18 miles trail riding Sunday, 50 miles Monday and tonight, and a few more trail miles Thursday. All heading into the 12Hours of Ithaca Saturday.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Long week over- back to work
I got out of work Thursday afternoon July 2nd and only return tomorrow morning (Monday July 13). There was the holiday weekend, of course, which included Friday July 3rd. The week of July 6-10 was a lay-off week from JCI- basically a week unemployed, yet productive- cycling!
I biked nearly every day in some manner or other
Friday approx 28 miles at Ft Custer
Saturday approx 28 miles at Ft Custer
Sunday approx 12 miles at Ft Custer
Monday 40 mile road ride
Tuesday 45 mile team road ride (killer!)
Wednesday 15 mile easy spin
Thursday 20 mile road ride
Friday- day off the bike
Saturday- drive to Boyne for bike race so no ride
Sunday - Three laps at Luton totalling about 19 miles
We drove to Boyne so Brenden could race the CPS event there. He did well, placing 4th in singlespeed using his new 18tooth rear freewheel. I opted to not race since we got up at 545am for the nearly three hour drive. If we had stayed nearby the night before I would have, but we decided to not do so as the hotel and race would be nearly $100 and we decided to save a bit of money by forgoing the race and hotel since the Boyne event was a critical event for me.
Coming up this Saturday July 18 is the 6&12 Hours of Ithaca. Joni will do the six hour version. Brenden will do the six hour version on singlespeed. I will do the 12 hours solo. The course is fairly flat- very little climbing so it's a good "spinning" course to keep the legs warmed up. My next PEAK event will be Ore to Shore - 48 miles in the upper peninsula on Aug 8th.
I biked nearly every day in some manner or other
Friday approx 28 miles at Ft Custer
Saturday approx 28 miles at Ft Custer
Sunday approx 12 miles at Ft Custer
Monday 40 mile road ride
Tuesday 45 mile team road ride (killer!)
Wednesday 15 mile easy spin
Thursday 20 mile road ride
Friday- day off the bike
Saturday- drive to Boyne for bike race so no ride
Sunday - Three laps at Luton totalling about 19 miles
We drove to Boyne so Brenden could race the CPS event there. He did well, placing 4th in singlespeed using his new 18tooth rear freewheel. I opted to not race since we got up at 545am for the nearly three hour drive. If we had stayed nearby the night before I would have, but we decided to not do so as the hotel and race would be nearly $100 and we decided to save a bit of money by forgoing the race and hotel since the Boyne event was a critical event for me.
Coming up this Saturday July 18 is the 6&12 Hours of Ithaca. Joni will do the six hour version. Brenden will do the six hour version on singlespeed. I will do the 12 hours solo. The course is fairly flat- very little climbing so it's a good "spinning" course to keep the legs warmed up. My next PEAK event will be Ore to Shore - 48 miles in the upper peninsula on Aug 8th.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Banking morning from hell- ATM glitched and did not spit out our $400
Banking morning from hell- ATM glitched and did not spit out our $400
Joni has a bank account at Bank-A, I have mine at Bank-B. Since I do bills and such from my account, she typically does a cash withdrawal from her account on her payday and deposits it in my account. She is on my account but I am not on hers- which presented complications today.
A power outage in Grandville took her Bank-A ATM down, so she handed me her ATM card and I went to a different branch to do the withdrawal while she took off for work. I put the card in, punched withdrawal for $400. The screen said "please take your cash" and gave me the card and a receipt..... but NO MONEY!
The lobby wasn't open for another half hour so I kept my car in the ATM line and walked around the drivethrough kiosk and pressed the CALL button and explained the situation, which I also had to explain it was my wife's account- which I was not on. I was told they couldn't give me information (which I understood) but could they please just go into the ATM and verify the cash was there so Joni could resolve it when she arrived. (I'd been on the phone trying to reach her on her drive out to Ada). The bank was telling me that she'd have to call an 800-number dispute line which meant IF she got her money it could be up to a week! OR- my concern was that the next person pulling up for a $20 withdrawal would get a $420 and when they balanced the ATM the money would be gone. The manager kept asking me to move my car and I refused. She said she'd call bank security which I said- "please do, but I am NOT moving until my wife gets here." (I was on the phone finally with her and she could hear the manager over the drive-through microphone).
The manager kept repeating "this is our procedure" to which I replied that the procedures were for normal issues and this was far from normal and NOT a mere $20 transaction.
The manager even mentioned calling the police, but I still refused to move, unfortunately inconveniencing a couple other customers- but not really- in the end.A couple minutes later the display screen showed "out of service." What occurred was a machine jam sent a signal to the bank technical center who called the branch and then instructed the staff to open the machine from inside. Sure enough, the cash was jammed and it did not spit out to me during the transaction but also did not drop into a hold chute as it should have.
Joni arrived and we went into the now open lobby, where the manager explained since I wasn't on the account, Joni would have little recourse with the bank in the future if a dispute arose since she allowed non-authorized users to use the card. So the manager added me to the account right there. She also gave us the $400 which bank security said was her discretion.
I am convinced if I had not stood my ground and simply went away, we'd still be dealing with this issue next week and be out the money that whole time. My stubbornness kept the issue alive at the branch until they got the actual "Jam alert" from the ATM tech center. Upon opening the ATM and seeing the actual cash, it validated my position with regards to the money being in the machine. (I did find out it would NOT have spit the cash to a subsequent customer, in any event).
I have been trying to get Joni to change her account to my bank. We could keep separate accounts but link them online and no ATM transactions would be needed in future- we could simply log in on the computer and transfer money back and forth. This incident may spur that action.
Joni has a bank account at Bank-A, I have mine at Bank-B. Since I do bills and such from my account, she typically does a cash withdrawal from her account on her payday and deposits it in my account. She is on my account but I am not on hers- which presented complications today.
A power outage in Grandville took her Bank-A ATM down, so she handed me her ATM card and I went to a different branch to do the withdrawal while she took off for work. I put the card in, punched withdrawal for $400. The screen said "please take your cash" and gave me the card and a receipt..... but NO MONEY!
The lobby wasn't open for another half hour so I kept my car in the ATM line and walked around the drivethrough kiosk and pressed the CALL button and explained the situation, which I also had to explain it was my wife's account- which I was not on. I was told they couldn't give me information (which I understood) but could they please just go into the ATM and verify the cash was there so Joni could resolve it when she arrived. (I'd been on the phone trying to reach her on her drive out to Ada). The bank was telling me that she'd have to call an 800-number dispute line which meant IF she got her money it could be up to a week! OR- my concern was that the next person pulling up for a $20 withdrawal would get a $420 and when they balanced the ATM the money would be gone. The manager kept asking me to move my car and I refused. She said she'd call bank security which I said- "please do, but I am NOT moving until my wife gets here." (I was on the phone finally with her and she could hear the manager over the drive-through microphone).
The manager kept repeating "this is our procedure" to which I replied that the procedures were for normal issues and this was far from normal and NOT a mere $20 transaction.
The manager even mentioned calling the police, but I still refused to move, unfortunately inconveniencing a couple other customers- but not really- in the end.A couple minutes later the display screen showed "out of service." What occurred was a machine jam sent a signal to the bank technical center who called the branch and then instructed the staff to open the machine from inside. Sure enough, the cash was jammed and it did not spit out to me during the transaction but also did not drop into a hold chute as it should have.
Joni arrived and we went into the now open lobby, where the manager explained since I wasn't on the account, Joni would have little recourse with the bank in the future if a dispute arose since she allowed non-authorized users to use the card. So the manager added me to the account right there. She also gave us the $400 which bank security said was her discretion.
I am convinced if I had not stood my ground and simply went away, we'd still be dealing with this issue next week and be out the money that whole time. My stubbornness kept the issue alive at the branch until they got the actual "Jam alert" from the ATM tech center. Upon opening the ATM and seeing the actual cash, it validated my position with regards to the money being in the machine. (I did find out it would NOT have spit the cash to a subsequent customer, in any event).
I have been trying to get Joni to change her account to my bank. We could keep separate accounts but link them online and no ATM transactions would be needed in future- we could simply log in on the computer and transfer money back and forth. This incident may spur that action.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Climbing deficit- re-evaluate goals
No, I am not talking about the federal budget! I'm talking about my most prominent cycling handicap: climbing. It was the incessant ascents at Lumberjack which tired me and slowed me to the 11-3/4 hour finish time. On the team road ride last night, I understood that my recovery is not bad- at first- from a climb but as the ride progresses, my ability to recover diminishes.
I've had as a goal to do the La Ruta race for eight years. But given that I've really ramped up my riding and training this year even more so than in the previous two years, and how much I struggled on Lumberjack with 8000 feet of climbing over 100 miles... how realistic is it I can achieve climbing capabality to do such an event as La Ruta with its 14000-plus feet of climbing on Day One alone?!
Former team captain Scott suggested doing North American-based stage races. But a cursory review of their events also shows significant climbing
The British Columbia stage race has 2000 feet of climbing on Day One also- and that's just Day One of Seven!
The American Mountain Classic 2009 Stage Race was cancelled due to low participation.
There's a Baja California event which may be a possibility though it still does have some significant climbing. Of concern is that the first time this was held was last year 2008, so it may take a couple years for them to get this to work smoothly.
The Pisgah Stage Race might be the best possibility- it is affordable at $550 and close (North Carolina). It is also held in October which means I'd have a full season of riding to build up to it.
Another factor driving my decision to abandon a La Ruta goal is that I really would like to do a biking vacation in Italy in the next two to three years. I'd like to take cyclocross bikes to Italy and bike from maybe the east side of the peninsula to Rome (about 130-150 miles), or from Naples and riding north (also about 130-150 miles), or from the north starting at Pisa ( a longer route of perhaps 225 miles or so ).
So maybe I am getting close to achieving the most I can with regards to racing mountainbikes and should taper the race goals down so as to take my cycling to a different direction? I will have to consider this.
I've had as a goal to do the La Ruta race for eight years. But given that I've really ramped up my riding and training this year even more so than in the previous two years, and how much I struggled on Lumberjack with 8000 feet of climbing over 100 miles... how realistic is it I can achieve climbing capabality to do such an event as La Ruta with its 14000-plus feet of climbing on Day One alone?!
Former team captain Scott suggested doing North American-based stage races. But a cursory review of their events also shows significant climbing
The British Columbia stage race has 2000 feet of climbing on Day One also- and that's just Day One of Seven!
The American Mountain Classic 2009 Stage Race was cancelled due to low participation.
There's a Baja California event which may be a possibility though it still does have some significant climbing. Of concern is that the first time this was held was last year 2008, so it may take a couple years for them to get this to work smoothly.
The Pisgah Stage Race might be the best possibility- it is affordable at $550 and close (North Carolina). It is also held in October which means I'd have a full season of riding to build up to it.
Another factor driving my decision to abandon a La Ruta goal is that I really would like to do a biking vacation in Italy in the next two to three years. I'd like to take cyclocross bikes to Italy and bike from maybe the east side of the peninsula to Rome (about 130-150 miles), or from Naples and riding north (also about 130-150 miles), or from the north starting at Pisa ( a longer route of perhaps 225 miles or so ).
So maybe I am getting close to achieving the most I can with regards to racing mountainbikes and should taper the race goals down so as to take my cycling to a different direction? I will have to consider this.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Biking weekend and many repairs
It's been a busy biking last four days!!
Thursday, though we got late starts due to the transmission issues with the car, we arrived at Fort Custer at about 9pm and set up camp.Dave and his family were at the Fort so we met up with them for some mountainbiking.
Friday, Dave and I headed out about 10am for a few loops. We rode the Red Loop, then the Red up to Crazy Beaver and then turned on to the Green Loop where it started singletrack. That was our pattern all weekend- Red, then Red-Green. We did this Friday twice and Saturday once so the women could do some riding.
The weekend turned into repair weekend too. A minor crash occurred on Friday when one of the kids borrowed Joni's Cannondale F400 resulted in the chain popping off due to the loss of the Sram Powerlink. I tried to piece it together with the chain tool but the repair didn't hold and Joni had to come back to the campsite for repairs before her ride. I had a spare Powerlink in the toolbox and put the chain together but it was not 2-3 links shorter than normal- but rideable.
Brenden's freewheel went out on him Saturday. He borrowed my bike later that day and my seatbag finally tore loose - the strap was very very worn.Sunday I had a flat on the last mile of the Green Loop and replaced the tube which immediately also went flat so I ended up walking the last half mile out of the trail to end the weekend mountainbiking.
Back to Grandville Sunday night.
Monday was a laundry day and a bike repair day- a trip to Alger Cyclery ended up as a $100 plus day- chain, seatbag, Mars3 rear light, two freewheels, spare Powerlinks.
I needed another rear light. I have one on the road bike but don't want to keep remembering to get it when I pack the mountainbikes for an endurance event. The new seatbag has a loop to hang the light on so I won't need to use the Mars mounting mechanism on either mountainbike. I take both bikes to endurance events in case I need to change bikes due to mechanical issues and I will have to move the seatbag anyway so if the light is on the seatbag- issue solved in one move.
I put a Sram powerlink into the seatbag and spare ones in the toolkit.
New chain on Joni's bike.
For Brenden's singlespeed, I got a 16 tooth and an 18 tooth. The bike originally had a 16 and Brenden had wanted to be able to adjust ring sizes for various race venue terrain. I installed the 18T which will be more advantageous for this coming Saturday's Boyne race- which has 1300 feet of climbing in about ten miles of trail. Later, we can change the freewheel to the 16 for a faster, flatter course. (I also had to get a special tool to remove the freewheel).
I also fixed two of the flat tubes I had- the one that flatted on me in replacement was junk- there was a tear in it and defective so I tossed it.\
I still need to fix a loose bottle cage- the bottom cage on my Cannondale Rush is loose and one of the bolts is stripped. I will need to turn the bolt out with a set o of plyers and put in a new one.
Finally out on the road this evening- a 2-3/4 hour road ride on my Cannondale Cross-6.
I am off this week due to layoff from JCI- company-wide shutdown to save money. I plan to ride a lot. Tuesday is a lawnmowing day, help at the parents house and a Founder's Team ride in the evening.
Thursday, though we got late starts due to the transmission issues with the car, we arrived at Fort Custer at about 9pm and set up camp.Dave and his family were at the Fort so we met up with them for some mountainbiking.
Friday, Dave and I headed out about 10am for a few loops. We rode the Red Loop, then the Red up to Crazy Beaver and then turned on to the Green Loop where it started singletrack. That was our pattern all weekend- Red, then Red-Green. We did this Friday twice and Saturday once so the women could do some riding.
The weekend turned into repair weekend too. A minor crash occurred on Friday when one of the kids borrowed Joni's Cannondale F400 resulted in the chain popping off due to the loss of the Sram Powerlink. I tried to piece it together with the chain tool but the repair didn't hold and Joni had to come back to the campsite for repairs before her ride. I had a spare Powerlink in the toolbox and put the chain together but it was not 2-3 links shorter than normal- but rideable.
Brenden's freewheel went out on him Saturday. He borrowed my bike later that day and my seatbag finally tore loose - the strap was very very worn.Sunday I had a flat on the last mile of the Green Loop and replaced the tube which immediately also went flat so I ended up walking the last half mile out of the trail to end the weekend mountainbiking.
Back to Grandville Sunday night.
Monday was a laundry day and a bike repair day- a trip to Alger Cyclery ended up as a $100 plus day- chain, seatbag, Mars3 rear light, two freewheels, spare Powerlinks.
I needed another rear light. I have one on the road bike but don't want to keep remembering to get it when I pack the mountainbikes for an endurance event. The new seatbag has a loop to hang the light on so I won't need to use the Mars mounting mechanism on either mountainbike. I take both bikes to endurance events in case I need to change bikes due to mechanical issues and I will have to move the seatbag anyway so if the light is on the seatbag- issue solved in one move.
I put a Sram powerlink into the seatbag and spare ones in the toolkit.
New chain on Joni's bike.
For Brenden's singlespeed, I got a 16 tooth and an 18 tooth. The bike originally had a 16 and Brenden had wanted to be able to adjust ring sizes for various race venue terrain. I installed the 18T which will be more advantageous for this coming Saturday's Boyne race- which has 1300 feet of climbing in about ten miles of trail. Later, we can change the freewheel to the 16 for a faster, flatter course. (I also had to get a special tool to remove the freewheel).
I also fixed two of the flat tubes I had- the one that flatted on me in replacement was junk- there was a tear in it and defective so I tossed it.\
I still need to fix a loose bottle cage- the bottom cage on my Cannondale Rush is loose and one of the bolts is stripped. I will need to turn the bolt out with a set o of plyers and put in a new one.
Finally out on the road this evening- a 2-3/4 hour road ride on my Cannondale Cross-6.
I am off this week due to layoff from JCI- company-wide shutdown to save money. I plan to ride a lot. Tuesday is a lawnmowing day, help at the parents house and a Founder's Team ride in the evening.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
45 mile team ride- I really get dropped on rolling hills- oh well, someone has to be the slowest. LOL
Car trouble
Car troubles
OUCH! this has become an expensive week.
Joni's car started acting up shifting and the engine light came on last week. After a $109 charge from the dealer to tell us that it was indeed the transmission, we have the car in for repair. I took it to the dealer because I wanted to ensure it wasn't simply an electronics control issue rather than a physical transmission issue. But the $109 assessment- apparently to drop the pan, drain fluid, look in pan to see metal was present, put pan back on and refill with fluid- did indicate a physical problem.
Keep in mind that this is the SECOND transmission in this car! It was slipping when we bought it- which I knew- but I got the warranty on the car from the dealer- Classic Chevy of Grand Rapids (now out of business) so I wasn't worried about replacing it. And replace it we did- at about 71,000 miles on the car. Very likely, the dealer replaced the transmission with a GM rebuilt- and now that one has gone out at 125,000 miles. TWO TRANSMISSIONS in 125,000 miles! That is simply absurd!
Now what to do...
a) The dealer (Grand Pontiac) would have just pulled the transmission and installed a GM rebuilt transmission at a cost of about $2400-2500. Clearly we've seen the pitfall of that- the rebuild didn't last more than 55,000 miles
b) Our neighborhood garage- M&T's (very good and very trustworthy) could replace it- they would have used a Jasper Transmissions and the cost is about $3000 - though you get a much better transmission and a longer guarantee/warranty. I told Dave there that this was a bit out of our price range and he recommended West Michigan Transmission
c) we went to West Michigan Transmission - they actually open the tranny and rebuild the one you have as well as make modifications or improvements to the stock tranny. Their standard warranty is unlimited miles within one year or you can buy a 100,000 mile/5year warranty for $400. We cannot affort the added warranty, but the work is the same regardless so we should be okay- this will end up costing us just under $2200.
Ouch! And the timing was bad. I had a paycheck hit today (June 30) that was about half the normal check due to a company mandated week layoff in June. My next check on July 15 will be the same half-pay. We get paid the 15thand 30th so I unfortunately have my half-pay checks back to back.
Of course, this all occurred starting Thursday and Friday. Brenden went to work a concert this weekend and drove his 94 Grand Prix to stanton sixty miles away. Well, he pulled up to the house Sunday evening and the motor was just banging away loudly like it had a hole in it! I'd heard this sound before and it sounded like a sparkplug was missing and sure enough, upon a bit of investigation, I notice the rear passenger plug on this V-6 was not even IN THE BLOCK! I followed the plug wire and it was up against the firewall. It has blown right out of the motor.
My impulsive temper flared and I yelled at Brenden "what did you do" unjustifiably. (He has NOT taken the car in to Valvoline once since the oil was changed in mid-May, but that wasn't the problem here). I bought new plugs at Autozone and tried to reinstall a new one in the cylinder that was missing, but could not get it to hold. So we drove the car to M&T's for analysis.
They called me the next day- the previous owner(s) must have had an issue with this motor because Dave informed me that this plug had a heli-coil- which means the threads were previously damaged or some such, so they used a heli-coil to bring the threaded hole back to specification to fit the same old plugs- just puttering around Grand Rapids wouldn't be an issue, but the drive back from Stanton, which heated up the motor at 55mph and then getting on the highway at Rockford- upon which hitting 70-75mph the engine compression simply blew the plug right out of the block!
M&T's was able to get the plug to stay in with a new heli-coil so after today, Brenden will once again be on wheels for job hunting and going to work as necessary, but the car is NOT a highway capable vehicle- which we already knew.
So I've been driving Joni to Ada 25 miles east of our house, I then drive to work in Holland which is 25 miles west of our house. At day's end, I drive the 55 miles back to get her and then back home- a total day of driving of 155 miles. We've done this now for three work days and will do so another one or two.
Between recovery from Lumberjack most of last week and car issues, I've been doing very little biking. Last week I had easy rides- Monday solo, Tuesday with Joni and Brenden. Friday, she and I rode a lap at CGSA, where her back tire became flat on section four- which we rode until she couldn't ride on it any longer and walked the last 1/2 mile or so. Saturday was trail day at CGSA and I rode a lap after that.
I plan to do the team ride tonight - weather permitting- and travel permitting- if I am already dressed to ride and meet Joni at 6pm in Ada, I can make the 630pm team ride and she can come get me after the ride (and beer + sandwich of course LOL).
OUCH! this has become an expensive week.
Joni's car started acting up shifting and the engine light came on last week. After a $109 charge from the dealer to tell us that it was indeed the transmission, we have the car in for repair. I took it to the dealer because I wanted to ensure it wasn't simply an electronics control issue rather than a physical transmission issue. But the $109 assessment- apparently to drop the pan, drain fluid, look in pan to see metal was present, put pan back on and refill with fluid- did indicate a physical problem.
Keep in mind that this is the SECOND transmission in this car! It was slipping when we bought it- which I knew- but I got the warranty on the car from the dealer- Classic Chevy of Grand Rapids (now out of business) so I wasn't worried about replacing it. And replace it we did- at about 71,000 miles on the car. Very likely, the dealer replaced the transmission with a GM rebuilt- and now that one has gone out at 125,000 miles. TWO TRANSMISSIONS in 125,000 miles! That is simply absurd!
Now what to do...
a) The dealer (Grand Pontiac) would have just pulled the transmission and installed a GM rebuilt transmission at a cost of about $2400-2500. Clearly we've seen the pitfall of that- the rebuild didn't last more than 55,000 miles
b) Our neighborhood garage- M&T's (very good and very trustworthy) could replace it- they would have used a Jasper Transmissions and the cost is about $3000 - though you get a much better transmission and a longer guarantee/warranty. I told Dave there that this was a bit out of our price range and he recommended West Michigan Transmission
c) we went to West Michigan Transmission - they actually open the tranny and rebuild the one you have as well as make modifications or improvements to the stock tranny. Their standard warranty is unlimited miles within one year or you can buy a 100,000 mile/5year warranty for $400. We cannot affort the added warranty, but the work is the same regardless so we should be okay- this will end up costing us just under $2200.
Ouch! And the timing was bad. I had a paycheck hit today (June 30) that was about half the normal check due to a company mandated week layoff in June. My next check on July 15 will be the same half-pay. We get paid the 15thand 30th so I unfortunately have my half-pay checks back to back.
Of course, this all occurred starting Thursday and Friday. Brenden went to work a concert this weekend and drove his 94 Grand Prix to stanton sixty miles away. Well, he pulled up to the house Sunday evening and the motor was just banging away loudly like it had a hole in it! I'd heard this sound before and it sounded like a sparkplug was missing and sure enough, upon a bit of investigation, I notice the rear passenger plug on this V-6 was not even IN THE BLOCK! I followed the plug wire and it was up against the firewall. It has blown right out of the motor.
My impulsive temper flared and I yelled at Brenden "what did you do" unjustifiably. (He has NOT taken the car in to Valvoline once since the oil was changed in mid-May, but that wasn't the problem here). I bought new plugs at Autozone and tried to reinstall a new one in the cylinder that was missing, but could not get it to hold. So we drove the car to M&T's for analysis.
They called me the next day- the previous owner(s) must have had an issue with this motor because Dave informed me that this plug had a heli-coil- which means the threads were previously damaged or some such, so they used a heli-coil to bring the threaded hole back to specification to fit the same old plugs- just puttering around Grand Rapids wouldn't be an issue, but the drive back from Stanton, which heated up the motor at 55mph and then getting on the highway at Rockford- upon which hitting 70-75mph the engine compression simply blew the plug right out of the block!
M&T's was able to get the plug to stay in with a new heli-coil so after today, Brenden will once again be on wheels for job hunting and going to work as necessary, but the car is NOT a highway capable vehicle- which we already knew.
So I've been driving Joni to Ada 25 miles east of our house, I then drive to work in Holland which is 25 miles west of our house. At day's end, I drive the 55 miles back to get her and then back home- a total day of driving of 155 miles. We've done this now for three work days and will do so another one or two.
Between recovery from Lumberjack most of last week and car issues, I've been doing very little biking. Last week I had easy rides- Monday solo, Tuesday with Joni and Brenden. Friday, she and I rode a lap at CGSA, where her back tire became flat on section four- which we rode until she couldn't ride on it any longer and walked the last 1/2 mile or so. Saturday was trail day at CGSA and I rode a lap after that.
I plan to do the team ride tonight - weather permitting- and travel permitting- if I am already dressed to ride and meet Joni at 6pm in Ada, I can make the 630pm team ride and she can come get me after the ride (and beer + sandwich of course LOL).
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Lumberjack Race Report
Lumberjack Race Report
WOW- finally, on the fifth try- Completed.
I went into the race with two goals- big goal to finish, small goal to finish in less than 12 hours (which would be less than three hours per lap).
I arrived up north Friday evening and checked out the cabin I rented then went to the race site to get my registration packet. I then went to the cabin and got on my gear and rode the bike back to BigM to accomplish a short spin as the cabin was 4.6 miles from the race. Brad arrived a couple hours later and we relaxed a while before sleeping. I woke up at 215am to a big thunderstorm hitting the area. The next morning the ground was wet and the sky overcast, but further rain was not going to occur.
The trail was damp and many of the corners were slippery due to the water and decomposing leaves. As the day wore on, the sun came out and the course actually got faster. By noon, the sky was clear and the temperature began to climb.
The course is nearly 100% singletrack, four laps of 25 miles (approximately) and 2000 feet of climbing per lap- 8000 total over the 100 mile event.
The first lap is always difficult due to the crowd if bikes on the singletrack. The race goes right from a run-in on the road onto an unrideable climb. Bikes are wheel to wheel. Riders with weaker climbing skills slow up bikes behind them, riders with tentative technical skills or downhill skills slow up riders behind them. Racers work to pass riders in front of them slowly bike by bike. The field slowly breaks into clumps of riders. It takes nearly a full lap with the break involved as the riders come through the lap chute and take breaks for crowds to break up.
My main focus the whole ride was my leg- as soon as I felt any tension in my knee I would immediately review my pedal stroke mechanics and get back to a Ned Overend "scrape the mud" stroke and the discomfort would alleviate. My strategy was simply to ride conservatively, spin as easy as I could and use the easiest gears possible. I rode most hills though I did walk a couple depending on my level of tiredness or the hill difficulty.
Two guys fell in front of me on lap one, actually one fell and took the other down. I was third back in a crowd of riders but had a 20 yard gap between me and the two racers in front of me. We topped a small hill and the trail went down and curved to the right. Lead rider went down on the greasy turn and his wheel knocked the wheels out from under rider two and I evaded around them.
Lap two, the heat started climbing. My Garmin GPS kept shutting off all morning, likely from lack of satellite contact due to the early cloud cover and dense foliage. I ended up using it mostly as a clock to ensure I took hydration and nutrition regularly.
My standard intake plan is Hammer products: Perpetuem for carbohydrates and protein (energy), Heed for hydration, Endurolytes to prevent cramping and occasional shots of Hammerjel. I had two bottles of Perpetuem each good for five to six hours of riding. I refilled Heed bottles after each lap. At the midway aid station I also drank cold water and ate a small amount of fruit.
Lap two- about 40 miles in, the three leaders passed me on their third lap- Jeff Shalk, Christian Tanguey and Chris Etough in that order, wheel to wheel. Mike Simonson passed me about five minutes later and the 5th and 6th place pros in successive five minutes or so.
Lap three was where I was slowest. I'd made good time on laps one and two and had nearly 35 minutes to spare on my "three hour per lap" target. I ate some of that on the last two but only 18 minutes.
Lap four was a long steady slog. I got in the flats and just cranked out RPMs to keep a steady cadence. A rider did catch up behind me, I saw him out of the corner of my eye and heard him. I am not sure what happened to him, but I just kept pedalling circles and I lost him at some point. Another rider who I think came in 18th was behind me for a long while- we rode together and his encouragement was greatly appreciated. I would get way in front of him on downhills and he'd catch me on climbs. I crashed on one downhill as my handlebar clipped a tree landing on my head in the soft dirt. He mentioned at one point we had five miles with 40 minutes to 700pm, wnhich made me determined to try a bit harder on the remainder of the lap. I eventually pulled away from him as I gutted it out to try to make the 700pm target as he shouted encouragement (thanks man!). The last mile or mile and a half I came across another rider who I passed on a slight climb as I put mind over matter to work to spin faster. I cranked out effort and spun into the finish and as the first timing mat beeped when the timing chip set it off, I jumped off the bike and planted both feet on the second sensor mat for a completed 100 mile Lumberjack event!
My net results were:16th place of 27 riders in the Master's 50+ group.
1: 2:34:51 2:34:51
2: 2:50:54 5:25:44
3: 3:10:39 8:36:22
4: 3:08:57 11:45:19
I consider this a successful event!
Overall, out of 272 entrants, I was 156.
I was 156 out of 188 actual finishers
A look at the results of the race we find:
In the Open group, 60 riders did not finish out of 175
In the women's group, 5 of 22 DNF'd
In the master's had 7 of 27 drop out.
In the SingleSpeeds had 12 of 47 not complete all four laps
Overall, of 271 solo riders, 84 did not do all four laps for a 31% DNF
WOW- finally, on the fifth try- Completed.
I went into the race with two goals- big goal to finish, small goal to finish in less than 12 hours (which would be less than three hours per lap).
I arrived up north Friday evening and checked out the cabin I rented then went to the race site to get my registration packet. I then went to the cabin and got on my gear and rode the bike back to BigM to accomplish a short spin as the cabin was 4.6 miles from the race. Brad arrived a couple hours later and we relaxed a while before sleeping. I woke up at 215am to a big thunderstorm hitting the area. The next morning the ground was wet and the sky overcast, but further rain was not going to occur.
The trail was damp and many of the corners were slippery due to the water and decomposing leaves. As the day wore on, the sun came out and the course actually got faster. By noon, the sky was clear and the temperature began to climb.
The course is nearly 100% singletrack, four laps of 25 miles (approximately) and 2000 feet of climbing per lap- 8000 total over the 100 mile event.
The first lap is always difficult due to the crowd if bikes on the singletrack. The race goes right from a run-in on the road onto an unrideable climb. Bikes are wheel to wheel. Riders with weaker climbing skills slow up bikes behind them, riders with tentative technical skills or downhill skills slow up riders behind them. Racers work to pass riders in front of them slowly bike by bike. The field slowly breaks into clumps of riders. It takes nearly a full lap with the break involved as the riders come through the lap chute and take breaks for crowds to break up.
My main focus the whole ride was my leg- as soon as I felt any tension in my knee I would immediately review my pedal stroke mechanics and get back to a Ned Overend "scrape the mud" stroke and the discomfort would alleviate. My strategy was simply to ride conservatively, spin as easy as I could and use the easiest gears possible. I rode most hills though I did walk a couple depending on my level of tiredness or the hill difficulty.
Two guys fell in front of me on lap one, actually one fell and took the other down. I was third back in a crowd of riders but had a 20 yard gap between me and the two racers in front of me. We topped a small hill and the trail went down and curved to the right. Lead rider went down on the greasy turn and his wheel knocked the wheels out from under rider two and I evaded around them.
Lap two, the heat started climbing. My Garmin GPS kept shutting off all morning, likely from lack of satellite contact due to the early cloud cover and dense foliage. I ended up using it mostly as a clock to ensure I took hydration and nutrition regularly.
My standard intake plan is Hammer products: Perpetuem for carbohydrates and protein (energy), Heed for hydration, Endurolytes to prevent cramping and occasional shots of Hammerjel. I had two bottles of Perpetuem each good for five to six hours of riding. I refilled Heed bottles after each lap. At the midway aid station I also drank cold water and ate a small amount of fruit.
Lap two- about 40 miles in, the three leaders passed me on their third lap- Jeff Shalk, Christian Tanguey and Chris Etough in that order, wheel to wheel. Mike Simonson passed me about five minutes later and the 5th and 6th place pros in successive five minutes or so.
Lap three was where I was slowest. I'd made good time on laps one and two and had nearly 35 minutes to spare on my "three hour per lap" target. I ate some of that on the last two but only 18 minutes.
Lap four was a long steady slog. I got in the flats and just cranked out RPMs to keep a steady cadence. A rider did catch up behind me, I saw him out of the corner of my eye and heard him. I am not sure what happened to him, but I just kept pedalling circles and I lost him at some point. Another rider who I think came in 18th was behind me for a long while- we rode together and his encouragement was greatly appreciated. I would get way in front of him on downhills and he'd catch me on climbs. I crashed on one downhill as my handlebar clipped a tree landing on my head in the soft dirt. He mentioned at one point we had five miles with 40 minutes to 700pm, wnhich made me determined to try a bit harder on the remainder of the lap. I eventually pulled away from him as I gutted it out to try to make the 700pm target as he shouted encouragement (thanks man!). The last mile or mile and a half I came across another rider who I passed on a slight climb as I put mind over matter to work to spin faster. I cranked out effort and spun into the finish and as the first timing mat beeped when the timing chip set it off, I jumped off the bike and planted both feet on the second sensor mat for a completed 100 mile Lumberjack event!
My net results were:16th place of 27 riders in the Master's 50+ group.
1: 2:34:51 2:34:51
2: 2:50:54 5:25:44
3: 3:10:39 8:36:22
4: 3:08:57 11:45:19
I consider this a successful event!
Overall, out of 272 entrants, I was 156.
I was 156 out of 188 actual finishers
A look at the results of the race we find:
In the Open group, 60 riders did not finish out of 175
In the women's group, 5 of 22 DNF'd
In the master's had 7 of 27 drop out.
In the SingleSpeeds had 12 of 47 not complete all four laps
Overall, of 271 solo riders, 84 did not do all four laps for a 31% DNF
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