Contest Stuff, and Audax Notes

I’m finding that running a contest, sometimes, takes “great paece of mind.”  Last week, I inadvertently skipped over Contest Question #10.  Several sharp eyed readers  caught this.  So here, by popular demand, and somewhat out of sequence, is…

The Great and Weird Road Dragon Bike Contest

Contest Question #10) Who are the biggest liars?

ONE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE:  Some of you sort of “jumped the gun” on contest entries.  Please read the entry requirements and rules, on the post from March 2, 2010.  If you’ve already sent in a partial entry, don’t worry, you won’t be disqualified, but do understand the following.  Partial entries that have already been received, have been deleted.  To enter, you will have to re-submit, after all the questions have been posted.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming: 

Who’s Up for Some Longer Rides?

Some of you are thinking about getting the bike out.  Some have started riding.  Some never stopped.  It’s been a brutal Winter for all of us, but it’s getting better by the day.  It’s time to make some serious plans.

In aid of that, permit me to suggest the following.  Think seriously about doing this year’s Audax Ride.  The first of the Audax Tune Up Rides is coming up…  fast!

That’s right.  This coming Sunday, we’ll be doing a 45 mile Audax Tune Up ride.

What do you need to do?  Simple, be there.  The requirements are you, your bike, a helmet, and a willingness to ride in a group, and stay with the group.

Why the italics on that last sentence?  Some folks are put off a bit because they think this means they will be forced to maintain a pace above their capabilities.  Some get the idea that this might just be a bit too easy.  Usually both are wrong.

The idea behind this kind of ride is that the group will stay together.  There isn’t an “A group.”  There aren’t any “drops.”  It’s “All for one, and one for all.”  The idea is that the group will stick together, riding at a controlled pace, until we reach the end of the ride.

The purpose of the Tune Up Rides is twofold.  First, we need to practice riding in this close, mutually supporting, group style.  Second, it’s a bit of a fitness test.  This is where the individual members find out if they are up for the challenge, and if maybe a little more work is needed.

The terrain:  The course is, deliberately, hilly.  The idea is to pick terrain that will be a bit tougher than the actual 125 mile Audax Ride.  If an individual rider can accomplish all three Tune Up Rides, with reserves, and in good condition, then success on the 200K Audax Ride is much more likely.

A strong suggestion:  Ride the bike you plan to use for the Audax 200K, and pack it the way you expect to for that ride.  This is, after all, a sort of test of your fitness and ability to complete this ride.  Naturally, what with the requirement to dress for conditions in late March, you will be running a bit heavier than your “May Bike Load Out,” but that’s just good training.

The Great and Weird Road Dragon Bike Contest

This is the first of the Essay Questions.  Keep it fairly brief.  Photos may help, but aren’t necessary.  Have fun with it.

Contest Question #12) What does Bike snob think of my FrankenFixed?

Note:  Yes, that’s right.  Thanks to my earlier goof, this post is a “two for one deal” on the contest questions.  Please, when answering them, do so by question number, and not by date.