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Mile To Ride Before Sleep
Monday, June 9, 2014
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Thursday, June 5, 2014
Trans Am Bike Race Pre-race Report
Tomorrow I drive to Astoria. I am currently visiting my sister in Washington three hours away, which has been great. I haven't seen her and her family in three years.
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| My niece and I shredding through the neighborhood. |
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| She's really fast on the downhills. Seriously. |
I'm pretty nervous, and of course, excited. There are about 42 people from around the world on the roster for the race. Some have participated in the World Cycle Race, the Transcontinental, Tour Divide, Race Across America. There is no shortage of talent. I'm going to see how long I can fake it before I'm found out. But seriously, I do feel pretty good about my experiences so far. I've learned so much during my two summers of Bike & Build and racing at Purdue. What's really making me anxious is the presence of the film crew. The same people that made Ride the Divide are filming a documentary during the race called Inspired to Ride. They will be following six racers (not me, but who knows! You might see me in the background). Their presence adds to the legitimacy and makes me nervous about the competition.
So how am I treating this competition? What's my strategy? Maybe this is really a race against myself, and I should just aim to finish with a "good" time. I've been talking with a Purdue teammate and he keeps reminding me to basically take care of myself and not worry about the other racers or the race itself. Kind of a "you do you" attitude. Without destroying my body I'd like to meet one of three goals daily:
1. Ride 150 miles
2. Climb 12,000 feet
3. Ride 15 hours
So how am I treating this competition? What's my strategy? Maybe this is really a race against myself, and I should just aim to finish with a "good" time. I've been talking with a Purdue teammate and he keeps reminding me to basically take care of myself and not worry about the other racers or the race itself. Kind of a "you do you" attitude. Without destroying my body I'd like to meet one of three goals daily:
1. Ride 150 miles
2. Climb 12,000 feet
3. Ride 15 hours
I have a few ideas that I think the top riders in this race will do a few things well. I could be very wrong as I've never raced something like this or read other riders' strategies, but here's the list:
1. Nutrition management. Is each racer getting enough and the right foods to eat? Food is fuel. I burn about 6,500 calories in a 150 mile ride. Eating is a challenge. Even more difficult in stretches of road with no services. Keeping your heart rate lower than anaerobic is essential. Caloric depletion occurs much more rapidly in high heart rate zones.
2. Long steady distance. How many hours can each rider tolerate in the saddle (physically, mentally)? Stopping efficiency will serve each of us well. I learned on Bike & Build that in large part speed doesn't matter, but stopping heavily affects time of arrival to the next host. Of course, adventures were had and roses were smelled, but I figured out how to get to the host quickly if I needed.
1. Nutrition management. Is each racer getting enough and the right foods to eat? Food is fuel. I burn about 6,500 calories in a 150 mile ride. Eating is a challenge. Even more difficult in stretches of road with no services. Keeping your heart rate lower than anaerobic is essential. Caloric depletion occurs much more rapidly in high heart rate zones.
2. Long steady distance. How many hours can each rider tolerate in the saddle (physically, mentally)? Stopping efficiency will serve each of us well. I learned on Bike & Build that in large part speed doesn't matter, but stopping heavily affects time of arrival to the next host. Of course, adventures were had and roses were smelled, but I figured out how to get to the host quickly if I needed.
3. Recovery. Who can get back on the bike day after day and maintain performance? Eating, stretching, eating, and sleeping will help. I don't think anyone will be going for the Race Across America style sleeping strategy - only minutes of sleep per hundreds of miles - but maybe some sacrifice a little bit to have more saddle time or others (me) try to get a lot to allow for a bit more recovery.
All in all, I think each participant is out there to have fun, and they all will. But it'd be nice to get some bragging rights out of it.
For myself, I expect a mid pack finish. Others' are shooting for 18 days (over 200 miles/day). If my legs allow, I will try to better than 28, but we'll see. I could have some knee or IT band problems that have haunted me in the recent past, and I'd do well just to finish. I've been going to physical therapy last semester, and it seems to have helped. I've got some stretches and exercises that I'll be doing as I go. Hopefully, I'll maintain my health and ride strong.
For myself, I expect a mid pack finish. Others' are shooting for 18 days (over 200 miles/day). If my legs allow, I will try to better than 28, but we'll see. I could have some knee or IT band problems that have haunted me in the recent past, and I'd do well just to finish. I've been going to physical therapy last semester, and it seems to have helped. I've got some stretches and exercises that I'll be doing as I go. Hopefully, I'll maintain my health and ride strong.
Lots of links to get updates on the race:
MTBcast - podcast and recorded calls from racers.
Track Leaders - gps tracking of each participant
Trans Am Bike Race - race info
Track Leaders - gps tracking of each participant
Trans Am Bike Race - race info
Trans Am Bike Race Gear List
Here's my kit for the race. I've never participated in an event like this. I got some of my ideas from Ed Pickup from his experience in the Transcontinental Race. Here's his kit for the Trans Am. I also got many of my other ideas from Outdoor Gear Lab. I've made many eleventh hour changes, even some minutes after I took these photos. I may have too much (I am certainly not the lightest), but I will be comfortable, and I will be able to solve most problems I encounter.
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| Unloaded, 22ish pounds |
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| Loaded, 47ish pounds with food and 3L of water |
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| From the front |
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| Cockpit |
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| Purdue kit, headphones, helmet, Oakley Radarlock, sunblock, chamois butter, KT tape, IT band compression wrap, patella strap, Giro footbeds |
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| Saddle bag: Foam roller (I seriously need this), flip flops, pump, tent poles, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent stakes, emergency blanket (doubling as my tent footprint), rain jacket, cold weather gear (under armor, arm warmers, bandana, plastic grocery bags [for in between my shoes and shoe covers], gloves, rubber gloves, shoe covers,), KT tape, spare derailleur hanger, rag + lube, camp suds, 3 spare tubes, ACA maps, tent repair, vitamins, ciprofloxacin, imodium, toothpaste, toothbrush, wet ones, biofreeze, t-shirt, shorts, towel (no longer taking), washcloth |
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| Repair kit (cockpit): emergency spoke (Fiberfix), Leatherman, tube, spoke wrench, gorilla glue, patch kit, lighter, zip ties, tire levers, accessory cord, tire boots (from tires and tube) |
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| Cockpit: iPhone cable, USB mini cable (GPS, tail light), pepper spray, lock, Nuun, electrolyte pills, emergency food (I don't plan on touching this unless I cannot find services. I fit 4,150 calories into that bag) |
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| Frame bag: 3L bladder, water filter, pump, Aleve, straw attachment for filter, spork, iodine tablets, water key, replacement wire for my dynamo hub, lens cloth, toilet paper, med kit (neosporin, bandaids, Halls), Off wipes |
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| Top tube: chapstick with sunscreen, headlamp, hand sanitizer, snacks |
Spreadsheet for those curious. 7.76 pounds without food or water. Add 22 for the unloaded weight and somehow I manage to add up to 47 pounds total.
|
price
|
item
|
website
|
quantity
|
ounces
|
total ounces
|
pounds
|
|
|
129.75
|
Adventure Cycling Maps
|
12
|
|||||
|
60
|
SPOT Tracker Rental
|
1
|
|||||
|
96.9
|
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Road Tire
|
2
|
|||||
|
11.79
|
Velocity Rim Plug for 8mm Holes
|
1
|
|||||
|
214.65
|
ISM Adamo Breakaway Saddle
|
1
|
|||||
|
11.08
|
FiberFix Emergency Spoke Replacement Kit
|
1
|
0.141096
|
0.141096
|
0.0088185
|
||
|
113
|
SRAM PG1170 11-Speed Cassette, 11-32
|
1
|
|||||
|
386.84
|
Dynamo Hub, wheel build, rim, spokes
|
||||||
|
180
|
Luxos U
|
1
|
3.8
|
3.8
|
0.2375
|
||
|
38.5
|
Specialized Zee Cage
|
2
|
|||||
|
39.99
|
Giro SuperNatural Footbed X-Static Kit - Men's
|
1
|
|||||
|
22.99
|
Swisstop GHP2 Flash Pads, for SRAM/Shimano Road Brakes
|
1
|
|||||
|
168.99
|
SRAM Force 22 Rear Derailleur
|
1
|
|||||
|
89.86
|
Leatherman Wave
|
1
|
|||||
|
20.69
|
Leatherman 931014 40-Bit Assortment for Leatherman Bit
Drivers
|
1
|
|||||
|
17.5
|
Topeak Super Bicycle Chain Tool
|
1
|
2.29
|
2.29
|
|||
|
5.99
|
Cable lock
|
1
|
|||||
|
3.79
|
Gorilla Glue
|
1
|
|||||
|
Safety pins
|
3
|
||||||
|
Paper clips
|
3
|
||||||
|
Zip ties
|
4
|
||||||
|
Spare Tubes
|
3
|
||||||
|
Spoke wrench
|
1
|
||||||
|
Accessory Cord
|
30 feet
|
||||||
|
Lighter
|
1
|
||||||
|
Pedro tire levers
|
2
|
||||||
|
129.99
|
Viscacha
|
1
|
13.8
|
13.8
|
0.8625
|
||
|
52.24
|
Gas Tank
|
1
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
0.21875
|
||
|
76.03
|
Feed Bag
|
2
|
3.6
|
7.2
|
0.225
|
||
|
66.49
|
Tangle
|
1
|
9
|
9
|
0.5625
|
||
|
39.79
|
Black Diamond Equipment Storm Headlamp
|
1
|
3.9
|
3.9
|
0.24375
|
||
|
147.15
|
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad
|
1
|
12
|
12
|
0.75
|
||
|
370
|
Western Mountaineering Summerlite
|
1
|
21
|
21
|
1.3125
|
||
|
26.95
|
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Sack
|
1
|
2.4
|
2.4
|
0.15
|
||
|
374
|
Terra Nova Solar Photon 2
|
1
|
33
|
33
|
2.0625
|
||
|
7.25
|
Gear Aid SilNet Silicone Seam Sealer Tube
|
1
|
|||||
|
23.94
|
MSR Carbon Core Stakes 4 PK
|
4
|
0.2
|
0.8
|
0.0125
|
||
|
13.72
|
Easton Mountain Products Nano Ultra-Light Aluminum Tent
Stake-Pack of 4
|
4
|
0.43
|
1.72
|
0.026875
|
||
|
27.95
|
Easton Mountain Products Full Metal Jacket Tent Stakes
(Pack of 4), 6-Inch
|
4
|
0.19
|
0.76
|
0.011875
|
||
|
7.69
|
Camp Suds
|
||||||
|
19.33
|
DZ Nuts High Viscosity Chamois Cream
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
0.25
|
||
|
9.75
|
LUNATEC® Self-cleaning Travel Washcloth
|
1
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
0.025
|
||
|
1.29
|
Wet Ones
|
1
|
|||||
|
0.97
|
Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
|
1
|
|||||
|
8.65
|
Showers Pass Lapeleau Hydration Backpack
|
1
|
|||||
|
20.32
|
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0.125
|
||
|
20.38
|
Platypus Hoser Hydration System
|
1
|
3.8
|
3.8
|
0.2375
|
||
|
10.95
|
Blubandoo
|
1
|
|||||
|
15.11
|
Pro-Tec Athletics Foam Roller 4 X 12
|
1
|
|||||
|
16.5
|
Pro-Tec Athletics IT Band Compression Wrap
|
1
|
|||||
|
14.5
|
KT TAPE Original Cotton Elastic Kinesiology Theraeputic
Tape - 20 Foot Uncut Roll
|
1
|
|||||
|
11.99
|
SABRE RED Pepper Spray
|
1
|
|||||
|
9.99
|
Centrum Multi vitamin
|
30
|
|||||
|
19.95
|
Saltstick Electrolyte Capsules
|
100
|
|||||
|
24.95
|
Nuun Active Hydration, Tropical
|
4 tubes
|
|||||
|
111.44
|
Flip flops
|
Old Navy
|
1
|
||||
|
125
|
Gore Bike Wear Oxygen Gore-Tex Active Shell Jacket
|
1
|
7.13
|
7.13
|
0.445625
|
||
|
Headphones
|
|||||||
|
Garmin 810
|
|||||||
|
K-Edge Bar Mount
|
|||||||
|
SRAM Force 22 groupset
|
|||||||
|
CAAD 4
|
|||||||
|
Profile Design ZBS Stryke Aero bars
|
|||||||
|
Shimano 105 pedals
|
|||||||
|
iPhone 5
|
|||||||
|
Credit card, cash, insurance card, identification
|
|||||||
|
3416.57
|
132.641096
|
7.7681935
|
3.53099704545455
|
||||
|
ounces
|
pounds
|
kilograms
|
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