Horsey Hundred Log - The First Century

[SouthernBelle]

Let me know when ya'll get them. We can look at each other's rides!

[indysteel]

I'm so glad that everyone had a good ride(s) at the Horsey. However, I'm so sad that I missed meeting you. As I indicated in a PM to Silver and Mr. Silver, my friend and I ended up starting the ride on Saturday earlier than anticipated. We slept horribly on Friday night thanks to some really soft mattresses at the dorm and ended up waking up and eating at the crack of dawn. We were on our bikes by 7:30 and (after one more pit stop) on the road by 7:40. I'm so glad that some of you were able to meet and ride together though, and I love the picture that you posted.

It sounds like everyone's ride was pretty similar. I thought the first half of the ride was pretty tough, especially after that hill (you know the one I'm talking about I'm sure) between the first and second stops. Even though it's pretty similar to the hills we have in Southern Indiana, it just about did me in for a bit until I got a second wind at the third stop. From there, I felt pretty good. In fact, I felt positively great for the last forty miles or so.

I enjoyed myself immensely, but it was still a long day in the saddle. I was so pooped by Saturday night that I could barely stay awake. A shower, clean clothes and dinner helped my feel human, but I felt like a zombie. WE went to bed at 9 p.m.--before it was dark out. As tired as we were, however, we had another horrible night's sleep. I even took some Benadryl to make me sleepy and still didn't sleep well.

Wisely, we had already decided to do the 52 miler on Sunday rather than the 71. I was fully expecting a hard day in the saddle, but the ride actually went well. I would describe the terrain as more "rolling." I don't think I had to use my granny gear at all (I used to pretty darn liberally on Saturday). We got to the lunch stop, however, before it was set up. We weren't hungry for lunch anyway, so we just rolled on through. We stopped for a bit at the next stop and chatted with some people that we know from Indy and who are also doing BRAT in September along with us. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful but my mile 48 or so, I was ready for it to be over. My tank was empty......

My friend and I averaged just under 16 mph for the ride. Given the nearly constant elevation changes, I'm very pleased with that. The scenery was lovely and it was a wonderful change of pace from the cornfields of Indiana. With few exceptions, the road surfaces were good and there was little traffic. I was impressed with the overall organization of the ride and would do it again in a heartbeat.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend. I'm really proud of myself for finishing my first century and a hard one at that. I wish it hadn't exhausted me to the point of not fully enjoying the rest of the day, but I kind of expected that. I'd really like to stay in a hotel next year and to arrive early enough on Friday to walk around Georgetown or do a little siteseeing in Midway (the town where we had lunch). The only changes I'd make to the ride would be to forego a couple of the stops--i.e., the first and last--or in the very least to keep them very brief. The food I ate at the first stop didn't sit well after that hill and my legs really stiffened up after a couple of the stops to the point that they were more of a curse than a blessing. Beyond that, I felt like I ate/drank enoughl and was well trained for the ride thanks to lots of miles in April and May.

I'm planning on doing it next year again so I hope to have better luck meeting up with you. Now that I know the layout of the school and how the ride is organized, it will be much easier to figure out a specific meeting place.

And if anyone's interested, we're doing the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee in September. I'm heard really good things about it and can't wait. Silver and Mr. Silver, lots of people keep trying to talk me into doing RAIN, but I can't seem to muster the enthusiasm. I hope you enjoy yourselves though! I might go to the lunch stop that day just to cheer my friends on!

Kate

[Geonz]

For whom does the bell peal? It peals for thee!!! Awesome
(Maybe the bell hill was the 22%? Or maybe the technology misready things).

[SouthernBelle]

Oh! BRAT is coming to Cedars of Lebanon State park this year!! That's where I live. Shout out before you leave and I'll come see you.

[indysteel]

SouthernBelle, I'll definitely give you a shout when we're out your way. I'll contact you later by PM as the ride nears and exchange some info! That's so exciting that you live out that way.

Ugh. I can't get Routeslip to work for me but would love to see the elevation profile for the ride. Is there any other way to access that information?

I'd love to get my hands on it because I'm having a hard time describing it to the flatlanders here in Indy. When they think hills, they think the Hilly Hundred. To me, this was A LOT harder than the Hilly because the elevation changes NEVER STOPPED. The mental focus it took just to pick the right gear was exhausting. We just don't have anything to compare it to here. When I decribed the hills as rollers, people picture something rather gentle but I wouldn't describe Saturday's century as gentle.

[SouthernBelle]

I'll see what I can get together for you on the route. I think the guy that lives behind me is planning on riding one day of it. Or my LBS may have it. OR they will probably have something soon on the state website.

Without having seen it, I can pretty much promise you no flats.

[Mr. Bloom]

Ugh. I can't get Routeslip to work for me but would love to see the elevation profile for the ride. Is there any other way to access that information?

Try to drill down from the root directory at www.routeslip.com then "Discover Routes", then drill geographically to Georgetown. I labeled it "hh100". Maybe this approach will work...

If there's one for BRAT, I'd love to see it too...it really helped me to know what to expect beforehand. On the other hand, if I knew the elevation before I arrived in Georgetown, I might not have come...

[SouthernBelle]

Some puters just won't run Routeslip. My laptop won't, but both my desktops will.

Doubt there is a route for this year's BRAT. It's different every year.

If you already have the specifics of the route, you can try Bikely.com

[bikerchick68]

MrSilver... I don't know any of the routes you rode, but the elevation chart looked wicked... CONGRATS on completing your first century! way to go... it's a big deal! well done...

[lauraelmore1033]

This was the "minor" accomplishment you were talking about?! You have a talent for understatement! Well done!

[silver]

I'm so glad that everyone had a good ride(s) at the Horsey. However, I'm so sad that I missed meeting you. As I indicated in a PM to Silver and Mr. Silver, my friend and I ended up starting the ride on Saturday earlier than anticipated. We slept horribly on Friday night thanks to some really soft mattresses at the dorm and ended up waking up and eating at the crack of dawn. We were on our bikes by 7:30 and (after one more pit stop) on the road by 7:40. I'm so glad that some of you were able to meet and ride together though, and I love the picture that you posted.

It sounds like everyone's ride was pretty similar. I thought the first half of the ride was pretty tough, especially after that hill (you know the one I'm talking about I'm sure) between the first and second stops. Even though it's pretty similar to the hills we have in Southern Indiana, it just about did me in for a bit until I got a second wind at the third stop. From there, I felt pretty good. In fact, I felt positively great for the last forty miles or so.

I enjoyed myself immensely, but it was still a long day in the saddle. I was so pooped by Saturday night that I could barely stay awake. A shower, clean clothes and dinner helped my feel human, but I felt like a zombie. WE went to bed at 9 p.m.--before it was dark out. As tired as we were, however, we had another horrible night's sleep. I even took some Benadryl to make me sleepy and still didn't sleep well.

Wisely, we had already decided to do the 52 miler on Sunday rather than the 71. I was fully expecting a hard day in the saddle, but the ride actually went well. I would describe the terrain as more "rolling." I don't think I had to use my granny gear at all (I used to pretty darn liberally on Saturday). We got to the lunch stop, however, before it was set up. We weren't hungry for lunch anyway, so we just rolled on through. We stopped for a bit at the next stop and chatted with some people that we know from Indy and who are also doing BRAT in September along with us. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful but my mile 48 or so, I was ready for it to be over. My tank was empty......

My friend and I averaged just under 16 mph for the ride. Given the nearly constant elevation changes, I'm very pleased with that. The scenery was lovely and it was a wonderful change of pace from the cornfields of Indiana. With few exceptions, the road surfaces were good and there was little traffic. I was impressed with the overall organization of the ride and would do it again in a heartbeat.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend. I'm really proud of myself for finishing my first century and a hard one at that. I wish it hadn't exhausted me to the point of not fully enjoying the rest of the day, but I kind of expected that. I'd really like to stay in a hotel next year and to arrive early enough on Friday to walk around Georgetown or do a little siteseeing in Midway (the town where we had lunch). The only changes I'd make to the ride would be to forego a couple of the stops--i.e., the first and last--or in the very least to keep them very brief. The food I ate at the first stop didn't sit well after that hill and my legs really stiffened up after a couple of the stops to the point that they were more of a curse than a blessing. Beyond that, I felt like I ate/drank enoughl and was well trained for the ride thanks to lots of miles in April and May.

I'm planning on doing it next year again so I hope to have better luck meeting up with you. Now that I know the layout of the school and how the ride is organized, it will be much easier to figure out a specific meeting place.

And if anyone's interested, we're doing the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee in September. I'm heard really good things about it and can't wait. Silver and Mr. Silver, lots of people keep trying to talk me into doing RAIN, but I can't seem to muster the enthusiasm. I hope you enjoy yourselves though! I might go to the lunch stop that day just to cheer my friends on!

Kate

Kate, your first century deserves it's own post! What an accomplishment! you rode much stronger than we did! My average was 14. Great, Great Job!

[indysteel]

Some puters just won't run Routeslip. My laptop won't, but both my desktops will.

Doubt there is a route for this year's BRAT. It's different every year.

If you already have the specifics of the route, you can try Bikely.com

That's the problem I've encountered on Routeslip. Mr. Silver, is there any way that you can "cut and paste" the elevation profile into a post or print it off?

Thanks much,

K-