RAIN Ride 2010 (Questions) This is long, sorry!!

[susan.wells]

Susan, in addition, would you say it's important to not plan your flight schedule back to Indiana on the same day you need to drive down to RAIN???

OK, headcount - WHO's IN FOR THE HILLY HUNDRED?????

You are correct Mr. Silver! Once again, and planning more conservatively, I will not be able to do Hilly due to travel. Maybe 2010 will be the year!

[Miranda]

OK, headcount - WHO's IN FOR THE HILLY HUNDRED?????

...I will not be able to do Hilly due to travel. Maybe 2010 will be the year!

Ghee, 2010 could just be a big party then. I had just paid my $ for Hilly 100 and one other event prior to that before my crash. Getting my MRI next week and the doc will decide if my separated acl will heal without surgery or not. He'd let me pedal the bici stationary now, but no outside steering. I don't see me being together by Hilly. You'll have to take me on the ride in spirit. Climb one hill for the MIA TE team.

[WindingRoad]

I did my first RAIN ride this year which was a historically cool day but nontheless I did do it. I only got up to 100 miles about a week or so before the ride. That was my first century and then I did the 160 about a week or two later so I know you can tackle this thing. If you are stable on rollers you are probably a lot stronger rider than you know. Rollers kick my butt! I think you have this thing beat already.

As others have said the trickiest thing is figuring out how, what, when to eat and drink. You can't really find definitive guidelines because it's all so subjective from one person to the next. My advice is just start playing with different combinations now to see how your tummy feels or how you feel energywise while you are riding. OK here's another thing, I'm doing the Hilly and I have NOT trained . I just take it easy, the ride is way too much fun to miss! It's not competitive its all about the fun. I have a granny gear and I'm not afraid to use it!

I guess I'm assuming you are riding clipped in? If not, try getting some inexpensive clip in pedals and shoes (mountain bike style are nice so you can walk around easily, those are called SPD style). Being clipped in really helps me with stamina on a long ride like RAIN.

I hope that helps a bit and would LOVE to see you come down to the Hilly!!!

[Mr. Bloom]

I popped a Shot Blok every 20 minutes as a reminder to drink. I took 3 Excedrin at the start and 3 halfway through (that's WITH caffeine).

[Mr. Bloom]

And note these stats that I compiled after last year's ride. Age doesn't matter either...

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=25577

[jessica47201]

Well I went around to some stores today in Clarksville and picked up some fuel to tryout and see what I like and don't like. Here's what I got:

GU Energy Gel--Chocolate Outrage
Clif Shot---Chocolate
Clif Shot---Vanilla
Clif Shot Bloks---Cran-Razz

I was hoping to try some different brands, but the majority of stuff that I was finding was mainly Clif Brand. I was actually hoping to find a new jersey but didn't really see anything I liked. I guess better luck next time. Tomorrow after I get back from the Madison Chataqua Festival of Art, I'm hoping to get in a good ride and try out one of the Clif Shots, weather permitting. Thank you all for the advise, I'm lovin' it!!!!!

[silver]

I'll add a few things. I did it in 2008.

Indysteel said, "Mr. Silver and I are lucky in that we enjoyed some decent weather the years we've done RAIN."

that would be true if you consider riding for 50 miles in a constant hard downpour and lightning decent weather. but at least it kept us cool.

I would say that if you could continue the kind of riding that you are doing and add at least one really long ride a month that you will be doing good! by really long ride, I'd say add 10 to 15 miles longer than what you had previously done. I know it would be a drive for you, but you'd be welcome to come to evansville just about anytime and we'd take you for a longer ride, whatever distance you needed.

I would recommend at least one ride longer than 100 (like 120?) prior to RAIN. And possibly back to back long rides. The Horsey Hundred is an excellent training ride for RAIN. Usually around Memorial Day in Geargetown KY. First day is around 107 and second day is around 80.

Also, we did not have a dedicated SAG, but we had two Back up people to call if we had an emergency. We did fine.

A couple of small problems I had.....one of my bottles popped out during the hard rain and I didn't know it. So I only had one bottle. the stops are far enough apart that I felt that I needed two filled bottles at all times. So I eventually stopped at a gas station and bought a gatorade bottle That fit in the water bottle holder. Also, the first stop was way too far for me. I needed to eat earlier. So I had some things to eat with me, things that I could eat without stopping. But with the rain everything got a bit soggy (and this is even though all was protected)

a couple of other things I would do next time. Even though I didn't have a dedicated SAG, I did see my back up SAGs at a couple of the stops. I would have them stash some dry colthes (especiatlly socks) to change into, either for rain or sweat. I'd also stash an extra water bottle with them.

[Miranda]

...Clif Shot Bloks---Cran-Razz...
I was hoping to try some different brands, but the majority of stuff that I was finding was mainly Clif Brand...

Cliff Shot Electrolyte Blocks are my favorite and work well for me. The bars are bit hard to chew. Gu just makes me want to puke.

My favorite Cliff shot blocks are: margaritta w/triple sodium, orange w/caffeine... and cherry because it has caffeine. Cran-Razz is pretty good too.

The margaritta flavor can be a little funky tasting early in a ride. But the more you sweat, for me anyway, the marg is better... and the sweet stuff can get TOO sweet. I alternate. For bars I like Lara Bars. They are natural like Cliff products. And Lara is nut based. Something that agrees w/me.

Once you find a flavor you fall in love with, you can order on-line too. I hated to keep searching the store to never find my flavor in stock. Places like BikeTiresDirect you can order individual sleeves, vs an entire box on Cliff's web site.

The sleeve concept of Cliff's shots works much better than Gu's chomps... it just makes a mess in the jersey pocket.

[Mr. Bloom]

Miranda - You're ready.

In a few weeks Silver and a small group will be going from New Harmony to Louisville...why don't you join them? It's about 140ish...

Mr. SR - you need to do it too.

...I'm not doing it...

[jessica47201]

Wow, New Harmony is beautiful!! I was only there for about 4 days during the flood, helping the whole sandbaging effort, but even during that horrible mess it was beautiful. The people were really friendly too. Next weekend I'm doing the Ghost rider ramble. I've invited someone from work to go too, but I don't think he's going and my husband won't do it either, since his highest milage so far is around 20 miles. So this is looking like my first organized ride by myself. Looking forward to it too. Miranda I really hope you heal quick and can get back on the bike soon. I can't imagine not be able to do something you love. Just take it slow and easy and thanks for all the info you've given me.

[Mr. SR500]

Miranda - You're ready.

In a few weeks Silver and a small group will be going from New Harmony to Louisville...why don't you join them? It's about 140ish...

Mr. SR - you need to do it too.

...I'm not doing it...

I might work the vendor tent, not sure yet, maybe ride Sat. Why are you not riding?

[indysteel]

[QUOTE=silver;464255]I'll add a few things. I did it in 2008.

Indysteel said, "Mr. Silver and I are lucky in that we enjoyed some decent weather the years we've done RAIN."

that would be true if you consider riding for 50 miles in a constant hard downpour and lightning decent weather. but at least it kept us cool. /QUOTE]

Oops; I forgot that part. My group sat out the start of the ride, so while we did get wet, we missed the worst of it.

On an unrelated note, good luck at your upcoming 140-mile ride, Silver! I really want to join you some year for that. This, unfortunately, is not the year. I've barely ridden, especially over the last couple of months. Buying a new home and moving really sucks up both time and energy.

[Miranda]

Miranda - You're ready.

In a few weeks Silver and a small group will be going from New Harmony to Louisville...why don't you join them? It's about 140ish...

Mr. SR - you need to do it too.

...I'm not doing it...

Ooo, the ride sounds nice. And tempting. But my acl joint in my shoulder is an issue atm. I had my MRI test today. Go for my PT eval later this week. And see the ortho doc next week to discuss the test results etc. He's allowed indoor spinning atm, but no steering of the outdoor bici. I hate this feeling that I know I am loosing ground on my fitness gains. Just makes me depressed to eat the kids ice cream. Ugh--counter-productive. Just have to wait and see what the doc says. Definately a list add for next season though.

Miranda I really hope you heal quick and can get back on the bike soon. I can't imagine not be able to do something you love. Just take it slow and easy and thanks for all the info you've given me.

Thx for those get well wishes. Yea, it's really hard listening to my friends century reports of recent. I am sincerely happy for their accomplishment. Just feeling blue I'm not with them on the success.

[Geonz]

+1 on what Indysteel said, especially ab out the gear and comfort.

I did the ride in, I think, 2005. High temp 83, 8 mph west wind... so mostly tailwind. I did it for fun -- finished #300. I'd been riding lots of miles *that* summer -- 150-200 miles/week, so yes, I had worked out any saddle or angle issues with the bike. Think I'd done several 80+ mile days (I was working 20 hours a week, with Tuesdays off to riiiiiide). I had some coaching from folks who'd done it -- mainly of the "take it EASY AT FIRST" type, but I shall forever fondly remember Fritz at the bike shop telling me "Sioux, you ride those trucks. Go ahead and take it out at 17 or so and go for it." Since he got Susan Notorangelo through RAAM with flying colors, I figured he knew what he was talking about

I Was back out at our Monday ride, tho' taking it easy. Another lady in the club finished #30 - first woman who wasn't on a tandem. She rode my kind of miles... but it was THursday before she was back out on the road 'cause it took that long for thigns to stop bleeding (but hey, she was 53... pretty awesome...)

I'd say it's about getting the gear that works (and it's about comfort - I was riding a hybrid, with sneakers & toe clips, but it's comfortable and light) and then having the time to put in the miles... and also, yes, the weather. You might sort of plan ahead for just how much nuisance & discomfort you are willing to endure if somethign goes amiss, if you tend to be in the "NO MUSTNOT QUIT MUST NOT QUIT" category.

Miranda, hang in there !!! It's better IMO to keep in touch with it, even tho' it hurts -- gives you something to look forward to.

[cattygrrl]

My guy has done RAIN several times, and is encouraging me to ride it this coming year as well.

Gatorade and Powerade are all but poison to me--that much HFCS blocks nutrient uptake something fierce, and the stuff feels like thick slime going down. Hammer Nutrition's HEED and Perpetuem are far better fuels. If you don't have someone doing the personal sag vehicle thing for you, pack sandwich bags of powder mix pre-measured for your bottles, fill your bottles with water and powder at each stop, and move on.

Yes, you can do it. You will want to prepare for it, but you can do it.