Q&A with Sara Huston | On Camaraderie & Crossing Jordan Lake

Continuing our newcomer series, RTP recently caught up with Sara Huston, who rode several of the NC brevets this year. Fearless Leader Al says he was especially struck by Sara's unflagging enthusiasm, even as she rolled in from a soaking rainstorm or an exhausting night of hills.

Sara says she really enjoyed night riding. And her ability to ride past the 200-mile mark "blew my mind," she says in her interview.

Count Sara as the latest convert to the sport of randonnuering -- she promises to be back next year. That's good news for all of us.

Sara did the series with her life and riding partner Gary, another welcome addition to the NC series. Look for his interview in the coming days.


RTP -- Tell us about your cycling background.

When I was a kid and even into college I rode my bike absolutely everywhere – I loved riding my bike (my first 10-speed: a red Schwinn Traveler II). But then I went to graduate school in Pittsburgh, and the idea of riding in the city unnerved me, so I pretty much hung up the bike for a bunch of years. (Ironically, Gary really got into long-distance riding while he was in grad school in Pittsburgh). Gary got me back into riding again, around 1996, after we were both living here in Raleigh. He had already done his first century, but he would go out with me on little 5-mile rides around the neighborhood. I think my first organized ride was in 1997, my first metric century was at the 1999 NCBC fall rally, and my first full-week Cycle North Carolina was in 2001. I love multi-day rides and I love climbing (even though I don't do either quickly). I've completed CNC and Bike Virginia a bunch of times, among other multi-day rides.

RTP -- Before this year, what was the longest ride you'd done?

105ish miles – last October I completed my first "solo" (not on a tandem) century at the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Festival in Staunton, VA (one of my absolute favorite weekend rides). That area of Virginia is not flat, and it was a challenging route. But I finished strong, and that gave me a huge amount of confidence for tackling my first 200K. By the way, my goal for 2008 was to complete a 200K. I had no intention whatsoever of attempting a 300K, let alone a 400K. But my experience on the 200K showed me that it really was a safe environment in which to fail, so I should just go ahead and go for whatever I felt relatively confident in completing.

RTP -- What got you interested in randonneuring?

Like I said, I really love multi-day rides – traveling long distances over the countryside under your own power, being out in nature, sticking with it during the rough times, thoroughly enjoying the "no chain" times, all of that! I love it! And randonneuring seems like taking all that to another level. Also, the time limits in randonneuring are achievable for me – I'm not a fast rider, and a lot of century rides want you off the course in 6 or 7 hours. Getting into randonneuring has taken me several years – I've been thinking about it, getting up my courage to try it for several years. And then reading and hearing all the P-B-P reports from last year, horrendous rain and hypothermia and kidney stones and all, and it just sounded glorious and gave me that little extra inspiration.

RTP -- Did you need any special equipment for those rides?

My most special equipment is Gary. Seriously, he is my secret weapon. The things that stress me out on a ride don't fluster him, and he always helps me to put things in perspective. I think that sometimes goes both ways. I think we help each other keep going when things get tough (often by knowing what NOT to say). And we have a blast when things are going great.

RTP -- What adjustments did you have to make, if any, to your bikes?

Before the 200K I swapped out my stem (sorry, correction, Gary swapped out my stem) for one with a little more rise (I have some non-bike-related neck/shoulder issues). That took a little tweaking, but I've got it now where it's great. My main changes between the 200K and 300K had more to do with me – more core strength work to help take pressure off my hands, testing out protein drinks, since I had some issues with nutrition on the 200K, and moving my cleats to help with toe numbness (still working on this one). I did invest in more lighting before the 300K (I have serious generator-hub envy). Before the 400K I put some "half-fenders" (fenders that don't go under the brake, for bikes with very little clearance there) on my bike. Worked great! The 400K was dry as a bone!

RTP -- Do you think you had the right kind of bike?

For the most part. I've been riding my pink carbon-fiber Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD – not exactly your stereotypical randonneuring bike, if there is such a thing. This bike fits me great, which is probably the most important thing, is light (when I'm not carrying my kitchen sink), and rides and handles great. It doesn't have great clearance for fenders, but I've see some hardware work-arounds for that, and I may try that to get full fenders on there. The big thing I think is to get some stronger, higher spoke count wheels – I haven't had a problem yet, but I feel like I'm on borrowed time. And maybe a generator hub while I'm at it…

RTP -- Did you like/dislike night riding?

This was a big unknown for me. Turns out that I absolutely love it. I love being out at night in general, anyhow – the moon and the stars and all the night sounds and everything looks mysterious. It's so peaceful and you feel like you have the world to yourself. And riding at night, I feel like a kid who's snuck out of the house after bedtime to go for a bike ride.

RTP -- Did your ability to ride those long distances surprise you?

I totally blew my own mind. Yeah. The 200K, not so much. But the 300K, definitely, it took several days for that to sink in. And the 400K just blew my mind. I still don't think I believe it.

RTP -- What was the biggest personal challenge about riding that distance?

Thinking that you can't possibly do it. I just kept remembering the advice in the RUSA handbook to not think about the total distance, but just focus on the distance to the next control, or store, or whatever. The hardest moments for me were on the 30 miles from Siler City to Seagrove on the 300K. Despite 13 years in N.C., I am a New England girl, and don't do so well in the heat, I need time to acclimate every year. That was the first decently hot ride I had done this year, and I kept overheating, having to pull off and dump water on my head – it was bad, really, really bad. Somehow I managed to get to the Seagrove control. I didn't think I could recover enough to finish. But some time in the A/C, some Gatorade and salty chips, and I was ready to ride again. The 30 miles back to Siler City weren't so great either – just wanted to lie down in a ditch by the side of the road – looked so cool and inviting! But then we left Siler City, and we had a tailwind, and the sun went down, and I just felt awesome – I mean just ridiculously fabulous – the final 60 miles. That taught me that I should never count myself out.

RTP -- You most pleasant experience during those rides?

Crossing Jordan Lake, at all times of day and night, and all different conditions was one of my favorite things. But I think the absolute most pleasant was that 60 miles, mostly at night, from Siler City to Morrisville on the 300K. The night was beautiful and the weather was perfect and it was just awesome.

RTP -- Any revelatory moments (as opposed to hallucinations) after spending 24 hours on the bike?

Just that 24 hours on a bike could actually be so much fun – not that I had fun every minute of it, but overall. But moments that have stuck with me – smelling the wisteria while crossing Jordan Lake on the 200K; watching far-off lightning after nightfall on the 300K; the silvery shadows of the large herd of deer that crossed in front, behind, and in between Gary and me on the 300K; crossing Jordan Lake on the return of the 400K at almost the exact time (7am) that we had crossed it on the way out 24 hours earlier – that was like some kind of time travel, like you were in those two moments at the same time, a little strange.

RTP -- Any rookie mistakes that others should avoid?

Don't let the weather report scare you away. Gary and I let the threat of thunderstorms deter us from a 200K attempt on the tandem in 2006 and we regretted it ever since. That regret got me to the start line of this year's 200K, for which torrential rain was predicted (and which never materialized, we had some rain, but nothing bad). Be prepared for the weather, but don't let it intimidate you. Go for it!

RTP -- Complete this sentence: Randonneurs are ___________.

Just Awesome. Really, I had heard all about the camaraderie and all, but y'all take that above and beyond. Everyone has been supportive and encouraging and so many have gone out of their way to help us be successful in our brevet attempts. If I can mix a southernism with a northernism without the sentence spontaneously combusting: Y'all are finest kind. Thank you!

RTP -- Will you be back next season? If so, any goals?

Oh yeah, I plan to be back. Gary and I are planning to do some permanents during the rest of this year, and also the August 200K – I'd like to get a few more 200K's under my belt. And next year, well, I'll decide on goals later this year, but it'll probably involve improving times and maybe attempting a 600K (although I may need to find one in a cooler climate – say Alaska?).

Q&A with Dr. John Morris--Jerry Phelps

John Morris with his wife Laura and daughters Claire and Ruthie (hiding in the trailer) on the C&O Canal Tow Path.


The NCBC brevets saw lots of newcomers this year—especially promising for the sport considering PBP is so far off. Perhaps one of the most successful was Dr. John Morris. John started the year off right by riding a cold and windy 200km brevet on New Year’s Day put on by Tony Goodnight and Richard and Joel Lawrence. He ventured to South Carolina and Florida for other brevets, rode a flèche, and became a Super Randonneur by successfully completing Alan Johnson’s entire NCBC series.

John is 48, about the average age for a randonneur, lives in Durham, about 3 miles from where I grew up, with his wife Laura and daughters Ruthie, Claire, and Eleanor ages 16, 7, and 4. Among other hobbies, John is a pilot and has flown his own plane to brevets in Florida and Spartanburg.

The Trailer Park sat down for a short Q&A with John recently to learn more about him and to get another perspective on why we do what we do.

RTP--Tell us a little about your cycling background. How did you learn about randonneuring and what attracted you to the sport?

I rode my Schwinn Super LeTour 12.2 in college for travel/touring. For a couple summers, I rode from NC to Ohio to New England, up and down the east coast in various permutations, solo and with friends and family. I didn't ride too much from then till this last year. Occasional week-end bike tours, but not organized club riding or mass events.

I grew up in Ohio, went to Duke for college, then Ohio State Med School and Phoenix AZ for (Family Practice) residency. My career has been mostly as an Emergency Room Physician in NC--at Duke Emergency Department during most of the 90s, and other NC ERs before and after this time. I'm now practicing at Duke Urgent Care, a walk-in clinic in Durham. I don't work at 4am anymore!

I saw randonneuring on the Web. As I haven't been involved in club riding, I had never heard of PBP. The attraction is the physical and mental challenge, within an organized format. Bragging rights at the office have been a perk this spring. ("You're gonna ride HOW far tomorrow??") I did used to be a boy scout, so the "be prepared"/self-sufficient mentality in randonneuring is also appealing.

RTP--How has your family been involved in your cycling accomplishments?

Last fall, I decided to (finally) get back into shape, and get back on a bike. Claire was on a 3 week break from year-round first grade--time for a family biking vacation. Our shake-down trip was the overnight charity event 'Tour to Tanglewood', 50 miles or so on Sat, repeat Sunday. The girls danced at the Sat pm party in front of the stage in Tanglewood for hours. Then we loaded up the van/bikes/trailer/tag-a-long/kids and drove to DC. 8 days on the C & O canal towpath, which becomes the Allegheny Passage, and connects D.C. to Pittsburg. 20-50 miles per day. Flat, no cars, with motels/B&Bs at night. Claire counted 432 turtles in the canal over several days, and Eleanor got to ride Thomas the Train in Cumberland, MD. There is a guy near DC who has a shuttle business supporting the C&O cyclists--he met us in Pittsburg with our van. Then we drove to western NC for the "Mountains to Sea" Cycle NC--the annual big group NC bike event. Another good week on the bikes. Eleanor played me songs on the harmonica in the trailer.

Editor’s Note: In the middle of June, John and family took off for Ohio for a week at the GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure).

RTP--Congratulations on achieving the Super Randonneur award in your first year—a distinction that isn’t often accomplished. Did you set out at the start of your rookie year to earn the SR? Do you have designs to ride a 1200km brevet? If so, when and where?

Yes, I decided to ride at least a complete brevet series this year. I'd like to do a 1200km ride next year. I've been thinking about London Edinburg London next summer, but will also consider something a bit closer.

RTP--As a physician, you are well equipped to understand the physiological changes that occur during long distance cycling. How has your medical training affected your approach to the sport?

I spent a couple months early in my career staffing the small ER clinic at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In the summer months, the temperature at the bottom of the canyon is usually 20 degrees hotter than at the top. Many evenings about 9-11 pm, the nurse on duty would call me and tell me about college students who had decided to hike down to the bottom of the Canyon and back in one day, taking one bottle of water for the day. About 1/2 way back up, they would become dehydrated and start puking, and would finally crawl out of the canyon by evening and make it to the clinic. The nurse would describe the patients' appearance in terms of how many liters of IV fluids that they looked like they required. ("A couple of two baggers and a 3 bagger.") On the 600K I was determined not to become a "3 bagger", and to use as much of my time cushion as possible sitting in air conditioned local stores during the heat of the day.

I've become much more interested in the physiology of endurance sports this year. Controlling intake of calories and fluid during brevets is a very personal matter, and those who thrive during these events have developed varied successful methods. I'm still mostly in the 'real food' camp, if you define pizza/cookies/frappacinos as real food. However, I have started to ask about some of the supplements/electrolytes/gu/bars etc.

RTP--Your Surly Long Haul Trucker has attracted a lot of attention this year. In one of your first rides, I heard you tell another cyclist, “Well, it’s kind of heavy, but so am I.” Have you or the bike slimmed down since your first brevet on January 1st? What selection criteria led to your choice of bikes?

I chose it because it's versatile. So far, it's my one bike. Family touring, Brevets, Commuter. I've been very happy with it. I've lost 30 pounds this year, and hope to go down another 10 or 20 by next year. If I get to my ideal body weight, then I might think about a lighter bike for brevets or non-loaded touring. However, I think accessories are much easier to lighten than the bike itself. I'm never gonna be a 130 pound hill climber/racer--so I don't think it really matters whether my bike and water and clothes and food and tools weigh 37 lbs. or 39 lbs.

I spent a lot of time on the web researching bikes/gear etc. I like Rivendell, Velo Orange, Harris Cycles, and the randonneur sites such and this blog, Daily Randonneur, and RUSA site for advice/ride reports. Overall, I'm happy with most of my choices in bike/accessories. I'd give a thumbs up to Surly's Long Haul Trucker, Brooks B-17 saddle, and Dinnotte battery lights. Also I like powergrips for my pedals, but am again considering clipless.

RTP--Which of the rides this year was the most challenging for you and why?

The NC 400K took the most out of me physically--I was pretty much beat for 24-48 hours afterward.

RTP--Will you be back next season? Will you have new goals?

Yes, I'll be back. Don't know about new goals--probably will pick a 1200K to work toward. I think I'm getting a little faster, but for me a good goal next season may be to finish with as much 'reserve' as possible. I'd like to be able to do a brevet and feel good the next day. That kind of goal is harder to measure than a 'personal best' time, but it might be worth pursuing anyway.

RTP--Any bits of advice for would be randonneurs?

If I were giving advice about nutrition etc, it would be this: don't pedal with nausea. Stop at the next cool/warm place, sip on whatever fluid that might stay down, and rest till your tummy feels better. I think if you keep pedaling, the cycle of dehydration leading to nausea leading to vomiting leading to more dehydration will continue, and you won't. This advice doesn't help much if you're trying to finish a brevet and pushing the control time limits, but if you have any cushion of time at all, stopping early might avoid a DNF. Of course, with the Surly LHT as a stable touring platform, one might rig an IV pole on the rack, and hydrate/medicate while pedaling. A less sedating IV antiemetic medicine would be best.

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

The showdown is set!

Mike's E3 Supernova versus my brand-spankin' new Schmidt Edelux, fresh out of the box. We're doing a nighttime permanent between Raleigh and Richmond next weekend, so stay tuned for an extended road test.

First impressions, the Edelux is a beautiful little package. Its black-anodized aluminum housing looks seamless, sculpted. The magnetic switch is a joy to move back and forth. Its Senso setting has a raised notch between On and Off, so you can set it correctly without looking down.

The paperwork says the "IQ-TEC optical system" was developed by Busch & Muller, and is also found in their Lumotec IQ Fly. The emitter points slightly backward from the top of the housing, bouncing its light off the beveled reflector. Perhaps the reported difference in output between the IQ Fly and the Edelux is due to different emitters? Our buddy Byron rocked the local SR series with an IQ Fly and I was extremely impressed, especially on wet roads at night. Can't wait to get home and give this light a try!

Total damage to the checking account: just under $200 US.

work(belt) of art

I checked with Mike before posting this, as it might be considered a "commercial" post.

This is a "Workbelt For Women" my friend and co-worker Chris made for me. That's what Chris calls her functional works of art, but I've convinced her that I am indeed a dude, so she may need a new name for her pieces. I offered "Work(belts) Of Art."

Chris made one of these for my wife to use in the garden, and then I asked if she'd make one for me. I've never liked working on the bike in a shop apron, and Chris' "Workbelts For Women" seemed perfect. Except for the name.

She asked me what features I wanted and what tools I like to keep near me when working on the bike. She measured my T-handle hex wrenches and my pedal wrench, even though I don't often need to have that one with me. Then she asked if I had any old jerseys she could use.

I reluctantly offered a Chisholm Service team jersey circa 1990. Buddy and former shop owner Mike Brown gave me that jersey around 1992 when I bought my first road bike from him. The jersey had outlasted its usefulness on the bike but I wanted to keep it for nostalgic reasons. I also parted with a worn-out yellow jersey that I hadn't put on since a challenging 600K that still haunts me.

Chris' workbelt turned out so well that I'm kinda scared to get it dirty. She insisted that it's meant to be used, and tough enough to handle being washed often. Still- it seems to me that it belongs on the wall, not around my waist.

(More pictures if you're curious. And if you decide you might like Chris to make one for your mechanic, drop me a line and I'll put you in touch.)

Flag Post....

Flag Day was last Saturday so Maxi celebrated with two new flags. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson: "Every randonneur has two countries: his own and France."

Sunday's Lake Loop

I tagged along for a portion of this 200K but did not have time for an all-day ride. However, Mike R did a nice ride report, which includes a passage on his favorite ride food: umm...canned fish.

I brought all my own food except the ice cream sandwich reward at the last control. I ate pounds of organic fig bars and honey roasted peanuts. I ate three cans of fish. BTW Trader Joe's has some good stuff cheap. I had a can of their sardines, and a can of their kippered herring. Also had a can of Reese smoked clams from Walmart.

Read the full report here.

I got a few shots of the riders and felt compelled to share. The reason: they're a good-looking bunch who look that much better through my new camera, the Nikon L18. My L12 died, and the boys at Peace Camera accused me of killing it. Boys, it wasn't me, it was the One-Armed Man.

Right out of the box, I can tell the L18 is a marked improvement over the old model. Check these shots out. You'll see (in descending order) Mike R, Dean, Sridhar in the new NCBC jersey and Gregg, one of our newer randonneurs.

Shenanandoh 1200K Video by Clare Z

Race Across America

The Race Across America is in full swing. Fellow randonneurs and fixed gear riders Jeff Bauer and Kevin Kaiser are having a great ride. There has been chatter on the Georgia list about them overtaking Jure Robic, the solo men's leader. As of this posting they'd covered about 1700 miles with an average speed of 15.4 miles per hour. Stats are here, and you can read their blog here.

For an incredibly entertaining story about Jure, check out this link.

All the best to Jeff and Kevin.

In the Blogs / on the Lists

To sleep or not to sleep? That is the question. The RUSA handbook suggests staying up all night as training for an upcoming 1200K. Mark Thomas offers another take on that.

Unless you are one of the talented few riders that can blast through a 1200km on no sleep, learning overnight stop skills on a 600km is excellent preparation for what you'll do on the 1200km brevet.

Read the full post here.

Another imponderable question to ponder: What is randonneuring all about? Kent Peterson tackles that one here.

Chuck of Coho Cycles comments on Le Cirque (enough C's for ya?). See it here.

There's still lots of Shenandoah 1200K buzz:

TDR has a ride report by Kelly Smith. See it here.

Several of the lists have Shenandoah discussions going. They include Houston, New England, North Carolina and Georgia.

New Tidewater Blog

Riding buddy and fellow Coho owner Bob Orr has just launched a new blog for his randonneuring interests. You can check it out here. We look forward to ride reports from North of the Border.

The photo shows Bob in red and Dean Furbish on last year's Blackbeard Permanent. Another ride or that route is being planned for July.

Hot enough for ya?

Riders suffering though the Heat Wave on the East Coast will enjoy today's highway cam shot of a snowy pass in Washington.


Here's a shot from LoupLoup Pass. We crossed that on the Cascade 1200K. We saw lots of rain, but no snow.

I'll bet the Shenandoah 1200K riders would have enjoyed a brief snowstorm on last weekend's steamy ride.

Thanks to Mark Thomas for the images.

In the Blogs / Lin at Shenandoah

Our friends at The Daily Randonneur continue their extensive post-ride coverage of the Shenandoah 1200K. The latest post features photos by Mary G, who showed up at the finish and snapped some great shots of our man Lin.

You can see them here. He's wearing the official jersey. You'll also see a photo of his bike.

The photo on the right was taken as Lin passed through the Fancy Gap control. That look of concern on his face? He still had more than 300 miles to ride at that point. But the Fancy Cap crew never doubted him for a minute.

Matt Settle said Lin entered the final control "with a big smile on his face" and the photos bear that out.

Again, a big congratulations to Lin & all the other participants in the inaugural Shenandoah 1200K.

Dean's Nutrition Advice: Round 4

N.C. Randonneur Dean Furbish, who teaches physiology at a local college, has contributed three recent columns on cycling and nutrition. That has generated several questions from readers. Here's the latest, with Dean's answer.

hspatz said...
I told my doctor of problems I was having in the heat and he said not to ride so much in the heat (not a helpful answer.) I put my symptom set into Google and it was a perfect match to hyponatremia and I informed my doctor of such. He copied off 7 pages about hyponatremia from a Dr. Burton Rose that said that exercise induced hyponatremia comes from excess water consumption and the proof came from a Boston Marathon where many hyponatremic runners had weight gain from water, as opposed to a New Zealand marathon with fewer water stations where there was no hyponatremia. Dr. Rose's advice was to drink only when thirsty and to avoid weight gain by drinking less. From my experience, the advise should be to increase electrolytes and not worry about drinking too much. If the electrolytes are OK the athlete will urinate excess fluids instead of holding on to them. It seems to me that Dr. Rose's advice will lead to dehydration and not fix the hyponatremia. What do you think?
May 28, 2008 5:31 PM

Dean's response:

HS is correct to increase water intake supplemented with electrolytes to stave off hyponatremia and maintain performance. The only remaining question regarding intake is: “How much?” While “more is better,” there are limits to water and electrolyte intake. To my knowledge, no expert on the subject recommends consuming more than one loses during an endurance event. Moreover, one school of thought questions whether one should even try to replace all that is lost. The reason is that there are limits regarding how much water, food, and electrolytes can be absorbed during an endurance event. Fortunately, estimates of water and sodium loss during endurance events abound, giving athletes a place to start in calculating replenishment needs. I’ve provided one such link below.

With that said, I feel it worthwhile to expound on HS’s situation. Given the competing schools of thought HS has dug up, an explanation of why I believe the rider’s proposed strategy is correct may benefit other riders.

Let’s start with something with which everyone agrees. Excessive water intake can dilute blood sodium, resulting in hyponatremia (i.e., low blood sodium). Hyponatremia should be avoided. According to current thought, hyponatremia leads to nausea, vomiting, muscular cramping, and cerebral edema (i.e., brain swelling). HS points out two strategies for avoiding hyponatremia. The first strategy would be to drink less water, the position ascribed by HS to the good doctor Rose. The second strategy would be to supplement water intake with electrolytes, HS’s position.

The first strategy of drinking less water to avoid hyponatremia would be good advice for athletes who are, in fact, drinking excessive amounts. But what is excessive? According to HS, the good doctor argues that athletes should be guided by thirst so as not to drink too much. But is this a workable strategy? I shall argue that it is not. While the strategy prevents hyponatremia, it ultimately leads to dehydration and underperformance.

Our sense of thirst is not a sufficient indicator of water need. Although the brain’s “thirst center” monitors blood-sodium directly, it is slow to send the thirst signal. If this weren’t bad enough, the thirst signal shuts off prematurely, that is, after we’ve taken only a few gulps of water! This is completely counter to the needs of endurance athletes. Elaine Marieb (2007, p. 1040) in Human Anatomy & Physiology writes:

As effective as thirst is, it is not always a reliable indicator of need. This is particularly true during athletic events, when thirst can be satisfied long before sufficient liquids have been drunk to maintain the body in top form.

My advice for endurance athletes regarding hydration is as follows:

First, begin hydrating at least a day in advance of an endurance contest. Urination is not necessarily a good indicator of one’s hydration state, however. The kidneys will immediately begin to flush extra water from the blood plasma before it has had a chance to move into both extra- and intracellular spaces, resulting in complete hydration. Hydration takes time, given the passive, slow processes of osmosis and diffusion. The athlete should not consume excessive electrolytes during this hydration period.

Second, taper the usage of diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol during this hydration period. Caffeine causes the body to excrete sodium, thus upsetting both fluid and electrolyte balance. This does not include the pre-event cup of coffee, which, by many accounts, may boost performance. Some athletes are even able to consume caffeine during events without any adverse (i.e., diuretic) consequences.

Third, begin drinking fluid at the start of an endurance event, long before the onset of thirst, and continue drinking throughout the event enough water for replenishment.

Fourth, in order to avoid hyponatremia, make sure to supplement water intake with electrolyes. Food provides some electrolytes. One should be aware that some popular sports drinks do not supply all the electrolytes one needs and can lead to hyponatremia. The possibility of hyponatremia increases in the late stages of endurance events when athletes begin diluting sports drinks due to a heightened ability to taste sugar and the perception such drinks are too sweet.

In his blog entry on hyponatremia, Douglas Stoddard, a physician—with a specialty in sports medicine—and an endurance athlete, himself, makes this very point when he quotes an authoritative source on sweat loss, Dr. Burton Rose’s (1994, p. 656) Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders,

. . . these losses are almost entirely replaced by . . . solutions (including Gatorade) that have a much lower salt concentration. The net effect is water retention and, in some cases, symptomatic hyponatremia, with a fall in plasma sodium concentration . . .

But simply adding more sodium to one’s water or sports drink may not be the answer endurance athletes seek. Although a major player in fluid and electrolyte balance, sodium is not the only electrolyte important for good health. Overloading on sodium may cause a shift in the hormonal controls that maintain proper water and electrolyte balance during an endurance event to competing mechanisms that focus more on sodium overload.

Shenandoah 1200K: In praise of the volunteers

At 6:14 a.m. on Saturday morning we closed down the Fancy Gap control, Mile 446 of the inaugural Shenandoah 1200K. As the sun climbed the sky for another day of record heat, we packed up the tables, the chairs, the tarps and umbrellas, a cook stove, a leftover box of chili and an unopened barrel of Quaker Oats.

Only 6:14 in the morning, but our day was already done.

Our little army of volunteers had done our best to feed the riders, get them a shower and find them a bed for a few hours of fitful sleep. We’d encouraged them, told them the hardest part was over. We adjusted a bike or 2, helped tired riders put batteries in their lights, filled water bottles and fixed coffee. We’d done all we could before sending them up the road for another 500K of blazing blacktop. Now it was up to them.

For about 12 hours, the Fancy Gap volunteers served as an oasis of food and shelter for randonneurs on their 760-mile trek. By the time the riders reached us, they’d been climbing hill after endless hill. They’d been riding most of the day in an oppressive heat, a 600-pound gorilla that managed to break free the moment the circus hit town. Before things had wrapped up, the combination punch of heat, hills and humidity would take down nearly half of the 56 starters.

Down in the Shenandoah Valley, where most of the ride took place, the temperatures were in the mid to high 90s, a full 10 degrees warmer than our 3,100-foot perch at Fancy Gap. The riders had to climb to reach us, but it was a climb out of the brick oven and into the cooler reaches of mountain air. The salt stains may have been on the riders’ jerseys, but relief was on their faces.

The Fancy Gap Crew

Shortly after the Shenandoah 1200K was announced, riders from the N.C. Randonneurs offered to help Matt Settle, the event organizer, with the Fancy Gap control, the point where the ride came closest to the North Carolina border. We were excited to have a 1200K in our backyard, and we wanted to do our part to make it a success. The Tar Heel riders who signed on as volunteers were all PBP veterans: Jerry, Byron, Chris & Annette, Branson, Paul S... We knew what it felt like to push your tired body through one of those grueling events – and we also knew what it was like to have knowledgeable and supportive volunteers at the controls.

We were not the only volunteers at Fancy Gap. Susan, the partner of rider Paul, was on hand. So were PBP veterans Clare and Jim, who were working the nearby Hillsville control. They stopped up several times to see us, and we dropped down the hill to see them and drop off supplies. Our control drew some guests. Capn Ende and his family were heading up to Vermont for a vacation. They took a slight detour as they headed north and stopped by for lunch.

The Fancy Gap volunteers assembled a full 15 hours before the first riders ever reached us. We’d done the advance work, socked in supplies and readied the stove, stocked the coolers, moved picnic tables and set up chairs. For most of the day we played the waiting game. We were the guys in the bunker, idling the day away, ready to go on high alert the instant the call came in.

After nearly 18 hours where we’d seen only 5 riders, Rush Hour hit, first 2 riders, then a pack of 4, then another of 5, then 3, and on and on through the night. From the hill where the motel was located we could see the lights of riders coming down the Blue Ridge Parkway toward the entrance of the Fancy Gap Campground. The entrance was very dark, so we put a blinking red light on a Shenandoah sign at the driveway. We also rattled a funky old cowbell that Jerry bought from a local antiques shop. The riders first stopped at a cabin manned by Susan, who stamped riders’ cards with a special “Tar Heel / Fancy Gap” stamp we’d made for the occasion. Then Byron ferried riders up a steep gravel road to the motel where we were stationed. We tried to get riders settled in with drinks and foods as quickly as we could, serving up cheeseburgers, rice, beans and chili, and potato chips. We had an assortment of drinks to hand out, including lemonade, Coke, Sprite, chocolate milk and the occasional malt beverage.

Most riders had a plate of food under our tarp area before heading off to a room for a shower and a little shut eye. When they got up, we were ready for them with breakfast bars, bananas, cereal, croissants and coffee. Byron ferried them back up to the cabin, where most of their bikes were parked, and we watched their taillights disappear back up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rider by rider, our mission was accomplished.

For me, Fancy Gap was a magic moment of camaraderie. I’ve shared many special hours in the saddle with my fellow N.C. randonneurs. I had just as much fun hanging out under our mulch-stained blue tarp.

• Byron. Besides being a damned fine mechanic, Byron’s also a classic tale spinner. In the dead time while we waited for our first riders, he was our entertainment. He’s the guy who turned each dent in his pick-up truck into a 10-minute tale of hilarious woe. He had us rolling in the aisles as he recounted his “cheese popcorn smelling feet” during PBP. Byron was the guy who ferried riders back and forth along that steep dirt road between the control cabin and the motel rooms.

• Chris & Annette. I met these two Asheville riders last year, but I don’t think I really knew them until Friday. These two have a long racing pedigree and have now turned their attention to track racing at the Asheville’s “Mellow Drome” where Chris swears 500 meters can be every bit as tough as 1200K. I discovered Chris is a woodworker and a former collegiate swimmer. I learned how Chris & Annette met in the fast and slow lanes of a masters practice. Annette is a former nationally recognized racer who earned a place on the podium at several events. Annette gets full credit for Saturday morning’s breakfast bar. When everyone else began to wilt, Annette stepped up. She made sure riders and volunteers alike had coffee, and she set up a breakfast spread that made it easy for departing cyclists to get a quick meal before venturing down the road.

• Jerry is the guy who got the t-shirts printed up (based on a design by Branson), which gave our way station a nice club feel. He is also the guy who plunked down big bucks for that great cowbell, giving our stop the flavor of a Tour De France stage. He was an indispensable leader of our volunteer effort. By the way, Jerry was pulling double duty. He left around 10 p.m. Friday evening to head home so he could get up early and drive down to Wilmington, where he was scheduled to man the turnaround for the NCBC 600K.

• Branson was also doing double duty and on Sunday was out driving our 600K course. Branson has the kind of positive energy that attracts people on and off the bike. Branson’s the guy who rounded up coolers and other supplies (thank you NCBC!). And he’s the guy who showed up with not one but two North Carolina flags, effectively pushing back the Virginia border by 6 miles for the duration of the event.

• Charlotte rider Paul Smith showed up unannounced and proved to be a welcome addition to our team, pitching in by handling sleeping logistics for the tired riders.

• Capn Ende showed up with his family just to have lunch. That kind of moral support is worth a cooler full of cold drinks.

• Susan made everyone feel welcome as our official greeter at the cabin control. We couldn’t ask for a better front office presence. She is the one who brought that tarp that saved us all in the heat of the day.

• Clare is an unbelievable ball of energy. I’ve heard about Clare for years from my brother Tim. Now I see why he is so fond of her. She brought popsicles and glow sticks and is the one who made us hunt down the chalk in our misguided effort to sign the road. She mostly worked at the Hillsville control, but she visited us several times.

• Jim Levitt, who ran the nearby Hillsville control, came up for a visit, and was in constant contact by phone to let us know when a rider was heading up the hill in our direction.

• The Fancy Gap control workers send out a special thanks to Gilbert Anderson and North Road Bicycles in North Carolina for setting us up with a box of spare parts, and to Mark Higgins at Lantiseptic for giving us samples of that product.

And more volunteers...

The crew at Fancy Gap was only one pit stop along the way. There were many other volunteers. At the risk of leaving someone out (apologies in advance) volunteers who played a part in the event’s success included DC Rand RBA Bill Beck, Carl and Missy, Jim L, Josie, Jeff, Nick, Pat, Bob, Scott, Fred, Leslie, Ruby Lee and Doc.

Talk about going the distance...New Orleans RBA Pat Horchoff was on hand to pitch in and help out Matt during the ride.

The wizard behind the curtain was Bones, who may be the world’s No. 2 expert on Excel, just behind Bill Gates. Bones’ magic touch was everywhere, from signs and rider lists to control times and web updates. He was the master planner, looking after each and every detail.

John Lee Ellis served as a RUSA mentor, helping to guide the event from drawing board to launch, offering insights and endless optimism.

A big tip of the chapeau to Matt Settle for having the determination and vision to put the whole thing together. Matt was out there on the route looking after riders and volunteers alike. The entire randonneuring community from coast to coast owes him thanks for putting the mid-Atlantic region on the 1200K map. Matt, we can't wait to ride it next year.

Finally, the N.C. Randonneurs thank all of the riders. The appreciation you showed for our efforts made it all worthwhile. Whether or not you finished, you guys are the heroes of the day, and we can't wait to read your ride reports.

Shenandoah 1200K / Slideshow from Fancy Gap Control / Mile 446

Shenandoah 1200K now under way...

Several of the N.C. randonneuring crew, including 6 PBP veterans, are heading up to Fancy Gap, Va. this evening, to man the control at Mile 440 of the inaugural Shenandoah 1200K. The ride started early this morning.

The RTP crew will be taking lots of pictures, and we'll update the blog, if possible, during the ride. We'll also be calling in updates to our good friend Ed Felker with The Daily Randonneur, so be sure to check out his site over the weekend.

Best of luck to all the riders. We're pulling for you.

Update: Bill Beck, a DC-Rand member and a volunteer at the Gettysburg Control, sent this report and a link to photos and a captioned slideshow:

The Shenandoah 1200 started from Leesburg, VA at 4AM on Thursday, June 5. These pictures are from the first control in Gettsburg, PA, which was open from 7:12 to 11:16. The lead pack of about 15 riders arrived at 7:51, and the lantern rouge at about 10:04. All the riders who passed through the control seemed to be doing well. Conditions in the morning were pleasant with no rain and temperatures rising into the low 80s. But temperatures later in the day were predicted to rise
into the high 80s, with substantial humidity. (Temperatures in the mid-90s with heat index around 100F are predicted for Saturday.)

Best of luck to all of the Shenandoah 1200 riders, and especially our fellow DC Randonneurs! -- Bill

Friday noon update: The Tar Heel randonneuring crew is set up at Fancy Gap, and we're hanging out with the Hillsville bunch. The crowd: Branson, Jerry, Byron, Chris, Annette, Susan, Claire, Jim.

We've just heard of a high DNF rate because of oppressive heat in the Valley. As many as 14 riders out of 56 that started have dropped out.

We don't expect to see the first riders until late this afternoon.

More later. In the meantime, here are a couple photos from Fancy Gap control. Click on the picture and you'll be directed to the google album Branson uploaded.

Laws I Like

Our sister state of S.C. just passed a progressive bike law, in large part thanks to the efforts of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition. Here's an article with quotes from the coalition's executive director. And here's a page on the PCC site detailing the bill's legislative history.

The full text of the bill is here. The headnote is below.

A BILL TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-5-160 AND 56-19-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BOTH RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "BICYCLE", SO AS TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION AND TO EXCLUDE CHILDRENS' TRICYCLES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1810, RELATING TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS REQUIRING ONE TO DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS FOR SLOWER MOVING VEHICLES, SO AS TO FURTHER SPECIFY THESE REQUIREMENTS AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE INTENT OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS IS TO FACILITATE THE OVERTAKING OF SLOWLY MOVING VEHICLES BY FASTER MOVING VEHICLES; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE 27, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, RELATING TO BICYCLISTS AND USERS OF PLAY VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT MOTOR VEHICLES MUST NOT BLOCK BICYCLE LANES AND MUST YIELD TO BICYCLISTS IN SUCH LANES, TO PROVIDE THAT BICYCLISTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RIDE ON THE SHOULDER OF A ROADWAY AND TO ALSO PROVIDE THAT A BICYCLIST MAY NOT BE PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO, TO DELETE THE PROVISION REQUIRING A BICYCLIST TO USE A BIKE PATH WHEN PROVIDED, RATHER THAN THE ROADWAY, TO REQUIRE A MOTORIST OVERTAKING A BICYCLIST TO ALLOW A MINIMUM OF FIVE FEET BETWEEN THE MOTOR VEHICLE AND THE BICYCLE, TO DELETE PROVISIONS REQUIRING BICYCLES TO HAVE A BELL OR OTHER AUDIBLE DEVICE, AND TO SPECIFY THE FORM AND EXTENT OF ARM SIGNALS THAT BICYCLISTS MAY USE.

Some of the specific provisions:

Rules are spelled out for use of a designated bike lanes (as opposed to greenways or recreational trails):

Section 56-5-3425. (A) For purposes of this section, 'bicycle lane' means a portion of the roadway or a paved lane separated from the roadway that has been designated by striping, pavement markings, and signage for the preferential or exclusive use of bicyclists.

(B) Whenever a bicycle lane has been provided adjacent to a roadway, operators of:

(1) motor vehicles may not block the bicycle lane to oncoming bicycle traffic and shall yield to a bicyclist in the bicycle lane before entering or crossing the lane; and

(2) bicycles are required to ride in the bicycle lane except when necessary to pass another person riding a bicycle or to avoid an obstruction in the bicycle lane. However, bicyclists may ride on the roadway when there is only an adjacent recreational bicycle path available instead of a bicycle lane.

Taunting is illegal.

Section 56-5-3445. It is unlawful to harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

There are now clear fines for at-fault motorists who injure a cyclist in an automobile/bicycle crash.

Section 56-5-3500. (A) Except as otherwise provided, in the absence of another violation being cited, a violation of this article by the driver of a motor vehicle is subject to a civil fine of up to one hundred dollars unless a bicyclist is injured as a result of the violation.

(B) In the absence of another violation being cited, a person driving a motor vehicle who violates a provision of this article and the violation is the proximate cause of a:

(1) minor injury to a bicyclist, must be assessed a civil fine of up to five hundred dollars; or

(2) great bodily injury, as defined in Section 56-5-2945, to a bicyclist, must be assessed a civil fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

Notice the mention in the headnote of a five-foot buffer for passing. I can't find that in the bill. The bill went through several revisions, and that may have been eliminated. I do see this provision, which addresses passing distance.

Section 56-5-3435. A driver of a motor vehicle must at all times maintain a safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle.

Also note the clearly defined duties a cyclist has for signaling his or her intent to turn, slow down or stop:

Section 56-5-3480. A)(1) A bicyclist shall indicate a right turn by extending the left arm upward, by raising the left arm to the square, or by extending the right arm horizontally to the right.

(2) A bicyclist shall indicate a left turn by extending the left arm horizontally.

(3) A bicyclist shall indicate stopping or decreasing speed by extending the left arm or the right arm downward.

(B) A bicyclist is not required to give signals provided for in subsection (A) continuously if the hand or arm is needed to control the bicycle.

(C) A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars.

Sweet Virginia: Lin Osborne and the Shenandoah 1200K

There’s nothing like a goal to motivate you. This season, Lin Osborne has his first 1200K in his sights – the Shenandoah 1200K – and he has been riding with real purpose. I’m one of the many riders who can attest to his fitness – he kindly towed me home on April’s 300K. Lin has been getting in lots of weekday riding with a daily commute of more than 30 miles, and he’s been doing it on a carbon bike that has the look of a classic randonneuring rig.

As Lin packs his bags for the trip to Virginia, he made time for a quick Q&A with RTP. As you’ll see, his sense of humor is still intact. Several members of the NCBC crew will be working at the Fancy Gap control, so it's a sure bet that Lin will have the best cheering section. Lin, we're rooting for you!

This is first 1200K. What attracted you to this event?

To quote the old real estate saw, "Location, location, location."
It's a regional event so I don't have to travel as far or take as much time from work yet I've never seen the Shenandoah Valley. So, it's close enough to be accessible but still is a new adventure. The fact that I'm much closer to home for my first 1200 km randonnee also makes me feel more secure. If I'm successful in my back yard, I'll have confidence to tackle events across the continent and abroad.

Tell us about your training. Have you done anything different this year than in other years?

I haven't followed a structured training program in about 20 years when I gave up racing. Since that time, I've "just been riding" but for the last six years that has meant commuting to work every week day. I ride amazingly little on the weekends unless I'm going out with the local randon contingent. The main difference between this and former years is that I have a new job that's twice as distant as before. I now ride about 32 miles a day and the terrain is considerably more rolling than my former route. I believe it's made me stronger.

Which bike are you taking and why?

A heavily customized 2007 Trek Pilot 5.9. Why? Well for one, I can't seem to keep more than one bike in rideable condition at a time. ;) But even if I had another bike up and running, I'd still use this one due to its low weight and smooth ride quality. I lucked up and was able to purchase a bare frame and thus built it the way that made sense to me for randonneuring, not the way Trek stocked it on the peg. To me, "makes sense for randonneuring" means high spoke count wheels, mudguards, higher bar height plus bar-end shift levers coupled with a 50/34x13/34 drive train. Yep, a one-to-one gear on carbon fiber. It may seem excessive but then I've heard there are a couple of hills on the Shenandoah route. Also, I've commuted on this bike since last November so I know what to expect from it. It's served me well on the brevets so I'm not going to switch now!

Like everybody else, you probably have a bit of nerves. If so, how do you deal with those?

Scotch and melatonin...no, wait.... Seriously, I try to visualize the ride, visualize the fun and adventure I'll have and the new friends I'll meet. I've tried to anticipate how I'll subdivide the route into ride segments between drop bags and gauge the gear and nutrition I'll need to carry and what I'll need to send ahead. I've tried to project an average speed, when I expect to arrive at the drop points and how long I plan to spend at each. In other words, I've developed both a vision for the ride and an event strategy that makes sense to me at least on paper. And well, now it's time for the scotch and melatonin...no, wait.... In truth I think once we're underway and I can develop a rhythm, my nerves will calm.

Are you planning sleep stops or straight through?

I understand that I'll need to sleep but I plan to ride as much as possible and to not lose time at controls. I expect to enjoy beautiful scenery but for me this isn't a sight-seeing trip.

Do you have a daily mileage goal?

I don't have a specific daily mileage goal. Instead, I plan to ride to Harrisonburg (drop point), pluck what I need from my drop bag, rest for a few minutes and then ride to the next control (mile 266). I'll rest longer there before continuing to the turn around at Fancy Gap. I hope to arrive in Fancy Gap by Friday afternoon/early evening. Once there, I'm sure I'll need to rest for a few hours. Afterward I plan to ride straight through back to Harrisonburg, rest, and then ride the final leg back to Leesburg. This is the paper plan, at least. We'll see what the route says about that.

Any other goals on this ride?

Enjoy the company of new riding partners, of the people I meet 'en route' and to enjoy the view. Oh yes, and to finish...can't forget that.

Do you feel our local brevet series prepared you for this event?

That's hard to answer since I've been randonneuring for three years but have only ridden NC brevets. It's difficult for me to gauge how well prepared I am since this will be my first "away game." This I can say: the prime benefit of the local brevet series for me hasn't been physical preparation. That's come from daily riding. Instead the brevets have given me the opportunity to observe how experienced randonnuers/randonnueses approach long-distance cycling. I've learned a lot from my riding partners since my first brevet, a little through talking and a lot through observation. I ride brevets considerably faster now than when I started and I credit as much to being exposed to knowledgeable, efficient riders as to fitness gains from the NC series. A large measure of credit will go to the NC randonneuring contingent if I'm successful on this ride. And if I'm not successful, only I not the brevet series will be responsible.

Have you picked up any helpful pointers from your fellow riders?

Absolutely. A couple have verbally advised me on how to approach the event, confirming that I should stick with what I know and that I'll mainly need more of what I require on shorter distances. (Thanks Branson and Paul!) Given what I've heard, read and observed, I'm convinced that riding as fast as possible while remaining within a sustainable limit is the best approach to success since speed creates opportunity for future rest without running up against the time limit. I'm also convinced that it's important to decide what to carry versus what to leave at home. As others have said, this is essentially risk assessment. I plan to cover the common scenarios (tires/tubes) plus a couple of potential show stoppers (chain, der. cable) but otherwise plan to ride as light a practically possible. Of course, everyone has a different definition of "practically possible" and I tend to carry more gear than others but I don't want to haul unnecessary luggage through Virginia hill country. I'm counting on a base set of clothing and repair items that I'll always carry and then resupply nutrition, shorts/jerseys, and any other needed consumables from my drop bags. Based on what I've been told and picked up elsewhere, I think this is a sound strategy. I sure hope it is.

MWM 600 km -- Preride Report by Jerry Phelps

Alan’s on-line description of the 600 includes the following sentence: “This route is flat but head winds and heat can make this route challenging.” Consider yourselves forewarned! Branson Kimball and I pre-rode the NCBC 600 km brevet May 31st through June 1st in exactly those conditions and our goal time suffered for it along with us. We finished in 32 hours and change—new PRs for both of us, but only because we didn’t take a long break for sleep.



Rich and me heading into the wind—no drafting allowed. Picture by Branson.



We left Alan’s house at 5 AM to try to get a little jump on the expected heat and possible showers. Rich Bruner joined us in Angier and continued through Erwin where he peeled off to go scout out a new city park. There was some cloud cover on Saturday that helped to keep us cool, but that was all gone on Sunday. We worked all the way to Wilmington sometimes pushing hard to maintain 14 mph and arrived around 7:30 PM. After a quick meal and a brief rest we rolled out at about 8:30 PM. The wind was favorable for a short while on the return but pretty much died after sunset. Around midnight we took a nap at a store in Kelly and then moved on to White Lake arriving around 3 AM. Just before dawn, I needed a second nap at the church on Sweet Home Church Road. Branson decided to forgo the nap and try to take as much advantage of the cool temps as possible. I have to admit to doubting my sanity several times on the return, but I kept the cranks turning over until I got back to Alan’s house at 1:16 PM—32 hours and 16 minutes after the start. Branson finished a few minutes ahead of me.

We did some scouting of the local stores on the way down to provide information on opening and closing times. Some of it is below and Alan will have more at the start of the brevet on Saturday morning. Here’s to favorable conditions, clouds with no rain and tailwinds, for June 7-8. Dan Gatti, Beth and I will be hosting the turn-around in Wilmington.

Store and other info:

• Sunset Lake Road—some areas of new pavement which is good and bad. It’s very smooth – good. Bits of loose gravel and asphalt litter the bike lane climbing a big hill on the return trip – bad. Traffic is as bad as always on this road.

• Store on NC 82 in Erwin—good place for a biscuit—open 7 to 7.

• The “Subway” control at the BP in Wade is now called Lucky’s Subs. Hours are 8 AM-10 PM.

• Steadman BP—hours are 7 AM to 10 PM.

• The Blueberry Festival in Ammon is Saturday June 7th. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are close when you see the first sign. There will be food and drink vendors there.

• The air conditioner above the door at the Scotchman in White Lake still sounds like its being powered by two squirrels in a fist fight. Last year the store closed between 3-4 AM; not so this time. It seems to depend on who is working that shift.

• At Mile 137/237, there is an “Antique Store” at the corner of NC 210 and NC 11. It was closed last year, but has reopened. They will be expecting riders to stop on the way down and will have water and other cold drinks. The air conditioning is heavenly. Also, they were most kind to Branson and me and allowed us to “sleep” on some of their “antiques” out in front of the store around midnight. Please plan to stop here—it’s a treat.

• Mile 152/222—Parker’s Superette in Long Creek—Air Conditioning (noticing a theme yet?)—ice cream and cold drinks. Mrs. Parker is very nice—she would love to have your business. Hours are 7 to 7, but there are two outdoor drink machines that are accessible after closing.

• Mile 160/214--Hess/Wendy’s or Subway (the Subway is across 210 from the Hess near Food Lion)—cue sheet may mislead you into thinking it’s at Mile 154/205. The Subway is the cleanest we’ve ever seen—the young women working there gave me a free sandwich on the way back!!

• Sweet Home Church Road—The small church at Mile ~268 is a great place for a nap. The porch is carpeted—a rolled up vest and the threshold make a nice pillow (hopefully you won’t need this at Mile 106). Although it wasn’t his church, Branson’s granddad preached here on occasion.

• Mile 347--Atkins Road – the man eating pothole that flattened both my tires last year is still there.

100k Japan Bachelor ride

Editor's note: RTP is delighted to have our very first contribution from Chapel Hill randonneur Wes Johnson.

When I got married two years ago my brother and his girlfriend (now wife) came back to the US for the wedding. The day before, instead for a bachelor party the two of us hit the road for some riding up Pilot mountain.
This time for his wedding we flew to Japan and I got to ride some of the roads there.

Matt races for a club team in Japan. Ken's bikeshop is their sponsor, for those who speak Japanese, or somewhat translated.

I was planning on bringing my Litespeed with S&S couplers that I used for PBP but Ken was nice enough to loan me a bike to ride instead. It saved me a bunch of time and I didn't need to carry a bike case all over Japan. Later in the week I stopped by and thanked them for the bike. I also purchased one of the team jerseys, and tasked to start the US division of the Ken's team.



The bike was a Panasonic - It had downtube shifters but I didn't see a slot for DVDs or a remote control. Just looking at this picture you can see Panasonics are so fast that just standing still it was blurry, or a slight possibility the photo is out of focus.



We planned on doing one of the pretty training rides the Ken's team does for training. I placed a very crude map of the ride in google maps. It started at their apartment in Fukuyama(an hour for Hiroshima) and went across some smaller islands using amazing bridges and two ferry rides. The first ferry was a quick ride from Onomichi to the first island. It was 100 yen (105 yen to the dollar) and 10 yen for the bike.

Matt and his team love this ride and I can see why. The rodes on the small islands are empty and the views for the bridges are spectacular. Every bridge has a bike lane totally separated from the roadway. The bike lane is used by both bikes and scooters. This first bridge (Innoshima Bridge) the bike lane was under the road. It was little creepy hanging way above and looking way down to the water. From sea level we climbed up the bike path from the main road to each bridge.

The next two bridges were quite impressive. We crossed the Ikuchi and Tatara Bridges. I think his team will ride up to 7 different bridges but we only had time for 3.










Like any good randonneur, I know food is a main reason of doing these rides. We hit a couple of well known Japanese food stands. First was a stand that makes "croquets", I think they are called. Basically its mashed potatoes with meat that is deep fried and looks like a hash brown. I think in a paper towel you may get too much grease if you stick them in a jersey pocket.

Our turn around point was a candy shop where Matt reserved some special treats. The shop was run by a fantastic fellow who made us green tea and gave us some extra sweets as congratulations for Matt getting married. The candy was sweetened rice with different fillings. We had some with red or black bean sauce and strawberries.

We took the candy and headed to the overlook park for the most beautiful bridge on the route. If you were a little skeptical about bean paste candy the birds will vouch for me. As I am taking some pictures, Matt went to buy some drinks. We turn around to see a large blackbird flying off with something firmly in its beak. The damn bird made off with my brother's favorite. As we guarded the remaining food it taunted us with a low altitude fly-over with an ill gotten strawberry in his beak.

We finished up the island tour on the ferry back to Onomichi. From there we did two climbs with me getting away on the first and nipping the sprint in on the second climb. Some payback for Matt kicking my ass up Pilot mountain before my wedding. I will say that I sandbagged some during the ride as I didn't know the route and followed most of the time.

Our only requirement was that Matt arrive in one piece. As you can see he did in fact finish the ride.
Being my first post I am not sure how to make a cool slide show and I'm sure the formatting sucks but I have some more pictures of the ride here.

Wes

Raleigh: The next cycling mecca?

I did a club ride today with one of two Gyro groups riding in North Raleigh. During the ride, we passed at least a half-dozen packs of cyclists, and saw dozens of cyclists riding solo or in groups of two or three. I estimate we saw more than 100 riders, the most ever in North Raleigh.

Yes, it's the high season for cycling but the sport is gaining serious momentum in this area. There are several factors at work here:

Several strong clubs, including NCBC and the Gyros;

Exceptional rural riding within 10 miles of NoRal;

Weather conducive to year-round cycling;

Several good bike shops, including (in no particular order) All Star, CycleLogic, Bike Chain, Spin Cycle, Cycling Spoken Here, Flythe, Trek of NoRal, Clean Machine, as well as chains such as REI and Performance;

An active randonneuring community;

Strong bike/ped advocacy through CAMPO and other regional organizations;

Advocacy and education spokespersons like Bruce Rosar and Steve Goodridge;

Advocacy groups like the NC Active Transportation Alliance.

Elected officials like Debra Ross with an interest in cycling;

Other advocates running for office, including Josh Stein, who have expressed support for alternative transportation;

A well-developed trail and greenway system, as well as a rails to trails segment;

The support of the local media, including columns by Joe Miller and the recent cycling special issue by the Independent.

It's easy to focus on the negatives of cycling in the wake of a couple widely publicized injuries or deaths. But as you can see, there is quite a bit of positive energy.

A mecca? Not yet, but we're heading in the right direction.

Bicycle Quote of the Day

From the Raleigh News & Observer page 1 article, "More illegal immigrants driving without N.C. license," which noted that many illegal immigrants, who number an estimated 300,000 in North Carolina, are now driving without licenses or insurance.

"They do not want to be driving without licenses, but it's coming to a point where they can't do things the right way," said Tony Asion, president of the Hispanic advocacy group El Pueblo. "Realistically, you're not going to ride a bicycle all around the state."

Really, Tony? You may want to check out Bike Rte. Uno & Bike Rte. Dos, two cross-state routes.