Thirty: Rogue Century

A few club members proposed that we do a "rogue" century and do Kings Valley (via Philomath and Wren) so we would have more options to extend the ride. Just past Independence, two riders peeled off and went home.

On the way to the turnoff to Jefferson, the rest of the group decided they'd had enough and took the Buena Vista ferry home. (Can you say "Lemmings"? I knew you could.) Naturally, I went on solo to Jefferson (stopped at the Mexican bakery!), Brownsville, Shedd, and finished up with the Peterson Loop.

Distance: 138.5
Calories: 5136
Ascent: 3895
Avg: 17.5 for the first 117, 17.3 for all
Bike: Cervelo

Comsumed: two 20oz Diet Pepsi, a 12 oz V8 ($1.35 in Shedd), a 12-oz Campbell's tomato juice ($1 in KV), two tacos (Jefferson), a bagel and a cake donut (Independence), one bottle of Perpetuem, and several bottles of water. (I had the little cake donut at the bakery until I realized the rest of the gang was at the bagel shop. So I had a bagel too, which was excellent.)

Note: I lost about 6 pounds of fluid during the ride and it only got up to 80.

Twenty-nine: Summer Solstice Sentury

Rode to Alsea, Alpine, Harrisburg, and Brownsville with Henry, Lyle, Joe, and Tim. What a great group to ride with.

Maria met us in B'ville to give us our lights. I tried out my new NR Blowtorch and it was awesome! Pacelining in the dark is an interesting experience. Fortunately I know these guys well and they're safe and predictable.

Bike: De Rosa Primato
Distance: 109.3 (+ 10 miles commuting = 119.3 for the day)
Calories expended: ~4734
Ascent: 2975 feet
Consumed: two cans of Campbells tomato juice ($0.99 in Alsea for a can, $1.59 for a plastic bottle in H'burg.), a Tiger Milk bar, two breakfast bars, two bottles of Perpertuem, two bottles of water, and a 32 oz Diet Coke (in B'ville).

I "won" the sprint to Alsea and Alpine by getting away early on the climbs. Henry caught me on the run into B'ville on Gap road and blew me off the road in the sprint. Way to go Henry!

These guys are as tough as nails. On the last 20 miles in the dark, they're still hammering down the road!!!

Twenty-eight: Watermelon double

I saw this one through --- completed 200 tough miles.

In the morning we were thoroughly wet from the "30% chance of showers". Near Albany the rain was cold and stinging!

I rode with a number of people and I took care not to draft. (It *is* a training ride!) I rode with John, Mark, Adam and Del, to name a few. On Maple Grove I met up with Del and Adam and rode the rest of the way in with them.

(Adam rode down from Portland and was planning on riding back. He's the one to watch at RAO this year!!!) Del as usual doesn't have an "off" switch...

Distance: 200 miles
Calories expended: 7535
Climbing: 4820 ft.
Avg speed: 16.3 mph
Bike: Cervelo soloist -- aka "Neo" -- it's the one

Twenty-seven: 118 miles

Took the red De Rosa to Buena Vista, crossed the ferry, rode to south Salem, Turner, Jefferson, Albany, and after stopping at the house to grab a snack and switch to the Cervelo, I did a Decker loop.

Calories: 4400
Distance: 118 miles
Food consumed: a ham/cheese sandwich & a tomato juice @ Turner, two small tacos and a 20 oz Diet Pepsi @ Jefferson, and a bowl of soup at home

Rode with Henry and Lyle. We averaged over 18 for the 83 miles we rode together...

Thursday ride: 46 miles

Rode the Cervelo to the top of the Bellfountain climb and started the climb on Decker Rd. when I met the MVBC group. I pulled a u-turn and gave chase using the aerobars. Managed to catch everyone, including Scott who was off-the-front as usual.

It was a bit windy today. The Soloist screams in a tailwind and does great going directly into it. We did the Smith Loop and came back via Llewellyn and Bellfountain Rd. I took a long pull on Llewellyn Rd -- they tell me I was doing 20 into the 10-20 mph headwind. (Of course I was in the CGTs; I couldn't check my speed easily because I was wearing the Polar.)

On the way back I gunned it on the "Airport" climb. I've never climbed that hill faster. (I took a glance at my Polar and we were doing 18.5 at one point.) That bike just goes!!!

46 miles (+ 10 commuting)

Note: The Polar 720i won't reliably pick up the strap when mounted sideways on the step -- in either direction. So today I had to wear it as a watch. Next I'll try mounting it facing forward using some Velcro.

Ah, Early Summer Evening Rides!

It was 85 today when I left my house for the MVBC Tuesday night ride. The group split into two and I rode with the bunch that went over Decker.

Bike: De Rosa Primato
Distance: 40 miles

Note: Legs felt a little sluggish until we started up Decker -- that got them going! Climbing ok!

Monday night ride: 35 miles

I guess that the Cap Velo Monday night rides are coming to an end. For the last two weeks, it's been only Betty and me. We both rode our plastic bikes and had a good ride.

Note: I used a different Polar strap and the watch still doesn't get consistent readings (it picks up the speed sensor just fine) when mounted on the stem. I might try orienting it the other way...

Bike: Cervelo
Distance: 35 miles

Mounting a Polar watch on the stem

See article: http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=59966

666

Here's a photo a friend of mine took of my number at the Strawberry Century. It was only appropriate that I wore that number, considering I was riding a "beast" of a bike, my 30+ pound Specialized Sirrus (circa 1991) with rack and pannier. It was a wet but enjoyable ride!

Twenty-six: 136.2 miles, Marcola Century and beyond

I brought the Cervelo Soloist out to play today and it did great!

We had a scream-fest all the way to Harrisburg, at which point a few riders turned around. At Coburg, a few more riders called it a day and turned back (two of them were the ones who kept pushing the pace). Phrases such as "I need to spend time with my family" and "Gotta go to Saturday Farmer's market" were overheard.

By the time "we" reached Coburg, it was down to three: Henry, Lyle and me. We rode hard, stopped in Brownsville for a well-earned sandwich, and flew back into Corvallis. After a brief stop at home, I ventured out to the Holiday Tree Farm (on Bellfountain Rd.) and came back via Peterson and Philomath.

This hard ride is good training for the Watermelon double I'll be doing next Sunday.

Total Distance: 136.2
Average speed for the first 101 miles: 20.2
Ascent: 2055 feet

Notes:

• The aerobars were handy in the headwinds coming back from B'ville.
  
• Mounting my Polar on the stem works fine for the speed sensor, but the reading from the HR strap were all over the place and sometimes got no reading at all. (I'm going to replace the battery in the strap, a CR2025.)
• The Cervelo seems to be friendly to the rear-end. (I'm using Hed Alps wheels and an Arionne saddle.) The rough chip sealed roads didn't seem as harsh.
• Food consumed: two bottles of Perpetuem, a Tiger Milk bar, 20 oz Gatorade, a V-8, and a turkey sandwich with chips and soda + a snack at home
• I weighed 191 after the ride; I was a little dehydrated...
  

Thursday ride: 52 mile hammerfest

We rode to Kings Valley via Wren, returning via Airlie Road/Hwy 99.

Calories: 2500+
Distance: 52 miles (+ 10 miles commuting)
Bike: De Rosa Primato

Tuesday: 37 miles

26.8 miles (Decker loop) + extensions

Took out the Cervelo and tried the Profile CGTs in their new (wider) position. It's more comfortable and there's no strain on the forearms.

It was a bit windy. Using the aerobars in a crosswind on Decker Rd. was interesting.

I need to put more miles on this bike, particularly in windy conditions, so I can get more used to the feel. The bike rides well; it seems to do a good job at eating the vibrations from chip-seal roads.

Monday: 35 miles

10 miles commuting + 25 miles on the Monday night Cap Velo ride.

Took out the Cervelo Soloist. Betty and I were the only riders to show up. She had her brand new Orbea, painted in an orange theme -- nice bike. Betty is faaaster on that bike!

You asked to see it -- here it is, my Cervelo Soloist

(Click for larger view)

This is my 2007 Cervelo Soloist Carbon equipped with HED Alps wheels, Campy Chorus grouppo (got Record cranks for no extra cost) and Profile CGT slam bars.

Twenty-five: Strawberry Century (101 miles)

I got up at 4:50, picked up a friend, and drove over to Lebanon Oregon to help with registration at the Strawberry Century.

Around 8:30 or so, I started out in a slight drizzle. They changed the course this year to avoid the "boring" 30 mile loop in and out of Brownsville.

I brought my 1991 Specialized Sirrus with a rear rack and pannier full of clothes. I just knew it was going to rain -- and had plenty of evidence from watching the weather forecast on KATU. Lo and behold, I got solidly soaked near Brownsville.

Considering I was riding "the beast", it was only fitting that I wore number "666". (I got quite a few comments about that number!)


My bike computer stopped getting a signal as it got wet. My Polar, covered in a baggie, missed about 32 miles of the course. After nearly 40 miles, I noticed the "trip" distance was only 5.9. I pressed the "red" button and it started recording the mileage again. I rode the whole course, so I know I got in 101 miles.

I had a strong ride and never got passed -- though I passed a lot of carbon with my lugged steel frame with sturdy CXP 30 wheels and downtube shifters. None of the hills seemed as hard as they were in previous editions. Fresh from RAO camp, I suppose that's not unexpected!

The treat at the end was great -- strawberry shortcake with ice cream! (Thanks to Santiam Spokes for another great ride! The hills at the end were a nice touch!)

Tuesday ride: 48 miles

We rode out to Shedd and returned via Tangent.

What a fast crowd that showed up. I believe we averaged nearly 20mph!

Tuesday ride: 31 miles

I put on my old wheel with the new Miche 12-27 cassette. This cassette is quite good!

Interestingly, the clicking I had attributed to the ferrules of these Open Pro wheels is now gone. Could the clicking simply be the interface between the wheel and frame?

Note: the "new" wheel starting clicking during the RAO camp. I thought that maybe all the rough roads did it in. It appears there's might be an even simpler and less expensive explanation...

It looked like it was raining cats and dogs near Marys Peak. Somehow I avoided getting dumped on. Pleasant ride with a few sprinkles. (Beats 115F heat with no shade any day!)

I received my invitation for the 508!

Chris Kostman sent me an invitation today to the 508!! (It's nearly sold out already!)

See http://www.the508.com


Looks like there will be a gnarly Nutria (or at least a "nutso" one) at the 508 this year!

(I last rode the 508 as part of Team Titanium Tibia in 1999. I've crewed for it twice, once as the crew-chief. Both times my rider was successful!)

RAO camp: 400+ miles, three days, 20,000+ calories (centuries 22, 23, 24)

The best burrito ever (see photo of the wrapper; yeah, it was that good!) George presented it to me on Hwy 26, just after Prineville.

Got back last night and I'm toast. Legs still work, I'm just dehydrated. This morning the scale tells me that I'm about 6 pounds lighter than when I left. (And this is after eating a large dinner last night, followed by a bowl of soup when I got home.)

Elevation gain: 27,925 ft.
Calories expended: 18,648

day	distance	max-temp	ascent
1	155.1	99F	14,625
2	114.75	115F	5,580
3	123.21	102F	7,950