Chicago Randonneurs

Comment

Comment by Adam Z on June 25, 2013 at 2:27pm

kiltedcelt, read Ilter's ride report:  http://www.thechainlink.org/xn/detail/2211490:Comment:711652

We did take it easy this time.  10MPH rolling average is what you need to keep.  If you take it too leisurely, conditions or mechanicals can cost you your ride.  Otherwise, I have not found the time cutoffs very daunting on the 200K. 

Comment by David P. on June 25, 2013 at 2:27pm

I know they're not races, but I don't know where the time limits fall compared to my typical pace, or the pace I know I can maintain for 200k. I'm probably on the rose-smelling end.

Comment by Adam Z on June 25, 2013 at 2:13pm

Brevets are not races. Results are often listed by rider names, not their finishing times.

This is true - the spirit of randonneuring, right?  You're competing against yourself, if anyone.  In fact, I was surprised that one of the articles in the recent RUSA magazine mentioned finish order.  Did anyone else catch that?

Comment by Eric Peterson on June 25, 2013 at 1:19pm

Brevets are not races. Results are often listed by rider names, not their finishing times. Some like to push their limits, others prefer to smell the roses. The only thing that really matters is completing the ride. 

That said, as you do longer brevet distances, sleep becomes an issue, and to bank time for sleep, or finish before you fall asleep on the bike, you need to ride faster, which leads you to push the limits more on the shorter rides. It depends on the individual.

Comment by David P. on June 25, 2013 at 12:54pm

I have something of the same feeling about brevets, but I suspect that I'm fine and I have that feeling only because I haven't done them. I did a loop out to N. Chicago and back on Sunday, with about 67 mi. in 4:30 or so of riding time. Granted, it's flat, and hills change things, and that's only ~110k and not 200k. And I was on my 'fast' bike that makes my comfy bike feel like a slug. I sometimes have a bit of a problem slowing down. Encourage me not to slack off by skipping one of the July 200ks!

Comment by Adam Z on June 24, 2013 at 11:37am

I know a supported century at a leisurely pace is a far cry from a similar length brevet ride

You obviously have not done a Brevet with Ilter and I.

Comment by Eric Peterson on June 24, 2013 at 10:50am

Starting in the rain is always hard, but it's a long day and you have to believe that it won't be raining all day (at least not usually, not in WI). This was the case on Saturday.The rain let up after an hour, then resumed for another hour or so after Brodhead. For a while there was a strong east wind, then it settled out to a hot humid day with a south wind.

Despite the two rainy intervals, it turned out to be a pretty nice day. Saw Ilter and Adam riding the 200K. At the RR bridge found a Camelback on the road, which I picked up, not too much later spotted a rider coming towards me, it was Ed Hoffman who had left it there by mistake, and was coming back to look for it.

The section from New Glarus to Blanchardville was very nice, lots of expansive vistas at the tops of the climbs. Not so many views on the next leg, which has just as much climbing. Found that the Oregon control has a good selection of Naked juice products, which hit the spot as I was feeling not so great at the point with the heat and all. I got the green version, that plus a short sidewalk power nap got rid of most of my nausea (also had a ham and cheese sandwich). Ed Hoffman showed up in Oregon with a broken light mount - metal fatigue - it wasn't a real mount, just some metal fashioned into a mount by a bike shop. Luckily he did not destroy his light, or do an endo, when it came off. Later I saw that he lashed it to the top of his handlebar bag with lots of electrical tape.

On the last leg that little stretch on Cty-MM / Cty-M was awful as usual, thought my bike would fall apart with all the bumps. It was good to get back to Delavan after over 190 miles. After cleaning up and eating, I ended up sleeping for four hours in my van at the WalMart parking lot, then driving back at 3:45AM. No traffic at that early hour. Stopped just once for a quart of chocolate milk. 

Comment by Lanterne Rouge on June 23, 2013 at 8:16pm

kiltedcelt, you're going to have a great time on that ride. I did it last year and loved it. I'd do it again, but the $50 cost is prohibitive to me. Howard and Philip are great ride leaders, though.

Comment by terryg on June 21, 2013 at 8:06am

(delurk)

I'm heading up from Chicago tonight btw 7-8pm, going for the 300K, which is rather daunting at the moment.  The route looks beautiful.

My 1st 200K brevet was the season opener, woke up sick in Delavan for the next "session" a few weeks later, did Horribly Hilly 150K last week, now this.  What is happening to me?

"Bonne route" to all riders!

Comment by ilter on June 20, 2013 at 6:58pm

Doing another 200K this weekend. And the new old 400K route is so exciting!

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