RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) 2008 are you ready!

[Mr. SR500]

Are you ready for RAIN?

Training as been tough, plenty of shorter rides, but still not completed a century (RAIN is 160 miles), I did 158 over 2 days this past weekend, that may have to do. So is everyone ready? I'm a stronger rider this year over shorter distances, we'll see how that translates to RAIN. Here is my bike forums post from last year right after the ride:

Wow, great reports. I only regret was not hooking up with more BF’ers, we had about 25+ from Richmond, so just keeping track of those guys was tough.

It’s was my first, and very pleased. Ate dinner at TumbleWeed and had a great baked potato. We stayed at the Drury, it was nice with lots of activity. Got ready for bed around 10. About 10:30 one of my buddies called, he forgot his shorts and jersey, luckily my over planning meant I had extras. So fell asleep shortly after 11. Awake at 2 am – WTF, stayed in bed until about 4’ish, and when down to the car for some pre-ride time wasting.

Had some eggs and a little Rice Chex at the Drury, and arrived at the start line about 6. Saw Chipcom first, but didn’t chat much, to stressed I guess. Stayed fairly close to the front, but got cut off and almost had to stop while we were getting up to speed. I must have been passed my 100+ riders. Saw the guy in the white shirt go down, he was off to my left a couple riders over, I heard something break, so I think he must have snapped a collar bone. I hung on to the mass and stayed with the police escort through down. The speed and large group just sucked you along, unfortunately the hills always get me so it made it hard to stay with the faster paceline. I started to fall back, but hung on until the first stop.

I don’t know if it was lack of sleep or what, but never felt that great in the morning, everyone kept asking if I was ok, given my pained expression. My stomach was a little upset, as I had left my Hammer gel at home, so was using some Carb Boom that didn’t seem to settle. My wife was an awesome SAG, we froze about 10 water bottles before leaving, so they were perfect to swap for cool water at each stop.

As lunch approached I still wasn’t feeling that good, so decided I would lay down for 20 minutes, well Kim had a baked potato waiting, so that with a PB sandwich, I felt better and took off. That must have done it because I felt stronger as the day wore on and started having a blast.

We added a couple extra stops, one when you got back on 40, and another at the Marathon station just east of Cambridge City. At the last stop I took one last bottle and dumped everything else. I know the route well so felt great, one hill pass Cambridge and home free. I felt strong, cruising along at 25+ sometimes without a paceline. As we approached Earlham, some recumbent went flying by, I thought hey this is my town, and “droped the hamer” hit 30 on the hill leading up the campus, but left the bent – bent.

I finished in 9:15 and was rider 300. I was off the bike for 60 minutes, and had an average speed of 19.5 mph. The tailwind was amazing.

Great event, had a blast, my wife was amazing, and I loved seeing my kids at the end.

Garmin Stats:

Distance: 159.79 mi
Elapsed Time: 8:10:45
Avg Pace: 3.04/mi
Avg Speed: 19.5 mph
Max Speed: 38.0 mph
Calories: 12,016 cal
Avg Heartrate: 145 bpm
Max Heartrate: 177 bpm
Avg Cadence: 78 rpm
Ascent: 4,134 ft