War and Peace. Or: my 600k ride report

[crazycanuck]

Yup..it's all mental..Like mtn biking enduros..all in the head..

Isn't PBP "THE" audax event..1200km in 90hrs...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris%E...%E2%80%93Paris

[Bike Chick]

That's crazy! You're amazing maillotpois and Susan. Thanks for sharing.

[jobob]

Yep CC, PBP is the big daddy 1200K. It's held every 4 years, the next one is next year 2011. Rando-types in my area are already making plans for it. During the last one it rained like stink almost the entire time, it was super-challenging for the participants.

There are also plenty of 1200K's in the US and elsewhere. Used to be, on a PBP year, no other 1200Ks would be run, but owing to the popularity of randonneuring they're actually going to limit the number of participants for PBP next year, and allow other 1200Ks to go on in 2011.

On the west coast of the US, there's the Gold Rush Randonne in Northern CA, and the Cascade 1200 in Washington State. I think these are run every other year, on alternating years. The Cascade is this summer; Lee and I volunteered at an overnight control the last time it was held 2 years ago, and had a blast.

More info on the RUSA website.

[jobob]

- Things that hurt now may not hurt later. Keep riding.

- It is ALMOST all mental. Your body can keep going (granted not at its highest level) for a very long time. It's your mind that it going to talk you out of or into it.

I need to print this on my arm for my big training ride today. Over a route mapped out by coach maillotpois, no less.

[Veronica]

Where is today's ride?

Veronica

[sundial]

My digestive system seems not to know what to do. I was mildly nauseated yesterday all day.

Sarah, how do you feel today?

Ginger ale does wonders for tummy upsets. Last night as I was working on the bike I got to thinking that packing some crystalized ginger might not be a bad idea for those loooooong rides.

[redrhodie]

Wow. I read that report last night, and couldn't fall asleep thinking about it. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I don't have the kind of relationship with my body that I can get it to do anything even a little painful. Lucky for me, riding is never painful at the distances I ride . I think we all have our strengths, but overcoming the voice in my head that tells me "this sucks" is not mine. Maybe I wasn't as much like that when I was younger, but now, I definitely like things cushy.

But, I'm really curious. What makes you want to do this? Is it just the feeling of accomplishment at the end? I would need some huge reward a part of the goal, to have a chance of completing anything even a quarter as hard. Did you do that (give yourself something amazing)?

[Veronica]

Sarah, how do you feel today?

Ginger ale does wonders for tummy upsets. Last night as I was working on the bike I got to thinking that packing some crystalized ginger might not be a bad idea for those loooooong rides.

I bet she feels fine today since she did the 600K in 2006. I hope she feels fine since she's leading Jobob on a killer ride today.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Where is today's ride?

Veronica

portola valley - big basin/santa cruz mtns - windy hwy 1 - la honda. 112 miles 10 - 11,000 feet of climb including 2 of the longest sustained steep bay area climbs (redwood gulch and jamison creek) and jobob kicked a$$.

[Veronica]

portola valley - big basin/santa cruz mtns - windy hwy 1 - la honda. 112 miles 10 - 11,000 feet of climb including 2 of the longest sustained steep bay area climbs (redwood gulch and jamison creek) and jobob kicked a$$.

Excellent!!!!

Veronica

[maillotpois]

But, I'm really curious. What makes you want to do this? Is it just the feeling of accomplishment at the end? I would need some huge reward a part of the goal, to have a chance of completing anything even a quarter as hard. Did you do that (give yourself something amazing)?

You guys are all so great - thanks for the comments. As V pointed out, I did that ride in 2006, and Susan O bumped the thread because she has her own 600k going on - right now probably. (We eagerly await the report!!)

But to get to your question, redrhodie - I really just love long distance cycling and the type of people who do it. I did my first Death Ride in 2002 and my first double century in 2005 and was pretty well hooked. That's not to say that I do it all the time. I've done 9 doubles and several brevets over the 200 mile distance, but I haven't done a double since 2008, because I simply don't have the time. For the last several years, I have been putting most of my cycling time and energy into the Death Ride training program I run for TNT (which melissam and Dachsund did last year and in which jobob is kicking butt this year). And since I have a 14 year old daughter and a new business, I have to really work to balance it all and not let cycling just take over.

But that's the great thing about this sport, and ultra distance in particular. Once Em is off to college, I can start doing those long rides and not feel bad for being away all day. There was a guy on some of my doubles who was in his 80's and most of the double century crowd is in their 50's. This is a sport we can do for a LONG time.

I'm also pretty type A and ambitious overall.

[sundial]

I bet she feels fine today since she did the 600K in 2006.

Oops!

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan O bumped the thread because she has her own 600k going on - right now probably. (We eagerly await the report!!)

No, it's this upcoming weekend. T minus 5 days and counting!

[jobob]

I'm also pretty type A and ambitious overall.

Gee, who knew.

[maillotpois]

I'm doing this ride again. Tomorrow (through Sunday). For the first time in 8 years.

I haven't done a 600k since 2011. I'm woefully underprepared, have had a LOT of personal issues this year (no one died or is dying, but it's been a disruptive spring to say the least). But I'm gonna have a Stone IPA, read this report again and go to bed (and get up at 3:30).