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. 

   

Jul-12: Epic Does Not Mean Long Nor Hard

This early Wednesday morning epic started on Tuesday afternoon,
When I washed and inspected the bike.
 

The rear tyre had had a flat profile for quite some time.
After all, that tyre had 5310-miles on it, all on the rear.
Carefully rolling the tyre around revealed three or four small places
Where the "rubber" had been worn down and casing was just beginning to show.

I thought about using one of second-hand tyres I had on hand, but
I [usually] use those as spare tyres.
Besides, I rather like the 25-cc tyres and all the second-hand ones were 23's. 
[I sometimes get second-hand tyres that clearly have 
A couple thousand miles or more of use still available. 
An advantage of having taught my bike wrench all the roads to ride, 
When he moved here from Dallas a decade or so ago. 
Also, in his early days here, I touted Gary's services and that brought him many customers / clients. 
My references aren't needed so much these days, as his business has grown mightily.]

So, late in the day, I acquired a brand new 25-cc Vittoria Zaffiro Pro.
[You certainly realize that I looked to get that name, 
Because I certainly don't know it off the top of my head, or should that be, end of my fingers.]
However, I was too lazy to replace the old one before going to bed.
Not to worry, the ride isn't starting until 0630, instead of the usual 0600 for this time of year,
And I'd easily be able to swap out the tyres in the morning.

I arrived, via vehicle, at the start at 0612.
Twelve minutes later than I should have.
Iva was already there putting himself and bike together, having driven the 5-kms from his home.
I commented, "Iva, I'm later than I wanted to be, and you are earlier than I expected."

I'm not great at changing tyres, but I'm not BAD, either.
Old tyre came off easily; new one went on easily.
Paperwork exchanged. 
We were ready to roll with a couple minutes to spare.
I was feeling rather smug about the relative efficiency of the tyre swap. 

Out of the parking lot and eastbound on Norwood Rd,
And within 50 or 100 yards,
"Iva, let's return to the cars.  Something is not right.  There's a bump-bump-bump from the rear."
U-turn, half-way back to the parking lot entrance,
BANG!
Rear tyre blow out.

Back at the car (where my floor pump was  conveniently located),
Checking the tyre, I saw that it had blown off the rim in one particular location.
"Hmmn," thought I, "I must have not made sure the tyre was properly seated."

So, new tube, rather quick change again,
Making absolutely sure of proper seating.

Back on the road, just a little bump.
Thinking that maybe that was just me imagining things.

However, by the turn onto Mt. Vernon Church Rd, 0.7-miles into the course,
The bump-bump was again worrying.
"Iva, lets pull in at PUE so I can check this tyre again."
BANG!
Rear tyre blow out. 

I walked one or two hundred yards to the PUE parking lot.
Same blowout at the same location.

I mentioned to Iva that I now wondered if there was something wrong with the new tyre.
Borrowing a tube from Iva,and still finding nothing otherwise wrong,
I swapped the tubes, telling Iva I was going to partially inflate,
And see what happened.

Inflated to about half the desired tyre pressure, using the short pump I carry on the bike,
The tyre was clearly bulging at what was now clearly a weak point in the tyre's "wire".
At least we knew it wasn't me.

Tube deflated, new, but crappy, tyre removed, spare tyre installed.
On the road again at approx 0740.
In other words, 2-kms progress made in 1h10.

Iva wondered if we should abandon the planned Bahama Beach (reversed), and
Just do a short trip around Falls Lake instead.
"Nah; we have plenty of time.
"We'll finish a little after 1pm instead of around noon.
"It will likely be a record slow passage, but each of us has time, and it will be enjoyable."

And the ride was settling in enjoyably.
I had restarted my confuser at the second start,
And we reached NC-98 only 22 or 23 minutes-in-motion (compared to the usual 19 or).

Across Falls Lake and riding nicely northbound on New Light Rd.
Approaching Old Weaver Trail, Iva mentioned that my rear derailleur was not straight.
We pulled in at Northshore Drive on the righthand side of the road.
Forgetting something important, I tried to nudge / bend the derailleur back to being straight.
POP!!
The hanger threads had slowly been stripped over the past 10+ years.
I immediately recalled what I had forgotten. 

Iva was flabbergasted.
I was annoyed with myself.
I had let the hanger situation deteriorate to the point of failure without a backup plan.

Okay, over that annoyance in a few seconds.
I don't recall who suggested it, but we agreed the correct action to take now
Was for Iva to ride back to his car, and then come collect me.

I looked at my watch:  0810.
I told Iva that it was usually a long half-hour from where we were to the CVS, but
It might take a bit longer if NC-98 was crowded with morning rush hour traffic.
Adding time for Iva to put his bike up and the return drive,
I told Iva I would see him in about an hour.

I texted several people while waiting for Iva's return.
Easy for those with "smart-phones," not quite as easy on a flip-phone.
Cancelling the coming Sunday Triple-L,
And some other stuff, too.

[I included Lynn on the text to Byron regarding the L-L-L cancellation. 
Her return text? 
"I'd be jumping for joy if I didn't have to do LLL on Sun.  Hooray!" 
I'll let locals and non-locals draw their own conclusions from Lynn's response.]

I was safe from New Light traffic, but
Stood close enough that the repeated winds from passing traffic kept the mosquitoes away.

I also noticed that about one-quarter of the drivers were holding their phones to their ears,
Or looking at their phone instead of at the road.
[Personally, I think all phones ought to automatically shut off when moving faster than 5-mph.] 

Iva returned to my location after about 65 minutes.
We loaded my bike into his vehicle and returned to the start.

DNF on the Bahama Beach (total ride:  7.9-miles, ~40-min in-motion incl. walking time).
Only second and third riders to DNF in the five-plus years of the route's existence.

May-17: Badgett Sisters 208 -- NOT for Me

BobB, Daniel, and I set out to capture our respective R-rides.
Gilbert had "threatened" to ride out from his shop in Yanceyville to meet us.
Gilbert was good to his word.
We encountered him on Oak View Loop, about half-a-mile before Badgett Sisters Parkway.

Gilbert, Daniel, Bob.  Corner of Oakview Loop and Badgett Sisters Parkway.

We rode up into Yanceyville, where Daniel, Bob, and I had lunch at the Subway, and Gilbert returned staight-away to his shop where some chores or business needed to be attended.

Post-lunch, it was quite a bit warmer.
We tackled in reverse the rollers on Badgett Sisters and Oakview Loop, and
Then the five sharp creek drops and sharp climbs back out, to get to the control at Corbett.

Bob is in great shape and just pedaled along all day.
Daniel is in good shape, though he tends to push to big a gear when climbing.
I'm in lousy shape, but early in the ride, it was as if there was no chain / no resistance to pedaling.

I definitely felt the 10 sharp creek crossing between am-Corbett and pm-Corbett,
But thought I was in decent shape, and I was looking forward to the next 20-miles,
Which had seem flat in the morning.
The only concern I had was that we would be mostly into the wind for much of the remaining ride.

I should have been more concerned about the heat.
Fat, out-of-cycling-shape, not acclimated to the heat.
I told the other two to continue ride ahead regardless of me.

I finally made the "call of shame" at the 97.2-mile mark,
Agreeing to meet my rescue ride at Underwood Grocery (the pm intermediate control).

"Call of shame" or "call of intelligence" ?
I think intelligence.
After all, it took 48 hours for me to feel recovered.

After completing her business,
Lynn and her dog Lincoln came to Underwood Grocery to rescue me.
She brought some home-made ice tea; Lincoln brought a happy attitude.

L & L dropped me off at the finish a quarter hour or so before Bob finished.
Daniel was another 10 minutes or so further behind.

R-89 for Bob.
Must be about R-6 for Daniel, but I always suggest not counting until getting to at least R-9.
 

Apr-29: 4-F Morrisville 300

Fat.
Far outa' shape.
Frickin' hot.
DNF.

Sep-01: Short Ride on US Bike Route #1

Unintended short ride, that is.

I cycled 15-miles to the start, arriving at 0735.
25-minutes 'till start time -- 25 minutes trying to stay in the shade.

Although I rode 10 solo perms last year,
And a few solo perms late in 2010,
I was anxious the night before
As I had done not a single solo perm this year.

That anxious feeling was long-gone by the time I climbed back up from crossing the Tar River.
I was starting to settle in and looking forward to a fun, if slightly warm, day.
Probably made better by the expected tailwind the last 48-miles of the route.

About 20-miles into the route,
I concluded that the 39/15 faux single-speed gear I'd used to that point was too easy.
The route would be pretty flat until Nutbush Creek Rd,
So I switched to the 50/15.
That was a bit too hard given another 110-miles to the route (and 15 afterward).
So I attempted to shift to the 50/17.

I'd been having some difficulty shifting among the rear cogs on recent rides,
But I attributed that to the chain being WAYYYY beyond its lifetime.
I should have been paying more attention.
I'd experienced what the problem really was twice before in the last 2 1/2 years.
But had gotten the problem fixed before ... failure.

The 50/17 was a no-go.
Instead ... BANG ... the Shimano shifter had completed chewing its way through
All the strands of the rear derailleur cable.
50/11 was the result.

I shifted to the 39/11,
And decided to ride the last three miles to the first control,
To consider my options.

I could probably have tied-off the cable on my water-bottle-cage
Into the 15 or 17 (or hopefully the 19) in the rear.
Then I would have had a 3-speed:  30-39-50 in front; whatever in back.
Two or three places on the route would have HURT,
But I could probably have completed the route.

If it were the last chance of a month to keep an R-series going,
I would have done the roadside "fix".
But it was only the first day of the month,
And I'm riding the "Showdown in Black Creek" route tomorrow,
With newbie randonneuse Karen,
And she might need, or at least want, some company along for psychological purposes,
On what will be her second attempt at R-1.

So ... I turned around and rode back to Raleigh.
Got the rear derailleur cable replaced.
And even though I really putzed the 5 or 6 miles after the stop at the bike shop,
I ended up with my 4th fastest in-motion ride of the year.
Because I had decided not to bother with the roadside fix described above,
And rode back in the 39/11.

You know what happens when you ride in the 39/11 compared to the 39/15?
You go a LOT faster (assuming you maintain a similar cadence).
I'm always amazed how fast I can make the bike go when I want to on a shorter ride.
Someday, maybe, maybe, maybe I'll try riding faster on 200k ride.

Maybe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sep-01:  

--> Kerr Lake Loop; turned around "at the Oxford" control --> ; 79.3 m.; 4h55 in-motion; 16.1 mph.

Q-1 tot: _22 rides; 1,610.3 m.; 108h42; 14.8 mph; 1947 RUSA kms. 

Q-2 tot: _29 rides; 2,711.5 m.; 182h48; 14.8 mph; 2700 RUSA kms. 

J-A tot: _19 rides; 1,591.9 m.; 105h29; 15.1 mph; 1599 RUSA kms. 

Sep tot: __1 rides; ___79.3 m.; __4h55; 16.1 mph; ___0 RUSA kms.  

YTD tot: _71 rides; 5,993.0 m.; 401h54; 14.9 mph; 6246 RUSA kms.

Jul-24: Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville 200k Permanent

Thanks to BikerBob for being foolish enough to ride the L-L-L with me. 

Ian was also there -- for the start.
Then, being young and immortal and apparently immune to heat, he took off.
We saw him about 4 miles before the turn-around (or, from his perspective, after the turn-around).
He left us water in Leasburg.  Thanks, Ian.

Bob and I determined to take our time, hydrate, cool off, etc.,
And to take nearly all the allowed time if needed. 
It was needed.

Bob finished about 5 minutes before the time limit.
I believe he could have been an hour or two faster without me.
I finished about 18 minutes after the time limit.
The heat was brutal.  But worse was a poorly functioning front derailleur.

On the Friday test ride, everything was smooth as butta'.
On Saturday, by the time I reached Moores Mill Rd and the "Flat Wall" up to Mt. Tirzah, I could NOT get into the 30T chain ring.  I had to grind my way up in the 39. 

I tried to make a barrel adjustment on the fly.
The barrel felt as if someone had used some lock-tight on it.
I meant to use pliers if necessary when stopped at a control.
Never remembered the derailleur while at a control.
Water, food, and getting cool inside some of the controls seemed vastly more important.

Between us, Bob and I purchased more than 4 gallons of water.
I had four V-8's.  Bob had two.
We each had two Pepsis / Cokes during the course of the day.
For recreation and morale purposes more than hydration.

I do not climb well, but I do not shy away from climbs.  I always say I do the last hill just as fast as I do the first hill.  That wasn't quite true today.  The climbs on Kemp / Victory Ch Rd added insult to the injuries inflicted by the "main climbs" of the course. The climbs on Boxelder and Ray roads added indignanty and worse. 

By late in the ride, the chain was going into the 30T relatively on demand; I started to count on it going into the 30T like it is supposed to.  But no.  On Kemp, between Southview and Coley, instead of shifting to the 30T, the chain was thrown between the 30 and the frame -- and got stuck there.  I had to flip the bike over (I didn't have the strength to bend over all the way to fiddle with the chain if I hadn't flipped the bike), unstick the chain, and THEN use the "chain guide" trick to get the chain back on the rings.  Two minutes lost that I didn't have available to fritter away.  Actually, I knew before I turned onto Kemp that I could not achieve the required minimum avg pace to finish on time.  A much different dynamic than at Sauartown where the finish terrain was helping as I approached the end.

On Boxelder, at least the chain went to the 30.  But I was demoralized.  I walked the steep part of that annoying road.  Onto Ray Rd, and the chain refused to acknowledge that the 30T was available.  Grinding up climbs that wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't already ridden 200k of very hill, hill, hill terrain on a brutally hot day.  Grinding with noodles where one usually has legs.

Good news of the day:  no cramps, no attempted cramps all day. 

Best part of the day:  ice cream at Ben and Jerry's with Bob after the ride.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last week, Maria opined that Byron's L-L-L is much tougher than the Sauartown Perm.
I heartily agree.

I am swearing off the hilly Permanents until this ridiculous heat wave breaks.  I am swearing off any brevets or permanents (except for Alan's Aug-14 Brevet) until this ridiculous heat wave breaks. 

30-milers, 40-milers, 50-milers, or 0-milers will be just fine, thank-you-very-much.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jul-24: 

Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville 200 km Permanent; 129.0 m.; 9 hrs, 33 min in-motion time; 13.5 mph; "rando time" 13hh48mm -- yep, DNF, again. 

Q-1 tot: 16 rides; __938.2 m.; _60 hrs, 39 min; 15.5 mph.
Q-2 tot: 31 rides; 2,263.3 m.; 151 hrs, 29 min; 14.9 mph.
Ju1 tot: 12 rides; __721.5 m.; _48 hrs, 27 min; 14.9 mph.
YTD tot: 59 rides; 3,923.0 m.; 260 hrs, 33 min; 15.1 mph. 

Jul-16: Sauratown 200 km Permanent

The plan for the weekend:  the Sauratown 200 km Permanent on Friday w/ Maria, followed by a much, much easier 100-miler on Saturday with the Irregulars.  Certainly do-able -- even if I had to drop the entire Irregular crew off my front on Saturday.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pleasant drive to High Point -- we beat the rush-hour traffic.
We need to talk to Joel before doing this ride again in order to get his thoughts on WHERE to park "outside the marina".  Maria parked at the CVS near the alternate Circle-K start/finish control, because there was a VERY good chance the marina would be closed and locked before we finished.  

I must have lost concentration putting stuff in my pockets and putting on socks, shoes, gloves, helmet, etc., because suddenly Maria was informing me that it was after 8 am.  I think there was a time-warp.

We started a few minutes late, and Maria must have been intent on making up the time in the first five miles.  More likely she is one of those instantly-warmed-up cyclists.  I decidedly am NOT.  30 or 40 miles to really get warmed up is the usual.  On occasion, 50 miles.  I'm not sure 40 or especially 50 miles would have worked quite so well today as we were in the mid-40's when we slid through the Taylor Rd / Sauratown Rd intersection.  I think I must have been pretty well warmed up by the time we left Walnut Cove, as I seemed to climb that LONG slope pretty well.  Of course, as certain Irregulars might note, "it was a Martin slope", not too steep.

Earlier, Maria had told me that she was making a special effort to keep her pace up on the downslopes because she had noticed from this blog that I do not like having to sit-up, catch-air, feather-the-brakes while coasting downslope / downhill.  I told her not to worry about it.  Eventually, I asked her to be sure she did NOT wear herself out trying to keep a pace to stay ahead of me on the downs -- I would just go around.  She could pass me on the return ups.

Very little climbing on Joel's route for the first ~ 50 km to Walnut Cove.  While at the control in Walnut Cove, Maria commented that Joel had noted that the climbing on the entire route was front-loaded, but statistically there didn't seem THAT much difference first-half versus last-half.  I replied that I thought most of the climbing for the entire route would be in the 10 or 15 miles after we left Walnut Cove. 

No stores except the controls are noted on Joel's cue sheet.  I knew of one store -- on NC-66 just before we would turn onto Taylor Rd.  I had gotten some VERY sweet tea there in mid-May ( see here ).  They didn't have any home-made sweet tea today.  We each had a root beer and maybe something else.  And we topped off our water bottles.

We left the store and turned onto Taylor.  Next time, Maria, continue straight on NC-66 for maybe half-a-mile, then turn around and go back and turn onto Taylor.  Very pretty and twisty fun on NC-66 just after Taylor.  (That is the extent of my pre-knowledge of Joel's Sauratown route.)

I pointed out Sauratown Rd as we passed.  Earlier, Maria had asked, based on reading an e-mail I had sent, if I wanted to ride to the top of Sauratown in the midst of the Permanent.  "No, while that would be 'epic', my legs would be trashed for no good reason; it would not be responsible of me."  I did comment that some of our more climbing-blessed and crazier rando-folk would likely take the diversion just for the fun of it -- the names of MikeD, Branson, Jerry escaped the lips.  Probably could have added a plethora of others including Tom and Mary F., Lynn and anyone else that did Tony's 400 km or 600 km Statesville - Little Switzerland jaunts.  Actually, I'm pretty sure that Lynn would not be interested in a side-climb unless it was "required"; she is, after all, in Sridhar's words "insane".  The others, however, are all just plain crazy.  But as I told some Irregular buddies recently, all randos are crazy -- even the randos know they are crazy -- but it is generally a good, or at least mostly harmless, kind of crazy.

NC-66 winds its way north (?) from Sauratown Mtn.  I am surprised that Lt. Dave doesn't go to Hanging Rock just to ride the winders on NC-66 north of Sauratown.  Definitely his idea of fun riding -- "the more the road twists up-and-down, and curves back-and-forth, the better the cycling".  NC-66 is certainly more fun than flat, flat, flat, flat, flat for ever and ever.  Of course, the flat stuff is easier.  Unless there is a ferocious headwind.

We made the first info control, and took a break.  Maria took a fair number of photos.  When she is recovered and etc., I hope to link or swipe some photos.

We found a "store" just before crossing the Dan River.  The surroundings were littered with "tractors".  We were doing quite well on time, so took a few extra minutes to eat some potato chips and have a cold drink.  We noticed the storm building just to the west.

We left the "store", and immediately descended to cross the Dan River.  As we were crossing the Dan, the rain began.  Within moments it was coming down in torrents.  Climbing back up to the plateau from the Dan, the rain got worse and Maria shouted ahead asking if I had seen any lightning.  Nope.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  I heard a tree breaking.  It couldn't have been more than 50 yards away.  A white light apparently simultaneous with the thunder had flashed, mostly on our right side.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  We've got to get out of this!  Maybe there is a church or some other building at the top of this climb!  Agreed! 

I crested the climb and saw a perhaps abandoned building with an overhang over the front door, and the east (?) side of building was at least in the lee.  I signaled a left turn and grabbed my brakes.  Darn little brakes.  Squeezing harder and harder as I start to roll down the other side of the crest.  One-two-three cars went around.  Each giving me space.  I got stopped.  Got off the bike.  Turned around. ... ... ... No Maria!

I made my way across the road and parked my bike under the overhang, and waited.  A couple minutes later, I saw Maria cresting the hill -- I went out to wave her down.  She joined me under the overhang.

"A big branch fell down and almost hit me", she said.  "I had to move it because it was blocking the whole road."  (At least that is my memory.)  I replied "that is much worse than my experience; my tough moment was almost being blown off the road as I got to this crest."  (Maria says I cannot write that she is tough or strong or anything like that, but she didn't say I couldn't write something like the following.)  I think Maria is mentally tougher than me.

Maria used her camera to make a movie.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!   I really hope it comes out.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!  (The movie did come out -- see below for a link to Maria's blog entry.)

We proceeded after at least 35 or 40 minutes.  We were sure that we'd likely be late for the info control at the Virginia State Line.  Certainly Joel will give a reprieve if we make the next control in time, and finish the route in time.  It was clearly unsafe to continue when we sought refuge.  16 minutes. 

If / when I do this route again, I will KNOW one thing -- that after that info control at the Virginia State Line, 704 East is a false flat downslope for miles and miles and miles.  For the rest of the ride (appox 56 miles), there was the occasional climb (and we did have to recross the Dan), and my speed up those climbs was SLOW (but I started having heat and lack of electrolyte issues, so I had a long period of SLOW, anyway), but the last short-half of the route is pretty flat.  Especially as compared to riding through the heart of the Sauatowns. 

Even though Maria slowed to match my snail's pace as I battled off cramps -- failed twice -- we reached Stokesbury with quite a bit of time in the bank.  Maria was talking about when "WE" would leave; I was talking when "SHE" would leave, and I'd follow after my legs felt better.  I really wish there was bench at that control.  I finally spotted a low cinder-block wall next door.  I insisted Maria leave to preserve her R-10.  I would leave when the legs had some life.  Maria finally agreed.

It is amazing what twenty minutes sitting on that cinder-block wall accomplished.  Somewhere, I have heard of the unwritten rule of randonneuring:  never stand when you can sit.  I called Smitty to ask if he would "lead" the Irregulars Middleburg Century on Saturday, as I certainly was not going to do the ride.  I left the control at 7:35. 

For more on Maria's epic adventure, and her take on the shared part of the adventure -- see her blog post.  ( Here.  )

As for my adventure, I did another 10 miles or so, probably averaging 10 mph, and called Maria from the corner of something and Market to let her know where I was, and that I was going to keep riding, and I'd look for her driving the course backward.  Then I got back on my steed and rode the 0.7 miles on Market with a little more gusto, and turned onto Sandy Plain or whatever Rd, and a miracle, another false flat downslope.  Cadence came from the slight downslope.  Cadence came from the falling darkness.  Speed, oh glorious speed, came from the cadence and slight downslope.  I still had to be careful to keep the legs, especially the left calf, very relaxed, to ward of cramping.  But speed, baby, speed.  19 +/- mph speed.  On tired, trying to cramp legs.

Maybe I can finish the course on time.  A small climb or two -- with cadence! -- with some speed!  Maybe I CAN complete this course with a minute or two to spare.  Maybe, just maybe.

That dang light on Johnson Street / Road / whatever -- where the cross street clearly has the priority.  Two minutes wasted waiting for the light to change.  I would have gone across on the red, but there was a Policeman just on the other side of the intersection assisting a motorist trying to "jump-start" his car.  Two minutes.  When I was trying to eak out a one minute victory.

Continuing on.  Still no Maria.  I wonder.  Has she had a problem.  Is she stubbornly waiting at the end for me to arrive.  That last doesn't sound like Maria.  Four-and-a-half miles (or so).  Sixteen minutes.  I think there are some small rollers on Oakview.  I'll never be able to average 16 mph unless I am willing to risk debilitating cramps.  Doesn't seem likely I can finish on time.  Maybe, just maybe, I can.

I see Maria.  She sees me and turns around.  I ride on for half a mile, and pull into the entrance of some church.  I'm secretly hoping she'll tell me "you can do it."  I look at my watch and figure the distance -- no, I can't.  I have enjoyed the ride.  It is 127 miles into the legs. 

Maria pulls into the church.  I can tell by the way she manoevers her car that my ride is over.  I said "Maria, you're supposed to say I can make it."  Hoping she would parrot me; then I could say say "no, I can't; let's load up and go."

But Maria is having none of my silly hopes.  She says flatly "they have had a major storm here.  Trees are down blocking the intersection at Oakview.  Trees are lying on top of cars and houses.  All the stoplights are out.  The electricity is out.  I barely got through, worried I'd find my car destroyed.  Let's load up and go." 

We load up and go.

On the Full Moon Kerr Lake Loop, Tom Florian told me that he didn't really care about getting credit for his rides, he knew what his legs had done.  I'm not sure I believe him about not really caring about the credit.

But, for the Sauratown 200 km Permanent, I don't care about credit for me.  I had an epic adventure with (what for me) was epic climbing, it was freaking hot, there were fun climbs and descents, a long, long flat section, I (mostly successfully) battled off cramps after getting behind on electrolytes, and I got in 127 miles, all but about 5 +/- miles on new roads. 

However, Joel, please give Maria a break on that intermediate info control.  We really did lose at least 35 minutes to that storm.  It was not safe to continue when we took unplanned refuge.  We did make the control in Stokesbury with plenty of time to spare.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!! 
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Jul-16: 

Sauratown 200 km Permanent -- dnf for me; 127.9 m.; 9 hrs, 4 min in motion; 14.1 mph. 

Q-1 tot: 16 rides; __938.2 m.; _60 hrs, 39 min; 15.5 mph.
Q-2 tot: 31 rides; 2,263.3 m.; 151 hrs, 29 min; 14.9 mph.
Ju1 tot: _9 rides; __547.3 m.; _35 hrs, 41 min; 15.3 mph.
YTD tot: 56 rides; 3,748.8 m.; 247 hrs, 48 min; 15.1 mph. 
 
Monthly avg pace plummeted.  The YTD avg pace slipped back a click.
These hard climbing routes in the heat are killing me.  And my avg riding pace. 

I had had in mind a shorter, more "marathon" haiku-like entry in mind for this ride.  But I forgot the key elements.  So ... a long story.  Ssssccchhh-KA-POW!!   

Jun-13: Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville

Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville
L-L-L
el-el-el
'el-'el-'el
Hell-Hell-Hell
Hill-Hill-Hill

And on the 13th:  Hot-Hot-Hot ... until the BIG STORM came.
Who picked the date for this ride? 
Oh, I did.  ...  Never mind. 

7 a.m..  Already above 70oF; headed for ~ 95oF; with a chance of thunderstorms.
Byron, Sridhar, John O., Tim L. and I set off into the heat and humdity, feeling chipper and optimistic.
I had ridden all the roads of Byron's masterpiece of hill torture,
except the ~ 12 miles from Hurdle Mills to US-158 about 3 miles east of Leasburg.
However, I had NEVER ridden all those roads on the SAME ride.
But, I knew the roads.  I knew the climbs.  I could handle them.
Not as quickly as Byron or John O. or Tim -- but individually, no problem.
Even in combination, given reasonable temps -- no problem.

People sometimes ask why the "Irregulars" ride so early in the summer.
I give two answers. 
Coming clean, the less important to me is:  so the dads can get home in time to be dads.
More important to me:  I sometime do very poorly in the heat. 

The combination of climb after climb could become a problem if it was hot.
Was it hot?  YES!
But I remained hopeful that the terrain from Hurdle Mills to Leasburg would mimick the easy terrain between Timberlake and Hurdle Mills.  HA!

Hester Store Rd had at least one kick-ass hill.
Gordonton Rd had at least two.
I recall wondering WHY Yo!-Adrian would have included such hills on his preferred Raleigh to Yanceyville route. 
Insanity came to mind.

"Speaking" of insanity:
When Byron first released his Permanent for public consumption, I sent him an e-mail.
Byron put on the list-serve that one local rider had accused him of being "insane" because of this course.
I never did.
Until now.
Yes, nice-guy Byron is acually Insane Sado-Masochist Byron.

Due to some extra stoppage in Hurdle Mills and bonus miles seaching for Sridhar, I became worried that I might not make the Leasburg control on time.  My overheated brain cells calculated that 1:15 or 1:20 was probably the closing time (a cooler head would have calculated something more akin to 1:40).  I pushed hard to Leasburg to make the control.  I left Sridhar in the dust. 

About 150 or 200 yards before I got to the Leasburg store, my front tyre had a gun-shot sounding instantaneous flat. I'm thinking I picked up a piece of glass earlier in the ride, and it took until Leasburg to blow. Worried as I was about the control time, I kept riding -- it was a flat road to the store, after all.  I couldn't locate my control card -- I thought I must have lost it on the road from Hurdle Mills.  I bought something to get a receipt.  The time-stamp on the receipt read ... 12:05 p.m..  So much for receipts.

Sridhar arrived about 10 minutes after I had.  By then I had found my control card, and the bag of ice the fast trio had left for us.  My breathing was still extremely fast and shallow.  My heart rate must have been off the chart.  When breathing and heart rate slowed, I looked at the tyre.  Needed either a really good boot or a different tyre.  I didn't bring a spare tyre -- it was only a puny 200k, after all.  Sridhar said he had both -- a spare tyre and rubber-patchy boots.  I accepted the boot.  It took a while to get the flat changed -- mostly to get the new tube in place inside the tyre -- I think I may have still been breathing heavily and ... tired.  Sridhar remained calm -- after all, he has been through these kind of things with the masters of calm:  Adrian and Gilbert.  All things considered, as Sridhar noted, better to have blown just before the Leasburg store / control than almost anywhere else.

We left Leasburg headed for Mt. Tirzah by way of Hurdle Mills.  We were behind on the control times, but could easily make it up if we kept our heads and refilled with cold drinks and food at regular intervals, including in between the controls. 

I started noticing the huge (for North Carolina standards) cyclonic storm brewing up to the west.  It reminded me of storms in the midwest; storms that have nasty, twisting things in them.  About 3:30, Sridhar pulled up alongside and said "the gods are being good to us"; the clouds had just gotten in front of the Sun.  Instantly cooler; we each were instantly riding about 2 mph faster.  I replied to Sridhar that "yes, the gods are good for the current moment, but I'm worried for the next moments."  Sridhar asked "do you mean rain?"  I replied "I'm not worried about rain; but big winds and hail and lightning are what I'm thinking."  I did not mention the nasty, twisty things. 

Just after that, the first serious gust of wind hit us, head on.  We instantly went from about 16 mph to about 5-8 mph, until the gust passed.  Later gusts came from all directions of the compass; some them blew each of us around a bit.  I don't recall when the sprinkles started, but we were on Union Grove Ch Rd (I think that is the name) when the light rain started, it built in intensity enough so that I know I never noticed "Rock of Ages", but luckily Sridhar had noted said info control #2 while still outbound.  By the time I pulled in to the slight overhang of the store at Hurdle Mills, it was raining pretty hard.  Sridhar was a minute or two behind, and he had no more than barely gained the leeward (south) side of the store when all fury broke loose.  Sheets of rain.  Sideways, lashing rain. 

We ended up eating almost real food (chicken salad) while sitting in the no-air-conditioning-on-Sunday-because-it-is-closed-all-day cafe (the store was TOO COLD), waiting out the storm.  We began discussing rescue ride options. I was surprised that the storm blew over in a bit less than an hour, maybe a full hour.  No hail.  No nasty, twisty things.  But there had been lightning.  (There clearly was lightning before we got Hurdle Mills -- Sridhar said he hadn't seen any -- I asked him where he thought thunder came from.  There was clearly some lightning after we left Hurdle Mills -- not that I saw any, but there were a couple thunder-bangers.)  

At Tirzah, after finding the gallon of water the fast trio had left for us (we hoped it was from them) probably nearly two hours before, we put my back-up-back-up front light onto Sridhar's handlebar, and put my main light on mine (I don't have just a regular back-up).  Sridhar had figured why carry a light ... we'll be done long before dark.  I had thought the same, but for some reason had thrown the little nuisance of a handlebar bag with batteries and my main (only real) headlight onto the bike.  My back-up-back-up I can afix in such a way that it is completely out of my way, so I leave it on the bike all the time ... until I'm riding with someone who needs a light, not so much to see with, but to help been seen by cars and others. 

We continued on.  Sridhar had said that there was a possibility that even though we had missed an intermediate control, that if we finished by 8:30, we might still get credit.  Although doubtful we could make Stonehenge by 8:30, we continued.   Luckily, I knew the roads, so Sridhar had been able to put away his cue sheet even before we got to Hurdle Mills.  I even knew a possible short-cut; but we did NOT take it.   Where would be the honor in that? 

I was concerned about the drop to Lake Michie on Bahama Rd, with its sharpish "curve", if the roads were wet, if it were raining.  Turned out that I think I had worried about nothing.  But maybe, since the rains and gusting winds may have caught the lead threesome on that section of road, maybe they can better speak to the potential level of hazard there. 
 
I had been having small cramps, usually whenever I would push off after having stopped, ever since Leasburg.  Also, my front tyre had been getting thump-thump-thumpy for some miles, and was getting worse with each revolution.  I pulled into the store on Red Mill, looked at my watch, looked at the tyre, and decided I was pulling the plug if I could get anyone to come to the rescue.  Sridhar relunctantly agreed.  Each of us had been saying for 30+ miles that credit did not matter, but it would be nice to finish for personal honor.  But at 7:45 with 17 miles to go, with only one light that would effectively illuminate the road, we each knew it was the correct decison.  I called my friend and "Irregular" riding buddy Lt. Dave (he lived second closest and has the biggest, meanest vehicle); he came to rescue us.  Dave had started his day in northwest Georgia, and had thought about doing a 30-mile ride to include a climb up Brasstown Bald -- but it was so hot and humid even at just after dawn, that he decided against the idea.  He had to drive through the storm; I think he said he and his wife were near Winston-Salem at the time.  (Second choice would have been IvaHawk -- he lives just off Wood Valley Rd.) 

So, we pulled the plug.  And probably just in time.  I started having small cramps every time I was trying to surreptitiously stretch a leg while we were talking and waiting for Dave.  I had to calm my muscles and "steel" myself before I hoisted myself into Dave's truck -- one leg was trying to cramp just in anticipation of getting into the truck.  Not bad cramps, mind you.  Just minor ones. 

Our Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville ride was shortened to L-L-Gorman.  Doesn't have much of "ring" to it, does it?
 
I will give the Hell-Hell-Hell Permanent another go.  But I think I'll wait until the temperatures are likely to be less than 95oF for the high.  Byron's write-up and excellent photo essay can be found here. 

I know that Maria and Fearless Leader Alan are doing L-L-L on the 15th.
I predict that they will breeze through the ride despite high temps.
I hope so.
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2.1 miles pre-ride, plus approx 111.8 miles (includes ~ 2 bonus miles)
My Cateye sometimes stops recording speed and distance when really wet.
Still records time-in-motion, though.  Strange.
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Jun-13: 
 
Byron's Hell-Hell-Hell Permanent; 113.9 m.; 7hrs, 57min in-motion (incl. pre-ride); 14.3 mph. 

Q-1 tot: 16 rides; __938.2 m.; _60 hrs, 39 min; 15.5 mph.
Apr tot: 10 rides; __717.9 m.; _45 hrs, 27 min; 15.1 mph.
May tot: 10 rides; __837.2 m.: _58 hrs, 42 min; 14.3 mph.
Jun tot: _5 rides; __352.7 m.; _22 hrs, 52 min; 15.4 mph.
YTD tot: 41 rides; 2,846.0 m.; 189 hrs, 38 min; 15.0 mph. 

May-22/23: Morrisville 600 km Brevet

I pulled the plug after 300 miles due to serious chaffing in a tender spot. 
Camaraderie.  Bonding.  Personal goals.  Shared goals.  Determination.
Those can get one through a lot.
But they can't get one through certain pergatories.
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I was writing a detailed write-up to replace or augment the criptic entry above ... but lost the internet connection mid-story and lost the write-up to that point.  I knew I should have drafted the dang thing in Word, and then copied over.  I didn't.  And losing the text that I had written ... fits with a DNF ... don't you think.  Therefore, I will leave my detailed story on the DNF floor, except for the following:

Thanks to Maria, Vance, BobO, Sridhar (someday I must learn to spell his name), Al P., Ian for being riding companions.  If I missed any, I'm sorry.

Thanks to all those with whom I interfaced (now isn't that a big word signifying ... what?) at the controls.

Thanks to all the volunteers, especially Alan and Dorothy and Jerry and MikeD.  Too bad Jerry couldn't supply the only thing I really needed to keep riding ... uh, NO. 

Thanks to Branson and Glenn for post-ride advice and Glenn for sharing his Shennandoah story.  The things men can bond over /:roll-eyes:/ . 

Thanks to Lt. Dave and Mrs. Lt. Dave and Zeke, the Wonder Dog, for rescuing me.
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I learned some things on this ride and on the series in total.  A key one is:  don't read the other blogs until AFTER you have written your own story. 

I know that I can do the 600 distance, but I would like to confirm it.  Not for the hardware.  Just because.

I am trying to figure out another 600 I might be able to do this year.  Can't do Tony's Labor Day event ... I'm supposedly ridng the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway just a week later ... and I'm not endangering that trip.  Tony has another 600 in October ... but that looks to be another F-L-A-T, likely sore-a$$ adventure if I were to try that.  There are apparently two 600's on offer (one in June, one in July) near the Quad Cities, along and on both sides of the Mississippi River.  Those start on the Iowa side just north of the Quad Cities, go up and down the Missippi bluffs heading toward Galena, cross the River, go places in Illinois such as Apple River (it ain't flat there), goes up and down the bluffs on the Illinois side, and does more Iowa bluffs.  Sounds really hilly.  Certainly no Tony "Little Switzerland" adventure, but not flat.  I would already know half the towns and likely some of the roads ... but from a car, not from a bike.

I will have to do another 200 km brevet as due to timing of joining RUSA and doing the Morrisville 200 and results being sent in and ... I will likely see the central North Carolina rando crowd at Alan's August-14 ride. 

I hope to see some of the central North Carolina rando crowd on a Pemanent in June and/or July.

I will not see the central North Carolina rando crowd at Byron's L-L-L on Memorial Day Weekend ... I plan to give certain body parts plenty of time to heal.
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For other, more interesting insights on the 600k, see:
 Biking Around NC with Bob
 Geof's SR adventure
 Sagittandy and JayJay ambushed us
 The Workers' pre-ride
 MikeD's road-side write-up, with photos and extracts
 Doc on a Bike -- his bike is red -- I saw it
 Vance thinks Irrelevantly
 Maria's extensive report - makes me feel a wimp for DNF'ing my write-up
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May-22: 

Morrisville-Steadman-WhiteLake-Wilmington and back (I obviously didn't make it all the way back); 300.3 m.; 20hrs, 51min in-motion time; 14.4 mph. 

Q-1 tot: 16 rides; __938.2 m.; _60 hrs, 39 min; 15.5 mph.
Apr tot: 10 rides; __717.9 m.; _45 hrs, 27 min; 15.1 mph.
May tot: _8 rides; __776.1 m.: _55 hrs, 01 min; 14.1 mph.
YTD tot: 34 rides; 2,432.3 m.; 163 hrs, 05 min; 14.9 mph. 

I did accomplish one thing on the ride, I have now raised my "Eddington cycling number" to 65.  One note on that:  I count rides, not days.  So I have at least 65 rides that were at least 65 miles long.  The big interweb and most blogs that have mentioned the Eddington cycling number refer to "days" instead of rides; however, I am confident that Eddington had never heard of randonneuring, and that the blogs that pop up when one "googles" the phrase are not blogs of randonneurs (one blog that I saw was discussing an E of 21 - you get the idea). 

Just for giggles:  I now have 85 rides of at least 63 miles, 71 rides of at least 64 miles, 65 rides of at least 65 miles, 59 rides of at least 66 miles, 58 rides of at least 67 miles, 55 rides of at least 68 miles, 51 rides of at least 69 miles, 48 rides of at least 70 miles.