Some of this is common sense, some of it is counter-intuitive, and some of it is just fun.
I’m talking about the Audax 200K, and food management.
First recommendation: Eat a good breakfast. Have breakfast at least an hour to an hour and a half before the ride starts. This is the fuel that will power your body when you start to ride.
Second recommendation: Have a quick snack just before we start to ride. This is the fuel that you will be using at the end of the second hour of riding.
Third recommendation: Plan to have a snack at the first rest stop in Greenville. This food will be fueling your climb over Pine Mountain.
Fourth recommendation: Have another snack when we stop in the town of Pine Mountain. You’re probably going to be a bit depleted by this point.
Lunch! After riding 65 miles (and a mountain), we’ll be stopping in Warm Springs, for lunch at the Bulloch House. This is buffet style, country cooking. It’s incredible. Expect to eat a hearty meal.
I get some comments from folks about the idea of stopping on a long ride to eat a big meal. We will sit down for this. We’ll do it in a leisurely fashion. We’ll take a bit of a digestion break after we eat. And finally, I’ll be controlling the pace to a very moderate level for the first hour after lunch. You will have time to digest, and time to gradually warm up. So it works out to a day with two good long rides, separated by a nice lunch break.
Most folks don’t really feel the need to eat much at the rest stop in Gay, GA. It’s only a bit more than an hour after we’ve left the lunch stop. But I notice that most riders do feel the need of a bit of a snack again when we make the stop in Digby, GA. That stop is about 40 miles after the lunch stop, and most have managed to burn down a lot of the lunch calories.
Now here’s the amazing part. When we finally arrive back in Peachtree City, most riders do have appetite for the post ride cold cuts.
Where does all the food go? Face it, we’ll have an actual on-bike time of about eight hours. Those are 400 to 500 calorie hours. That means that the typical rider will burn off between 3200 and 4000 calories. That’s close to three days subsistence for the normal (fairly sedentary) individual. That energy has to come from somewhere.
So one of the themes for this ride is “Eat, Drink, and be merry!”
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
THE 65 MILE TUNE UP IN DETAIL
Astute readers will remember the profile I posted for the 65 mile Audax Tune Up Ride. Those who haven’t done the ride might appreciate a bit more info on it.
Obviously it’s hilly.
The first leg is approximately 15 miles long. This is the warm up section. We have a brief stop at a store in Palmetto at the end of this leg.
Following the first stop, we head into more rural country. There are a lot of long sight lines, and pleasant vistas as we cut across southern Fulton County. This stretch is mostly descending, as we are headed for a bridge over the Chattahoochee River.
As soon as we cross the river, the ride character changes. We climb away from the river until we reach the turn onto Georgia Hwy 166, at mile 27. We proceed north on 166, riding a course of big booming “rollers.” We will be riding along the western bluffs of the Chattahoochee, and heading upstream. This means that each climb is a little shorter than the one before. The descents are amazing.
At mile 31, the route flattens out for a bit. It will remain relatively gentle until we reach the next store stop at mile 40. We’ll take about a 20 minute break here.
After the second stop, we turn back south, and begin a long step climb away from the river. We’ll slip past the town of Fairburn, riding just a bit south of it. Then we again ride a few gentle rollers through some of the most scenic parts of south Fulton County.
At mile 50, we cross Georgia Hwy 74. At this point we have an optional stop. If anyone is desperate for a “nature break,” we can stop briefly here. Otherwise we will continue through the hills in northern Fayette County, bending again to the west. This last leg is just a bit under 15 miles in length.
Come on along. It's a pleasant long afternoon on the bike.
Obviously it’s hilly.
The first leg is approximately 15 miles long. This is the warm up section. We have a brief stop at a store in Palmetto at the end of this leg.
Following the first stop, we head into more rural country. There are a lot of long sight lines, and pleasant vistas as we cut across southern Fulton County. This stretch is mostly descending, as we are headed for a bridge over the Chattahoochee River.
As soon as we cross the river, the ride character changes. We climb away from the river until we reach the turn onto Georgia Hwy 166, at mile 27. We proceed north on 166, riding a course of big booming “rollers.” We will be riding along the western bluffs of the Chattahoochee, and heading upstream. This means that each climb is a little shorter than the one before. The descents are amazing.
At mile 31, the route flattens out for a bit. It will remain relatively gentle until we reach the next store stop at mile 40. We’ll take about a 20 minute break here.
After the second stop, we turn back south, and begin a long step climb away from the river. We’ll slip past the town of Fairburn, riding just a bit south of it. Then we again ride a few gentle rollers through some of the most scenic parts of south Fulton County.
At mile 50, we cross Georgia Hwy 74. At this point we have an optional stop. If anyone is desperate for a “nature break,” we can stop briefly here. Otherwise we will continue through the hills in northern Fayette County, bending again to the west. This last leg is just a bit under 15 miles in length.
Come on along. It's a pleasant long afternoon on the bike.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
HOW DO I CARRY IT ALL?
It’s 25 days to the 65 mile Tune Up Ride
It’s 38 days to the Audax Ride
This blog concerns itself with the upcoming Audax Ride. Audax Riding is a type of touring. So this post is going to address an aspect of touring. Luggage.
A tour is characterized by time. The tourist is usually on the bike for most of the day. Daily distances may be 100 miles or more. For any number of reasons, the best route for a given leg, just might take the rider a long way from stores, shelter, or other forms of support. Incidents occur. Night time riding could be a possibility, even a necessity. The length of a given day on the bike implies that the rider will meet a variety of conditions. The prudent tourist plans for this.
One of the inescapable implications of the above is that the tourist will carry more stuff, and will carry it for a longer period of time.
The “stuff” breaks down into several broad categories:
Food and water
Clothing
Tools and spares
A long day could mean the need to carry warmer clothing against morning and evening chills. Almost any day could include rain, and cooler ones require protective clothing. Longer days mean the need to pack food. The likelihood of out riding phone coverage, or of reaching more remote and less populated areas implies the need to be able to repair the occasional flat or break down.
What you choose to carry depends on your approach to riding, and on how far you are going. The simple fact is, longer rides require more cargo.
Now we come to the more interesting part of the problem. More stuff, means more weight. You will have to pedal that weight up every hill. Do you really want to support it with your body too? Generally, the idea is to put the weight on the bike, not on the body.
If one is going to load a bike, the bike should, obviously, have the means to be loaded. Eyelets for rack mounts are almost a necessity. But a problem with racks is the infrastructure cost. I’m not talking about money here, but rather, the idea that the means of carrying things adds weight and drag itself. Shorter to intermediate touring should be set up with an eye to reducing this infrastructure overhead.
An example of this infrastructure problem is water. Cyclists must have water. A minimum of two liters is the bare bones. Three liters is better. A back pack hydration system is easy to use, but a pack that can hold three liters (100 ounces) is bulky and adds a lot of weight. Three bottle cages and three plastic bottles don’t come close to equaling the weight of the pack, and they ride on the bike.
Each rider will look at these problems differently, and many different solutions are possible. My suggestion is to gather together all of the equipment, clothing, and supplies that you intend to take with you. Then look at ways to carry it all, on the bike, or on the person. Experiment with several of these methods. You might just trim the load a bit here and there. Go on some longer rides, two to four hours, with your “stuff,” packed as you expect to. Does this work? Now is the time to experiment. The final shakedown would be on the 65 mile Tune Up Ride.
It’s 38 days to the Audax Ride
This blog concerns itself with the upcoming Audax Ride. Audax Riding is a type of touring. So this post is going to address an aspect of touring. Luggage.
A tour is characterized by time. The tourist is usually on the bike for most of the day. Daily distances may be 100 miles or more. For any number of reasons, the best route for a given leg, just might take the rider a long way from stores, shelter, or other forms of support. Incidents occur. Night time riding could be a possibility, even a necessity. The length of a given day on the bike implies that the rider will meet a variety of conditions. The prudent tourist plans for this.
One of the inescapable implications of the above is that the tourist will carry more stuff, and will carry it for a longer period of time.
The “stuff” breaks down into several broad categories:
Food and water
Clothing
Tools and spares
A long day could mean the need to carry warmer clothing against morning and evening chills. Almost any day could include rain, and cooler ones require protective clothing. Longer days mean the need to pack food. The likelihood of out riding phone coverage, or of reaching more remote and less populated areas implies the need to be able to repair the occasional flat or break down.
What you choose to carry depends on your approach to riding, and on how far you are going. The simple fact is, longer rides require more cargo.
Now we come to the more interesting part of the problem. More stuff, means more weight. You will have to pedal that weight up every hill. Do you really want to support it with your body too? Generally, the idea is to put the weight on the bike, not on the body.
If one is going to load a bike, the bike should, obviously, have the means to be loaded. Eyelets for rack mounts are almost a necessity. But a problem with racks is the infrastructure cost. I’m not talking about money here, but rather, the idea that the means of carrying things adds weight and drag itself. Shorter to intermediate touring should be set up with an eye to reducing this infrastructure overhead.
An example of this infrastructure problem is water. Cyclists must have water. A minimum of two liters is the bare bones. Three liters is better. A back pack hydration system is easy to use, but a pack that can hold three liters (100 ounces) is bulky and adds a lot of weight. Three bottle cages and three plastic bottles don’t come close to equaling the weight of the pack, and they ride on the bike.
Each rider will look at these problems differently, and many different solutions are possible. My suggestion is to gather together all of the equipment, clothing, and supplies that you intend to take with you. Then look at ways to carry it all, on the bike, or on the person. Experiment with several of these methods. You might just trim the load a bit here and there. Go on some longer rides, two to four hours, with your “stuff,” packed as you expect to. Does this work? Now is the time to experiment. The final shakedown would be on the 65 mile Tune Up Ride.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
Now there’s a question. The answer is, we go. Rain or shine. We go.
That said, the recent weather sort of demands a discussion of rain riding. I have a bike all picked for this ride. It’s one I enjoy using for this purpose. But if it rains, I’ll be riding this instead.
That said, the recent weather sort of demands a discussion of rain riding. I have a bike all picked for this ride. It’s one I enjoy using for this purpose. But if it rains, I’ll be riding this instead.
Right. That’s my loaded touring bike. Notice the fenders? That’s why I’m showing the picture. The fenders. Fenders are kind of a bike geek thing. They are until it starts raining. In the rain, fenders are wonderful. They keep the water from splashing up your back. The keep your wheels from throwing a spray back at your shoes. You stay cleaner, which means your rain gear works longer and better. But more, fenders along with mud flaps, can make you much more popular.
In the rain, a bike with fenders doesn’t throw a huge “rooster tail” of water and muck at the rider behind. Mud flaps improve this performance even more. If you look closely at the picture, you will see the “custom” mud flaps, I’ve constructed from a one gallon milk jug.
Suppose you don’t have fenders mounted on your bike. Suppose it would be difficult to mount them. Many bikes don’t have the necessary eyelets for a fender mount. What to do? SKS makes a really nice set of fenders called the Raceblade. Check this link for a look.
http://www.sks-germany.com/sks.php?l=en&a=product&i=5289300000
They aren’t quite as full coverage as the more permanently mounted type, but they can be mounted on virtually any bike. More, they can be mounted, and removed, in a matter of minutes. No screws, bolts, or tricky mounting hardware. And with a little ingenuity, they could be modified to include a set of “custom” mud flaps.
In the rain, a bike with fenders doesn’t throw a huge “rooster tail” of water and muck at the rider behind. Mud flaps improve this performance even more. If you look closely at the picture, you will see the “custom” mud flaps, I’ve constructed from a one gallon milk jug.
Suppose you don’t have fenders mounted on your bike. Suppose it would be difficult to mount them. Many bikes don’t have the necessary eyelets for a fender mount. What to do? SKS makes a really nice set of fenders called the Raceblade. Check this link for a look.
http://www.sks-germany.com/sks.php?l=en&a=product&i=5289300000
They aren’t quite as full coverage as the more permanently mounted type, but they can be mounted on virtually any bike. More, they can be mounted, and removed, in a matter of minutes. No screws, bolts, or tricky mounting hardware. And with a little ingenuity, they could be modified to include a set of “custom” mud flaps.
We can get these, and any number of other fender solutions for you in the shop.
It’s food for thought.
It’s food for thought.
Upcoming Events:
65 mile Tune Up ~~
Sunday, 21 September
11:00 AM
Start/Finish at Bicycles Unlimited, Peachtree City, GA
Audax 200K ~~
Saturday, 4 October
7:30 AM
Start/Finish at Bicycles Unlimited, Peachtree City, GA
Monday, August 25, 2008
MOTIVES
It is important that this blog is as honest as it can be. If I am going to discuss equipment in any but the most general terms, I will have to mention specific products, companies, or businesses. These are not advertisements.
I’m not accepting any advertising on this blog. I will not accept any consideration for mention of products or services here. If I suggest that a given product or service is worthy of consideration, it is because my experience supports that suggestion.
In short, the only thing being advertised on this blog is the actual Audax Ride, on 4 October. I want you to come out and have some fun with me. My other intention is that this ride serves as an introduction to the sport of Randonneurring. That’s the motivation.
I will not be earning any profit from the ride. The $27.00 fee for the ride is simply a means of covering the expenses of lunch, the post ride snack, and some water along the way. I do this because, it allows me to arrange a group rate for both lunch and the post ride food.
So if you see a product on this blog, it’s there either as an example of something, or I’m endorsing it freely because I know it’s useful. Where something is an opinion of mine, I’ll label it as such. Where there is objective evidence, I’ll state it. If I’ve read or heard good reviews, but don’t know it from my own experience, I’ll indicate that too.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
I’m not accepting any advertising on this blog. I will not accept any consideration for mention of products or services here. If I suggest that a given product or service is worthy of consideration, it is because my experience supports that suggestion.
In short, the only thing being advertised on this blog is the actual Audax Ride, on 4 October. I want you to come out and have some fun with me. My other intention is that this ride serves as an introduction to the sport of Randonneurring. That’s the motivation.
I will not be earning any profit from the ride. The $27.00 fee for the ride is simply a means of covering the expenses of lunch, the post ride snack, and some water along the way. I do this because, it allows me to arrange a group rate for both lunch and the post ride food.
So if you see a product on this blog, it’s there either as an example of something, or I’m endorsing it freely because I know it’s useful. Where something is an opinion of mine, I’ll label it as such. Where there is objective evidence, I’ll state it. If I’ve read or heard good reviews, but don’t know it from my own experience, I’ll indicate that too.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Friday, August 22, 2008
MORE TRAINING TIPS
A few days ago I suggested some hill work for training purposes. The workout I outlined would be good for a couple of the shorter rides in a week’s activity. Some folks are, by now, wondering what else might be done to prepare for this event. We also just finished a discussion of equipment and gear to be carried. This post is going to combine both of those concepts and answer the question.
It is inescapable that most of you will be carrying more stuff than you are accustomed to. To get ready to do this, on a long ride, we invoke an old principle of race training, i.e. “Train heavy, race light.”
First task: Lay out all the stuff you plan to carry, along with your bike. Weigh the stuff. That’s your target event weight. Now start with your routine carry weight and add just a bit on each ride. Your objective is to get to the point where you are carrying at least 20% more weight than you plan to use on the heaviest option, on ride day. You should build up to this over the next three weeks. Just a little each day.
How should you ride on the days you are not doing those hill drills? Simple. Go long and slow. Really slow. The key here is to keep yourself way down in the aerobic region. So slow it’s frustrating. So slow you make the snails yawn. Really. This will build some deep muscle tissue. The other objective is to spend time in the saddle.
Ideally you are now putting in about eight to ten hours per week. You should increase that by two hours per week for the next three weeks. The fourth week is the 65 mile Tune Up. That, plus a somewhat reduced schedule in the week before, ought to give you a good 16 hour week there too. (Remember to get plenty of rest and recovery time in those weeks too!)
The 65 miler is when we (you and I) make the go/no go decision with regard to the full Audax 200K. If you do what we’ve been discussing, it should be a cinch.
What about the last two weeks between the Tune Up and the Audax Ride? Glad you asked. Taper for one week, gradually decreasing effort. The week before the actual ride, take it very easy. Remember, it takes two weeks for your body to incorporate training loads. So all you can do in the last two weeks before an event is ruin it by working too hard.
If any of this is unclear, let me know. I’ll be glad to elaborate. (grins)
It is inescapable that most of you will be carrying more stuff than you are accustomed to. To get ready to do this, on a long ride, we invoke an old principle of race training, i.e. “Train heavy, race light.”
First task: Lay out all the stuff you plan to carry, along with your bike. Weigh the stuff. That’s your target event weight. Now start with your routine carry weight and add just a bit on each ride. Your objective is to get to the point where you are carrying at least 20% more weight than you plan to use on the heaviest option, on ride day. You should build up to this over the next three weeks. Just a little each day.
How should you ride on the days you are not doing those hill drills? Simple. Go long and slow. Really slow. The key here is to keep yourself way down in the aerobic region. So slow it’s frustrating. So slow you make the snails yawn. Really. This will build some deep muscle tissue. The other objective is to spend time in the saddle.
Ideally you are now putting in about eight to ten hours per week. You should increase that by two hours per week for the next three weeks. The fourth week is the 65 mile Tune Up. That, plus a somewhat reduced schedule in the week before, ought to give you a good 16 hour week there too. (Remember to get plenty of rest and recovery time in those weeks too!)
The 65 miler is when we (you and I) make the go/no go decision with regard to the full Audax 200K. If you do what we’ve been discussing, it should be a cinch.
What about the last two weeks between the Tune Up and the Audax Ride? Glad you asked. Taper for one week, gradually decreasing effort. The week before the actual ride, take it very easy. Remember, it takes two weeks for your body to incorporate training loads. So all you can do in the last two weeks before an event is ruin it by working too hard.
If any of this is unclear, let me know. I’ll be glad to elaborate. (grins)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
PREPARATIONS
The Ironclad Rule:
Make absolutely no changes to your rig for at least two weeks prior to an event.
No new shorts, bike fit, saddle, bar tape, gloves, socks, helmet, pedals, tires, computers, heart rate monitors, food types, athletic beverages, etc. If your bike needs tuning before the ride, get it done now! If you are thinking about a new piece of equipment or food, get it and start using it now. A long event is not the time to be experimenting.
Fundamental Principles:
1) Take everything you will need.
2) Don't carry anything you don't have to.
3) Take nothing that you haven’t tested thoroughly.
4) Try to make everything you take do at least double duty.
5) Prepare for the widest range of likely conditions.
You will have noticed that there is a bit of dynamic tension between some of those principles. Each rider will need to resolve those issues, and each rider's solutions will be unique. "Need" can be totally subjective. Hopefully the rest of this post will help to clarify a bit.
What you must have with you:
1) Two spare tubes in your bike’s size.
2) Any unique spares.
3) A good bright flashing tail light with fresh batteries in it.
4) Sufficient ride food, or money to buy it at the stops.
5) At least two water bottles.
6) Your helmet
7) Any meds that you must have.
8) Identification and (if necessary) medical alert information
9) Your best smile.
Strongly recommended:
1) Sunscreen
2) A good lubricant for your shorts (you will need to re-apply during the day)
3) Reflective ankle bands
4) Sunglasses
5) A bandana or two
6) A spare pair of good dry socks.
Things you must do:
1) Contact me and tell me you are going.
The.Road.Dragon@gmail.com
2) Get $27.00 to me before September 25, 2008
3) Get me to inspect your bike at least two weeks prior to the ride. (A bit sooner is a good idea.)
Things you won’t need (because I’ll carry them):
Pump
Tools
First aid kit
Navigational equipment
Cell phone
About clothing preparations: Watch the weather as we get closer to the ride date. Early October is a time when North Georgia could do almost anything. Likely it will be temperate and dry, but it could be cool, and rain can’t be ruled out. Consider, if it looks like a day that will start cool, a rain jacket can double as a windshell. Remember, if you start out with it, you will carry it all day. Choose wisely.
Make absolutely no changes to your rig for at least two weeks prior to an event.
No new shorts, bike fit, saddle, bar tape, gloves, socks, helmet, pedals, tires, computers, heart rate monitors, food types, athletic beverages, etc. If your bike needs tuning before the ride, get it done now! If you are thinking about a new piece of equipment or food, get it and start using it now. A long event is not the time to be experimenting.
Fundamental Principles:
1) Take everything you will need.
2) Don't carry anything you don't have to.
3) Take nothing that you haven’t tested thoroughly.
4) Try to make everything you take do at least double duty.
5) Prepare for the widest range of likely conditions.
You will have noticed that there is a bit of dynamic tension between some of those principles. Each rider will need to resolve those issues, and each rider's solutions will be unique. "Need" can be totally subjective. Hopefully the rest of this post will help to clarify a bit.
What you must have with you:
1) Two spare tubes in your bike’s size.
2) Any unique spares.
3) A good bright flashing tail light with fresh batteries in it.
4) Sufficient ride food, or money to buy it at the stops.
5) At least two water bottles.
6) Your helmet
7) Any meds that you must have.
8) Identification and (if necessary) medical alert information
9) Your best smile.
Strongly recommended:
1) Sunscreen
2) A good lubricant for your shorts (you will need to re-apply during the day)
3) Reflective ankle bands
4) Sunglasses
5) A bandana or two
6) A spare pair of good dry socks.
Things you must do:
1) Contact me and tell me you are going.
The.Road.Dragon@gmail.com
2) Get $27.00 to me before September 25, 2008
3) Get me to inspect your bike at least two weeks prior to the ride. (A bit sooner is a good idea.)
Things you won’t need (because I’ll carry them):
Pump
Tools
First aid kit
Navigational equipment
Cell phone
About clothing preparations: Watch the weather as we get closer to the ride date. Early October is a time when North Georgia could do almost anything. Likely it will be temperate and dry, but it could be cool, and rain can’t be ruled out. Consider, if it looks like a day that will start cool, a rain jacket can double as a windshell. Remember, if you start out with it, you will carry it all day. Choose wisely.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
AUDAX 200K IN SOME DETAIL
We will leave Peachtree City from the parking lot in front of Bicycles Unlimited. We will depart at 07:30 promptly.
Initially the pace will be moderate, as it will be early in the day and folks will not have warmed up yet. It seems there is always a bit of shaking down on this part of the trip. We wind through the streets of Peachtree city for about seven miles, and then leave the town behind. At about mile 9 we will be entering Senoia, Georgia. We cruise through the scenic and historic Main Street.
There is an optional stop at 10 miles, just as we depart the town of Senoia. This is a store, with a restroom. We prefer not to stop here, but sometimes it’s necessary.
At this point we are beginning to flirt with rural north Georgia. We continue southward, through gently rolling hill country. The scenery opens to some nice vistas at the edge of farming country.
Between miles 14 and 20 we come to a relatively long, almost flat stretch. We will increase speed here to a solid paceline speed for this stretch. It’s fun and exciting. At mile 20 we turn westward and get into some roller country. It’s a pleasant rural stretch, one that provides lots of good low traffic riding, and pleasant surroundings.
Just before 33 miles, we reach the town of Greenville. We will roll around the large courthouse, and then make our first scheduled rest stop. This is a good place to refill water bottles, visit the “necessary,” and stretch a bit. The stop will be a short one.
From Greenville we will proceed to the town of Pine Mountain, GA. This leg is about 20 miles long. There’s another quick stop at a nice store in Pine Mountain. Then we turn toward the Mountain itself.
We will climb the flank of Pine Mountain. This climb includes the steepest pitch on the ride, a quarter mile at about 6% grade. We follow GA-190 along the spine of the mountain, until it intersects GA-85 Alt. There are several spectacular views as we ride along the mountain, a couple of screaming descents, and several nice climbs. A fast, fun descent brings us to the town of Warm Springs, and lunch.
We will have reservations at the Bulloch House. Lunch is buffet style, country cooking. It’s outstanding. I strongly recommend saving room for desert.
After lunch, we allow a bit of digestion time. This is good time to re-apply sunscreen.
We ride at a controlled pace for the first hour after lunch. Fortunately the first five miles are mostly down hill. Then we begin tackling the rollers on GA-85. These appear to be worse than they actually are. The problem is one of optics. It’s possible to see the road ahead for long distances, and the rollers are seen in their entirety, foreshortened by the perspective.
About 18 miles after the lunch stop we arrive in Gay, GA, for the first of the after lunch stops. This will be a short stop to answer nature’s call and refill bottles.
From Gay, we ride about 20 miles to the rest stop at Digby. On this leg we will turn a bit east and descend to the Flint River. The bridge over the Flint crosses at the famous “flat shoals.” This is followed by a long step climb, and then turn through the town of Concord. A couple of long easy climbs late we arrive at the store in Digby.
From Digby it is only 20 miles to the finish, back in Peachtree City. This last leg is more flat than hilly, and the hills are mostly long low “rollers.” This leg has some long sight ling vistas, and it transits the small and quaint town of Brooks, GA. As we enter Peachtree City, we will form up into a column of twos to ride the final four miles of the four lane Peachtree Parkway in triumph. And, of course, we’ll have a good sandwich snack waiting for us as we finish the ride.
That’s the itinerary. Are you interested?
Initially the pace will be moderate, as it will be early in the day and folks will not have warmed up yet. It seems there is always a bit of shaking down on this part of the trip. We wind through the streets of Peachtree city for about seven miles, and then leave the town behind. At about mile 9 we will be entering Senoia, Georgia. We cruise through the scenic and historic Main Street.
There is an optional stop at 10 miles, just as we depart the town of Senoia. This is a store, with a restroom. We prefer not to stop here, but sometimes it’s necessary.
At this point we are beginning to flirt with rural north Georgia. We continue southward, through gently rolling hill country. The scenery opens to some nice vistas at the edge of farming country.
Between miles 14 and 20 we come to a relatively long, almost flat stretch. We will increase speed here to a solid paceline speed for this stretch. It’s fun and exciting. At mile 20 we turn westward and get into some roller country. It’s a pleasant rural stretch, one that provides lots of good low traffic riding, and pleasant surroundings.
Just before 33 miles, we reach the town of Greenville. We will roll around the large courthouse, and then make our first scheduled rest stop. This is a good place to refill water bottles, visit the “necessary,” and stretch a bit. The stop will be a short one.
From Greenville we will proceed to the town of Pine Mountain, GA. This leg is about 20 miles long. There’s another quick stop at a nice store in Pine Mountain. Then we turn toward the Mountain itself.
We will climb the flank of Pine Mountain. This climb includes the steepest pitch on the ride, a quarter mile at about 6% grade. We follow GA-190 along the spine of the mountain, until it intersects GA-85 Alt. There are several spectacular views as we ride along the mountain, a couple of screaming descents, and several nice climbs. A fast, fun descent brings us to the town of Warm Springs, and lunch.
We will have reservations at the Bulloch House. Lunch is buffet style, country cooking. It’s outstanding. I strongly recommend saving room for desert.
After lunch, we allow a bit of digestion time. This is good time to re-apply sunscreen.
We ride at a controlled pace for the first hour after lunch. Fortunately the first five miles are mostly down hill. Then we begin tackling the rollers on GA-85. These appear to be worse than they actually are. The problem is one of optics. It’s possible to see the road ahead for long distances, and the rollers are seen in their entirety, foreshortened by the perspective.
About 18 miles after the lunch stop we arrive in Gay, GA, for the first of the after lunch stops. This will be a short stop to answer nature’s call and refill bottles.
From Gay, we ride about 20 miles to the rest stop at Digby. On this leg we will turn a bit east and descend to the Flint River. The bridge over the Flint crosses at the famous “flat shoals.” This is followed by a long step climb, and then turn through the town of Concord. A couple of long easy climbs late we arrive at the store in Digby.
From Digby it is only 20 miles to the finish, back in Peachtree City. This last leg is more flat than hilly, and the hills are mostly long low “rollers.” This leg has some long sight ling vistas, and it transits the small and quaint town of Brooks, GA. As we enter Peachtree City, we will form up into a column of twos to ride the final four miles of the four lane Peachtree Parkway in triumph. And, of course, we’ll have a good sandwich snack waiting for us as we finish the ride.
That’s the itinerary. Are you interested?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
WHY TOURING?
In the beginning people got really excited about bicycles. Why? Because a bicycle gave the rider the ability to get somewhere. Prior to the bike, a traveler had a few options, walk, ride or be pulled by a horse, or ride a train. Walking was slow and hard. Travel by horse was expensive. Horses cost a lot, and they have to be constantly cared for and fed. Trains were expensive, and they didn’t always go where the traveler wanted to go. The bicycle was fast, inexpensive, and it went pretty much where the rider pointed it. It didn’t need to be fed. (If the fun factor is added in, the bike is almost irresistible.)
Interestingly, the situation today is a close parallel. Cars cost a lot. Gas is getting insanely expensive. Trains are all but useless in this country. Horses are a lost art. Other modes of travel are likely to be expensive, difficult, and limited by the constraints of someone else’s scheduling. A bicycle goes when and where we want it to. Bikes are still inexpensive. (Compare a really nice bike to the cost of a fairly cheap car.) They cost little to maintain. They can go when the rider wants them to.
Those are the practical reasons for travel by bike. But there is more. If you are oriented more to the journey than the destination, then cycling is for you. Let’s face it, travel by car, bus, train, or airplane is boring. When one travels by bike the trip is often a lot more fun than the destination. We are out in the air. We get to coast down the hills. We see things, hear them, smell them, touch and feel them. We have time to experience the features of the journey, that quaint house, the friendly dog, the interesting person, the stunning vista. We can see the sun rise and set. We get to marvel at the awesome spread of the sky. We hear the rain as it moves through the trees around us.
Things happen to us on the bike that would never happen in a car. I’ve had coyotes pace me in the night. I’ve had a huge hawk gliding along, wing pinions at eye level, as the two of us regarded each other, our faces less than four feet apart. I’ve walked into the refreshing coolness of a country café after an afternoon in the blistering heat, and eaten the best apple pie in the universe, washed down with iced cold fresh milk. I’ve pulled out of a freezing night, into an old fashioned service garage and spent an hour warming by the heat of wood stove, while a total strange offered me a cup of coffee and listened in fascination to the story of my travels. (That was possibly the best coffee I’ve ever had.) Every touring cyclist has stories of amazing things, signs and wonders.
Group tours, such as our upcoming Audax Ride, are just about the most painless way to sample this kind of thing. Come join us. You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Interestingly, the situation today is a close parallel. Cars cost a lot. Gas is getting insanely expensive. Trains are all but useless in this country. Horses are a lost art. Other modes of travel are likely to be expensive, difficult, and limited by the constraints of someone else’s scheduling. A bicycle goes when and where we want it to. Bikes are still inexpensive. (Compare a really nice bike to the cost of a fairly cheap car.) They cost little to maintain. They can go when the rider wants them to.
Those are the practical reasons for travel by bike. But there is more. If you are oriented more to the journey than the destination, then cycling is for you. Let’s face it, travel by car, bus, train, or airplane is boring. When one travels by bike the trip is often a lot more fun than the destination. We are out in the air. We get to coast down the hills. We see things, hear them, smell them, touch and feel them. We have time to experience the features of the journey, that quaint house, the friendly dog, the interesting person, the stunning vista. We can see the sun rise and set. We get to marvel at the awesome spread of the sky. We hear the rain as it moves through the trees around us.
Things happen to us on the bike that would never happen in a car. I’ve had coyotes pace me in the night. I’ve had a huge hawk gliding along, wing pinions at eye level, as the two of us regarded each other, our faces less than four feet apart. I’ve walked into the refreshing coolness of a country café after an afternoon in the blistering heat, and eaten the best apple pie in the universe, washed down with iced cold fresh milk. I’ve pulled out of a freezing night, into an old fashioned service garage and spent an hour warming by the heat of wood stove, while a total strange offered me a cup of coffee and listened in fascination to the story of my travels. (That was possibly the best coffee I’ve ever had.) Every touring cyclist has stories of amazing things, signs and wonders.
Group tours, such as our upcoming Audax Ride, are just about the most painless way to sample this kind of thing. Come join us. You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Monday, August 18, 2008
MORE ON TRAINING
First off a bit of a preview of coming attractions. Below is a profile of the 65 mile Tune Up Ride we will do on Sunday, September 21, 2008. That’s a 65 mile ride with 3,278 feet of gain.
This next profile is of the actual Audax Ride, the one we will do on October 4, 2008. Notice that, in 125 miles it gains 4,483 feet. That big hump in the middle is Pine Mountain.
From these two profiles a couple of things should be evident. First, the routes are not flat. Second, the 65 mile Tune Up, while it does not have quite as much climbing as the actual Audax Ride, does have more gain per mile. In fact, if we did the 65 Mile Tune Up twice, for a total of 200K, then we would have climbed 6,556 feet, or 2,073 feet more than the actual ride.
I’ve stated before, the Tune Ups are to prepare riders for the ride. They are not as long, but they actually cover more difficult terrain than we will face on the day. So the question becomes, how does one prepare for all this?
The answer would be, in the words of Eddie Merkx, “Ride. Lots.” But there is more. Here’s one way to get more ready for the Tune Up, and by extension, for the actual ride.
It’s five weeks until the 65 mile Tune Up. More, here in North Georgia we are blessed with plenty of hills. It’s not too hard to lay out a route that includes at least one good climb every mile. So combine those facts along with this program.
For the next four weeks, include the following routine twice a week. Select a nice hilly route. Spend 15 to 20 minutes warming up gently as you approach your “workout route.”
Then do a six hill routine as follows:
- Climb two hills while staying completely aerobic. Keep gearing and cadence low enough that you are not even breathing hard at the top.
Climb the third hill hard. Hit it! Go up it as fast and hard as you can, right from the bottom. - For the next two hills (four and five) repeat what you did on the first two. Take it easy, and do not let your hear rate rise.
- On the sixth hill, begin the climb just as on the first two, staying fully aerobic, but when you reach the point approximately 2/3 of the way up, upshift at least two gears, get out of the saddle and go hard until you are over the top. (Don’t ease up until after the crest.)
You should be able to do about two repeats of that in a one hour workout. Then spend 15 to 20 minutes warming down as you ride back home.
This routine should help you increase your climbing capacity, and it will prepare you mentally for the much easier climbing we will do on the rides.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
THE GROUP RIDE PARADOX
After this past Sunday’s Tune Up Ride, one of our group asked me a pertinent question. “I have ridden that kind of distance before, at about that kind of pace,” he said. “But after this ride I felt a good bit more tired. Why is that?”
It’s a good question. There are a couple of likely answers. The more obvious one is that this ride was through some relentlessly hilly terrain. Hills take a lot out of you. But I know this rider. The hills contributed to his fatigue, but not enough to account for all of it.
In a group ride such as this, each member must compromise to maintain the group’s integrity. The better climbers need to slow on the ascents a bit, the descent specialists need to brake and relax a touch, and the diesels need to reduce speed on the flatter sections. This results in everyone being a bit slower in their specialty areas, but everyone is also faster on average. That takes more energy.
There is another more subtle lesson here. On this kind of ride, each rider must trust the group. No one wants to be a “dragging anchor,” holding the group back. This can cause a rider to work extra hard at their particular challenge areas. That results in a lot of fatigue. A more correct approach is to relax and deliver only the optimum level of performance.
Here’s an example. Let us say that I am not a great climber. I know this, and I know that there are other members of the group who seem to just float up the hills. I don’t want to be a drag. So I exert myself mightily on the climbs. I’m fatiguing rapidly, and the climbers are still waiting on me. Soon I’m exhausted, and I can no longer deliver a strong pull in my area of strength, the flats. This slows the group further.
On the other hand, if I stay inside of my normal range of performance on the climbs, exerting, but breathing well and not going anaerobic, I don’t fatigue as quickly. I reduce the group’s climb rate by a couple more percentage points, but I can make up for that by delivering a good strong pull in the flats. The overall average will rise. I just have to trust that the climbers will wait, just as they have to trust that I won’t ride their legs off on the motor-sections.
This takes a bit of time to learn. It’s counter to a lot of what the cycling culture practices, but then so is Audax riding. This is a co-operative effort, not a competitive one. Cooperation requires discipline and trust. It pinches a little here and there, but it yields terrific results. Once the group begins to settle down and work together it is far more powerful than any individual member.
It’s a good question. There are a couple of likely answers. The more obvious one is that this ride was through some relentlessly hilly terrain. Hills take a lot out of you. But I know this rider. The hills contributed to his fatigue, but not enough to account for all of it.
In a group ride such as this, each member must compromise to maintain the group’s integrity. The better climbers need to slow on the ascents a bit, the descent specialists need to brake and relax a touch, and the diesels need to reduce speed on the flatter sections. This results in everyone being a bit slower in their specialty areas, but everyone is also faster on average. That takes more energy.
There is another more subtle lesson here. On this kind of ride, each rider must trust the group. No one wants to be a “dragging anchor,” holding the group back. This can cause a rider to work extra hard at their particular challenge areas. That results in a lot of fatigue. A more correct approach is to relax and deliver only the optimum level of performance.
Here’s an example. Let us say that I am not a great climber. I know this, and I know that there are other members of the group who seem to just float up the hills. I don’t want to be a drag. So I exert myself mightily on the climbs. I’m fatiguing rapidly, and the climbers are still waiting on me. Soon I’m exhausted, and I can no longer deliver a strong pull in my area of strength, the flats. This slows the group further.
On the other hand, if I stay inside of my normal range of performance on the climbs, exerting, but breathing well and not going anaerobic, I don’t fatigue as quickly. I reduce the group’s climb rate by a couple more percentage points, but I can make up for that by delivering a good strong pull in the flats. The overall average will rise. I just have to trust that the climbers will wait, just as they have to trust that I won’t ride their legs off on the motor-sections.
This takes a bit of time to learn. It’s counter to a lot of what the cycling culture practices, but then so is Audax riding. This is a co-operative effort, not a competitive one. Cooperation requires discipline and trust. It pinches a little here and there, but it yields terrific results. Once the group begins to settle down and work together it is far more powerful than any individual member.
Monday, August 11, 2008
AUDAX TUNE UP – A RIDE REPORT
What truly amazing weather we have just had. To be gifted with this in August is especially nice. The weekend felt more like mid-October than mid-Summer. Wow!
It was a bit cloudy when we started, with the temp in the high seventies. As we rode the skies cleared to a fantastic cloudscape, with the temps staying reasonable and the humidity remaining pleasantly low.
This loop is, by design, quite hilly. It's intended to be a bit more difficult terrain than most of the actual Audax Ride. On the other hand, the route rewards. There are plenty of vistas, and quite a few pleasant stretches of scenery. The recent rains, along with the "high summer" sunshine has brought the foliage to a lush green beauty.
The group was a decent size for one of these things, with ten of us, Bill, Bob, Cindy, Chris, Deb, Kelvin, Matt, Roxanne, Scott, and I all out for a good Sunday ride. I’m happy to report that all ten of us started and finished the ride. The group accomplished the (sometimes challenging) task of staying grouped throughout the afternoon.
I’m always gratified when new riders come along on one of these, but especially so when the new rider is a new rider. Matt is pretty much new to all of this. He hasn’t ridden in a group before, and his longest ride to date was “about 20 miles.” I should say he acquitted himself admirably. Matt is getting ready for the MS 150 at Pine Mountain in September. He made a welcome addition to our number. Way to go, Matt.
Roxanne was new to us, but has been riding for quite some time. She came along on her road bike. (Some folks didn’t know that she even owned such a thing.) Roxanne, I should mention, was geared pretty high, and this is a hilly loop. She did quite well. Bravo!
Pretty much everyone had some challenge or other to deal with. I’m happy to say all did very well. We didn’t manage to make either of the two “power runs” I can usually lead on this loop, but on the other hand, the overall average was higher than it has been in the past. That indicates a more consistent ride on the road, and good discipline at the stops. Kudos to all! And to all, Bon chance, et Bon route!
It was a bit cloudy when we started, with the temp in the high seventies. As we rode the skies cleared to a fantastic cloudscape, with the temps staying reasonable and the humidity remaining pleasantly low.
This loop is, by design, quite hilly. It's intended to be a bit more difficult terrain than most of the actual Audax Ride. On the other hand, the route rewards. There are plenty of vistas, and quite a few pleasant stretches of scenery. The recent rains, along with the "high summer" sunshine has brought the foliage to a lush green beauty.
The group was a decent size for one of these things, with ten of us, Bill, Bob, Cindy, Chris, Deb, Kelvin, Matt, Roxanne, Scott, and I all out for a good Sunday ride. I’m happy to report that all ten of us started and finished the ride. The group accomplished the (sometimes challenging) task of staying grouped throughout the afternoon.
I’m always gratified when new riders come along on one of these, but especially so when the new rider is a new rider. Matt is pretty much new to all of this. He hasn’t ridden in a group before, and his longest ride to date was “about 20 miles.” I should say he acquitted himself admirably. Matt is getting ready for the MS 150 at Pine Mountain in September. He made a welcome addition to our number. Way to go, Matt.
Roxanne was new to us, but has been riding for quite some time. She came along on her road bike. (Some folks didn’t know that she even owned such a thing.) Roxanne, I should mention, was geared pretty high, and this is a hilly loop. She did quite well. Bravo!
Pretty much everyone had some challenge or other to deal with. I’m happy to say all did very well. We didn’t manage to make either of the two “power runs” I can usually lead on this loop, but on the other hand, the overall average was higher than it has been in the past. That indicates a more consistent ride on the road, and good discipline at the stops. Kudos to all! And to all, Bon chance, et Bon route!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
125 MILES? INCONCEIVABLE!?
I've never ridden more than 35 miles. I usually ride three to four times a week, and my typical ride is between 20 and 30 miles.
Does this sound like you? Are you thinking that 125 miles in one day would be absolutely impossible for you? Think again. If you've been doing that 60 to 120 mile week for at least four to five weeks, then...
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come out to the "Tune Up Ride" on Sunday. Take a leap of faith. Throw your heart over the bar. Your body will follow.
There will be a group of riders who are intersted in seeing you succeed along with them. This is powerful stuff indeed. And think just what it might feel like to arrive back in town, after going farther than you thought possible. You will be tired. You will be a little sore here and there. You will be...
triumphant.
Take a small chance. If it works, then you can think about the 65 mile Tune Up Ride. If that works (and likely it will), then you can seriously consider whether you want to tackle the 200K.
Of all the riders who have come along on one of these rides, more than half had never ridden more than 60 to 65 miles when they started. Over the years, only a small handful had ever done a full "century" before their first Audax 200K.
Come on in. The water is fine!
Does this sound like you? Are you thinking that 125 miles in one day would be absolutely impossible for you? Think again. If you've been doing that 60 to 120 mile week for at least four to five weeks, then...
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come out to the "Tune Up Ride" on Sunday. Take a leap of faith. Throw your heart over the bar. Your body will follow.
There will be a group of riders who are intersted in seeing you succeed along with them. This is powerful stuff indeed. And think just what it might feel like to arrive back in town, after going farther than you thought possible. You will be tired. You will be a little sore here and there. You will be...
triumphant.
Take a small chance. If it works, then you can think about the 65 mile Tune Up Ride. If that works (and likely it will), then you can seriously consider whether you want to tackle the 200K.
Of all the riders who have come along on one of these rides, more than half had never ridden more than 60 to 65 miles when they started. Over the years, only a small handful had ever done a full "century" before their first Audax 200K.
Come on in. The water is fine!
Friday, August 8, 2008
PLEASE JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION
One of the major reasons I've had for setting up this blog was to make information available about the ride. Please help me get the most relevant information out to you.
In short, I'd love it if you all use the comment feature. Ask questions. Add ideas and information from your own experience. If you've done this ride, or one similar, please share your experiences.
In short, let's hear from you all too!
In short, I'd love it if you all use the comment feature. Ask questions. Add ideas and information from your own experience. If you've done this ride, or one similar, please share your experiences.
In short, let's hear from you all too!
LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS
I tend to get a lot of these, so I’m anticipating them. This applies to this coming Sunday’s Audax Tune Up Ride.
Where can I find info on the ride? The date, time, and location are detailed in previous posts
What if it rains? We ride.
What if it doesn’t rain? We ride.
What if it’s hot? We ride.
What if it’s not hot? Ummm… We ride!
Will there be dogs? Likely. They are invited to ride too. In any case, we ride.
I’ve never done a group ride, should I? You won’t learn any younger, nor in a kinder environment.
Is it hilly? This being north Georgia, of course it is. Let’s go ride.
So this is a “no drop” ride, right? Not exactly. The group will stay together. But each rider has a responsibility to stay at the (moderate) group pace. If you are not sure about your ability to do this, get in touch with me quickly!
Seriously, friends, this is a good ride to train and learn on. It’s designed to get you to the next one, the 65 mile tune up. That’s designed to get you to the actual Audax Ride. Put your fear aside and go for it.
Behold the lowly turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
See you on Sunday.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
RIDING IN HOT WEATHER
Yes we are going to do the 45 mile route on this coming weekend’s Audax Tune Up Ride. The ride will start at 1:00 PM. I mention this because it will be quite warm. It’s August, and here in north Georgia, that means hot. The current prediction for Sunday is a high of 89, and sunny. So a few words on hot weather riding technique are appropriate.
What to bring:
Select your riding clothing with a bit of care. Light colors are the order of the day. This would not be the ride to show off that stylish black jersey. Dark colors absorb heat. You want to reflect it.
Bring water. Lots of water. Expect to use more than a bottle every hour. You will need to drink frequently and deeply, and you will want to douse yourself as well to stay cool. Two large bottles would be the minimum, three would be better if you can manage it.
Bring sunscreen. Bring a bandana. A nice wet bandana applied to the face helps. More, a damp bandana draped around the neck has a wonderful cooling effect.
How to ride:
Plan to stay well inside your limits. Thermal stress is real. When the body is laboring to lose heat, it’s the same as if you were working extra hard. Expect this. Plan to ride a bit more conservatively than usual. We’ll adjust pace as necessary. There is no need to overheat and risk a heat related injury.
And for pity’s sakes, if you are beginning to feel distressed, tell someone. Don’t suffer in silence. True, nobody likes whining, but if you are laboring and struggling, you will slow everyone down anyway. Nothing we are doing is worth risking anyone’s health.
In summary, let’s plan to have a pleasant ride, but a conservative one. One for all, and all for a bit of sanity.
What to bring:
Select your riding clothing with a bit of care. Light colors are the order of the day. This would not be the ride to show off that stylish black jersey. Dark colors absorb heat. You want to reflect it.
Bring water. Lots of water. Expect to use more than a bottle every hour. You will need to drink frequently and deeply, and you will want to douse yourself as well to stay cool. Two large bottles would be the minimum, three would be better if you can manage it.
Bring sunscreen. Bring a bandana. A nice wet bandana applied to the face helps. More, a damp bandana draped around the neck has a wonderful cooling effect.
How to ride:
Plan to stay well inside your limits. Thermal stress is real. When the body is laboring to lose heat, it’s the same as if you were working extra hard. Expect this. Plan to ride a bit more conservatively than usual. We’ll adjust pace as necessary. There is no need to overheat and risk a heat related injury.
And for pity’s sakes, if you are beginning to feel distressed, tell someone. Don’t suffer in silence. True, nobody likes whining, but if you are laboring and struggling, you will slow everyone down anyway. Nothing we are doing is worth risking anyone’s health.
In summary, let’s plan to have a pleasant ride, but a conservative one. One for all, and all for a bit of sanity.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Traffic Handling on a Group Tour
Let' start this with a couple of basic ground rules.
- Georgia state law considers a bicycle to be a vehicle.
- We want to be courteous good neighbors.
- We are not racing. Losing a few seconds won't matter to us.
- Our objective is to get to the end of the day, safely and togher.
A couple of points come up when we ride as a group. The first is that the law considers a single bicycle to be a vehicle. It does not consider a group to be a single vehicle. I mention this because we will encounter some stop sign controlled intersections. Handling these correctly and courteously, while not destroying group cohesion takes just a bit of technique.
To begin with, as we approach a stop sign, we should pair up and "take the lane." This practice discourages overtaking motorists from the dangerous practice of passing us on the right through an intersection. It also prevents a single cyclist from being pinned to the right hand side of the travel lane by a motor, and then possible crushed when that motor makes an unexpected right turn.
Now comes the tricky part. The lead pair in the group should act as if the two of them were a single vehicle. They wait for their turn in the rotation, and then enter the intersection together. They ride side by side through the intersection, and then "single up" on the right side of the travel lane.
The second pair of riders does not follow the lead pair immediately. Rather they come to a full stop and wait their turn in the intersection rotation. Then they proceed as the lead pair did.
This process is repeated until all the riders in the group have cleared the intersection. Riders should not feel worried or pressed by the fact that they are having to wait their turn. The group will slow on the far side of the intersection, and continue riding in a single file until everyone has cleared the intersection and caught up. Then, and only then, will the group resume its routine riding pace.
Honest folk, this is safer, saner, and more courteous. It doesn't annoy following motorists nearly as much as seeing a group of us blast through a stop sign. This technique also has the benefit of being legal!
The law also states that we may ride two abreast. In most cases, with following traffic, it's more courteous, and neighborly, to "single up" and let the following traffic pass. After all, who wants a three ton SUV with an enraged driver behind them?
Rarely, we will encounter a stretch of narrow road with a higher traffic volume. If this occurs, and traffic begins to back up behind us, we will find a safe place for the group to pull off. Then we will get out of the way and let the cars go!
I've found that a combination of skill and courtesy are rewarded by respect and courtesy returned. I know, this isn't always the case, but it pays to encourage it in our motoring bretheren. Sometimes the payoff is a big dividend.
More About the Tune Up
Wondering what to expect? Here's the scoop.
We'll leave on time. We will ride at a pretty steady pace. The group will stay together. We will be respectful of traffic laws and rules.
That last one is kind of interesting. You'll see more on that in a later post.
It will be warm. Plan to carry at least two bottles of water. Stops will be about an hour to an hour and a half apart. We won't tarry long at the stops, so it's important to dismount, eat, attend nature's call, fill bottles, and mount up efficiently.
A bit of amplification on the riding style is necessary. Bring your own spares. I'll have tools, and a pump along. If anyone has trouble the group will stop and we will all work to fix it. The idea is we all work together in pursuit of a common goal. We intend to bring all of us to the finish, in good order. It's amazing how well this synergy can work.
Think your fitness might be a bit borderline for a 45 mile ride through the hills? This is your chance to test it. If you are a little less than ready, you can get a tremendous lift from drafting behind another wheel, and letting the group pull you. A bunch of us are pretty good at this.
Just remember to bring the sunscreen!
We'll leave on time. We will ride at a pretty steady pace. The group will stay together. We will be respectful of traffic laws and rules.
That last one is kind of interesting. You'll see more on that in a later post.
It will be warm. Plan to carry at least two bottles of water. Stops will be about an hour to an hour and a half apart. We won't tarry long at the stops, so it's important to dismount, eat, attend nature's call, fill bottles, and mount up efficiently.
A bit of amplification on the riding style is necessary. Bring your own spares. I'll have tools, and a pump along. If anyone has trouble the group will stop and we will all work to fix it. The idea is we all work together in pursuit of a common goal. We intend to bring all of us to the finish, in good order. It's amazing how well this synergy can work.
Think your fitness might be a bit borderline for a 45 mile ride through the hills? This is your chance to test it. If you are a little less than ready, you can get a tremendous lift from drafting behind another wheel, and letting the group pull you. A bunch of us are pretty good at this.
Just remember to bring the sunscreen!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Come to the Tune Up!
Yes! The next Audax Tune Up ride is this coming Sunday.
Ride will depart from Bicycles Unlimited, 100 N. Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree City, GA
Ride time is 1:00 PM EDT
Route is the same as the first Tune Up, approximately 45 miles
Ride will go rain or shine.
Helmets are required.
This is your opportunity to practice Audax Style riding, and to test your equipment and your fitness perparations for the Fall edition of the Audax 200K.
It will be warm. (Hey, it's August in North Georgia.) Bring plenty of sunscreen, lot's of water, a little money for the stops, and your best smiling attitude. Expect to meet some hills, and some other challenges. (There is always a challenge, we just don't usuall know what it will be.)
Speaking of stops, this ride does. There are two stops, approximately every 15 miles. (Really, this is designed to be an accessible ride.)
I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you there.
Steve
Ride will depart from Bicycles Unlimited, 100 N. Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree City, GA
Ride time is 1:00 PM EDT
Route is the same as the first Tune Up, approximately 45 miles
Ride will go rain or shine.
Helmets are required.
This is your opportunity to practice Audax Style riding, and to test your equipment and your fitness perparations for the Fall edition of the Audax 200K.
It will be warm. (Hey, it's August in North Georgia.) Bring plenty of sunscreen, lot's of water, a little money for the stops, and your best smiling attitude. Expect to meet some hills, and some other challenges. (There is always a challenge, we just don't usuall know what it will be.)
Speaking of stops, this ride does. There are two stops, approximately every 15 miles. (Really, this is designed to be an accessible ride.)
I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you there.
Steve
RIDING IN WEATHER
“There is no bad weather, only poor clothing choices.”
We’ve had remarkable luck in the years that I have been leading these rides. So far we have had spectacularly good weather. Some of our events have had to contend with quite warm weather during the day, and on one occasion the start of the ride was pretty chilly, but we have not been seriously challenged by the weather. One day that will change. The odds are bound to catch up with us.
I say that “we” have had very good weather luck. On the other hand I have logged many thousands of miles in rough weather. My best advice is to prepare for it. The strategy for this is a two pronged approach. First, study the problem and make reasonable equipment and clothing choices. Second, actively seek out adverse weather to ride in.
That second “prong” may take some explaining. Riders need to test their equipment and gain the experience and skills to handle rough weather. This is best done before it is actually needed. Think about it. A local ride, possibly confined to the neighborhood, will tell you weather a rain jacket leaks, how fast your shoes fill with water, and what how these event affect you… And you can bail out if the going gets too tough.
What can we reasonably expect? The ride goes in early October. That’s early fall in North Georgia. Likely, it will be a warm day, sunny, and dry. Rain is always a possibility. The historical average temperature range for that day is from 58 in the morning to a high of 68, with a 20% chance of about 0.1 inch rainfall. Of course the record for the day is 100 degrees in 1954, with a record low in the 30s in 1952, and a rainfall of 4.6 inches on 9 October 1966. That’s a pretty huge range to prepare for. The strategy is to start preparing for everything now, and narrow preparations to the most likely as we draw nearer to the event.
Unless one has access to a very large meat locker, It’s difficult to test cold weather preps in the summer. However, rain is something we tend to get a goodly amount of. Two, absolutely invaluable bits of gear for rainy weather are a packable rain jacket, and either a cycling or baseball cap. The jacket is kind of self explanatory. The cap is worn under your helmet. It keeps the rain from dashing into your eyes and slows and deflects the drainage from your helmet.
Sunscreen is essential too. And you have to bring more along on the ride. You will need to re-apply during the day. I don’t care what the advertising says, there is no sunscreen available that “lasts all day” or won’t wash or sweat off.
In early October, we still get a lot of high angle sun. That means burning sunlight. Unprotected skin can start to burn in less than 10 minutes. Worse, the moment the skin starts to burn, it looses a lot of its ability to keep you cool. This is due to the nature of skin. As the skin begins to burn, the sweat glands shut down. If the ability to sweat is limited, then the body looses a large part of it’s cooling. So find a sunscreen that works for you, and then either find it in a size that is easy to transport on the bike, or transfer an amount equivalent to two to three good applications to a smaller container.
I’ll cover more of these topics in the near future, but for now, get out there and get wet. Start learning how to ride in weather. Then it’s just a challenge, not an emergency.
Keep the shiny side up!
We’ve had remarkable luck in the years that I have been leading these rides. So far we have had spectacularly good weather. Some of our events have had to contend with quite warm weather during the day, and on one occasion the start of the ride was pretty chilly, but we have not been seriously challenged by the weather. One day that will change. The odds are bound to catch up with us.
I say that “we” have had very good weather luck. On the other hand I have logged many thousands of miles in rough weather. My best advice is to prepare for it. The strategy for this is a two pronged approach. First, study the problem and make reasonable equipment and clothing choices. Second, actively seek out adverse weather to ride in.
That second “prong” may take some explaining. Riders need to test their equipment and gain the experience and skills to handle rough weather. This is best done before it is actually needed. Think about it. A local ride, possibly confined to the neighborhood, will tell you weather a rain jacket leaks, how fast your shoes fill with water, and what how these event affect you… And you can bail out if the going gets too tough.
What can we reasonably expect? The ride goes in early October. That’s early fall in North Georgia. Likely, it will be a warm day, sunny, and dry. Rain is always a possibility. The historical average temperature range for that day is from 58 in the morning to a high of 68, with a 20% chance of about 0.1 inch rainfall. Of course the record for the day is 100 degrees in 1954, with a record low in the 30s in 1952, and a rainfall of 4.6 inches on 9 October 1966. That’s a pretty huge range to prepare for. The strategy is to start preparing for everything now, and narrow preparations to the most likely as we draw nearer to the event.
Unless one has access to a very large meat locker, It’s difficult to test cold weather preps in the summer. However, rain is something we tend to get a goodly amount of. Two, absolutely invaluable bits of gear for rainy weather are a packable rain jacket, and either a cycling or baseball cap. The jacket is kind of self explanatory. The cap is worn under your helmet. It keeps the rain from dashing into your eyes and slows and deflects the drainage from your helmet.
Sunscreen is essential too. And you have to bring more along on the ride. You will need to re-apply during the day. I don’t care what the advertising says, there is no sunscreen available that “lasts all day” or won’t wash or sweat off.
In early October, we still get a lot of high angle sun. That means burning sunlight. Unprotected skin can start to burn in less than 10 minutes. Worse, the moment the skin starts to burn, it looses a lot of its ability to keep you cool. This is due to the nature of skin. As the skin begins to burn, the sweat glands shut down. If the ability to sweat is limited, then the body looses a large part of it’s cooling. So find a sunscreen that works for you, and then either find it in a size that is easy to transport on the bike, or transfer an amount equivalent to two to three good applications to a smaller container.
I’ll cover more of these topics in the near future, but for now, get out there and get wet. Start learning how to ride in weather. Then it’s just a challenge, not an emergency.
Keep the shiny side up!
Monday, August 4, 2008
BIKE CHOICES FOR ENDURANCE RIDING
Let’s begin with a clear statement of assumptions. The first assumption is that the “endurance riding” we are speaking of is road riding. Audax riding is a type of touring. While I suppose it is conceivable that one could tour off-road, that is emphatically not what we are about here.
So, that said, the first recommendation would be a road bike. Honest, it may look like I’m overstating the obvious here, but my experience has been that this is necessary. Road bikes are designed to ride on the road. Mountain bikes aren’t. Fitness bikes, hybrids, your grandfather’s 35 year old Schwine, that beach cruiser, or the nifty down hill rig, are not suitable to the purpose. Yes, you could ride almost any of these for 125 miles. I personally know a man who rode a unicycle in the Three Gap a few years ago. But let us consider a principle; “The possibility that a thing can be done, does not mean that it should be done.”
What I’m about here is communicating to folks how to best do this kind of ride, and to enjoy it. In my years of experience, I’ve seen this attempted (usually by first time riders) on any number of bike types. Without exception, everyone who’s tried it on a “flat bar bike,” has had trouble and misery. ‘Nuff said?
So now, on to the burning question, “What type of road bike would be best?” Here’s a group of guidelines I’ve developed.
- The bike should fit. (Get professional help with this.)
- The bike should be comfortable (it can be super light, but if you can’t sit on it for eight hours, it’s just wrong)
- The bike should be reliable (read, fairly new and in excellent mechanical condition)
- The bike should not be brand new (you should have ridden it enough to be very familiar with it, and comfortable on it)
- The bike should be reasonably light (note that this is the last item on the list. It’s important, but less critical than the others.)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
PREPARING FOR THE AUDAX 200k ( A bit more detail):
So last time we covered a bit about getting ready to ride 125 miles in one day. This time we’ll look at that idea a little more deeply. Remember the principle, “You can ride your week in a day.” That assumes that 1) You are doing the “week” on a consistent basis, and 2) You have been doing it for at least four weeks. That’s the minimum necessary.
To prepare well, you will need to vary your rides during your week, and to include a few significantly longer rides in your plan. Here’s a good suggestion for the a 12 hour training week:
Monday: Rest day (no riding or other training)
Tuesday: Short and easy. One hour to one and a half hours of low intensity riding
Wednesday: Moderate. Two to two and a half hours at a steady working pace.
Thursday: Short and hard: One hour of strong effort
Friday: Short and easy. One to one and a half hours of low intentisty riding.
Saturday: Steady state. Three to four hours of event pace riding.
Sunday: Long ride. Four to five hours of easy to moderate effort.
Notes:
1) If you do the minimum per week you will do twelve hours. If you do the maximum you get fifteen and a half hours in. It would be best to mix them a bit and land somewhere between the two extremes.
2) You can move the days around a bit to match your schedule, but they should come in pretty much the same order as above.
3) Do not skip the rest day! It’s the most important one in the sequence.
Finally, what about longer rides? That’s where the Audax Tune Up Rides can come in. We have two more of these scheduled. The next one is another 45 mile ride, and will take about 4 hours total (about three and a half of “saddle time.”) Then the September “Tune Up,” is a bit longer. It’s a good hilly 65 miler, and will take a good five hours (about four and a half hours of “saddle time”). These are great preparation for the actual ride. They will help condition your backside to longer rides. More, they are excellent training. The terrain is deliberately tougher than the actual ride. If you come out of them in good order, then you can do the event with confidence.
See you on the road.
To prepare well, you will need to vary your rides during your week, and to include a few significantly longer rides in your plan. Here’s a good suggestion for the a 12 hour training week:
Monday: Rest day (no riding or other training)
Tuesday: Short and easy. One hour to one and a half hours of low intensity riding
Wednesday: Moderate. Two to two and a half hours at a steady working pace.
Thursday: Short and hard: One hour of strong effort
Friday: Short and easy. One to one and a half hours of low intentisty riding.
Saturday: Steady state. Three to four hours of event pace riding.
Sunday: Long ride. Four to five hours of easy to moderate effort.
Notes:
1) If you do the minimum per week you will do twelve hours. If you do the maximum you get fifteen and a half hours in. It would be best to mix them a bit and land somewhere between the two extremes.
2) You can move the days around a bit to match your schedule, but they should come in pretty much the same order as above.
3) Do not skip the rest day! It’s the most important one in the sequence.
Finally, what about longer rides? That’s where the Audax Tune Up Rides can come in. We have two more of these scheduled. The next one is another 45 mile ride, and will take about 4 hours total (about three and a half of “saddle time.”) Then the September “Tune Up,” is a bit longer. It’s a good hilly 65 miler, and will take a good five hours (about four and a half hours of “saddle time”). These are great preparation for the actual ride. They will help condition your backside to longer rides. More, they are excellent training. The terrain is deliberately tougher than the actual ride. If you come out of them in good order, then you can do the event with confidence.
See you on the road.
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