Fancy Foot and Leg Work Populaire: May 29, 2011

Janis likes the Benson Mule Pull Populaire. Today she owned it, staying ahead of the boys from start to finish. Sure, she had a head start. Thirty minutes. But that was all she needed. I bet she’d be great at handicapping horses. That's her with Martin post-ride in the parking lot of the start/end control, Swift Creek Coffee House, Garner, NC.

Since joining RUSA in 2009, Janis, along with her regular riding buddy, Andy, has done a 200km ride each consecutive month: 26 now and counting. And since the announcement of RUSA’s P-12 in January, Janis has done at least one monthly sub-200km Populaire. Truth told, Janis is well on her way to eclipsing 5,000 RUSA kms this year.

Somewhere in between prepping my bike for the start and obtaining a receipt and signature on my permanent card, I’d noticed that Mike H had worn his bedroom slippers to the start. It was good that I didn’t tease him, for I later learned that they weren’t bedroom slippers, but the latest in haute couture clothing: Sanuks, which according to the web site, “They're not shoes, they’re sandals.” According to some reports, they are extremely comfortable. Martin quipped, “They’d be perfect if they came with pedal cleats.”

But there’s more. After removing his Sanuks, dude then pulled what looked like a glove liner over his foot! Was I looking at cycling socks with toes! What in the world?

Like I said, no crime in wearing bedroom slippers to the start of a ride. That’s cool, dude. But socks with toes? I began to calm down once I learned that Mike’s wife bought them for him. What self-respecting guy would dare instigate the first move on something like that?

I had a very similar experience years ago when my wife bought me some low-cut athletic socks. No way was I going to wear those thingies in public, especially around by basketball buddies. Well into the 90s, my athletic socks sported colored rings just below the knees. Only after learning that “His Airness,” you know, “MJ,” wore low-cut socks, did I reluctantly don them, initially, only to cut the grass, however.

And so now it is with these Injinji things, except that I think Mike is way ahead of the curve on this one. In fact, I gave my wife permission to pick up a pair for me just in case this thing goes viral and all the cyclists show up with them at the next brevet. I don’t want to get caught with my toe socks off. Discreetly, I formulated a backup plan: I did some checking and learned that I could get some mail order from Nashbar.

In spite of the engaging pre-ride fashion show, the three of us started the ride on time. Aversboro Rd carries us through a section of Garner, where we saw a number of banners congratulating the hometown phenom, Scotty McCreery, winner of this year’s American Idol announced just last week. On the way back through Garner, the huge outdoor YMCA pool looked especially inviting. Kids of all ages were enjoying themselves.

On the uphill on Rand Rd, just a few miles into the ride, I spotted the first mule of the day in the pasture across the road from Rand Elementary School. Perhaps Monk would understand, or at least relate to, my need for sighting at least one mule on this ride.

Later, on Holland Church Rd, we spotted a huge, beautiful blue heron near a pond.

The route is surprisingly rolling, catching all of the creek beds on the way to Benson rather than following a comfortable ridgeline. Martin had a good workout, since he was attempting to single-gear it to Benson on his superfluous-gear bicycle. He wasn’t complaining. At one point, in fact, he was doing some one-legged pedaling. Mike and I couldn’t figure out whether Martin was cramping, had “hot foot,” or was just showing off. According to Martin, he was “training.” That’s his story. As a witness, who must stick just to the facts, all I can say for sure is that he was doing some pretty entertaining one-legged gyrations.

At the outskirts of Benson, our group of three passes Janis who is on the return. Familiar with Benson, Martin shoots to the front and straight to Burger King, while Mike and I pull up short, deciding to tether our bicycles outside Miss Maude’s Café on Main Street. Benson is an “open” control. Mike taking care of paperwork during "down time" inside Miss Maude's Cafe, Benson, NC.

We order iced tea, and after a few indecisive minutes, inform the waitress which lunch special we’ll have from those posted on the menu board sitting on the counter. The waitress comes back fifteen minutes later informing us that we can’t have lunch yet. We then locate a breakfast menu and reorder. By now, Martin locates us inside Miss Maude’s Café (the bikes parked outside are a dead giveaway). He mentions that by now Janis has a huge lead on us. After serving us pancakes and eggs, I was impressed that the waitress asked if we’d like some syrup and butter to go with our pancakes. It was just a few minutes before 11 AM when we began to eat. The three of us had a great time in spite of the delay.

"Fact" and "Fantasy" (l-r), according to Martin, inside Miss Maude's, or, if you prefer (r-l), according to Janis, "Dean Martin." Have it your way.

On the return, Mike and I discuss topics I enjoy immensely: nutrition and hydration.

After a few more rolling hills and a more dedicated sun bearing down, I requested a brief stop in order to put on some sun block. A couple of us use the occasion to obtain additional fluid.

A Harley Davidson at the next-to-last control triggered some stories about Martin’s two-man Blue Ridge Parkway bicycle excursion last year, particularly what it did for his conditioning and confidence. A great story.

Back in Garner, Janis is awaiting us. Even after getting our cards signed and obtaining the obligatory cashier receipts, the four of us stand around in the parking lot chatting for some time, the warm sun beaming approvingly. At one point, we cajole Mike into modeling his toe socks for Janis’ sake.

I’m telling you, it’s the next big thing. I’m getting me some toe socks.

Oh, yeah, read the reviews. You might need to get a sock size larger than you normally wear, and that toe beside the big toe that is longer than the big toe in some/many/most/all people? Apparently the design hasn’t caught up to that evolutionary fact yet.

By the way, while I doubt that the next ride report will feature pedicures, you never know who might step up, putting his or her best foot forward.

Thanks, guys, for the great ride!

Dean/Raleigh

Yanceyville Ramble 200K

An ideal day for a 200K into the quiet, rolling roads of north central North Carolina. This was one of the most pleasurable rides I've been on in a while. Branson's Yanceyville Ramble 200K, which he adopted and adapted when John M went to New Zealand, launches from a Cracker Barrel off I-85 in Durham. A plate of pancakes, then four miles of urban riding before we spill out in the countryside. The route has shallow hills for 30 miles, but that changes when on Gunn Poole Road, and its three sisters, who have more temper on the return trip, especially sister #2, who kicks up angrily on the bottom section. I hit 41.3 mph rolling down on the way out, which gives you some idea of the steepness. You'll also encounter hills before Yanceyville, the home of Gilbert's North Road's Bike Shop, and hills around Hyco Lake. Several flat sections provide recovery time. The turnaround takes you to a restaurant which serves good burgers. Jerry bought and he is our new best friend. Wes pushed the pace on the way home, and we had to work to catch him after he dropped us going up a long grade on Pleasant Green Road. He is in exceptionally fine form this season. The cicadas were out again this weekend with their background music on several sections. Clouds in the morning and tailwinds, patches of sun in the afternoon and a bottle of Cheerwine at the finish made for a very fine day on the bikes. Branson has posted the ride stats, including his ride to and from the finish. There appears to be about 6,000 feet of climbing on the route.

The Smoking Dunn

Photo courtesy of Bryan Rierson

If there were any doubt as to the priorities of some local randonneurs, all one has to do is look at the back of a NC Randonneuring jersey—ride, eat, sleep—for a reminder.

The latest version of Team “Get ‘er Dunn” assembled Wednesday to do some serious training. And—to the rider—decided that what we needed to work on most was “eat.” We’d picked out a great spot in Erwin, NC, even stopped by to “warn” them on the way out that we’d be back later for the training table --- I mean, buffet. The waitress said she’d have our cold drinks ready.

There must have been a rumor going around a day or two earlier that someone was buying. How else can you explain a table-full of gaunt, ravenous “tour-types” showing up mid-week for a “serious” training ride?

Serious Tour trainer, Matt.

As the de facto team captain, by simple fact of being route owner, my work was cut out. Not only would I have to try to keep up with this single-minded group bee lining for the chow line, but make sure that each team member didn’t slurp too loudly or forget to add the perfunctorily polite, “Excuse me,” after each belch so as not to offend other patrons.

We rolled from near Garner toward Angier on the outbound leg without incident until Bryan and Matt B missed the turn onto Chisenhall Rd. Luckily, Mike H chased them down, saving them, perhaps, from the dogs, literally. I’d just rerouted the course due to the fact that a huge, uncontrollable Rottweiler, that had broken his chain, chased a cyclist just a few days prior.

In fact, Sridhar and I met the cyclist the day of the incident on the very road where it occurred. Sridhar and I rolled up to a cyclist at the intersection of NC 210 and Plainview Church Rd to inquire about the status of a certain Rottweiler that looked like it could break its chain any day. Fortuitously, for us at least, Sridhar and I learned that the cyclist had just been chased by the dog in question. Luckily the cyclist was going downhill at a high rate of speed when the dog broke free, giving chase. The cyclist outran the dog without incident. Sridhar and I detoured.

Heading toward Erwin, we were in great spirits in spite of the fact that we’d missed the rapture a couple days prior but also the Rottweiler from Hades a few miles back. The day was still young, however. Pestilence would still rain down on us later, preventing us from reaching the turn-around control in Dunn.

Rows of young tobacco plants lined several of the fields we passed south of Coats. We came upon a small herd of deer at the edge of one field. They were camera shy, bounding off into the wooded edge of the field.

After stopping to make dining reservations at the Pizza House in Erwin for the Italian buffet and a few adjustments to Mike’s derailleur, it was on to Dunn and the turn-around control.

Before heading through the town’s upper crust, the Get ‘er Dunn populaire winds through the town’s southern edge, the “underbelly,” as Mike D aptly puts it, past the abattoir in full swing with sensuous smells and sounds that belie such a nice sounding French word.

It was just past the new hospital on Susan Tart Rd that we first saw a huge plume of smoke reaching up from the earth toward the heavens. Less than a quarter mile from the turn-around control, we entered the smoke cloud of unknown origin. It was then that I made the “executive” decision not to continue to the control, given the potential health hazard from exposure to unidentified particulate and gaseous inhalants. We immediately reversed course, heading north-west into a saving head wind that assured us smoke-free air to breathe.

We found a back-up control a few miles off course, adding several “bonus miles” for the day. But no one was complaining. We were rewarded for our efforts at the make-shift control by the week-day locals, who were understandably inquisitive about a “para-normal” group of cyclists dressed as Tour riders, who were not “not from around here.” After entertaining and being entertained, we were off again toward Erwin, where we had lunch reservations.
Matt’s third medal . . .

Mike at the end-control . . .

I never bothered to inquire whether anyone else on the team completed the trifecta of “Ride. Eat. Sleep.” I was home busily doing my part: napping.

Let’s ride!

Dean/Raleigh

Calfee Randonneur....

I had an email exchange with the folks at Calfee. Their marketing manager, Michael Moore, said they've recently introduced a model, the Adventure, aimed at distance cyclists. You'll likely see a road test from a Northwest randonneur soon.

Calfee describes its randonneur model as "a bicycle built for performance through comfort. Our definition of 'comfort, at least in this instance, is avoiding those things that make a rider go slow.'"

A few specs:

• 35c tire clearance
• Compatible with full-wrap fenders
• Front and rear disc brake option
• Multiple full carbon fork (steerer and lowers) choices with disc brake and eyelet options
• Integrated lighting options

With SRAM Force stock build kit and fenders, the complete bike weighs 17.5 pounds. (That's before you strap the Carradice on it. Then it'll weigh 35.7 pounds, and even more if you put anything in the bag.)

Retail: around $6300.

The Year of the Cicada

For a while, I thought I was going mad on last Saturday's Lake Loop. From deep in the woods I thought I heard the background hum of a million cars or perhaps one very large UFO. Didn't anyone else hear it? Well, yes, they did. This is the year of the cicadas. There are millions of them around now, vibrating furiously and creating an eerie environmental rumble.

Listen to this video I shot and you can hear what the world sounded like for a good chunk of Saturday's ride (the rising sound near the end is an approaching motorcycle).

We only heard them on the North Carolina side of Kerr Lake, and I now understand why. They are spreading slowly from south to north and hadn't yet moved up into Virginia. The lake probably acts as a natural barrier to slow their northward advance.

A very good article about the cicadas appeared in today's New York Times, explaining the bugs' 13 year cycle. A couple paragraphs from that article:

This is a “cicada year,” one of nature’s stranger, creepier rituals. Since last month, the little black bugs with beady red eyes and wings have begun emerging by the millions — some scientists say billions — from beneath the ground in 15 states, where they have been waiting since 1998. They emerged first in Georgia and Alabama and are now working their way through Tennessee and Virginia. Soon they will appear as far north as Iowa.

What it means for humans is not much. Cicadas do not bite. They do not harm crops. But they buzz with the volume of a rattling car engine, land on people and generally evoke disgust. And this particular bunch of cicadas, known as the Great Southern Brood, is the largest cyclical population in the world.

  

Guinness -- It's Good for You

I recognize Capn by that necklace he always wears, but who's that other rando dude with the tie?

After Bike To Work Friday... Manic Monday...

Because we have to come back down to Earth sometime....

Bike To Work Day / Raleigh / 5-20-11

A great day on the bikes in Raleigh. Thanks to all who made it happen.

Bike Eye View of Bike to Work Route...

Don't forget, tomorrow's Bike to Work Day. Join us at the Fairgrounds tomorrow a.m. for the mass ride to downtown Raleigh.

Here's a helmet eye view of the route:



The ride leaves from the Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. Details on theGoTriangle.org website. 

You'll need to sign up and complete a waiver. Here's the form.

Tim's Texas Stampede 1200K Ride Report

Our very own Tim, just back from a successful completion of theTexas Stampede 1200K, sent this along for posting. Enjoy!

Wow, where to begin.  This is by far the most epic thing I’ve ever done.  I was on the last 5 mile stretch with Kevin and I looked over and said “I’ll never be more of a man than I was over the last 4 days”.   He laughed and said he’d use the quote in his blog.

My wonderful wife Susan, her mom and I drive to Texas in Susan’s new car. They have family in Grandbury near the event.  I visit and they spend the week there. They escort me to Waxahachie Tuesday afternoon for registration and inspections.  I meet my buddy Geoff from Cary there and we tag along with others to some Italian cuisine for carbo loading.  I sit beside Dave and Judith from England as we have a bloody good time discussing past events.  This is like their 18th 1200K event but their first in the states.

(Waxahachie to Marble Falls)  (Mile 0 to 225)

We gather Wednesday morning at 5am.  56 riders will start the event.  50 are doing the 1200K while 6 are riding a 1000K.  The flags are already at full salute.  We are traveling 225 miles to Marble Falls.  Our heading is southwest.  The first day forecast is for 20 mph SW winds gusting to 30+.  They are also throwing in heavy rains, severe thunderstorms and large hail for the afternoon.  The gun fires, the clock starts and I’m rolling along nervously second guessing my being here.  A while later Geoff coaxes me to the front of the pack while he and I lead the herd for several miles as we’re proudly sporting our NC rando jerseys.  I eventually get wise, go to the back and stay there for the rest of the day/night.  They have intentions of keeping us all together to the first control at mile 73 but the headwinds are shredding us all apart.  The peloton containing +/-30 riders is where I spend most of the day.  Around mile 100 or so some riders start leaving the peloton as the big group takes an extended unscheduled rest stop.  I stay conservative and stay with the herd.  The big guys, including myself are struggling a bit more in the winds.

Clouds are getting angry now.  People start peeling off the back of the peloton and finally it’s my turn to sit up and ride solo a bit.  I roll in to the next control at mile 141 and everyone in front of me is there except for one dude who is just way out there. As I roll in they point behind me and I turn to see black clouds.  The organizer is attempting to hold everyone there while this super cell blows past.  Lots of heavy rain, wind, lightning for about 30 min.  We leave out as the worst is over.  Some minor flooding on the roads as one cyclist goes down crossing water.   I’m cruising along with the peloton to the next control in Jonestown mile 194.  Rainy and getting dark now as we have long climbs and a fast decent into town on a big 4 lane road.  The local police are not happy with us on this road and when we stop they relay their concerns.  They finally realize we have no choice and decide to just escort us out of town.  They also relay to us that Marble Falls is currently getting severe lightning, large hail and 60 mph winds. We’re just idiots on a bike. Party on!

I have a mechanical leaving town and lose the group.  A few more miles and boom!  The lightning becomes frequent enough that I don’t need a headlight.  Winds are gusting fairly hard now and the rain begins as I see a church ahead on the right.  I see a fellow cyclist under a side porch and I also here him calling out.  This is where I first spend time with my new friend Kevin from Southern California.  We wait out the storm on picnic tables under the porch.  One other rider joins us briefly.  It also hails for about 5 minutes before things start to quiet down.  After a few we mount the bikes and continue on.  We reach Marble Falls at 12:40 am.  Dinner is waiting, lasagna and spaghetti.  They take our bikes and our drop bags to the room while we eat.  The volunteers here are second to none!  A quick shower and to bed at 2:00 am.

(Marble Falls to Sealy)  (Mile 225 to 466)

Alarm goes off at 4:00 am.  Oh good, 2 hours sleep!  Breakfast in the lobby as I whip up a big’ol waffle!  Our heading today is mostly East towards Houston after a tad bit more south.  Weather board is giving us 10 to 20 mph East winds today, not to mention severe storms, torrential rains, large hail and damaging winds.  There are some very long faces this morning as we are in for another long day of headwinds.  I head out before 5:00 am, a few minutes before the peloton as I’m hoping for a few miles of soft pedaling.  A nice 2 mile section of gravel road this morning, doesn’t ride much different than their asphalt.  I ride with Spencer from Missouri a bit this morning.  He is riding a fixed gear bike.  There’s a show-off in every crowd.  Spencer rode with some NC randos a few weeks ago so I chatted with him about the ride.  He and Branson are my new heroes.  These guys are bad a$$.  We hit some 15% climbs this morning with switchbacks and he has to walk a couple of the elbow turns but still beats me to the top.  By the next control mile 262, Dripping Springs, I’m hanging out with the peloton.  There we are told another super cell weather system is bearing down on us.  We are also given a two hour buffer on our control times today, BUT the 90 hour ride limit will NOT be extended.  We continue on under darkening skies.  Sometime late morning the crap hits the fan.  The winds are swirling and there is a sudden 15 degree temperature drop.  Lightning bolt on the right as I slide over a few feet left, then a bolt on the left as I slide back to the right, then bolts all around, raining sideways.  I keep looking up watching for something worse.  The storm is relentless; riders are confused about what to do.  A few see a house with a back porch.  I don’t see another refuge.  It's raining harder as I can barely make out a half dozen riders still in front of me.  Someone up front yells “stay on the bike”.  I actually feel safer on the bike as to putting my foot down so I mosey on.  Lightning is so close my skin crawls.  Finally the worst passes on and we breathe a sigh of relief.  I’m wondering if there is an extra fee for all this.  After all that the remainder of the day seems a void.  The temps stay in the 50s and I barely have enough clothes.  At one control the C store owner is emptying trash cans and I steal one of his new trash bags and stuff it in my pocket for later on.  At a control in Lockhart, mile 353, I have my first “Whataburger”.  I’m late getting there so I eat hurriedly as the group is about to leave.  I cruise some more with the group.  There is a little café at mile 383 that is known by the local randos so one of the local riders’ phones in an order for us and it’s all waiting for us when we get there.  It’s dark now and sleep deprivation sets in.  The group is getting a little uneasy, cranky and a little short tempered with each other.  Judith from England caps it all with “I’m getting bloody bored with this”. I chuckle, but keep to myself for the rest of the evening.  I’m really struggling to stay awake as we tool into La Grange.  I see a Hampton Inn a couple blocks away and seriously consider a couple hours of sleep on a bed, but too much money for a short nap.  We stop at a C store.  There are some very long faces as it’s now 11:00 pm and we still have 55 miles left to the overnight control.  I tell the group that I plan to grab some sleep at the next convenient place I see.  I stay with them another 20 miles but then peel off in a town named New Ulm.  I stop and walk around a bit.  It’s getting cold now and I start getting the shakes.  I remember the trash bag and I make me a makeshift vest.  I continue riding, 25 miles to the motel.  Five miles later sleep has taken over. I lie down and set my alarm for 30 min.  Twenty minutes later a car pulls up and a girl who is part of the sag support gets out thinking that there has been an accident but I explain that I just couldn’t ride any farther and had to sleep.  They offer water and food but I’m good on supplies and just need to pedal another 20 miles.  I ask about riders behind me but they say I’m at least an hour ahead of anyone behind me so I continue on by myself.  I finally arrive in Sealy at 4:56 am, an hour behind the herd. Food, shower.  To bed at 6:00 am.

(Sealy to Crockett)  (Mile 466 to 622)

Up at 8:00 am, another wonderful 2 hour sleep.  Slow getting ready this morning. I finally get downstairs.  We’re heading north today, weather board, let me guess, north winds 10 to 15 mph, 90 degrees.  Third day in a row of continuous headwinds.  The herd is still there and Dan calls out to me that they are rolling in 2 minutes.  I skip breakfast in order to catch a ride pending another long day fighting the wind.  To the first control is flat terrain.  I’m feeling great not having to climb hills so I venture out front, drop down on the aero bars and proceed to pick the pace up a bit.  After a few minutes I get the Texas version of STFD and I smile and ease up a bit.  About 5 miles from the control I flat for the second time on the ride.  A quick fix and I regroup at the control in Magnolia, mile 520.  I’m hungry having skipped breakfast and there is a Mexican serving up some Mexican cuisine in one of those carnival food trucks beside the C store.  I have him make me a breakfast burrito.  This guy has talent.  It starts getting hot and I have another flat just a few miles later.  I’m now riding solo with a headwind, hot and I’m getting sleepy again.  I find a church and check in with Susan.  I can tell that today will be my getting over the hump day.  For now I take a 30 minute nap.  I ride another 30 miles, stop at another church and take another 30 min. nap.  I’m running on fumes now.  I need lots of food.  In Huntsville, mile 570, I stop at a Subway for major fueling.  I’m just about finished when 4 riders approach.  It’s Kevin riding with 3 recumbent cyclists.  I chat with Kevin a bit and he encourages me to ride with them as they are having an enjoyable day on the bikes.  I head back inside while they eat.  Peggy, Sara Kay and Daniel round out the group.  They become my pals for the rest of the ride.

They are chipper and joking around a bit and this festiveness was something I hadn’t seen riding with the herd.  Sara Kay rolls out a manly burp that quiets the restaurant and we bust out laughing.  Party on! We head out for Crockett together.  52 miles to the motel.  They are rolling a good pace and I enjoy their company.  We reach the motel at 12:45 am.  I’m starting to have some serious butt issues.  The roads in Texas are much worse than North Carolina roads.  My 700x23 tires and narrow seat combined with a very rough chip-n-seal surface have done me in.  Maybe I can sleep this off.  The girls vote for leaving at 4:00 am.  Do what? OMG, I’ll be lucky to get 1 hour sleep.  I room with Daniel.  I shower as he starts on dinner that we kinda have to prepare ourselves.  We have set our alarms for 3:00 am.  It’s now 1:30 as Daniel gives up on the food and heads for the shower.  I eat half of my food but trash the rest as I need sleep foremost.

(Crockett to Waxahachie)  (622 miles to 770 miles)

Up at 3:00 am after just over an hour of sleep.  Oh this is ridiculous.  I can’t function all day after just an hour of sleep.  We are all a little nervous about finishing on time.  We’ve battled headwinds for 3 days and today we travel northwest with, you guessed it, northwest winds.  Another long day is in store without much time in the bank.   We’ll really have to watch our down time early on to make sure we can finish on time.  I never thought I’d be anywhere close to 90 hours finishing but this is reality.  No time for crying about it.  Speaking of crying, my bottom really hurts today.  We gather in the lobby around 3:45 but no Kevin. 


Finally we send a volunteer to wake him up. Daniel naps, I lay my head down but no sleep.  We finally roll around 4:30 am.  Around 150 miles left to get this finished.  We have some fun rollers this morning and I venture out ahead of the group for a while.  They eventually run me down and we do our best at making time against the wind.  We are in front of the herd (peloton) so that keeps us in a comfort zone.  Though there is nothing comfortable with my saddle today.  I’ve never felt this much pain on a bike ride.  At one time I let my pals go as I’m struggling just to stay on the saddle.  They are long gone now and I finally have to decide my fate.  If I let this get to me I’ll never finish on time, so I get a little attitude, ignore the pain and hammer on until I reel them back in.  I try to put on my happy face because this group likes happy! Mile 662, Palestine, we stop at McDonalds for breakfast.  Breakfast burrito, pancakes, coffee, great comrades and my mood improves.


We continue on, still no peloton yet so we must be making decent time.  Open fields now on busy sections of highway, but we have large shoulders of road.  I wished they were a little smoother.  I’d pay extra!  Last control before the end, Corsicana, mile 725, We arrive with others and a few minutes later the peloton arrives as well as we take over the town.  Only 44 miles to go with some time in the bank.  Everyone here will have no problem finishing on time.  There are still a few behind us though.  The peloton leaves and we leave a few minutes later.  A few miles later there is smoke up ahead, Then 6 Japanese zeros are in formation heading our way. They have just attacked a local airstrip and I’m looking for cover.  Here come the stars and stripes to chase them away.  A b-52 and a b-17 cruising around as well.  How cool is this.  At one point we stop on top of a bridge to watch the action.  No I wasn’t dreaming in my sleep.  It was just an air show at a local airport.


We mosey on.  Kevin and I are battling sleep again.  Kevin pulls off to regroup.  I’m weaving and drop back a bit.  About 30 miles from the end Kevin and I decide we need a nap.  We watch the group ride away as we look for a nice shady spot to lie down.  A little park beside a post office a couple blocks off course is our choice.  We set our alarms for 30 min.  I also make a call to Susan asking for a wake up call for backup.  Local pup gets us up after a 25 min. nap. We roll, Kevin drops the hammer for the first 5 miles, and I’m barely hanging on. STFD!  But I keep it to myself.  We make a turn and we have some short rollers, my favorite hammer terrain.  I throw down a bit for the next 5 miles.  We take out a quick 10 miles in 30 min.  20 miles left and we call a truce and decide to relish the last 20.  Seventeen miles left we stop at a little Mexican store for cold drinks and conversation.  I call Susan giving her our estimated arrival time and begging for a cooler full of recovery drinks at the finish.  We soft pedal the last 17 miles.  It’s a beautiful sunset as we’re pedaling into the sun.  The wind, after 4 days has subsided and things are very pleasant.  We even have a smooth road.  We roll in around 8:30 just a few minutes after sunset.  Susan, Geof and others cheer us in.  Our other pals are still there as well.  We present our signed cards, and then we get medals, pose for pictures.  

Then Kevin and I take a seat and start on those recovery drinks.  We pose for more pictures with our pals.  770 miles in 87 hours, 30 min.  Just for perspective it’s 780 miles from home (Wilson, N.C) to Portland Maine. 6 riders attempt the 1000K, and all finish.  50 riders start the 1200K, only 35 finish. With the 4 days of headwinds and severe weather this will go down as one of the most epic 1200K’s in the US.  I had about 8 hours of sleep over a 4 day period.   It took everything I had.

Friday -- Bike To Work Day Ride in Raleigh

Greetings, all Triangle Cyclists.

As part of Bike to Work Day, a mass ride has been planned this Friday, May 20, from the State Fairgrounds to the Capitol Building in downtown Raleigh. Currently 65 riders are signed up. We'd welcome your participation and support.

The ride leaves from the Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. Details on the GoTriangle.org website.

You'll need to sign up and complete a waiver. Here's the form.

Yehuda Moon & Randonneuring

Here at RTP, we love Yehuda. Today's strip has a rando theme.

Adrian Hands at the Finish of PBP 03

In doing picture research for a special PBP issue, I came across this terrific picture of Yo A. This appears to have been taken in the beverages tent at the finish. I believe Chet was the photographer.... So this is what 88' 55" looks like! For more on Adrian, visit the Adrian Hands Society website that was established in his honor.

To all the folks who just earned this....

...You know who you are. All you riders who today are magnificently tired but rightfully proud for completing yesterday's 600K and earning Super Randonneur status for the very first time. Pat yourselves on the back. Ya done good.

A very special congratulations to "Rico" Dayton, who is now qualified for a little ride called Paris Brest Paris..... A highlight of my randonneuring career was seeing Brother Rob reach that historic milestone yesterday. Chapeau!

Tar Heel Riders at the Texas Rando Stampede 1200

A big tip of the cowboy hat to Tim Lucas and Geoff Simons for successfully tackling 750 miles of Texas asphalt and completing the Texas Rando Stampede 1200K. Geoff rolled in with a group of riders at 82:34 while Tim finished at 87:30. I believe it is the first 1200K for both riders, which makes it that much sweeter. I look forward to the ride reports with Texas-sized accounts of torrential rainstorms and miles of tire-devouring, chip & seal roads. Congrats to all riders who participated in the event, including fleche-mate Spencer, and kudos to Dan, Pam, George and all the other organizers of this inaugural event.

Geoff with "Claire."

Tim

An Even Cooler Music Video

Double Take, the Asheville band formerly known as Tribe of Dwarfs, wrote and recorded this song -- and music video -- in one day with the help of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. Astute music fans will recognize the killer keyboard work by Capn's son... It even has an Abbey Road moment... Enjoy...

Cool Bike Video

I think he's also touring by bike....enjoy.


Close To You from Ben Sollee on Vimeo.

Talking PBP With Chris & Annette

Tar Heel randonneurs Chris and Annette, who live in Western North Carolina, are in fine form this season as the gear up for PBP 11. They successfully completed PBP 07, and RTP caught up with them last week for any tips they might have for PBP 11 hopefuls. Their responses follow:

You guys did your first PBP in 07, meaning you rode in rain and more rain. Now you're going back for more. What gives?

I have ridden bikes for all kinds of reasons for fifty years. The experience at PBP was the pinnacle. The desire to return again is to see what happens if the sun comes out.

Best experience you guys took away from PBP 07?

The French people throughout the countryside. In Brittany (second night), in a farming hamlet, in the rain, at 3 a.m., hearing clapping at the side of the town square...that was unbelievable.

You can give a newcomer one bit of advice about Paris Brest Paris. What is it?

Do not ever doubt yourself. That will get you through.

Anything you wish you'd carried with you in 2007?
More real food at the depart. Excitement burns energy. I was in a deficit too soon.

How did you train in 07? Will you do anything differently this time?

We rode a lot. Also raced track that summer. Speed is good, especially for saving energy. Need to get back on the track this June and July.

Did you make any rookie mistakes in 07?
I was in a food deficit the first night.  I remember seeing Jimmy Williams sitting at the depart, waiting, waiting, eating a gigantic Croque Monsieur (baguette with ham and cheese).  I needed one of those and another in my saddle bag.


Do you have time or other goals in mind for this year's event?
The thing I like about randonneuring compared to racing is that all you have to do is cover the prescribed route in the allowed time. Still, speed equals sleep...I would like to get a bit more sleep this time. In 2007 we slept 5 hours out of 87. That was blotto.

Several North Carolina riders happened to reach Dingé at the same time on the return leg. You were there as well. Describe that experience, please.

We departed before Cap'n Ende's attack. The memory of Dingé was the joy of seeing a slew of familiar faces: Branson, Glenn, JD, Mike and John. The bad part was that we burned a half hour trying to get some food from a bakery that then announced they were complete for the day.  That clock never stops.

If people ask you why you do such long bike rides, what do you tell them?
I like to quote Geof Simons from the Raleigh 600K ride of 2010: it is on the really long rides that cycling gets interesting.


Annette runs a fast paceline. Does she enjoy punishing us on these long rides or does she feel bad about it afterwards?
Annette is a benevolent taskmaster, and retired world class road racer. Speed, efficiency, and consistency will get you to the end and off your bike faster.

Project Bikeway -- Two-Wheeled Fashion Show

Yesterday's Bike Month event in downtown Raleigh featured a fashion design showcase, dubbed Project Bikeway, at Raleigh's City Plaza. 

The goal, according to a Project Bikeway press release:

Created in response to the lack of hybrid attire available for professionals who bike to work, Project Bikeway aims to forge the link between safe bicycle commuting and dressing for a professional office environment. The project calls for the development of clothing which easily transitions between the bicycle, the office, and evening events, while still keeping the wearer comfortable, stylish and visible.

Below are photos of the participants and information about each designer:

Kristen Martinez - kdmartin@ncsu.edu

Kristen is a Senior in Textile and Apparel Management at NC State University. Kristen has created two outfits made from breathable mesh and batik-dyed cotton with an intricate pattern to disguise perspiration. Both outfits feature subtle pocket integration for easy storage and reflective material for visibility.

Ray Coleman - arcolema@ncsu.edu

Ray Coleman is a Junior in the Textiles program at NC State University. Ray has created a pair of selvedge jeans featuring a taper cut to prevent chain entanglement, a reversed yoke to move seams higher and out of the way of the saddle, and enlarged and repositioned back patch pockets for ease of access. The T-shirt has been thinned along the side-seams to allow breathability and features an easy access back pocket for a cellphone, wallet, or keys. The denim lined messenger bag is spacious and includes secret pockets along the inside flap with working velcro closures.

Sheyda Foroudi - smforoud@ncsu.edu 

Christy Michal - cjmichal@gmail.com 

Kelly Stillman - kellystillman@gmail.com

Sheyda Foroudi, Christy Michal, and Kelly Stillman are all Seniors in Fashion and Textile Management at NC State University. Sheyda, Christy and Kelly have designed a pair of slim cargo pants with 4-way stretch for ideal cyclist comfort and mobility along with a high waistline for modesty in the leant forward position. The metallic printed top adds visibility and the cotton/spandex blend provides extra comfort in movement. The infinity scarf is hand-knit out of lightweight cotton and easily transforms the outfit for changes in weather.

Matthew Mahler - tierraideas@gmail.com

Matthew Mahler is the Founder and head designer at Tierra Ideas. Matt has upcycled used materials to create this classic biker's messenger bag. Cyclists can carry clothes, laptops and more in this water-resistant, full-sized shoulder bag. The outer shell is made from worn bike inner tubes donated by Performance Bicycle and the inner lining is made from upcycled aircraft curtains donated by Delta Airlines. A 3M reflective strip is sewn-in for safety when the biker rides at night. All Tierra bags are designed and handcrafted in Raleigh. Ten percent of proceeds of each bag sale have been donated to The Nature Conservancy. Tierra bags are available for purchase at designbox and NOFO in Raleigh.

Two Wheels, High Heels -- Raleigh's Raffish Ride

I was seriously under-dressed for yesterday's Raffish Ride, one of the kick-off events to Bike Month here in Raleigh. This well-heeled, high-heel crowd showed up in bow ties and sequin dresses for the ride from NCSU's Bell Tower to City Plaza in downtown Raleigh. More about the Raffish Ride and the Bike Fashion show, Project Bikeway, another Bike Month event at Kirsty's blog, Multi-Modal...

Bike Month Kick off Event, Saturday, May 7

Lots of cycling events in Raleigh on Saturday -- including a fashion show. Hop on your two wheeler and join us for the festivities. I'll be working a booth on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, May 7, 11am - Noon
- Raffish* Ride at NCSU Bell Tower
Bring your feather boa or your blue suede shoes - or whatever you want to wear for this stylish ride from the Bell Tower to the Kick Off Event in Downtown Raleigh. Get dolled up for a group ride to the runway.
*(adj.) displaying a charming, free-spirited disregard for the conventions of society or approved behavior.


Saturday, May 7, 12:30pm and 2pm
-Project Bikeway Fashion Show at City Plaza
GoTriangle and NC State's Wolftrails program will host a "bike fashion" showcase in response to the lack of hybride attire available for professionals that bike to work. Project Bikeway designs will be showcased twice at the event, first at 12:30pm and again at 2:00pm.

Saturday, May 7, Noon - 3pm
- Bike Month Kick-Off Event at City Plaza
Join fellow cyclists as we kick off Bike Month with free bike checks by REI, bicycle safety stations for the whole family, materials & information on how to bike around Raleigh safely and efficiently. New this year is Project Bikeway, a bicycle commuter fashion show, created by NCSU. Free beverages provided by Vitamin Water.
For more Bike Month information please visit http://www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/PWksTranServices/Articles/NewsReleaseBikeMonth.html