Willamette Headwaters 600K Ride Report

[Jaclyn]

As understand it though, it's not a lottery. Pre-registration priority is given to riders who have completed at least a 600K this year, with an even earlier deadline for those having completed a 1000 or 1200 this year.

Susan, you are correct. They will register the 1000km riders first, followed a week later by the 600k finishers. The lottery will be for the remaining spaces based on a quota for US participants. And, we still need to qualify by completing the 200, 300, 400, and 600k series next year by June. Fortunately, all of the rando clubs are adding rides and scheduling rides earlier for 2011.

The Ohio club members have been wonderful about giving us newcomers tips and advice. We are lucky that they share their wisdom. They feel we should start with the 84 hour group - have you given this any thought yet?

[Catrin]

Susan, you are correct. They will register the 1000km riders first, followed a week later by the 600k finishers. The lottery will be for the remaining spaces based on a quota for US participants. And, we still need to qualify by completing the 200, 300, 400, and 600k series next year by June. Fortunately, all of the rando clubs are adding rides and scheduling rides earlier for 2011.

The Ohio club members have been wonderful about giving us newcomers tips and advice. We are lucky that they share their wisdom. They feel we should start with the 84 hour group - have you given this any thought yet?

Sorry for the hijack...

I just joined the Ohio club as Indiana doesn't have one. Any chance that you will do the Oct 16 200k brevet? I am a brevet virgin - at least until then

/end hijack

[Pedal Wench]

My first 600K is the Natchez Trace coming up in 3 weeks. I've barely been on the bike in months. I'm scared. Very, very scared.

[Susan Otcenas]

My first 600K is the Natchez Trace coming up in 3 weeks. I've barely been on the bike in months. I'm scared. Very, very scared.

You'll do great! You got plenty of brevets under your belt. I'm told that 600s are easier than 400s. (I've done 2 600s, but never a 400.) The reason is that you get to sleep, and the O/N is typically at 350-360 km or so. When you wake up, you've only got a little more than a 200 to do, and you know you can do one of those!

Did you get your RUSA quarterly yet? There was a good article in there about the mental aspects of doing a long brevet. I agreed with alot of what he said, especially about breaking the ride down into smaller bits when you are feeling challenged. Don't think about the fact that there's x# of km to the finish. Think about km to the next control, or the next turn, or the next lamppost if you must. I definitely find myself doing that at some point. For the last 50 miles of this weekends 600, I just concentrated on distance to the next turn. In 2 mile increments, a ride doesn't seem so long!

[Pedal Wench]

<<<Think about km to the next control, or the next turn, or the next lamppost if you must. I definitely find myself doing that at some point. For the last 50 miles of this weekends 600, I just concentrated on distance to the next turn. In 2 mile increments, a ride doesn't seem so long!

That's great, but this one is an out and back on the Natchez - no lamposts, no turns! (Okay, turns to get off the Trace for a mile to get to a control, which will be all I can look forward to!)

Thanks for the encouragement! Coming from you, it means a whole bunch.

[Jaclyn]

I just joined the Ohio club as Indiana doesn't have one. Any chance that you will do the Oct 16 200k brevet?

Yes, we'll be doing the last Ohio 200k in October. We'll be on one of the three tandems that will be there.

Our Ohio group puts on good rides with the greatest queue sheets. Too bad you missed the last one - the picnic afterwards was a wonderful chance to socialize with other rando's. We brought a friend to it - it was her first brevet and she had a great time and is hooked.

[Catrin]

Yes, we'll be doing the last Ohio 200k in October. We'll be on one of the three tandems that will be there.

Our Ohio group puts on good rides with the greatest queue sheets. Too bad you missed the last one - the picnic afterwards was a wonderful chance to socialize with other rando's. We brought a friend to it - it was her first brevet and she had a great time and is hooked.

I will look for you, and I will be the one bringing up the rear on the blue LHT Someone has to be last

I wasn't ready for the last one, mileage-wise. I did see the notice for it - but am only getting over 70 mile rides - so I still have a little ways to go. I just learned how to ride 8 months ago so want to get my mileage-base as close to the event as possible.

Glad to hear that they have great directions - they still haven't released the route for the October ride. I might come and drive it first if I have time.

[TrekTheKaty]

Awesome, Susan! I just did a "hilly" 50 miles and I'm sore! I went to the ride website and they make it sound like a scenic ride through the country

http://www.orrandonneurs.org/rba/201...ters_info.html