, but I can maintain pace for longer. Riding in the drops seems slightly more comfy. The saddle feels like its in the right place, and I don't look or feel as stretched out.

On the flip side of that, my shoulders are killing me. Let me clarify: they were killing me BEFORE the fit. Posture at the computer at home and at work, and - how can I put this mildly? - a bagload of really ridiculous stress at work that I'm not even allowed to discuss, which makes it EVEN better to deal with. I really need a chiropractor or a massage to get this knot worked out, and I really should have done it before changing the bike fit. Even though on video capture and by seat of the pants, the fit is brilliant, my shoulder hasn't quite dropped into place. Doesn't really even hurt while riding, but at night I'm running low on Advil.

Been here before: this is familiar pain, its always in the same location on my left shoulder, and I've had it off-n-on for years - mainly because I can't relax very well at work. Times of stress and sensitive projects always have yielded this result for years. The only bike thing that ever made it worse was the old Schwinn Passage, rando-season number one. Too low and long a stem, and too little time at distance, and a camelbak on: small wonder. The following year I'd changed to a taller, shorter stem and the problems (even with the camelbak still on) vanished. The minute changes here on the Kogs don't worry me too much, assuming they go away. It's just been a tough month at work.

Still, there is a rampant paranoia in me that was mildly outlined in the last post about the fit, so when embarking on the longest ride since the changes perhaps my nervousness was creating even MORE stress. I need to quit coffee again, I think. No. Really. As I pedaled into the wind heading east with my sights on Longview Lake, I caught myself fixating on my hands, my shoulder, my nether-regions, just waiting for something to scream out "put the fit back"....

Sidebar..... "put...ze....candle...beck!"

... And it was really detracting from the ride. This was at a distance that didn't even exceed my commute distance, so WTF, DUDE? I exhuast myself. If you see me on the road, hold back, don't bother slowing up to talk to me: I will bore you to tears with my absurdities.

It was really cool to get out to places I hadn't ridden to in a while. Feeling good, and not hampered too much by the wind, I rolled into Missouri at 143rd street and Kenneth road, and made my way through Martin City, the smell of BBQ deep in my nostrils. Ahhhhh..... and on south to 139th and evetually Arrington road and Grandview via the back door. I meander through Grandview on the roads that make up the last 3 miles of the 600km brevet, and my mind flashes back to 2007 for a few miles, and how good it felt to accomplish that. I'm a little sad that this year might not happen: not the right way to find out the fit isn't right after all, so maybe a 200k is better first. There's always next year.

Who knows, because I'm feeling strong still, granted only 25 miles in I think at that point, but the notion that the fitness for 600 might be there is hard to ignore. I cross over US-71 and on to Byars road. The Summer Breeze route looms to the south, but I don't wanna get too nuts. To the north is the entrance to a trail I've never ridden, though I've ridden past it plenty of times. I dive onto the narrow blacktop and into the unknown. Several scenic miles later, I've popped out at a park near Longview lake itself, so I head back to Raytown road to continue north around the lake loop. Then I see him.

I'll call him "Local Lance". Every weekday ride has one if the timing is right. As I look left for traffic, I see a figure standing on the pedals rising the hill I'm near the top of. "Okay, let's see if I can hold him off," I ponder aloud, knowing he's far enough away that I'm not being rude, but close enough that it won't be too easy. Worst case, he catches me and we chat a bit. I shift, and start to ramp up the revs and speed. I don't bother looking back. I make short work of the next hill and actually feel like I'm holding up a respectible pace... Until...

On my right (we're on a very wide shoulder, so this is normal here) a very fit-looking guy on a Cannondale Six-13 passes me at about a 3mph advantage. "ahHA" I belt out... No reaction from "LL", no iPod, either... Hmmm. When one is so focused as to not exchange plesantries, well : its annoying. So, I rev up just a touch more, now that I know what I'm pacing. 23mph....25.... Ok, now we're matched. I purposefully stay out of his draft, to the point where he knows I'm not drafting him. A slight cross-tail wind here helps matters. A hill comes up again... Shallow and long, my favorite. Without having to rev more, I begin to overtake him, but he's not pleased. He stands, shifts, and pushes until the spacing is in his favor again, but he won't escape me. I feel the effort, but the hill is over - and "LL"s turn has arrived, he whips wildly to the left, across the shoulder, my front wheel (safely), and both traffic lanes to get into the turn lane there. The light turns
yellow, so we have to stop. Separated by two lanes, but not out of earshot, I offer "almost got the light..." Nothing. Ok, LL, ok...you're ALL that, aren't ya? You just got matched by a non-racer in safety yellow and ankle bands, on a 25 lb. lugged steel bike with fenders and generator lights. I hope you gain two pounds so your team jersey doesn't fit anymore. Har! I notice he tweaks his left leg at the knee a few times while waiting for the light... Pain? I have none... I am fit. Har-ho!

Drama over, I come to grips that I am about near the halfway mark of my ride, at least the farthest-east point. I continue around my beloved Longview lake loop, across the dam enjoying the view I haven't seen in years, and then south to hit the bottom leg of the loop back westbound. Tailwind time!

After my favorite old 40+ mph tucked descent back to Raytown road, it's time to get outta Grandview, and find Prospect road to get out in the country for a bit. Along that road, another rider is spotted wearing a Bicycle Shack jersey, and I reel him up. This won't be another "LL" story: the Bike Shack crowd is pretty cool. Its why I still say the Saturday AM Longview Lake ride is the best in the area.

I pass him with a "howdy" and a wave, and he waves back and says "hi". Normally that's plenty - but he continues by asking how far I'm going and where I came from. I slow up and we chat for about six miles, a nice guy named Dennis, former wrench from Wheelers, once upon a time. We talk bikes, rides, the area itself, good routes, just enjoying the new sunshine as the clouds of the morning finally part.

We part ways at 187th street, and I continue south to 195th and then State Line and 199th for the final jaunt home, and much needed water-refill stop and quick snack. During the ride so far I had ingested... well, I had breakfast this morning, so most of the late morning was banked on that intake. On Scherer Road south of the lake I had an Oatmeal Creme Pie. How-DIE-datsgooood. Had another one shortly after parting ways with Dennis, and with 12-14 miles to home, I just "needed" one quick top-off. Maybe some PB Crackers, and some Gatorade. Yeah... not he best fare, but rando-fare nonetheless. What else do I know how to eat?

Crosses my mind that they need a McDonalds at K-68 and Metcalf in Louisburg.

I stop at Stilwell Grocery and get my Gatorade and PB Crackers, a quick restroom break, and a bench to sit upon. A nice gent in a pickup, cutoff sleeves and a full-on straw cowboy hat chats me up about riding, hard work, life, traffic, land values, and the weather. It's an interesting moment considering my dress of choice at the moment and my method of transport - but he's interested and not afraid of conversation. He heads on back to his waiting field, and I mount up for home...

But not quite yet.

Shoulder or not, it's a rare day. I look along 199th street, towards US-69, and think to myself -- you know, I've done that road this year. Like three times. Fit issues? Well, aside from the shoulder, getting back on the bike seems good, feels "right"... nothing lingering or making me WISH I was closer to home, so why rush things? I turn south onto Metcalf, and head towards La Cygne on the Border Patrol route.

Now, before you get all excited and think that I went off half-cocked and knocked of a 300K on a new fit without even considering the consequences or the lack of RUSA credit, lemme be clear. Yeah, for HALF A SECOND I thought about it... maybe just Louisburg... ok, ok, ok... 223rd street. That'll work. Haven't ridden that in a while, and it beats 175th street hands down for scenery anymore, and traffic noise. I ride off to the south, fighting the wicked crosswind which had grown since I'd turned west last, and made it to 223rd and enjoyed a wild shove from the gale. not much to stop the wind out here, and I was wishing I'd brought the drogue chute for extra thrust. Before I knew it I was at Woodland Road, staring at the not-quite-complete RR bridge over the road at Spring Hill, KS.

I pointed the bike north, and zig-zagged my way back north and east to Olathe. Now, my shoulders were really starting to bother me. I stretched, shrugged, and drank more liquids to stave off dehydration, and was happy - overall - with the result of the ride.

Yeah, I had to do a fair amount of stretching in the garage afterwards - something I'm not used to doing, and really should do - but, I could feel the tension popping OUT of my shoulder finally. Even as I sit and type this, there is a little awareness of that knot. But, the OTHER side of my upper back is fine, my legs feel tired - but good, and my knees are fine. Even my hands, which I'd thought were fatigued from the new position, are feeling fine now. I think what we have here is a little acclimation happening, and - yes - I do need to give it more time, perhaps. With the feeling of power, the improvements in many areas, I'm certainly not switching anything back to where it was - but I feel like I'm safe tackling a 200K now. 600? Errr.... that might be risky. If anything presented itself negatively, that's a long way from home. Today, however, with 75 miles in the bank and a 16.0 MPH average speed - which I can't complain about - I feel pretty darn good about the changes....

... and the day itself. A GOOD day off on the bike...

Thanks for reading!

Getting Fit

I hesitated to even write this, and perhaps its another case of the dude thinkin' too much - but, I want to be abundantly clear about this before going any further. Many blog posts and reviews can come under easy fire and criticism if there are affiliations between the product/service and the reviewer. You'll see a lot of reviews that start with "I don't work for..." , "no-one paid me to say this", etc. So, before you read this, know that I *do* work part-time for BikeSource, and am therefore sorta affiliated with Specialized, and the Specialized BG Fit that I received yesterday. I was not paid to get the fit, and was not paid during the fit, and it wasn't mandatory for employees. I signed up voluntarily, just to see what the big deal was, really, and kinda selfishly to try and get personal confirmation that I had set myself up the right way all along.

Next, here's some reasons why the above is probably completely irrelevant with regards to what you're about to read below, and why I feel this still qualifies as an un-biased review of a service. I do not perform fits, and am not fit-trained. I work as a mechanic, part-time, at BikeSource, and am generally not in a position to sell or discuss bike fits. I can SIZE you to a bike, which means I can generally recommend a frame size and seatpost height based on loose measurements and random assumptions. Sizing and fitting are NOT the same thing. There are many shops in the KC Metro that provide fits. There are many sports medicine organizations that provide physical assessments to prevent or solve issues that could lead to injury. There are many Specialized BG-Fit certified shops in the country. BG-Fit is a indeed a brand, and it is specifically available in Specialized-affiliated shops, but the physical theories that are contained there-in are based on physiology and actual science, not on Specialized product or Specialized-branded or proprietary methods. My opinions and experiences outlined below are not intended to drive business to BikeSource or any other shop, recommend any specific fit method or thinking, but instead are intended simply to outline my personal experience, and highlight how the thinking with regards to bike fit has dramatically changed in a short period of time, and what is now readily available for utilization by the "average" cyclist.

Ok. I'm a knuckle-dragger. I'm a cave-man. I'm a hard-liner. My cleat position on my shoes and sandals has not changed since I "got it right" back in 2001. My seat height was derived by jamming an 18 inch long hunk of 2x4 stud into my - uh - region, while standing back-flat against a wall, balancing a magic marker and marking the wall behind me, then measuring and multiplying by the mean distance between the moon and the earth. My knee position was derived by fiddling with my saddle angle and fore-aft position a millimeter at a time until I could tolerate the pain for 200 miles. I run tan sidewall tires. I run fenders. I run bar-end shifters. I'm not a racer, I don't follow Euro trends with regards to fit and position, and my handlebars are level with my saddle. After four years of tinkering with my position on the bike, the saddle height, the brake hood location, and everything else that can be adjusted, well... you might as well weld those parts in place.

As an ultra-distance rider, an endurance nut, a randonneur, it must be said that there is a certain amount of pain and discomfort that simply comes with the activity. In even the shortest randonneuring distance, on your fastest day, you're in the saddle for seven hours, minimum. At the 600 kilometer level, you're in the seat for the better part of 30 hours, or more. Fatigue, saddle sores, pain, .... lingering pain. It's something that time and distance has taught riders like me to simply put out of my head. Rise above. The bike is fine, and nothing will change the fact that you're going to be sore after 200 miles. Period. Don't. Change. Anything.

So, how can someone like me even benefit from purposefully taking myself and my bike to someone that will scan and probe and look for excuses to change things like saddle height? WHAT??? Not only "no", but .. well, you know. Don't. Change. Anything. We use paint marks. We take perfectly pristine seatposts and etch tiny markings on the back of them with jeweler's tools, and then we examine and critique the position of those marks after every pot-hole and pavement joint to make sure our saddle height didn't change. I'm the worst possible example of this. I can see a millimeter of "off-center" from 30 paces. And it BUGS me.

GETTING to that point is what is important here. I have said it before about riding in general, and especially long-distance riding: fit IS everything. It's the difference between being appropriately sore after a 300K, and not being able to walk after a 300K, or when you're older. So, in my case, once it's "right" I am extremely hesitant to change anything, even under the guise of improvement.

The first part of the bike fit didn't even involve the bike. Looking for things like range of motion, flexibility, leg-length discrepancies, the way my feet naturally hang, and taking all of that information in. Questions are asked, and answered. Does this hurt? Does that? How much? Nothing is mystified. Every question is qualified, explained. Things are demonstrated. Measurements are taken. Nothing witch-doctory. This bone is here, this tuberosity is here, this metatarsal is here.

Then, the bike is locked into a REALLY expensive Compu-Trainer, leveled, and everything is measured AS-IS, before any riding or changing begins. So, if captain-hardliner-nut-job (read: ME) wants to put everything back exactly where it was, he can.

The position of key points on the body are marked, and I mount up to ride a portion of a basic road course to warm up and loosen up - so I am accurately represented on the bike. It helped that I rode to the shop, and was basically able to drop right back into my riding posture after a few minutes. As I was riding along, cameras positioned around the fit area were taking video of my ride. This is high-tech stuff, seriously, all the data being jammed into a computer while I pedaled along. Watts. Power distribution between each leg. Angles. Etc., etc., etc.

That's the "before" ride. I dismount, we check a LOT of data from the ride. Lines are drawn, angles taken, comparisons made, patterns emerge, and my memory is jogged. "OH YEAH... that's why my cleats were there..." remembering my first road shoes, and the struggles I'd had back in '99.

Then, the changes. If this is doing that, and you are feeling this, then maybe we change that, and try again?

Hesitation... "okay, we can always go back..."

Three solid, dedicated, patient hours are spent. It's you and the fit technician. Talking. Discussing. Observing yourself riding the bike, under load, freeze-framing, showing before and after, back and forth - like at the eye doctor... one... or two? one... or two? How about three? THOROUGH.

I've been through "fits" before, mind you. Just in the last two years, however, this level of technology, integration, putting physiology in place of those old "wives tales" like, the bars should be "xx" below the saddle, your knee should be here, saddle here, hoods here, you shouldn't be able to see the front axle when you look down, your heel should brush the pedal here - but just barely: good starting places, all good theories that saw a lot of champions ride to glory, lots of riders Race Across America, lots of MS-150 rides with no pain afterwards, a lot of bike-trail weekends pain-free and happy, yes, true. But, taking the video, marking the knees, the ankles, seeing it happen in real-time, under load, being able to juxtapose the images and analysis; this is stuff that (hate to even mention - trite-alert) Lance was using in a sports lab back in 2000. Doctors pioneered this stuff, long-time riders, racers, coaches, all realizing that the same theories and practices that squeeze every last watt and %efficiency out of an elite athlete at the top of his sport can ALSO benefit someone that just wants to ride XX miles with his or her friends and not be hitting the Advil for three days afterwards. The club rider that just wants to climb better, the tri-gal that wants to time-trial better, the mountain bike rider that is sick and tired of his sore shoulders, even the bike trail rider that just doesn't want to hurt... and who doesn't deserve to enjoy a sport that is meant to be enjoyed, at whatever level? This is trickle-down technology in a terrific form.

After the recommendations are carefully thought out, things begin to happen:

For me, let's go back a couple years again. I didn't really have many "complaints" in 2003. I refer to that as my "title year", culminating at the Mississippi Valley 24-Hour race. My speed and performance - while not race-winning - were darn good for me, and have been hard to replicate since. I was "comfortable" enough, and had roadside hand-ups and support, and my foot didn't unclip from the pedals until mile 166. I remember the ride, I don't remember pain. Over time, I retired that particular bike, and stumbled around with translating measurements myself from that bike to its replacement, and then to another replacement, and another, and another, and another, and finally to the bike that I primarily ride today. Over time, the only thing that has remained the same has been my saddle and my pedals. Frame geometries, handlebars, brake hood brands, where the shifters are, and even HOW I measure things has changed. So, whether I realized it or not (more likely not), my own personal fit was changing each time, very slightly. My body adapted, and whatever pain resulted from those minute changes was absorbed again. Mileage went up, pain went up - naturally. Mentally, as I matured as a rider, my tolerances for those pains increased all while I kept looking for tweaks, and getting new frames. If anything was really changing, I wasn't noticing.

Cut to two years ago, on the newly built-up Trek 450 "Warbird", I roll into BikeSource for the "old" fit method, pre-technology. I entered in with the same hesitation that I brought in yesterday. "We're not going to need to change anything... I transfered my fit from my 2003 bike..." I went away having discovered that my seat was too high, and my bars too far away. Rotated up the bars, adjusted the saddle, and I raised my eyebrows a little. Am I getting older? (No... you'd managed to dork up your own "fit" by switching bikes six times.) I continued that trend by riding the Trek home, and immediately "transferring" that new fit to the Kogswell. Was it exact? Probably not. This is largely impossible in practice because of the differences in the frames, some of the angles, etc., I'd come to find - but it DID get me closer to where I should have been, and that is the fit that stayed locked into the Kogswell, and got me things like my first 600K finish, and my first R-12 finish, without any significant pains. That's the fit that I rolled into the shop yesterday.

Though I was closer to where my body wanted to be, there were still small opportunities. While my body was adapting, and I didn't really have any nagging pains that I THOUGHT were connected to the bike, it was remarkable how the tiny alterations made larger changes to how my body looked on the bike in the videos. Where my knee was over the pedal, where my cleats were in relation to my foot, how telling my shoe's foot-bed was - examining the big toe, heel and arch markings pressed and rubbed into the foot-bed of the shoe was like a scene from CSI, and I was able to see clear images that explained why my big toes' nails hurt so much after long rides, for example. Pain that I'd learned to block out. I did my best the entire time to be my own best control. At the initial interview, I'd gone right down the checklist: does this hurt? No. Does that? No. At the time, I really didn't have any complaints... but as the data came out, and evidence was brushed off, things like my toenails, my shoulders, how I land on the saddle after I've been climbing OUT of the saddle, came to light in my head. Why, in the last two hours of a 200K do I keep having to slide backwards on the seat every few miles? As the process continued, I found myself changing a lot of my initial answers to the "does this hurt?" questions from "no", to "well, it could be better..." I wasn't prompted in that direction, to be clear - but the dialog in my head that played out as I watched the videos and listened to the measurements, things popped into my head like "man, I'm pretty stretched out...", and eventually I'd admit that, yes, such and such does tend to feel weird after XX miles.

One result, basically, the saddle simply wasn't where it should have been. Height? Perfect. I was happy with myself there. Angle? No problem. Fore/Aft? uhhhh.....not supposed to mess with that, right? Well, right... knees can be placed at risk. But, looking at the total picture, my knees were not exactly where they should have been in relationship to the pedal axles, either. Looking to my feet - and I was surprised how much attention was paid to my shoes and feet in this process - my cleats were also not where they should have been. I'd been spending years basically pedaling with my toes. Small movements, but with each tweak and subsequent session back on the trainer, back on the video feed, the small changes began to reveal changes in other areas, in a positive fashion. All the while, concerns about moving the saddle forward and somehow tossing the knees out of whack were alleviated instantly by confirmation of proper angles and alignments because of the movement of the cleats. My shoulders relaxed in the video. My knees lined up better than before - very slight, but there. My elbows looked more neutral, relaxed. The dizzying amount of angles, data, axes of motion captured could satisfy the most analytical theorist, and the data can be used to tailor whatever you like: more power, more comfort, and of course a balance of both. Generally, however, the goal isn't "low and aero" like some of the old thinking used to dictate... it's remarkable that really, there is only one goal in the "fit", and that's to get the best possible position so you CAN have both power AND comfort. Heck, look at any pro-peloton race this spring, and then watch a video from the 80's. The thinking HAS changed. Sure, you won't be positioned as low as a feather-weight pro-racer -- you don't have his flexibility -- but you can see over a span of 20 years of pro racers, the positions have changed. No-one used to pay that close of attention. Fatigue as a multiplier, one really does lend itself to the other... the body simply won't produce power if it's not lined up right, and that means comfort, almost automatically. The science works, and its been echoed in far more places than this shop or this method, in recent years.

But, the technology makes a huge difference. The video capture is brilliant, repeatable, overlay-able, measurable -- compared to me, on a trainer in my garage dangling some excuse for a plumb-line from my own knee and trying to figure out things on my own, or back to standing barefoot against that wall in the garage with the 2x4 jammed up into myself and a calculator. Trying to be objective enough on the bike to determine whether or not my own hips are rocking. Again, I don't do "fits". I can tell if a bike is the right size for me, or someone else, but I was only barely in the neighborhood of understanding.

So, clearly, this will require a follow-up post in a few months. On the ride home last night, things DID feel better. Some of my initial complaints seemed to dissolve. When I stood up to climb, and then naturally dropped back down, the saddle was there to meet me and I didn't have to readjust. Last night, my legs were a little sore, maybe more fatigued than normal - expected: the changes, while small, are still changes. I'll need to give it the rest of the week in commutes at least before I "forget" and let my body tell the tale, let things settle in. In a few more weeks, the 600K looms... but perhaps that's too lofty, even after minor changes. There is a 200K that same day, and that might be more appropriate. Only then, after 8+ hours, will I know for sure if there is any net gain - be it in speed, fatigue, or perception of pain. If I was able to simply take the pain and discard it on last month's 300K, then certainly, physically and physiologically, the improvements (and I have no doubt that improvements were made yesterday) should net less pain to discard, which might equate to stronger finishes.

So, for now - I'm impressed. As part of the review, I have to ask myself - would I recommend this to others? Well, I can't direct you to a specific location, but I would indeed recommend this kind of approach to fit. It's not a new statement for me - when it comes to performance, endurance, being pain-free, FIT is everything. What I've been able to do for myself over the years has afforded me a lot of long-distance finishes, and day-after-day commutes without injury. Can you do it for yourself, in your garage, using existing methods and the traditional thinking? Absolutely. Is it worth it to save a few years (in my case) of tinkering to get real data, real images, measurements done two different ways, and the level of expertise that comes from someone that spent a good amount of time and money getting trained by professionals? I am convinced, yes. If I had the opportunity to do it over again, had this level of technology been available in a retail bike store back when I was doing my own rotation of "tweak-ride-hurt-tweak-ride-hurt less-tweak-ride-repeat", I would have done it and saved myself a lot of trouble, pain, and would have just enjoyed riding from the get-go. Instead of my flawed measurements and half-handed attempts to move those measurements from bike to bike, I would have opted to enjoy one of the end results of yesterday's process, which is a data-sheet with repeatable measurements, before and after, that can then be transfered to other bikes in your stable, or that new bike you've been eyeing.

So, should you get a professional bike fit? If you've got some issues, pains on your existing bike - absolutely. And, yes, even in my case where I went in without a single complaint and a fair amount of skepticism, ANYTHING can be improved. I was never forced, falsely encouraged, there was no product placement involved, nor was I cornered into changing something just for the sake of changing something. I was informed, reassured it was reversible, and given unbiased, clear data and images of my own body in motion, not compared to any control or example, and allowed to make an intelligent choice. If you love riding, regardless of distance, yes: I'd recommend getting a real, true fit. It doesn't matter where: but ask the questions, call them, ask what you get for your dollar and time, ask where and how they were trained, how do they think about the process, what's their goal for you? Then decide.

I'll report back after the next long ride, and then I'll know more.

Keep riding, and thanks for reading!

Doin' the Double

My latest facebook posts have indicated that the RIDE should be epic, not the post about it.
That's sometimes easier said than done, because of the constant stream of information and inputs that a rider can get from the environment they're in while sitting on a bicycle for such a long period of time. In this case, that was just under 13 hours worth of saddle time, and in total about 15 hours and 48 minutes of total time "out" on the ride itself, including the stops, etc. So, paring that down into meaningful bullets that aren't completely exhausting is difficult for me.
I'll give it a shot.

Eighteen people started this one, and it was a good turnout from a lot of the local scene - Dale B., Danny C., a girl that came in from Colorado whose name I can't remember because I'm terrible at that stuff. Andy, Greg and Karen on the tandem, and Dave, an others whose names escape me also.
A good crowd.

Twice on this ride, from two different people, it's commented on how minimalist my set-up is. I don't have a trunk bag, I don't have a ton of stuff with me. My order of Carboplex didn't come in, so I just decided to do the ride on c-store fare. Risk, perhaps, yes... but, having other experienced riders comment about how LITTLE I was carrying along with me for a near-200-mile ride? Complement? Hard to tell, but I think it's an indication that I'm familiar with myself as a rider, and have allowed myself a little room to suffer, as opposed to trying to carry everything under the sun. Took a long time to get "here" - back in '02 starting rides with a flat kit and learning the hard way... to the extreme of full saddlebags and carrying so much food I could do a 600K without spending a dime at a c-store. There is a balance: on longer rides, you won't find me with so little, but maybe not with too much, either.

This was the first ride of the season for me where I was actually able to start with half-finger gloves. The temperatures, after a long, tough winter of Kansas cycling, were really nice, almost 50 at the start, and a slight tailwind.

The first section was moderately hilly, which would prove interesting 12 hours later.

Riding out on highway FF from Oak Grove to Higginsville, what a magical road, seriously. Long, straight, hilly, perfectly indicative of rural Missouri - very cool sunrise, very big long hills here and there. Riding it at night, later, was equally magical.

Higginsville, MO., hit the Casey's - in and out, really quickly - and back on the road. The section from Higginsville to Marshall was "interesting". I liked highway AA, and riding through Corder. I enjoyed crossing all the railroad crossings (KCS, I think) that seemed to zig-zag across the route. I think I crossed the same set of tracks maybe three times? Kind neat, but alas no train encounters. Coming out of Corder, MO. and onto MO-20, began one of the longest sections of road I think I've ever been on in a while. I mean, the last time I can remember feeling like "I'm never getting off this road" was the last 48-miles of Ride the Rockies in 2002. I mean, it's hard to describe, but it's not really LONG.... 23 miles or so on one road, not horrible, but man.... seemed like it took forever. I was enjoying 3rd on the road at this point, and finally got caught up by Steve G., the mileage king. I was partly testing myself on this ride, and it's not about road position or anything like that with randonneuring, but I was happy so far. Out front? Jeff W. and Alex S. - the speed kings.

Finally arriving at Marshall, MO., and a quick stop at the Casey's there. Whew. Getting warmer, so layers come off for the next leg.

A new fave little town discovered along the way, Slater, MO. Good Casey's, good folks. Even one of the teenager-type working there, instead of being completely shut off to the idea, asked me (on the return trip) "is there, like, a marathon or race going on?" "Sorta, yeah... long-distance marathon bike ride". "Cool..." Went into a few of the details, and he actually had some intelligent questions. For that to happen out in "the sticks" is pretty rare. Neat moment.
Another long section of road ahead, and now I've been caught up by the tandem and "Dave" (?). The interesting thing, I've also been caught from behind by Jeff and Alex. Hmmm.... cue sheet woes, perhaps? Hard to tell. Again, doesn't matter - a finish is a finish!

The next section was pretty neat. Another long spat along MO-240, mostly flat across the Missouri river floodplain, along some railroad tracks again - but, no trains. Finally we reached the pinnacle of the ride, well, at least for me -- I've never crossed the Missouri River on a bicycle, and today was the day. Hopping across the long grade of the bridge and landing in Glasgow, MO., and then south to highway AA for the run into Fayette, MO., the halfway. Hilly road. Very neat, dancing around the bluffs. Hilly.

A 6" veggie sub at Fayette, MO., chips, drink. Along the way, so far, I've been riding on the "feed bag" - a top-tube bag (triathlon style) turned into a tiny handlebar bag, and inside: peanut butter crackers, fig netwons, cashews. Tried Gardetto's original snack mix, but it didn't work for me. Odd taste. Worked in the past, but not this time. Next time, I oughta try Powerbar Harvest broken into pieces, maybe for some variety. The veggie sub was real food, and tasted GOOD. It made the hills and the return trip back across the river to Slater a little easier. I never really found myself wanting for calories, until later in the ride. I also had two Hammer Gel flasks full at the beginning of the ride, and used them for predictable hits here and there, and mixed them in with straight water to keep the delivery coming. Later in the ride, though, the amount of calories required to maintain the same speed, power, gets higher. At the end of the run back to Slater, for example, I ate another veggie sub... well, a cheese sub. Drank a real Coke. Some Powerade Zero (thank the maker). I perhaps had a quarter of that amount of food on the outbound, so the day was clearly catching up, food-wise. My problem - I was missing the carboplex. I won't carry enough to fuel every mile, but having some to drink at each control is a good thing for me, because it gets difficult for me to force food down. I just can't eat what I should in solid food. But, I can drink liquids without issue - so Carboplex works. Simple, inexpensive, predictable.

Electrolytes would be a big factor today, too -- first warmish ride of the season, and I didn't want to cramp like I had on the March permanent. Success! Endurolytes, and the occasional Powerade Zero drink (again, thank goodness for whoever decided to start stocking a high-fructose-corn-syrup FREE electrolyte drink at rural c-stores, you get a high-five.), and I was topped off nicely.

Rounding out the calorie discussion, and this is really NOT the way to lose weight, I'll grant you, I lost 6.5 lbs on this ride. I don't think it was hydration based... not sure. I was blessed with a bout of food poisoning about 24 hours after finishing the ride, so after surviving that I don't really know where my body ended up - but, I don't imagine I took in quite enough food during the ride itself. The food poisoning was un-related to the ride, by the way - but it sure didn't help recovery.

From Slater to Marshall... yikes. Okay, not bad, but hillier than I remember. Managed to hang with the Greg and Karen on the tandem and Dave a bit more, and we stayed together more or less, kinda yo-yo'ing along the way. This is a really neat section of road, and even though there was more of a headwind on this part of the return leg, I was still really enjoying the day. It was a good day to be enjoyed, with Meadowlarks singing, cardinals, and other songbirds playing in the sunshine. A good day to be on a bike in the country.

Back in Marshall, at the Casey's, made the marginal mistake of having something with a little TOO much sugar in it, a cherry pastry.... DANG it was good, but as soon as it was down I felt, well, "off". It passed quickly, however, and I felt good again. Turned into good push for the next 15 miles. At this point, Danny C., "Colorado" and Andy had caught up to us. I was ready, so when they rolled out, so did I. Not ready to rest quite yet. My tentative goal was to at least get back to Higginsville before dark. That was do-able, but not if I dawdled. We four rolled out onto Highway 20.

Yeesh, what a long road. Hydration today wasn't a problem, like I'd mentioned, but being SO on top of it sometimes became an annoyance. Had to make the roadside stop about halfway down this highway, finally finding a suitable turn-off. The four of us managed to stay together, but I proved how horrible I am in a paceline. I took my turn at the front, and then realized after about four minutes there was silence behind me. Ugh. Sorry! So, I'd slow up and regroup. But, I'm not sure -- I find myself being able to climb better than I can maintain speed on the flats. Every time the road began to pitch up, I was able to maintain more of a consistent pace without slowing, and that's what eventually had me miles off the group again by the time we reached Corder, MO. I made my way to the Casey's at Higginsville, and then rode back north to the McDonalds there, and re-found the group, joining Danny and company for a little McD before the final leg. The only mistake I made here was maybe (again) not eating ENOUGH. Another example where a bottle of Carboplex might have made the difference. I had a large fries and a Coke. Felt good, tasted awesome... but I should have forced down more food. Others around me, one example, had a chicken sandwich, an apple pie, a large fries, a yogurt parfait, a package of cookies and a Coke. I had probably a quarter of the calories they had, and returning to the road afterwards I was struggling to keep pace at times, feeling my still-empty gut and lack of push. But, I just can't force that much food down my trap. I even had to pour the last 1/4 of my large fries into my feed bag to eat out on the road. Couldn't even finish that in one sitting.

The last section was neat - riding along with Danny and friends, hills, sunset, Venus rising, birds off to bed. Took a long time to get back to Oak Grove, but, we made it. Not a bad day out! The hills were steep, yes... but not unmanageable. Looking forward to the next step, perhaps the 600K this time. The 400K to Iowa, I've already done before... so not sure, since the focus is still on R-12, if I need to do two long rides in May. June, however, is the 1,000K... and Danny has sunk his feelers into me on the subject. "I can do it", "I'm in my prime", "It's a life-changer". Whoa.... I'll think about it. THAT is a long ride.

The next day, I rode around the block a couple times with my son to get an even 200 miles for the weekend.
I felt really good Sunday, probably the best I've felt after a ride like this.
Sunday night into Monday, however, I seem to have contracted food poisoning, so I've been sent back to square one. Even walking a considerable distance was a chore. Hopefully, I'll be back on the saddle soon.

I'll leave you with some links to some music:


Music from the Road - (or, what was stuck in my head while I rode):

Vampire Weekend - Cousins I dig these kids. Solid. Been on my playlist for a while now.
Pearl Jam - Just Breathe A band that has matured a lot over the years, and their latest stuff is actually not shabby.
Metric - Gold, Guns, Girls I haven't always been a huge fan, and some of their older stuff isn't so hot, but this CD was good.
Manchester Orchestra - I've got Friends Not sure if I'm totally in love with this group, but this track it pretty good.
Iyaz - Replay I blame my wife for this one. I despise this song. Alas, there it was, in my head. Stupidly catchy.
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home Goofy, old country feel.
Them Crooked Vultures - Mind Eraser, No Chaser The drummer might look familiar. Pretty good band - no official video, but this live track is solid and not far off the studio version.
There you have it... thanks for reading!

23 hours....

Looking forward to a nice day on the bike tomorrow. 300 kilometers of awesome, 10,000 ft. of climbing, good roads, good friends. Updates from the road to come.

New roads

It's not the "same ole 300K"... not this year.

Visit the KCUC website for more information on this weekend's Oak Grove 300K.

196 miles of uncharted (well, for this group) territory!

 

This is where randonneuring for a lot of folks gets more serious... but I can only really speak for myself here.

Since 2002, the 300K has been a challenging ride - but, it's been the same course for many years running.

This makes it easier (if that's possible) for the returning rider to plan their day, conserve energy for "xx" section of the route, and similar.

Getting lost isn't a concern any more, generally, as turns become second nature and landmarks are burned on the brain.  It's never an "easy" distance, however, because you still have to pedal, after all.  The wind may change, pavement degrades and other section get fresh tarmac.  Ther can be construction, there can be weather concerns.  So, really - even though the cue sheet is the same, it's never really identical to the last time you rode it... but at least you know what to expect from the course, the hills, the traffic.

 

This year, a brand new route graces the KCUC calendar.  It's not a reprise of an old route from the 90's, no - it's fresh.

Granted, the roads have always been out there, but this is the first time they've been strung together for the KCUC group to discover.

New hills, new direction, new scenery, new challenges all along the way.

 

Big thanks to our own Spencer K. for putting this one together.  I'm looking forward to it!

It's the next step in the Super Randonneur 2010 series (200, 300, 400 and 600K rides in the same year), and will be #3 in my personal quest for R-12 #2.

Seriously, I'm jazzed -- it won't be a fast day for me - looking at the bigger picture, but after watching the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and seeing the pros hammer it out, I'm pumped.

Thoughts of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday have me excited to ride my own adventure, and then recover on the couch Sunday in front of Versus HD for the cobbles!

It's warmer, the sun is out, the grass is green --- I feel good, and ready.

 

If you are interested, again, visit the KCUC website for details, pre-registration or RSVP today!

You can print cue sheets and preview the map from that site as well.

 

 

 

 

Shot from the March brevet

Riders on the move, working hard to build that cushion of body heat before the rain begins... Again...