Willamette Headwaters 600K Ride Report

[Susan Otcenas]

“Michael may lack any sense of scale, but he’s not a sadist”.

This comment, made several months ago by my friend Cecilanne, was looping through my head as I climbed the first few miles of NFD 11 at mile 302 of this weekend’s Willamette Headwaters 600K.

4.4…3.8…3.9…4.2…3.7… I marveled at my ability to sustain speeds that slow, for that long, and keep the bike upright. An hour later, when I’d gone a grand total of 5 miles, I decided that Cecilanne was, in fact, wrong.

But, as usual, I get ahead of myself.

A few months ago, when I heard about the proposed route, I felt both excitement and trepidation at the idea of riding it. I had just finished my first 600K in May, and despite the challenges I had with the weather on that ride, randonesia had already begun to set in. By the time the registration for the 600 opened, I had a few more 200s and another 300 under my belt, and so decided to dive in head first and sign up.

The elevation profile, with more than 21,000 feet, concentrated in 4 major climbs, looks like the teeth of some kind of beast, ready to chew up and spit out the unaware, the undertrained or the complacent. Or anyone having a bad day. http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=171849 (see summary tab). I’m a reasonably decent climber. Not zippy by any stretch, but very steady. So, I was prepared to be challenged, but didn’t feel intimidated by the profile. It wasn’t until 10 days before the event, when I read Michael’s pre-ride report, that I started to question the wisdom of my decision.

“This is a really hard ride…”

“…4 miles of pretty intense climbing…”

“…it's only like 8 miles of intense climbing…”

“…starts off really steep for a mile, and then relents, and then has another steep section, then relents, and one more steep bit. That's the first 4 miles…”

“…crappy demoralizing rollers for the next 10 miles…”

“The wind will be blowing upstream, right into your face. You will curse my name.”

“There is a suckerpunch hill just before you get to...”

So, here’s the thing. Michael is one of the strongest climbers I know. If Michael is using words like “intense”, “steep”, “demoralizing” and “suckerpunch”…. Well then, I’m sure as hell gonna sit up and take notice. And annotate my cue sheet accordingly!

Michael promised us a course of epic proportions… Of spectacular scenery…. Of quiet, in-the-middle-of nowhere, traffic-free forest roads. He even used the word “legendary”.

And he was absolutely correct. This ride was every one of those things. I don’t have the words to describe the incredible beauty of the Aufderheide, the stark lava fields on 126, the breathtaking vistas from NFD 22, NFD 5850, and Straight Creek Rd (NFD 11). I can’t accurately convey the remoteness of the terrain we moved through or the total silence in the forest on NFDs 22 & 5850 where I didn’t see a motor vehicle for hours. I wish I could bottle up the giddiness and sheer joy of descending Quartzville Creek Rd…swoosh…swoosh…swoosh…leaning into turns and not pedaling for miles and miles.

This ride challenged me. It challenged my legs and my lungs. It challenged my descending skills. It challenged my mental toughness. I feel like I met those challenges head on, and I’m really pleased with the results!

And so, I say thank you to Michael for organizing this legendary, epic and (with apologies to Cecilanne) slightly sadistic course.

[Susan Otcenas]

The nitty gritty:

375 miles
~21,500 feet
37hr 46m elapsed
29hr 33m moving
9.9 avg speed elapsed
12.7 avg speed moving
1hr 45m "sleeping"
3hr 15m at overnight control
max speed 37mph
min speed 3.4 (sustained for a shockingly long period of time on Straight Creek Rd. at mile 302...and 303....and 304.... Should be renamed "Straight Uphill Road"
0 flats


The aftermath:
Two sore achilles tendons
One AWOL pinky finger

[OakLeaf]

Holy !@#$ Susan. Way to go! :eek:

[jobob]

Awesome. :cool:

[Jaclyn]

Great ride report, and congratulations on completing your second 600k. We had a similar experience on our first 600k this year. A friend recommended the Louisville Kentucky 600k. There was some surprise when we arrived (turns out it wasn't because we were strangers, but because we were on a tandem).

Our stats were 363 miles, 22,354 elevation gain, 38:24:02 elapsed time, 33:43 moving time, average speed 11.5 mph.

My captain had a difficult time convincing me to get back out after the overnight control for the final 200k ... it was only the thought of having to do another 600k which convinced me that finishing the 200k was the better alternative.

It was all worth it for the feeling afterwards that we had met the challenge.

Are you planning to enter the lottery to do Paris-Brest-Paris next year? That is our plan - hope to meet you there.

PS The friend - he did the St Louis 600k which had one-tenth the climbing at only 2,500 elevation gain.

[Crankin]

Again, I will say:
I must have the wimp gene.

Congratulations!

[spindizzy]

"Randondesia" *giggle* My stomach lurches at the thought of what you did. Unbelievable! Your "friend" is a sadist - but apparently you like the pain!
Nice work!

[Susan Otcenas]

Are you planning to enter the lottery to do Paris-Brest-Paris next year? That is our plan - hope to meet you there.

PS The friend - he did the St Louis 600k which had one-tenth the climbing at only 2,500 elevation gain.

Yes, I'm planning to do PBP. As understand it though, it's not a lottery. Pre-registration priority is given to riders who have completed at least a 600K this year, with an even earlier deadline for those having completed a 1000 or 1200 this year. Last to be able to pre-register will be those who rode anything less than a 600.

My 1st 600 had ~9000 feet. I can't imagine doing one with only 2500 feet. That would be boring, I think. Pedaling along flat roads for hours on end...ugh.

[maillotpois]

Well done! I have some randonesia setting in as well.... :rolleyes:

[Susan Otcenas]

Well done! I have some randonesia setting in as well.... :rolleyes:

Hey MP, looking to do another 600K? Or PBP?

Susan

[Catrin]

Wow, that was an incredible ride! You are my role model and I hope that I can at least do a portion of that kind of of climbing someday!

It certainly sounds like you had a ride of epic proportions, Michael didn't fib to you :)

[Bike Chick]

Wow, Susan! You are constantly amazing me. Awesome job!

[Gowest]

Now THAT is quite an accomplishment. You must have buns of steel!!!! I have a ton of respect for the training and endurance this requires - yeah we racers seem to think racing is the "stuff" but this is something to brag about. So many details - navigation, weather, endurance, nutrition - wow. It takes the complete package and dedication. I'm riding a 100 miler and wanted to groan - not any more.

Congrats and thanks for sharing - you made my day:D

debi

[Susan Otcenas]

Michael didn't fib to you :)

No, no he didn't! :)

[katluvr]

Holy !@#$ Susan. Way to go! :eek:
DITTO! can't think of anything more to say...other than pure amazement!
K

[Trekhawk]

WOW!
Well done Susan, my legs feel tired just thinking about that ride.:)

[Tri Girl]

I just honestly cannot imagine the pain/fatigue that sets in on a ride like that... you are INCREDIBLE!!!!!:eek::D:eek::p;):):)

[colby]

It sounds beautiful, awful, and amazing all at once. I think the beautiful and amazing might cancel the awful, in the same way that mothers never remember all the details of childbirth. ;)

Congratulations! :D

Congrats to Jaclyn, too. :D

[Susan Otcenas]

Now THAT is quite an accomplishment. You must have buns of steel!!!! I have a ton of respect for the training and endurance this requires - yeah we racers seem to think racing is the "stuff" but this is something to brag about. So many details - navigation, weather, endurance, nutrition - wow. It takes the complete package and dedication. I'm riding a 100 miler and wanted to groan - not any more.

Hey, 100 miles is a HUGE accomplishment. You earned those groans!! Especially because it's outside your comfort zone. I'm sure you have more racing talent in your pinky finger than I have in my entire body!

As for my buns...I would say that my buns have been steeled against discomfort. I really have very little saddle trouble. I'm rarely saddle sore. Part of that is because I ride ALOT. (I logged over 1,000 miles in August! :eek: ) And, it's partly because I wear really good shorts. And I have a bike that fits. I don't use lube on anything under 100 miles, but for an event like this, I use chamois butter very sparingly as a preventative against chafing. (One "single use" packet lasted me 230 miles.) And that works very well.

Saddle *pressure* (not chafing) generally isn't a problem either. I was feeling a little pressure after mile 325 or so, but not too bad. Brief standing breaks make a huge difference.

Interesting point re: racing vs. endurance. I'm a triathlete, so I definitely appreciate power and speed and can hold a good pace for quite a bit of time. But I haven't done a bike race in a bunch of years. I'm not really built for the top end speed, the accelerations and deccelerations that bike racing requires. I'm likely to blow up and get spit out the back.

But I've discovered I actually have a little talent for this whole endurance thing. Again, I'm not super speedy, but I can get on my bike and ride for a really long time. Without slowing down too much as the hours go by. and by. and by. :D It's not uncommon for me to let guys go at mile 25, hold my own pace, and then see them again at mile 100. I rode with a guy this weekend from ~ mile 90 to ~ mile 140 and we had a really good conversation about different riding styles. My observation was that even amongst experienced randos, some guys (it's usually guys) go out too hard, don't fuel early enough, and then have trouble later in the day. He admitted that he was in a bit of that boat himself that day, needing to back off the pace and fuel. We rode well together for quite awhile. But after he took a break to eat, I didn't see him again. (He eventually DNF'd, concerned that he wouldn't make it back to the start in time for catching his return ride back to seattle with someone who was faster.)

It is *alot* of details to keep track of, and it's easy to make an error when you're tired or hungry or sleepy. That can result in an accident, or hypothermia (have you read my May 600K report??? Baaaaad apparel decision making on my part...) or extra "bonus" miles when you make a wrong turn at 2am on some random road in the middle of nowhere and have to backtrack. :eek: One of the riders this weekend had a bad crash in the middle of freakin' nowhere when he rolled his tire off his rim on a high speed descent. Nothing to do but get up, brush himself off, and keep on riding the next 50+ miles back to civilization.

______


I had a 90 minute massage today and it was fabulous. My achilles tendons are feeling much better, but my pinky finger is still AWOL.

[Susan Otcenas]

It sounds beautiful, awful, and amazing all at once. I think the beautiful and amazing might cancel the awful, in the same way that mothers never remember all the details of childbirth. ;)



And that, my friend, is "randonesia": The power of the beautiful and amazing to cancel out the memory of the awful.

[LilBolt]

I think a very high percentage of the population would consider this crazy, insane, even dangerous. But most of us here are 'jazzed' for you & inspired to test our own limits. I wonder what my husband will think when I tell him I want to go 'rando'. :p

[Jaclyn]

As understand it though, it's not a lottery. Pre-registration priority is given to riders who have completed at least a 600K this year, with an even earlier deadline for those having completed a 1000 or 1200 this year.

Susan, you are correct. They will register the 1000km riders first, followed a week later by the 600k finishers. The lottery will be for the remaining spaces based on a quota for US participants. And, we still need to qualify by completing the 200, 300, 400, and 600k series next year by June. Fortunately, all of the rando clubs are adding rides and scheduling rides earlier for 2011.

The Ohio club members have been wonderful about giving us newcomers tips and advice. We are lucky that they share their wisdom. They feel we should start with the 84 hour group - have you given this any thought yet?

[Catrin]

Susan, you are correct. They will register the 1000km riders first, followed a week later by the 600k finishers. The lottery will be for the remaining spaces based on a quota for US participants. And, we still need to qualify by completing the 200, 300, 400, and 600k series next year by June. Fortunately, all of the rando clubs are adding rides and scheduling rides earlier for 2011.

The Ohio club members have been wonderful about giving us newcomers tips and advice. We are lucky that they share their wisdom. They feel we should start with the 84 hour group - have you given this any thought yet?

Sorry for the hijack...

I just joined the Ohio club as Indiana doesn't have one. Any chance that you will do the Oct 16 200k brevet? I am a brevet virgin - at least until then :D

/end hijack

[Pedal Wench]

My first 600K is the Natchez Trace coming up in 3 weeks. I've barely been on the bike in months. I'm scared. Very, very scared.;)

[Susan Otcenas]

My first 600K is the Natchez Trace coming up in 3 weeks. I've barely been on the bike in months. I'm scared. Very, very scared.;)

You'll do great! You got plenty of brevets under your belt. I'm told that 600s are easier than 400s. (I've done 2 600s, but never a 400.) The reason is that you get to sleep, and the O/N is typically at 350-360 km or so. When you wake up, you've only got a little more than a 200 to do, and you know you can do one of those!

Did you get your RUSA quarterly yet? There was a good article in there about the mental aspects of doing a long brevet. I agreed with alot of what he said, especially about breaking the ride down into smaller bits when you are feeling challenged. Don't think about the fact that there's x# of km to the finish. Think about km to the next control, or the next turn, or the next lamppost if you must. ;) I definitely find myself doing that at some point. For the last 50 miles of this weekends 600, I just concentrated on distance to the next turn. In 2 mile increments, a ride doesn't seem so long!

[Pedal Wench]

<<<Think about km to the next control, or the next turn, or the next lamppost if you must. ;) I definitely find myself doing that at some point. For the last 50 miles of this weekends 600, I just concentrated on distance to the next turn. In 2 mile increments, a ride doesn't seem so long!

That's great, but this one is an out and back on the Natchez - no lamposts, no turns! (Okay, turns to get off the Trace for a mile to get to a control, which will be all I can look forward to!)

Thanks for the encouragement! Coming from you, it means a whole bunch.

[Jaclyn]

I just joined the Ohio club as Indiana doesn't have one. Any chance that you will do the Oct 16 200k brevet?


Yes, we'll be doing the last Ohio 200k in October. We'll be on one of the three tandems that will be there.

Our Ohio group puts on good rides with the greatest queue sheets. Too bad you missed the last one - the picnic afterwards was a wonderful chance to socialize with other rando's. We brought a friend to it - it was her first brevet and she had a great time and is hooked.

[Catrin]

Yes, we'll be doing the last Ohio 200k in October. We'll be on one of the three tandems that will be there.

Our Ohio group puts on good rides with the greatest queue sheets. Too bad you missed the last one - the picnic afterwards was a wonderful chance to socialize with other rando's. We brought a friend to it - it was her first brevet and she had a great time and is hooked.

I will look for you, and I will be the one bringing up the rear on the blue LHT ;) Someone has to be last :)

I wasn't ready for the last one, mileage-wise. I did see the notice for it - but am only getting over 70 mile rides - so I still have a little ways to go. I just learned how to ride 8 months ago so want to get my mileage-base as close to the event as possible.

Glad to hear that they have great directions - they still haven't released the route for the October ride. I might come and drive it first if I have time.

[TrekTheKaty]

Awesome, Susan! I just did a "hilly" 50 miles and I'm sore! I went to the ride website and they make it sound like a scenic ride through the country :D

http://www.orrandonneurs.org/rba/2010/WillametteHeadwaters/Willamette_Headwaters_info.html

[sundial]

I can't imagine doing one with only 2500 feet. That would be boring, I think. Pedaling along flat roads for hours on end...ugh.

In my area I can climb 2500 ft. over a distance of 20 miles. Not too bad for a state with the highest peak of 2753. And as for the flat roads....guess you won't be signing up for the Dirty Kanza 200 (http://www.dirtykanza200.com/about-2/). ;)