May-14-2022: Morrisville 400 ACP Brevet

Determined was I to complete a Super Series in 2022. 

Something that I've more often not completed than I've been successful. 

Though I had struggled mightily the first 50-miles, the 200 was in the bag. 

The 300 had become a disappointment -- it was an adventure, but clearly disappointing. 

Time for the 400 was upon us. 

 

Doug was also intending to complete the a Series. 

Doug's purpose behind doing the Series was to get a good position 

In the queue for 2023 PBP registration. 

 

On the other hand, I wanted to complete a Series as a goal in and of itself, and 

Luckily for me, RBA Alan had scheduled a second 300 one week after the 600, 

So I had hope for completing a Series despite the disappointment of the April 300.  

 

I'm confident that Doug and I had pre-arranged to ride together. 

After all, neither of us could keep up with the fast-folk.  

  

  

Due to the "fish-hook" start, there was a control about 2.5-miles into the route. 

Click here for the RWGPS map of the 2022 version of the 300. 

The following is one photo from that photo control. 

RBA Alan had released us for the start at 0600.  The timestamp on this photo is:  0617. 

 

 

After that first intermediate control at the corner of McCormick Pkwy and Davis Drive, 

Doug and I continued at a reasonable pace, but I recall nothing from the ride. 

 

I don't have any photo for the second intermediate control at Snow Camp. 

I also do not have the brevet card or notes from which I might determine 

When we got to Snow Camp. 

 

[The only "brevet cards" that I have kept are the 2023 Raleigh 600, 

Which was Alan's last event as RBA (his tenure covered 1997 - 2023), and

The card for the Raleigh June-2023 Dart-Pop, 

Which was my first event as RBA.] 

 

I don't have any recollection of stuff between Snow Camp and Siler City.  

I don't have any photos or notes for the Siler City control at approx 100k. 

I have no recollection of any happenings at the Siler City control. 

 

 

We left Siler City headed for Coleridge Rd, Erect, and Seagrove. 

Coleridge Rd:  everyone's favorite road on Alan's brevets. 

Esp. in Spring with everything green and pastures covered in flowers, and 

Higher ridges visible off to the north and to south.   

 

In addition to Coleridge Rd, between Siler City and Snow Camp, 

The route starts to get rather lumpy / hilly. 

I have always found the 1-mile climb up to get into Seagrove 

To never be a pleasant experience. 
That climb is not the steepest (or longest ?) on the 400 route, but

I think it is the most unpleasant. 

 

I didn't take any photos of the scenic sites between Siler City and Seagrove. 

Never have. 

My excuse would be that being rather slow, I'd rather use the time to pedal. 

Outbound Seagrove control with mirror selfie.  Timestamp 1346 -- meaning we had covered approx 150-kms at an elapsed pace of just 5-hours for each 100-kms.  Since I don't ride 100-km populaires much more quickly than 5-hours, and sometimes am slower than that, I should have been happy with 7h46 elapsed to cover those approx 150-kms.  
 
However, one should keep in mind that the Seagrove control would be the lunch stop, meaning significant time NOT making progress on the road. 
 
Also, the hard climbs are between Seagrove and the turn-around.  And in particular, the hardest stuff is between Seagrove and the village of Uwharrie.  To help make that point, I prepared the chart immediately below (based on the 2023 version of these same routes). 

 
 

Alan's traditional brevets	Miles	Kms	feet climbing	climb / mile
Alan's "Siler City" 200 (2023)	124.5	200.4	6138	49.3
Alan's "Seagrove" 300 (2023)	188.3	303.0	9770	51.9
Alan's "Uwharries" 400 (2023)	248.8	400.4	13855	55.7
Alan's "Wimington" 600 (2023)	373.5	601.1	6064	16.2
Alan's "Pittsboro" 110 (2023)	71.0	114.3	3325	46.8
diff:  300 - 200	63.8	102.7	3632	56.9
diff:  400 - 300	60.5	97.4	4085	67.5
400:  Seagrove-Uwharrie & return	42.6	68.6	3106	72.9
400:  River Rd out & back	17.9	28.8	979	54.7

 

When people first encounter River Rd between the village of Uwharrie and the turn-around control, they are likely to express surprise at how much climbing there is on River Rd.  Before RWGPS, etc., people expected River Rd to be more-or-less flat.  (Since the advent of RWGPS, etc., people can, if they desire, study the route before the event -- that removes some of the "surprise." 

 

 

Plenty of steep climbs between Seagrove and the turn-around. 

Most notably Flint Hill Rd and Ophir Rd. 

Flint Hill is tougher on the return than on the outbound. 

 

I forget which road / climb had recently been chip-sealed, 

Making the climb more difficult. 

Not to mention the extra care I took on that descent on the return. 

 

The other "interesting" thing(s) between Seagrove and the turn-around 

I will not type about because they fit in the "leave it on the road / in the brevet" category. 

 

No photo from the turn-around. 

And thinking about it, most controls if I got a receipt, I didn't take a photo. 

Or maybe the quality was so bad that I deleted the photo(s)? 

 

I'll finish off this post by noting that we took some extra "ditch breaks" on the return. 

We took a lot of time in Siler City to rest. 

Doug got some sleep in Snow Camp whereas I got none. 

There was some rain making the roads and ditches damp. 

We took another "ditch break" at the turn off Hamlet Chp Rd onto ____ Rd. 

I know the name of the road, but of course in the moment of typing, the name escapes. 

Doug sat on the very wet grass in the ditch, but I just stood on the side of the road. 

I pulled ahead on the decline on Jack Bennett Rd and 

Pulled into the picnic tables at Farrington Point. 

When Doug arrived a couple minutes later, I encouraged him to go on solo. 

He was hesitant because he thought we should stick together, 

He didn't KNOW the course and his Wahoo GPS unit had repeatedly failed all ride. 

However, I hadn't gotten in a nap in Snow Camp and 

I was determined to take one, or at least attempt to take one, at Farrington Point. 

 

Here a the additional photos that I have from the ride: 

Siler City control was closed on our return.  This location used to be 24/7, but stopped doing that several years earlier.  Timestamp 2314.  That means it had taken us 11 1/2 hours to cover the approx 150-kms from Seagrove outbound to Siler City inbound.  HOW could we have frittered away that much time?! 
 
To refresh our liquids and/or grab a snack, we went to the gas station / c-store on the south side of US-64.  We spent a lot of time there, sitting, resting. 

Doug taking advantage of the bench(es) at Snow Camp.  Timestamp 0101 on the 15th -- i.e., 19-hours after the start.  As mentioned above, Doug managed a nap at Snow Camp.  I was not so lucky. 

The penultimate control on McCormick Pkwy.  I had taken a nap, or had tried to, at Farrington Point, so I was alone by this point.  Timestamp 0702. 

My stead at the Finish.  Timestamp 0715/. 

 
After a short rest, I rode the 21-mile northwest route to return to north Raleigh. 
Of note on that post event commute was that approx 4-miles north of the finish, 

I crossed paths with MikeO, #215, out for an early morning ride from his place to Alan's. 

My recollection is that Mike thought I looked a bit worse for wear. 

 

I'm going to skip including a copy of the official brevet results. 

Anyone interested can look them up on the RUSA website ("RUSA.org"). 

 

I'm also going to skip including the information from my Excel ride log, 

Except for this:   289.5-total-miles including both commute rides, in  22h33 in-motion. 

 

Apr-23-2022: Morrisville 300 ACP Brevet

Determined was I to complete the 2022 Raleigh Region ACP Super Series. 

Something that I've more often not completed than I've been successful. 

Though I had struggled mightily the first 50-miles, the 200 was in the bag. 

Time for the 300 was upon us. 

 

Doug was also intending to complete the Raleigh Series. 

However, I was doing the Series as the goal in and of itself, 

Doug's purpose behind doing the Series was to get a good position 

In the queue for 2023 PBP registration. 

 

I cannot recall if Doug and I had pre-arranged to ride together, 

Or if we realized in the parking lot before the ride that we were logical ride partners, 

Or if we teamed up on the road within the first mile 

Recognizing that regarding the faster-folk, we had decided to "just let them go." 

Regardless how it came about, we became ride partners. 

 

 

Due to the "fish-hook" start, there was a control about 2.5-miles into the route. 

Click here for the RWGPS map of the 2022 version of the 300. 

The following is one photo from that photo control. 

Doug "fiddling" with his smart-phone or perhaps his Wahoo GPS device.  There was quite a bit of commentary / discussion on the "randon" and other google-groups around this time in 2022 regarding Wahoo devices repeatedly messing up while users were using them to navigate brevets.  Doug had had troubles during the 200  AND  he would experience repeated Wahoo failures during this 300 brevet.   
 
Eventually, he would mostly attempt to ignore his Wahoo and just turn when I turned -- some might wonder how I navigated -- well, I did have a cue sheet with me, but I never consulted it on this ride, just as I had not consulted a cue sheet for this route for most of the previous dozen years -- the exceptions being to check the routing of the detours to get around bridge re-destruction that had occurred most every year. 
 
RBA Alan had released us for the start at 0700.  The timestamp on this photo is:  0712.   

 

 

After that first intermediate control at the corner of McCormick Pkwy and Davis Drive, 

Doug and I continued at a reasonable pace, letting the faster-folk slowly disappear up the road. 

 

I don't have any photo for the second intermediate control at Snow Camp. 

I also do not have the brevet card or notes from which I might determine 

When we got to Snow Camp. 

 

[The only "brevet cards" that I have kept are the 2023 Raleigh 600, 

Which was Alan's last event as RBA (his tenure covered 1997 - 2023), and

The card for the Raleigh June-2023 Dart-Pop, 

Which was my first event as RBA.] 

 

I don't have any photos or notes for the Siler City control at approx 100k. 

 

I do know that approaching the outbound Snow Camp control, 

I knew I needed to check my left shoe, cleat, and pedal 

As I was having trouble clicking out. 

 

However, when I emerged from the Snow Camp store, 

Doug was already in conversation with a local regarding our bicycle ride. 

Unfortunately, I allowed myself to be sucked into listening to the conversation; 

Forgetting the issue with my left shoe, cleat, pedal. 

 

Arriving at the Siler City ~ 100k control, 

I managed, with difficulty, to click out of the left pedal 

To coast across the parking lot. 

 

After dismounting, I checked the bottom of my shoe, 

The little metal piece that clicks into the SPD pedal had fallen off, 

Obviously somewhere on the parking lot. 

 

I didn't see the point in looking for the missing piece. 

It was essentially the same color as the parking lot, 

So it would not stand out. 

 

Doug wondered if there was a bicycling shop in Siler City. 

I figured it wasn't worth trying to find out, and 

I was confident that I could complete the ride 

Even without the left cleat. 

 

 

We left Siler City headed for Coleridge Rd, Erect, and Seagrove. 

Coleridge Rd:  everyone's favorite road on Alan's brevets. 

Esp. in Spring with everything green and pastures covered in flowers, and 

Higher ridges visible off to the north and to south.  

 

I don't have any photos or notes for the Seagrove control at approx 150k. 

I suspect that I was finding that pedaling without a left cleat was 

More troubling than I had expected, 

But I'm confident that I said nothing. 

 

 

The return from Seagrove to Siler City became increasingly "interesting." 

I had to modify my pedal stroke to deal with the missing cleat; 

I had to concentrate on keeping the bottom of my slick shoe in contact with the pedal, 

Despite the shoe sliding around with nothing to hold it in place. 

Also, I "discovered" that I actually do apply some upward pulling pressure in my stroke

Because the left shoe did occasionally separate from the pedal during the upstroke. 

 

The pains in my left leg became increasingly harder to bear. 

After completing Coleridge Rd on the return, 

And note that Coleridge Rd did not seem as enjoyable when dealing with those pains, 

While on the 2+ miles of Old-Old-64 / W. 3rd St., 

I told Doug that he needed to mentally prepare to ride 

The final 100-kms solo because I was stopping in Siler City, period. 

Given the 1927 timestamp of this photo, this was certainly taken at the Siler City control inbound.  Whether taken when we arrived at the control, or if taken after Doug had left and I was waiting for MikeO, I don't know.  If one looks carefully, one can see the reflected me in the mirroring window. 

 

 

I arranged a rescue ride from MikeO, RUSA #215, 

Whom Alan had recruited to be on stand-by in case anyone needed a rescue ride. 

So, I got in a long 200k training ride (counting the bicycle commute to the start). 

 

Doug did successfully complete the 300. 

However, without me to follow, dependent upon his Wahoo, which failed again, 

Maybe failed more than once in his final 100-kms, 

Doug managed to collect quite a few bonus miles, and 

If I recall correctly, took at least two more hours to ride that "100-kms" 

Than I was expecting him to take. 

 

 

Here follows the edited extract from my Excel ride log (and perhaps the official results): 

 

• -> NCBC Morrisville 300k brevet  --  DNF @ Siler City, lift home from MikeO, 
• to "reward" Mike for the lift, I bought him lunch a few weeks later when the two of us pre-drove the 600k brevet course.
• w/ Doug K, RUSA #876, 
• 19.6-mile commute to the start,  1:24 in-motion 
• (either I was in good shape OR I had to hurry the commute by a few minutes) 
• 126.1-miles of the brevet completed,  9:38 in-motion, 
• total  145.7-miles,  11:02 in-motion,  13.2-mph avg for the entire ride(s). 

 

Region	Club	Type	Distance	Date	Finishers	DNF
NC: Raleigh	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	ACPB	300	2022/04/23	10	2

Cert#	RUSA#	Name	Club / ACP Code	Time	Medal
279210	1803	A, Steven Brantly	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	12:43
279211	15423	A, Bjoern Mc	Cross Creek Cycling Club / 933006	11:25
279212	1015	B, Chet	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	14:27
279213	3095	J, Wes	Randonneurs USA / 933095	11:25
279214	876	K, Doug	Randonneurs USA / 933095	19:50
279215	10866	L, Jon Brady	Carolina Tarwheels / 933047	12:43
279216	4649	M, John L	Carolina Tarwheels / 933047	14:29
279217	3175	O, Lindley	Randonneurs USA / 933095	14:29
279218	14816	S, Kade	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	15:36
279219	608	V, Cynthia F	Randonneurs USA / 910095	14:27

 

 

Three or four things: 

 

 1.  I didn't recall that Doug came SO CLOSE to an Hors Delay finish! 

 2.  I did not know that someone else had also DNF'd. 

 

 3.  Again I note that google-blogger has messed up the alternate text color, so Doug's time is bolded, but I cannot get the text to be any color other than black. 

 4.  Google-blogger has also messed up the way the links work.  If one has already typed the desired text, and then makes the link, blogger is duplicating the test -- once without the link  +  once with the text duplicated for the link. 

   

April-02-2022: Morrisville 200 ACP Brevet

There was a good turnout for this event. 

Some probably there to begin their journey toward a "good spot" in the queue for 2023 PBP. 

Others there to begin their journey toward a 2022 Super Series, but without thoughts of PBP. 

Others likely there to get in their longest ride of the calendar year. 

And others may have had other reasons for riding. 

 

An embed of the route: 

 

My friend BobB and I were off the back of the peloton in the first mile or so. 

Ditto for DougK, whom we knew, but had never ridden with. 

Well, at least I had never ridden with Doug except for 2 or 3 miles in August-2010. 

My recollection is correct -- there is a reference to Doug buried in the linked post.  

 

Doug, Bob, and I decided to ride together. 

Or maybe we didn't decide that, but instead it just happened as the logical thing 

As we certainly formed the lantern rouge crew. 

 

I struggled all the way to the Snow Camp control (approx the 50-mile mark). 

I was also sleepy -- something that Bob could confirm is not unusual for me. 

 

At Snow Camp, I purchased two 12-oz cans of Mtn Dew for the caffeine, etc.. 

And during the 12-miles between Snow Camp and Siler City, 

I drank most of the Mtn Dew and forced my legs to perform better (i.e., ride faster). 

 

My legs came around and I continued the higher cadence / faster riding 

On the return to Snow Camp from Siler City. 

 

My faster pace continued after Snow Camp as we headed east toward Morrisville, 

And other "important" points in between (e.g., Frosty's, Andrew's Store, Farrington Point). 

 

All ride long, one of the three of us had frequently been watering the weeds along the route. 

If not for that, the other two of us figured that person could have easily ridden away from us. 

 

Reaching the c-store previously known as Frosty's, 

The plant watering person among us made use of the port-a-pot there, and 

Also made use of the c-store to refresh his supply of cold beverages. 

 

Meanwhile, Bob and I sat ourselves down on opposite sides of the picnic table 

Located in the parking lot. 

When we each were well seated, Bob says to me, "you've been pushing the pace since Snow Camp." 

It was NOT a compliment. 

 

The three of us left "Frosty's" and bypassed Andrew's Store, and 

Headed down the major decline of Jack Bennett Rd. 

Using the momentum of that decline, I reached the turn off Lystra onto Farrington Rd 

Before Doug (not to mention Bob). 

 

As Doug stopped next to me, he noted that Bob was obviously struggling, and 

He further suggested that we take an extra break at the Farrington Store, 

Using the picnic table(s) nestled between the two stores. 

 

Bob like the idea of taking the extra break, so we did. 

 

After resting a bit, we set off to cover the final 16-or-so miles of the course. 

 

If my Excel log contains the correct time information, we finished the brevet in 11h47 elapsed. 

My log also notes "LONG stops & extra ones." 

And that is clearly the result of: 

• me struggling mightily outbound, 
• Bob struggling mightily inbound, and 
• Doug claimed to have struggled equally throughout. 

 

Official results for the brevet: 

Region	Club	Type	Distance	Date	Finishers	DNF
NC: Raleigh	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	ACPB	200	2022/04/02	14	1

Cert#	RUSA#	Name	Club / ACP Code	Time	Medal
676404	1803	A, Steven Brantly	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	07:25
676405	5843	B, Bob	Randonneurs USA / 940095	11:47
676406	1015	B, Chet	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	09:08
676407	3095	J, Wes	Randonneurs USA / 933095	07:14
676408	4156	K, Annette	Asheville International Randonneurs / 933011	07:30
676409	4155	K, Chris	Asheville International Randonneurs / 933011	07:30
676410	876	K, Doug	Randonneurs USA / 933095	11:47
676411	10866	L, Jon Brady	Carolina Tarwheels / 933047	07:25
676412	4649	M, John L	Carolina Tarwheels / 933047	09:04
676413	12981	N, Marshall J	Randonneurs USA / 940095	07:14
676414	3175	O, Lindley	Randonneurs USA / 933095	09:04
676415	14816	S, Kade	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	10:35
676416	6218	S, Martin	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	11:47
676417	608	V, Cynthia F	Randonneurs USA / 910095	09:08

 

I didn't recall that anyone DNF'd this event; but there is one noted in the results. 

Always disappointing when someone has to DNF.  

 

Sep-04-2021: Centenary 200 Pre-ride

I had committed to RBA Alan that I would help him on the 11th, the scheduled day of the Centenary 200. 

My help would mostly consist of making Alan's garage suitable for gathering inside. 

I may have also been committed to assisting in going to the grocery for "burger burning" supplies. 

 

BobB may have had a conflict early on the 11th, 

So he rode with me as a ride-along-partner. 

 

We had a pretty good ride. 

Here immediately follows the info from my Excel log, 

And that will be followed by the photos I took that day. 

Boring photos, mostly taken at the controls, instead of possibly interesting stuff along the route. 

 

• commute to the start in Morrisville: 
• 0535 start, 19.4-miles, 1:18 in-motion, (U figure out the avg pace). 
• bike confuser must have dropped some distance 
• as it should have recorded 19.6-miles.  Hmmn. 
• Morrisville - Snow Camp - Siler City and retrace to return: 
• Alan modified the starting few miles of the route as compared to earlier in the year because of significant road re-construction on Morrisville-Carpenter Rd (the historic start routing).  And interesting thing:  people so much preferred the new start location and routing because it reduced the traffic on the start / finish that the modified start location, start routing, and finish routing were adopted as the new standard. 
• The modified routing added a couple kms and that proved useful as other new roads would have otherwise meant the brevet route would have been short.   
• start approx 0712, actual elapsed ~ 10h45 
• 125.4-miles,  8:51 in-motion, (U figure out the avg pace) 
• bike confuser appears to have dropped some distance; 
• RWGPS shows 125.7-miles. 
• total ride on the day: 
• 144.8-miles,  10:09 in-motion, and that works out to be 14.3-mph avg pace. 

 

Photo essay: 

Bob + RBA Alan at the start -- I don't know what they were looking at -- obviously not me.  Timestamp 0707. 

Photo control only two or three miles into the course -- required because the new routing definitely had a an obvious U-shape with the potential for short-cutting.  Timestamp 0724. 

Boring photo of the front of the Snow Camp control, approx 50-miles into the route.  Timestamp 1108. 

Siler City "Park n shoP" control -- the turn-around.  Bob walking toward the store's door and my steed leaning against the front wall.  Timestamp 1216.  Hmmn, over an hour since we had arrived at Snow Camp.  That suggest a headwind from Snow Camp to Siler City.  Also, it had gotten quite warm by the time we arrived at this control. 

"Artistic" view of Snow Camp for the afternoon control.  Timestamp 1333.  

I insisted that Bob "model" his PacTour kit that he wore for this ride.  I have been teasing him ever since he did his first PacTour whenever he wears some PacTour kit.  The tease is "there you go again, trying to intimidate me!"  Bob always guffaws.  Timestamp 1335 (i.e., photo taken at Snow Camp). 

 

Gotta' prove we rode the U-shaped finish routing.  Harris Teeter PM control.  Bob with his steed and mine hiding in the shade of the building.  Timestamp 1739. 

At the finish.  Timestamp 1757. 

 

This seems a reasonable place to record all the finishers of this pre-ride and the results on the scheduled day of the event: 

Region	Club	Type	Distance	Date	Finishers	DNF
NC: Raleigh	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	ACPB	200	2021/09/11	11	1

Cert#	RUSA#	Name	Club / ACP Code	Time	Medal
797166	6628	B__, Robert D	Randonneurs USA / 933095	12:09
797167	5843	B__, Bob	Randonneurs USA / 940095	10:57	Y
797168	1015	B__, Chet	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	08:31
797169	3095	J__, Wes	Randonneurs USA / 933095	06:53
797170	10866	L__, Jon Brady	Carolina Tarwheels / 933047	07:42
797171	xxxxx	ID redacted	rider to not be referenced	hh:mm
797172	621	M__, Byron	Randonneurs USA / 933095	12:09
797173	12981	N__, Marshall J	Randonneurs USA / 940095	07:42
797174	6218	S__, Martin	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	10:57
797175	608	VDW, Cynthia F	Randonneurs USA / 910095	08:31	Y
797176	5392	W__, Jack	Randonneurs USA / 933095	09:43

 
Robert and Byron times are the result of deciding to stick with a particular well-known local randonneur that had a VERY difficult day (and ultimately decided to DNF).  The entire crew listed above in the official results waited in Alan's garage at the finish for those last three and were disappointed that the DNF rider had to DNF. 

 

I recall that everyone waited for Robert and Byron to retrieve said rider from several miles before the finish-line.  That rider may have been a bit embarrassed but he needn't have been; he had a lung infection and his breathing was quite labored that day.  Besides, that rider had led all of us locals, and all RUSA randos, on many aspects of randonneuring. 

 

That's my lame story for this ride.  I will be sticking to it. 
 

 

May 15, 2021: Morrisville - Siler City 300k Brevet

Short rando season for us as concerns regarding COVID-19 remained high, esp. among elderly and/or immune compromised individuals. 

RBA Alan viewed through the looking glass at rider check-in / route start.  Well, okay, viewed above/beyond the handlebars and helmet of my steed.  [timestamp 0622; I actually got started about three minutes later, meaning I started at least 10-minutes after my plan of 0615 -- didn't really matter since my official start time would be the timestamp of the photo (or at least that is what I recall)] 

 
Although it has taken almost 3 years for me to post something about this 300k brevet, I much enjoyed my completely solo adventure. 

 

Due to limits that enterprises were still employing, combined with some concern on my part about lingering or renewed COVID variations, I had prepared some food to carry with me to eat en route -- actual food such as some boneless, skinless chicken thighs. 

 

I ate the first half-thigh at the Andrew's Store (original location at the intersection of Andrew's Store Rd and US-15/501.  While that was only 20-miles into the brevet, it marked the ~ 40-mile mark for me since I had cycle commuted ~ 20-miles to the start.  While nibbling on that half-thigh, and possibly removing some clothing, a rider-not-to-be-identified rode swiftly past the store.  I doubt that rider saw me.  [Later, when we should have crossed outbound vs inbound, I again did not see that rider.  Seemed rather strange at the time; still seems rather strange.] 

 

I stopped some 16 or 20 miles later at a side-road off of Castle Rock Farm Rd to consume the second half of the above referenced chicken thigh and definitely removed long-sleeve and knee-warmer kit. 

 

The timestamp on the photo indicates that I got to the first intermediate control at Snow Camp, approx 50-miles from the start of the 300, at 1044 -- indicating ~ 4h20 to cover that ~ 50-miles -- I judge that quite reasonable given the two extra stops before getting to Snow Camp (I have traditionally only paused at stop-lights and stop-signs between the start and Snow Camp outbound).  I'm sure I ate another half-thigh and acquired some cold beverage to replace that which I had consumed to that point. 

 

I apparently was "feeling good" between Snow Camp and the "100k control" in Siler City as, according to the timestamp on the Siler City photo, I arrived there exactly one hour after previously arriving at Snow Camp.  I ate another half-thigh (or maybe an entire thigh) at Siler City before shoving off for Seagrove. 

 

I stopped in the shade somewhere along Old Coleridge Rd to consume another half-chicken-thigh.  Or maybe, by the time I completed the impromptu stop, I had consumed all three chicken thighs I had with me.  My recollection is that the three fast-dudes indicated below in the ride results overtook me shortly after I had resumed pedaling after the impromptu stop on Old Coleridge. 

 

I calmly continued my ride, but perhaps I was slowing a bit, as the timestamp on the photo at the Seagrove control is 1425.  Well, the difference in time between the Siler City and Seagrove controls suggests that I covered that 50-kms in approx two-and-a-half hour in-motion:  I cannot complain about that.  As I approached Seagrove, I decided that I was going to order a large chocolate shake at the control -- I did do that although I was surprised at the price -- as I type this, I think I recall that I actually ate the last of the chicken thighs while at/in Seagrove. 

  

I took my time to eat/drink the chocolate shake and to eat ... whatever.  I also decided to call RBA Alan to let him know where I was and to clue him in that the fast-dudes were well on their way back toward Morrisville.  [And now that I type that sentence, I wonder if what I typed earlier about where/when the fast dudes overtook me is correct.  Oh, well.] 

 

Alan indicated that Chet had returned to his place shortly after starting to report a DNF due to a drive-system failure on his bike only approx 6-miles ito the route.  Alan asked it I had seen Cyndy VdW -- nope.  I suggested that perhaps Cyndy was also DNF because the failure would likely have been on their tandem.  Alan was convinced that Cyndy was not DNF and was therefore somewhere on the course.  I agreed to keep an eye out for her on my return voyage to Siler City. 

I'm pretty sure I spent at least 30-minutes at the Seagrove control, and probably closer to 45-minutes (because I recall thinking that I was spending a lot more time there than I ever had (on the 300)). 

 

No memory or recollection of the return journey to Siler City except that I did not see Cyndy.  I called Alan to let him know that I had not seen her, and therefore I figured that she and Chet had DNF'd together on their tandem.  However, Alan again indicated that Chet had only referred to himself as DNF'ing and he was still adamant that Cyndy was somewhere on the course.  

Siler City control on the return.  Timestamp 1733 -- only 3h08 after the timestamp on the Seagrove control photo.  Conclusion:  either I didn't spend as much time in Seagrove as I now think, or I rode relatively quickly (for me) on that 50-kms, or perhaps there was a nice tailwind that pushed me along (except that RUSA #12 explains that there is no such thing as a tailwind in cycling). 

 
I reached Snow Camp on the return at 1838 (according to the timestamp on the photo).  1h05 after arriving at Siler City.  I was perhaps slowing down or maybe the phone chat with Alan (and maybe others ??) took some time before I lsft Siler City. 

 

No recollections or current thoughts about the 50-miles from Snow Camp to the finish.  I arrived at the finish at 2333 (according to the timestamp on the photo taken at the finish control). 

 

I rested sitting on RBA Alan's front steps, and then made the ~ 20-mile cycle commute up NC-54, along Hillsboro St past part of the NC State community, skirted Cameron Village, walked up the steep part of Lassiter Mill Rd (I'd rather walk up that at 2.1-mph than risk falling over at 3-mph), skirted North Hills shopping center, and soft-pedaled the rest of my way to my hovel. 

 

The above is my extremely boring story for the 2021 Morrisville 300k brevet, but I will be sticking with the above. 

 

My results on the day: 

• 20.4-mile commute to the start, with 1:30 in-motion, i.e., an 13.5-mph pedal. 
• 187.8-miles for the brevet route, with 14:30 in-motion, i.e., 12.9-mph avg. 
• 19.7-mile commute back to north Raleigh, 1:47 in-motion, i.e., 11.0-mph avg. 

 

Official RUSA results: 

Region	Club	Type	Distance	Date	Finishers	DNF
NC: Raleigh	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	ACPB	300	2021/05/15	5	2

Cert#	RUSA#	Name	Club / ACP Code	Time	Medal
266481	6176	H__, Ian Page	Asheville International Randonneurs / 933011	12:37
266482	3095	J__, Wes	Randonneurs USA / 933095	12:30
266483	####	not to be ID'd	xxxxx	12:30
266484	6218	S__, Martin	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	17:11
266485	64	T__, Mark	Seattle International Randonneurs / 947018	12:37