North Carolina Permanent Rides

Dean getting to his 100th ride on Get 'er Dunn made me wonder how many rides had been done on the various Permanents and Perm-Populaires in North Carolina.  Through the end of 2011, here is what I found (sorted by number of rides in 2011):  [edit Feb-29-2012:  I discovered that I had missed 14 rides on L-L-L; Triple-L was actually the third most ridden near-Raleigh permanent in 2011, not the fifth most ridden.  The numbers in the following chart has been corrected, but not the order.]

The Permanents:

	Thru 2011			2011			2010			prior
Name	People	Rides		People	Rides		People	Rides		People	Rides
Tar Heel 200	45	263		29	90		27	104		24	69
Kerr Lake Loop	50	222		23	51		25	60		34	111
Showdown in Black Creek	41	127		15	41		26	48		24	38
Carthage Coffee Run on US BR #1	29	47		26	36		10	11		0	0
Leesville-Leasburg-L'ville (L-L-L)	25	78		17	46		15	32		0	0
Carolina Crossroads	20	24		20	24		0	0		0	0
Yanceyville Ramble	25	49		15	21		10	11		9	17
Triple Mountain View	12	17		12	15		2	2		0	0
Lake Gaston 210K	4	8		4	8		0	0		0	0
Sauratown 200K	9	17		3	7		4	4		5	6
How I Learned ... Love the BOMB	6	6		6	6		0	0		0	0
Brushy Mountain Lassooo	5	6		5	6		0	0		0	0
Wilkes Foothills 200K	3	5		3	4		1	1		0	0
Siler City Express	33	49		3	3		11	11		24	35
Big Bike to Performance Bike	2	7		2	3		1	4		0	0
Wilkes County Rumble	5	6		1	1		4	5		0	0
Natty Greene 200	24	26		1	1		23	25		0	0
Blackbeard's Permanent	7	11		0	0		1	1		7	10
Capitols ...: Richmond & Raleigh	4	5		0	0		2	2		3	3
Danbury 205K	8	10		0	0		2	2		6	8
TOTAL	355	969		182	349		164	323		136	297

The Populaires:

	Thru 2011			2011			2010			prior
Name	People	Rides		People	Rides		People	Rides		People	Rides
Get 'er Dunn	19	192		14	141		12	51		0	0
The Whirligig	15	94		14	90		4	4		0	0
Benson Mule Pull	25	62		22	41		10	21		0	0
Howling Grits Populaire	29	85		14	30		24	55		0	0
Sauratown Lite Populaire	4	37		3	26		2	11		0	0
Clayton Coffee Jaunt	3	18		3	18		0	0		0	0
Ham and Yam ... Jam	7	16		7	16		0	0		0	0
Natty Greene Lite Populaire	17	17		0	0		17	17		0	0
State Capitol Bailey Pop ...	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
L'Societe d'Adrian Hands Pop	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Mt. Mitchell Short Changed	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Cameron-Carrboro-Cameron	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
Bahama Beach	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0
TOTAL	119	521		77	362		69	159		0	0

The above indicates approximately 71-thousand kms on the permanents in 2011, and 199-thousand kms for all years combined through the end of 2011.  (Totals are approx because the official distance of some permanents has changed over time as the routes were slightly modified.)

There were also over 37-thousand kms on the permanent-populaires in 2011, and over 54-thousand kms for 2010 and 2011 combined.

The combined total, through the end of 2011, amounts to over 253-thousand RUSA credit kms.

Not obvious from the above chart is that those kilometers were ridden by 113 unique individuals.  Some were visitors from outside North Carolina, but of course the vast majority were North Carolinians or "North Carolinians".  (Why the scare quotes?  Certain RUSAns from Virginia and South Carolina think of themselves as "at least part North Carolinian" as NC is where they do most or all of their brevets.  Those of us that live in NC also think of those just referenced as "at least part North Carolinian".)

Stats Again -- Which Days? Riding What?

Have Charts -- Will Publish. 

Early in 2011, I made a commitment to myself to do Irregular rides on Saturdays,
And do the bulk of my rando rides on Sundays.


Q.:  How did that turn out?


Research (researching my own Excel ride log -- is that research?):

Automatically generated chart from my 2011 Excel log:

All rides		# rides	miles	Hours	mph	m. / r.
Saturday		44	4,257.1	280.4	15.2	96.8
Sunday		36	3,014.3	205.1	14.7	83.7
Monday		3	308.4	20.9	14.8	102.8
Tuesday		5	351.3	23.5	15.0	70.3
Wednesday		6	492.9	33.5	14.7	82.2
Thursday		7	469.3	30.7	15.3	67.0
Friday		12	311.5	20.3	15.3	26.0
Total		113	9,204.8	614.3	15.0	81.5

A little raz-mattaz in the 2011 log, and:

rando rides		# rides	miles	Hours	mph	m. / r.
Saturday		12	1,805.0	122.0	14.8	150.4
Sunday		21	2,291.3	156.0	14.7	109.1
Monday		2	219.7	14.7	15.0	109.9
Tuesday		3	319.3	21.3	15.0	106.4
Wednesday		3	380.8	25.9	14.7	126.9
Thursday		2	254.0	16.4	15.5	127.0
Friday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Total		43	5,270.1	356.2	14.8	122.6

Hmmn.  Seems like quite a few rando rides were on Saturdays.
A little "research" revealed:

• 4 of the Saturday rando rides were in January (there was one (1) IR Saturday ride in January -- and it snowed on us!);
• 3 rando Saturday rides were brevets -- all "Raleigh" brevets were scheduled for Saturdays;
• 2 rando Saturdays were permanents with and during Ricochet's "training for PBP time-frame";
• 1 rando Saturday was a December "Ricochet production" (Robert doesn't usually ride on Sundays);
• 1 rando Saturday was a "Biker Bob production" (Bob rarely rides on Sundays);
• leaving 1 rando Saturday that was a "Martin production".

I conclude that I did almost no "optional" rando Saturdays.

Looking at "strictly-construed" Irregular rides:

Irregulars		# rides	miles	Hours	mph	m. / r.
Saturday		30	2,274.3	146.1	15.6	75.8
Sunday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Monday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tuesday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Wednesday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Thursday		1	40.7	2.5	16.1	40.7
Friday		1	75.2	4.8	15.5	75.2
Total		32	2,390.2	153.4	15.6	74.7

The lone Thursday was on Thanksgiving Day.
The lone Friday was the day after Thanksgiving Day.

Sometimes, a "not-strictly-construed" Irregulars ride is put together.  For arcane historical reasons, I have referred to those as "LT group" rides (even though LT is sometimes not in the group).

LT groups		# rides	miles	Hours	mph	m. / r.
Saturday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Sunday		4	186.0	12.1	15.4	46.5
Monday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tuesday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Wednesday		1	51.2	3.3	15.3	51.2
Thursday		1	59.6	4.0	14.9	59.6
Friday		1	78.0	5.0	15.6	78.0
Total		7	374.8	24.5	15.3	53.5

So ... "broadly-defined" Irregular rides would be: 

IR  +  LT grps		# rides	miles	Hours	mph	m. / r.
Saturday		30	2,274.3	146.1	15.6	75.8
Sunday		4	186.0	12.1	15.4	46.5
Monday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tuesday		0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Wednesday		1	51.2	3.3	15.3	51.2
Thursday		2	100.3	6.5	15.4	50.2
Friday		2	153.2	9.8	15.6	76.6
Total		39	2,765.0	177.9	15.5	70.9

Conclusion:
I stuck to my commitment to myself, and, although they didn't know it, to the Irregulars.
Irregulars on Saturdays.
Rando on Sundays.
The "Saturday-exceptions" were almost-entirely brevets and invites from other randos (that typically do not ride on Sundays).

(Believe it or not, I chose to NOT publish the chart of the non-rando / non-IR rides by day of the week.)

Feb-04: Get 'er Dunn 102-km Perm-Pop

Friday, Feb-03, Dean and MikeH did the "Get 'er Dunn" for Dean's 100th time (we knew he'd eventually get there).  I wasn't along for the centenary ride.

Q,:  What is 100 in "prime numbers"?
A.:  2 x 2 x 5 x 5.

Q.:  Why did "prime numbers" pop into my head?
A.:  I have no idea, but ...
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, Feb-04, I did do the Get 'er Dunn 102-km permanent-populaire with MikeH.

Q.:  What is 102 in prime-numbers?
A.:  2 x 3 x 17.

We started at 0800 to beat the rain expected to arrive around 1400.
We succeeded in that.

Mike insisted I commit to an easy ride since his legs were tired from the day before.
I agreed.
I guess we succeeded at that because each of us claimed to be "feeling great" at the end.
Tired legs?  Spin-em-out.
I wonder what the Phun Physiologist would write or say on that.


We had an enjoyable, seemingly quick ride.
I think it seemed quick because we chatted almost the entire time.
What about?
Well, contrary to my usual claim of recalling nothing,
I do know that, among other things, we chatted about preparing oneself for an SR.

Mike was / is of the opinion that one should "taper" into the SR, or the individual rides.
I am of the opinion that one should build up to them, and keep building through them.

Mike may be thinking of riding the series "at his limit".
I'm not sure on his thoughts on that.


The following was NOT discussed during the ride,
But I'm in the mood to type it.

I figured in 2010 to do the SR "soft-pedaling" the entire way,
Or at least until I knew what I was doing.
Almost worked in 2010.
I had to dismount after 300-miles of the 600k,
Due to ... a disagreement between my shorts and a certain appendage.

In 2011, I "attacked" the 200, or anyway, I was-on-a-mission.
Backed off some on the 300.
Backed off more on the 400.
And after 50-miles of the 600, realized I had the wrong mental approach,
And backed off even more.

I'm not sure I should think of the 2011 - 600 as a strategy for me, though.
My entire focus was on getting my buddy Ricochet to Paris,
Despite his lack of legs.

Ricochet got to Paris, and had a great adventure.
I finished the 600 with some zip (see last two "paragraphs"), wondering ...

Anyway, ... , two opinions.
Only one SR between us.
I deem that the opinion of the one with the SR is more correct.
At least for me.
My approach may not work for anyone else.


Back to Get 'er Dunn:

MikeH has done the route enough times that he has become a reasonable substitute for Dean.
Mike repeatedly cautioned about upcoming road hazards and dawgs.
He's learned well from "the master".

Q,:  How many times has MikeH completed Get 'er Dunn?
A.:  In prime-numbers:  2 x 2 x 3 x 3.
Second only to Dean in completed G'eD's.

I find this hard to believe, but I have completed G'eD ... 2 x 7 times.
Fourth most on that route.

Q.:  So who has the third most G'eD's?
A.:  2011-NC-Randonnuese-of-the-Year Janis, with 2 x 3 x 5 completions.

I think I prefer Janis's prime-multipliers more than MikeH's or mine or Dean's.
After all, Janis has three unique primes, and they are the first three primes.


To clarify:  there was not one single word spoken about prime-numbers on the ride.
Or on any ride ... at least not by me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb-04:  

Get 'er Dunn 102-km Perm-Populaire; 63.5 m.; est. 4h18 in-motion; 14.7 mph; official rando time -- 5h15 .  

Jan tot: __6 rides; __426.2 m.; _28 h, 52 m; 14.8 mph. 

Feb tot: __2 rides; __190.5 m.; _12 h, 44 m; 15.0 mph. 

YTD tot: __8 rides; __616.7 m.; _41 h, 36 m; 14.8 mph. 

Feb-01: Blustery Day 204-km Perm

Q.:  On a flat, out-and-back course, when do you know you're in for some serious "fun" in the wind? 

A.:  When, on the outbound leg, you're zipping along at 3 to 4 mph above your normal pace ... and you're bare-ly pe-da-ling.


That pretty much describes the day.

Some details:

• 4 1/2 hours outbound, including the 16-minute intermediate control stop, 
• 1/2 hour lunch stop, 
• just under 5 hours to return, including the ~ 15 minutes intermediate control stop and the ~ 10 minute extra stop. 
• Wind at enough of an angle off the port bow on the return that there was no benefit to following -- the wind "shadow" was somewhere over in the ditch (a little too much traffic in certain places to ride the wide echelon that would have been required). 
• Easy to engage in conversation outbound.  More difficult inbound. 
• Very sunny most of the time.  Completely overcast some of the time. 
• Nice temps for Feb-01 (even by central NC standards). 

I've ridden in tougher wind (I am from NW Illinois, after all); MikeH has ridden in tougher wind.  But the SSW wind on the Showdown in Black Creek on the first of February was plenty enough for each of us, thank-you very much.

R-19 in the books for me.
R-16 for Mike.

---------------------------------------------------------------- 
Feb-01:  

Showdown in Black Creek 204-km Perm; 127.0 m.; 8h25 in-motion; 15.1 mph; official rando time -- 9h56 .  

Jan tot: __6 rides; __426.2 m.; _28 h, 52 m; 14.8 mph. 

Feb tot: __1 rides; __127.0 m.; __8 h, 25 m; 15.1 mph. 

YTD tot: __7 rides; __553.3 m.; _37 h, 17 m; 14.8 mph. 
---------------------------------------------------------------- 
In addition to being R-19 for me, this ride also made C-24 and M-36 for me. 
I.e., 24 consecutive months with at least one ride of at least 100-miles, and 
36 consecutive months with  at least one ride of at least 100-kms.