Prospective Ride - Is this too much?

Silver's triathlon team (of which I'm a member, but just for riding) is trying to organize an across state ride for early November from New Harmony Indiana to New Albany, Indiana. From the Wabash River to the Ohio River.

It's 139 miles at a time when there is about 10 hours of daylight.

There will not be SAG support.

I'm doing the math:

• We did the Horsey Hundred at 14.9 mph in good conditions
• at 14.9 mph, this would leave just 30 minutes for breaks along the way to have daylight for the entire trek
• I think it's unrealistic to expect a faster pace on such a long ride and unsafe to ride in winter darkness - particularly since New Albany is a densely populated suburb of Louisville.

While I was initially excited by the challenge, I'm now very apprehensive

What do you think?

IMO, it sounds like a bit much. That's 9.5 hours of steady riding every day, with minimal time for breaks. That doesn't leave much time for eating lunch, bathroom, resting. I wouldn't do it just because it's so time-crunchy. No room for error (flats, mechanical issues). And no sag support is kinda scary to me.
Sounds like a great idea for a ride. Perhaps shorter days riding? Just one sag vehicle along the route each day?

And 15 mph avg is a pretty good guess for 139 miles (for me, anyhow). Is this just for the tri club members, or will there be all levels of riders there (which is scarier, because you KNOW some people will avg far less than 15 and be out there much longer- while some will avg more than 15 and have extra time).

How many days of continuous riding are you talking here?

What route will you take to get there?

I rode southen Indiana a few years ago on TRIRI. One day we rode from Lincoln State Park, near Santa Claus, to New Harmonie. I remember the route as being pretty flat. However, the 1st 3 days of the ride that week went to Spring Mill SP, Patoka Lake SRA, Lincoln SP through the Hoosier National Forest, and it was very hilly. A lot tougher than the hills on the Horsey Hundred.

I looked at Map Quest and I don't see any way you can avoid Hoosier National Forest.

The organizer of TRIRI lives in Bloomington and knows Indiana well. Maybe you could contact him and see what he suggests.

First of all, I am probably the last one to offer and opinion, because the idea of more than 6hours in the saddle in any one day is not at all appealing to me.

But I would echo TriGirl's concerns... if its 9+hours in the saddle with minimal time for breaks, in winter when dusk and dawn do NOT stretch out helpfully like they do in summer... well, I think that is not enough time.

With this many bikes involved, and so many miles, its not a matter of hoping not to get mechanicals (like flatties) its a matter of how many... that will stretch your day out. And if you are anything like us, flats (for example) tend to happen in clumps and we might change four in one day and then nothing for days and days...

I guess if you all had lights on your bikes and wore good reflective gear, and maybe started before (or, at the latest, as) the sun rose... that would make me feel more comfortable if I was waving you off the start line.

All the best. You are a bunch of experienced cyclists and I know you'll consider this from many angles and make it a safe and fun day.

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

How many days of continuous riding are you talking here?

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It's a single day ride.

It will cross time zones, so technically there's an extra hour...but that doesn't mean there's extra sunlight...



Kathi: It will go the opposite way of TRIRI. New Harmony, through "Lincoln Land", then east. After Lincoln Land, the route will be hillier...

Hmmm... that changes my opinion. In light of the fact that it's only a one day ride, I might consider it.

Let's see... you could start maybe a half hour before daybreak to buy you some time (so long as you're properly lighted and all ;) ), plan on taking a short lunch break (15-20 min), and barring any major mechanical catastrophes, still make it to the end by nightfall. That would leave you 5 min. here and there to stop and take a break if need be (you could take 5-6 short breaks throughout the day for "natural breaks" and the like).

Knowing it's not a multi day ride, it might be more in the "doable" catagory. I was thinking it was 132 miles a day in those conditions for a few days. I would get too tired to make the light restrictions after the first day.

I think perhaps I'd consider it (if it were me- and it's not- so my opinion is moot).:p

Of course, I still think there should be someone following the riders in a vehicle along the route. It's just playing roulette to assume that nobody will need a lift, or get hurt, or have a bike just totally give out (and a distance that far would cost a yearly wage in taxi fares).

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

Hmmm... that changes my opinion. In light of the fact that it's only a one day ride, I might consider it.

Let's see... you could start maybe a half hour before daybreak to buy you some time (so long as you're properly lighted and all ;) ), plan on taking a short lunch break (15-20 min), and barring any major mechanical catastrophes, still make it to the end by nightfall. That would leave you 5 min. here and there to stop and take a break if need be (you could take 5-6 short breaks throughout the day for "natural breaks" and the like).

Knowing it's not a multi day ride, it might be more in the "doable" catagory. I was thinking it was 132 miles a day in those conditions for a few days. I would get too tired to make the light restrictions after the first day.

I think perhaps I'd consider it (if it were me- and it's not- so my opinion is moot).:p

Of course, I still think there should be someone following the riders in a vehicle along the route. It's just playing roulette to assume that nobody will need a lift, or get hurt, or have a bike just totally give out (and a distance that far would cost a yearly wage in taxi fares).

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Not to mention the cost of EMT's and ambulance service if someone gets injured and can't ride.

BTW, how are you getting home the next day?

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Silver's triathlon team (of which I'm a member, but just for riding) is trying to organize an across state ride for early November from New Harmony Indiana to New Albany, Indiana. From the Wabash River to the Ohio River.

It's 139 miles at a time when there is about 10 hours of daylight.

There will not be SAG support.

I'm doing the math:

• We did the Horsey Hundred at 14.9 mph in good conditions
• at 14.9 mph, this would leave just 30 minutes for breaks along the way to have daylight for the entire trek
• I think it's unrealistic to expect a faster pace on such a long ride and unsafe to ride in winter darkness - particularly since New Albany is a densely populated suburb of Louisville.

While I was initially excited by the challenge, I'm now very apprehensive

What do you think?

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Seems like no time for one flat tire, bathroom stops, and eating...forget resting. :( What happens to exhausted people still on the road after dark with no SAGs, and possibly inadequate or malfunctioning lighting? :confused: :(

Brevet and double century riders ride after dark all the time. It is safe. But you need to have good lights and refelctive gear. I'd also encourage you to get a volunteer to drive SAG.

V.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kathi

BTW, how are you getting home the next day?

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Oops! Now THERE'S a detail that needs consideration!:D

Oh, Silver????

Seriously, we're considering a draft of SilverDaughter for SAG support...might have to pay her dearly...especially since it would likely require Silver's minivan!

Mr. Silver I rode 128 miles today and from start to finish it took us 10 hours(time on and off our bikes). We stopped at the 46, 59, 87 and 116. Most stops were long enough for everyone to grab a snack and use the bathroom before we hit the road with the exception of lunch but it too was quick.

Since this is planned for November and daylight is short I'm inclined to think you may find yourselves out on the road after the sun sets. I'm assuming you want all participants to have fun but I personally would feel very stressed if I was racing the clock to get in before dark.

Ok, I'll fill in a few more details. This is for our tri team members. BUt it will be billed as a ride where the goal is to keep a 17+ pace. If you don't think that you can keep that pace then don't plan to do it.

I feel sure that we will have some sort of sag by the time that it comes around.

The thought was to have your spouse or family member(s) meet us at the end. Spend the night and then ride back. Yes, ride back! Best case scenario! but we could have a plan B for the second day depending on how the first day goes.

I don't expect that we would have more than 5 or 6 people doing this. Right now, I'm probably one of the fastest "girls" on the team. I'm somewhat doubtful that there would be any other girl interested.

I've done a century at 18 mph on my own. I think that I could do it if things went well. I did not ride the Horsey fast. I had been very ill just a week prior to that and lost down to below my "lowest possible healthy weight." I've also gotten a lot stronger in general since then with my triathlon training.

Hey, makbike, that sounds like a great ride! Where did you ride?

It was a great ride and I'm glad I decided to participate on the last leg of this two day bike trip. The club left Louisville on Saturday and rode down to Mammoth Cave. I drove a club member's car down on Saturday and rode back on the return leg. It was an very hilly and challenging ride but we saw some beautiful country from atop our bikes.