Training Begins, Bring on the Doubles

[Starfish]

Hey that's great! I'm glad the new gig seems to be working out. V.

oops, sorry I kind of took over your thread with my huge reply!

Someday, at least once, I want to do a double like you can. So amazing to me.

[Veronica]

I don't mind thread drift. It's like a conversation.

I bet you could do an "easy" double now. The Shasta ride you did had a lot more climbing than some of them. It's in quotation marks because none of them are really easy. It's a lot of saddle time though. Everybody is different, but I know I always have some moment or 12 moments, when I wonder why am I doing this? And you have to be able to talk yourself through it. I think that's the hardest part of doing a double - just convincing yourself that whatever discomfort you're feeling is not that big of a deal.

I'm still not sure why I keep wanting to do them. When Thom and I were hiking in Glacier, just before we saw the moose, we were talking about doubles and whether or not I was going to do more. At that point, I was like, yeah, I'm done. I don't ever need to do another one. Go figure.

V.

[Pedal Wench]

V,

Thanks for posting. I've got to increase my mileage rides - aiming for something in February, so I've got time, but still need the inspiration!

[Wahine]

Wow. I think a feel a little inspiration going on. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe a double is a good idea. Starfich, haave you done your homework on this? Have we got something in our neck of the woods that would suffice besides STP?

[Veronica]

A 300 K Brevet is close in mileage. The time limits are a little more generous, but in general they are unsupported. Come to CA and do one of our doubles. I normally work Knoxville. It's usually in the middle of Sept. This year they had to change the date and I had already committed to Waves to Wine.

V.

[maillotpois]

A 300k is definitely close (which means I've done 4 doubles so far this year, right?! )

I've heard your STP in one day is a good starter double.

I'm definitely going to be "winging" this double. Oh well. Slow and steady... And I think my DMD jersey will be quite good protection - orange and red!! Funny Starfish, my mom always made me wear bright colors when I'd go out riding on the ranch after hunting season started. We'd post no hunting signs all over, but it never really helped. You'd still find shells.

[Starfish]

Veronica: Leave it to you to throw down the gauntlet. Telling me I could do a double now! Gads! Really, I don't think I'm fast enough, yet. But, give me the winter. I'm working on it!! Been doing sort of fartlek intervals even on my short rides lately. Going to step it up aggressively after I lose some weight.

Wahine: Nope, really haven't done the homework, but these two are on my radar...

This isn't a double, but I am DYING to do RATPOD. It is 157 miles with 7500 feet of climbing. Always around the last weekend or so in June. Benefits kids with cancer. And, it is in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It starts and ends in Dillon, MT, and climbs up through the Big Hole Valley. They only get a few hundred riders, so it isn't swamped. I know someone who has done it, and says it is a great ride. Would really like to do this with someone to get the benefit of drafting if the MT wind kicks up. Say the word, and I am ready to do this with you. http://www.ratpod.org/

Or, there is STP. I'm not excited about the route, it is pretty ugly, IMO. But, it is flatter, and I know from doing it in 2 days that if a person gets an early start, and then doesn't stop in the middle, that the crowds are not as bad. I did day one from about 5am to 1pm, and the crowd wasn't bad. But, day 2 was a nightmare of crowds, after the bottleneck of Chehalis.

http://www.seattlerandonneur.org/ I think these folks do some stuff, but I have always shied away from them because they require fenders and stuff (I think). My bike doesn't take fenders.

I'm open to suggestions for other NW stuff, though. Of course, you could do the Shasta Super Century with me next year!!

MP: Yep...some hunters are very intelligent, respectful, and safety oriented. Others are not. *sigh*