Pop quiz

[maillotpois]

Here's my calculus, though. You went an extra 35 miles before sleeping. Those were probably 35 miles in the dark, after already riding 230 miles. For ME, I think I would do those 35 miles more quickly (and more likely during sunrise instead of total darkness) after getting some sleep.

That's a really good point. My original goal had been to get to 270 - and complete a nasty climb - before sleeping so I wouldn't have to do the nasty climb in the morning. As it turned out, the issues with our tag along rider complicated things so that the extra 10 miles to get over the climb was out of the question. And the climb really wasn't bad in the morning. I think sometimes we (I) have a way of blowing things out of proportion in our minds. If you just keep riding, nothing's ever as bad as you imagine it will be and nothing ever gets WORSE. In other words, there's a limit to how bad you can feel on a ride. It may continue to be bad, but it won't get worse.

And it sounds like we should have switched rides - you doing the one with the 230 mile stop and me doing the one with the 400k stop!

[VeganBikeChick]

I think sometimes we (I) have a way of blowing things out of proportion in our minds. If you just keep riding, nothing's ever as bad as you imagine it will be and nothing ever gets WORSE. In other words, there's a limit to how bad you can feel on a ride. It may continue to be bad, but it won't get worse.

So true! I biked to and from the store tonight and I dread the hill on the way home. This is a 0.8 mile commute one way! All I could think about while I was in the store was the dreaded hill home. And my mind had made it ten times worse than it actually was (and I'm probably getting a little more stamina as well). It's all about perspective.

[salsabike]

I thought you guys might get a kick out of reading this. Chris wrote it in his head while he was riding the Cascade 1200 last summer. You'll understand it.


Ballad of the Cascade 1200
Composed on the road from Dry Falls to Bridgeport

To the Tune of Willin'
With thanks (or apologies) to the late great Lowell George

I've been blown by the wind, broiled by the heat
Had my butt worn out, but I'm still on my seat
And I'm still willin'

Out on the road late at night, seen the full moon shining
Like a 6 volt head light,
downhill with a tailwind

And I've been from Packwood to Okanogan,
Yakima to Darrington
I've ridden every kind of road that's ever been laid
Carryin' our mudflaps so we won't get sprayed
And if you give me snacks, drinks, and ice
And some chicken and rice
And I'll be willin' to keep rollin'

I've been burnt by the sun, chilled by the cold
I'm tired and sweaty, don't you know
And I'm still willin'

Struggled with broken spokes at Texaco
They're signin' my card every time I go to Texaco
And I'm still...

And I've been from Packwood to Okanogan,
Yakima to Darington
I've ridden every kind of road that's ever been laid
Carryin' our mudflaps so we won't get sprayed
And if you give me snacks, drinks, and ice
And some chicken and rice
And I'll be willin' to keep rollin'

[sundial]

...and this weekend we had....a rash of flats.

Riding tubeless--is that an option for such rides?

[maillotpois]

Salsa - that's great!

Sundial - I run tubeless on my "double century and less" bike. On my brevet bike with the dyno hub I do not - and I'm not even sure if its possible to have tubeless built with the dyno hub. I don't want to jinx it, but the tubeless has been AMAZING and I wish I could have it on the brevet bike as well. And for tubeless, you can always put in a tube if you get a flat. Which I have not in a year. That said, I have been pretty lucky on the non-tubeless bike as well. During the brevet series, my only flat occurred during the 300k which was rain and flooding all day.

[Susan Otcenas]

Salsa - that's great!

+1!

During the brevet series, my only flat occurred during the 300k which was rain and flooding all day.

I wish.

I ride 650C (not B) so my tire options are limited. After a winter season PLAGUED by flats, I switched to the "beefiest" tires available in 650C, which is Continental UltraGatorskins. Still not great, but the best I can get.

In our series:
200K - Flat in the rain at mile 17
Switched to Contis
300K - Flat at mile 100
400K - no flat!
600K - Flat in drizzle at mile 45

last weekend's 400K, 2 flats in the first 15 miles (same flat). Thankfully it was dry. But my two companions had multiple flats, all in the rain or drizzle.

Good times.

[sundial]

Sundial - I run tubeless on my "double century and less" bike.

I was wondering if any of you brevet folks run tubeless. I can't help but think it would take a load off one's mind by mounting a set of new tubeless tires before the epic ride. And the ride quality is so much nicer in my opinion.

Course you may have to ride with an extra tire looped around you like in the old TDF days.

I had been running tubeless on my mtbs and switched to Specialized tubeless on my road bike as well. I LOVE it! I plan on doing a metric century here shortly and will see how well the tires hold up. I gave it a shot of Stan's just for good measure. Last year when I was attempting my self supported century my newish regular tire started to come apart (Specialized S-Works ) and I had to cut it short.