I was a bit 'freaked' when I heard Joe say on Sunday that it is only 13 weeks until the race. Can't even begin to imagine how he must feel since he is the one that is going to do all the pedaling! Ugh. There are many, many details that we are working on. I did get our "Crew" shirts ordered last week. With our shirts, hopefully we can look like a 'team'. Our shirts should arrive in 2-3 weeks.
Also, it is amazing what we need to do to get the support vehicles ready. Slow-moving vehicle signs (magnetic) for the support vehicles were ordered, as well as, the Caution Bicycle Ahead sign. Eric Furnas is working on the wheel rack for the top of the van. It will have yellow flashing lights. We are hoping to also have a speaker system so the crew will be able to talk to Joe from the van.
We are trying to come up with a date that the entire support crew (Chris, Caleb, Eric, and myself) will be available to practice support into the night with Joe. I think we are shooting for May 16. Not sure who will be available yet, but that is the weekend that Joe needs to get a 200-300 mile ride and will need a support crew. We will probably schedule another night during the week, that way we can do support a couple of hours in the dark to figure out what we are doing. Three of the four of us have done support before but not following behind all night.
I have made reservations at hotels during the race to give us a chance to get a few hours of sleep each night. It's important that the crew stays alert during the race. We will have two crews / two vehicles to rotate our support. Joe doesn't plan on sleeping the first night but will plan to sleep a few hours in Flagstaff, Arizona the second night and then a few hours in Durango, Colorado.
The pie-making has slowed down. I have made over 70 pies thus far. Thanks to all of you who have purchased pies or donated for this event! We will probably make another push for pie sales as Easter will be fast approaching.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
The weather makes the headlines
As I write this I am sitting in Binghamton, New York (South Central) at the Best Western. The riding around here would be great if I had my bike and the weather was a little nicer. There are long gradual climbs with many bike lanes. All you guys back home enjoy the 70 degrees. Welcome back Wiford and thanks for bringing the weather.
This week saw all kinds of weather but there was more good then bad. I was able to get a century in Saturday and ride with Connie and Chris on Sunday on the Bike club's St. Patrick's day ride.
Monday: 58 mile tempo ride with rain the last 15
Tuesday: 42 miles 3 nine minute intervals at lactic threshold before Tuesday night ride. Windy and cold.
Thursday: 30 miles easy
Friday: 35 miles, 3 ten minute intervals at lactic threshold
Saturday: 100 miles easy/med
Sunday: 65 miles Med/hard then easy finish with bike club
Total: 330 miles
This week the intervals got longer. The second interval was done at slow RPM's into the wind to simulate a long hill climb. This is the only way to get ready for the long climbs in Iowa. On the really windy days I think it is mentally harder to ride into the wind at a slow cadence sitting upright as the wind beats you up.
Tuesday's ride was a weather nightmare. It started with temperatures in the low 60's when I got off work at 3:00. By the time I got to the shop for the Tuesday night ride it was 56. I did a one hour pre-ride and got back to the shop and it was 48. Chad, Greg and I rode 24 miles and when we got back it was 38 at 7:00 with 30-40 mph winds. At least it was not raining/snowing.
My century on Saturday was nice. The weather was in the low 50's with very little wind. I rode the first 30 easy by myself to Mike Doyle's house, we then rode 25 miles back to my house to meet my son Chris and Jon Sulzberger to do a loop out to Durant and back for another 36 miles. When I got back home I needed a little 9 mile loop into town for 100. I did not eat or drink enough on this ride even though the pace was pretty easy I was dragging about the 80 mile mark. I really need to focus on that part of the training rides.
Sunday there was a 11:00 group ride from Greg's house before the 1:00 St. Patrick's Day ride. The 11:00 group was mainly the same characters that show up for the Tuesday night ride. The pace was very controlled on the way out and then got a little spirited on the way back until Chad, Wiford and Bill Harper turned into the hills. At this point Greg, Mike, Jon and I just cruised into town. The St. Patrick's Day ride had 25 riders. It was a nice social group ride for the first 11 miles then there was a split and the pace got pretty quick until we all re-grouped as we got near town. Chris and Connie both rode and it is always nice to ride with them. Both of them have not ridden outside much this year but were both riding really well.
This week saw all kinds of weather but there was more good then bad. I was able to get a century in Saturday and ride with Connie and Chris on Sunday on the Bike club's St. Patrick's day ride.
Monday: 58 mile tempo ride with rain the last 15
Tuesday: 42 miles 3 nine minute intervals at lactic threshold before Tuesday night ride. Windy and cold.
Thursday: 30 miles easy
Friday: 35 miles, 3 ten minute intervals at lactic threshold
Saturday: 100 miles easy/med
Sunday: 65 miles Med/hard then easy finish with bike club
Total: 330 miles
This week the intervals got longer. The second interval was done at slow RPM's into the wind to simulate a long hill climb. This is the only way to get ready for the long climbs in Iowa. On the really windy days I think it is mentally harder to ride into the wind at a slow cadence sitting upright as the wind beats you up.
Tuesday's ride was a weather nightmare. It started with temperatures in the low 60's when I got off work at 3:00. By the time I got to the shop for the Tuesday night ride it was 56. I did a one hour pre-ride and got back to the shop and it was 48. Chad, Greg and I rode 24 miles and when we got back it was 38 at 7:00 with 30-40 mph winds. At least it was not raining/snowing.
My century on Saturday was nice. The weather was in the low 50's with very little wind. I rode the first 30 easy by myself to Mike Doyle's house, we then rode 25 miles back to my house to meet my son Chris and Jon Sulzberger to do a loop out to Durant and back for another 36 miles. When I got back home I needed a little 9 mile loop into town for 100. I did not eat or drink enough on this ride even though the pace was pretty easy I was dragging about the 80 mile mark. I really need to focus on that part of the training rides.
Sunday there was a 11:00 group ride from Greg's house before the 1:00 St. Patrick's Day ride. The 11:00 group was mainly the same characters that show up for the Tuesday night ride. The pace was very controlled on the way out and then got a little spirited on the way back until Chad, Wiford and Bill Harper turned into the hills. At this point Greg, Mike, Jon and I just cruised into town. The St. Patrick's Day ride had 25 riders. It was a nice social group ride for the first 11 miles then there was a split and the pace got pretty quick until we all re-grouped as we got near town. Chris and Connie both rode and it is always nice to ride with them. Both of them have not ridden outside much this year but were both riding really well.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Spring is gettting closer
At least there were three nice days this week. It kind of spoils you and you want the nice weather all the time. I have to keep remembering that is is not even the middle of March.
Workouts for the week:
Tuesday: 22 miles, 7 min intervals at 275 watts 175 bpm with 5 minute rest repeated 3times on indoor trainer
Wednesday: Tempo ride to New Boston 150-160 bpm
Thursday: 50 mile back and out to Bennett. Headwind back and tailwind with Eric and Connie back. I had driven the van up so they had a tailwind ride.
Friday: 41 miles easy at 140 bpm to West Liberty and back. Rode in aero bars to whole ride
Sunday: 34 miles of hills on indoor trainer.
Thursday was a great day. The forecast was for strong winds out of the south. After work I left home and drove north to Bennett. The plan was to ride back to Muscatine into the wind and meet Eric and Connie for the second half of the ride with the wind. As I neared Muscatine the wind started to die down. What was 28 MPH gusts turned into 10 MPH. At least it was still near 70 degrees as we headed north at 5:00. It was getting pretty dark as we rode into Bennett at 6:15 so I was glad I had my flasher and reflective vest. The temps had also dropped to 56. We were all dressed for 70 so we got a little chilled. Connie had brought along some money so we grabbed a snack at the C-store before driving home.
I had hope to get a century in Saturday or Sunday but the weather did not cooperate. I don't mind getting caught in the rain but starting out in the rain is not for me. Next weekend looks promising for a long ride before I am off to New York for the week.
As I was looking at the web sites of the RAAM riders I stumble across the web site for Dave Goggins. He is a Navy Seal that competes in ultra-runs and has signed up for RAAM as another way to see how far he can push himself. His story will motivate you to push yourself beyond what you thought possible. Check him out at http://www.davidgoggins.com/.
Workouts for the week:
Tuesday: 22 miles, 7 min intervals at 275 watts 175 bpm with 5 minute rest repeated 3times on indoor trainer
Wednesday: Tempo ride to New Boston 150-160 bpm
Thursday: 50 mile back and out to Bennett. Headwind back and tailwind with Eric and Connie back. I had driven the van up so they had a tailwind ride.
Friday: 41 miles easy at 140 bpm to West Liberty and back. Rode in aero bars to whole ride
Sunday: 34 miles of hills on indoor trainer.
Thursday was a great day. The forecast was for strong winds out of the south. After work I left home and drove north to Bennett. The plan was to ride back to Muscatine into the wind and meet Eric and Connie for the second half of the ride with the wind. As I neared Muscatine the wind started to die down. What was 28 MPH gusts turned into 10 MPH. At least it was still near 70 degrees as we headed north at 5:00. It was getting pretty dark as we rode into Bennett at 6:15 so I was glad I had my flasher and reflective vest. The temps had also dropped to 56. We were all dressed for 70 so we got a little chilled. Connie had brought along some money so we grabbed a snack at the C-store before driving home.
I had hope to get a century in Saturday or Sunday but the weather did not cooperate. I don't mind getting caught in the rain but starting out in the rain is not for me. Next weekend looks promising for a long ride before I am off to New York for the week.
As I was looking at the web sites of the RAAM riders I stumble across the web site for Dave Goggins. He is a Navy Seal that competes in ultra-runs and has signed up for RAAM as another way to see how far he can push himself. His story will motivate you to push yourself beyond what you thought possible. Check him out at http://www.davidgoggins.com/.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Now it is Time To Get Serious
We finally decided on a team name. Mann Powered. The official RAAM media guide will have us listed under that name. The solos don't have to have a team name but we thought it would be more fun to have one. Connie is finishing up on the shirt design. On the back will list some of the stats from the ride and the RAW slogan "this ain't no tour" which I think is a great slogan.
Above is the profile to the first time station(TS1)of the race. You can see why they say "this ain't no tour". I have to go through 18 Time stations all together. They vary in length from 54 miles to 88 miles. The distance to the first TS is 54 miles with over 6000 feet of climbing. If you push too hard up these first climbs it will make for a long three and half days.
With less than four months until the race the serious training needs to start. For the next 10-12 weeks the intensity is going to increase along with the miles. Each week will consist of two days of long interval workouts plus 1 or 2 hill climbing work outs. The weekends will consist of at least one long ride. In addition each month I need to complete a 200+ mile ride with a couple of 300 plus mile days in May. The 200 mile, 11,000 feet of climbing Balltown Classic on May 30th will be my last training ride.
Last week the legs finally started coming back. Mike and I rode 50 on Tuesday at a nice social pace and then Bill Ford joined us on Wednesday for another 50 mile ride this time at a quicker pace. The weather was great but my legs were a little cooked by the time I got home on Wednesday. Sunday I ventured out by myself for five repeats of Funk's hill. It wasn't too bad of a day to be outside riding, unless you are a indoor obsessed roller junkie, (no offense).
The pie sales are moving right along. Last night she baked pie number 70. A big thanks to all who have purchased pies. She has made many different kinds of pies so far and it is not too late to place your order. At $13 it is a great price. If you are intersested e-mail Connie as cmann@machlink.com.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Why do I live in Iowa during the winter?
It's 5:00 AM on February 12th as I pick up Wiford for a whirl-wind 3700 mile trip to Florida and back for a 24 hour bike race. The sanity of the trip has been questioned by many friends as well as me. Drive 1100 miles, sleep, drive 4 hours, ride a little, get ready for a 24 hours race, sleep, race for 24 hours, drive home. The race and drive 22 hours home was going to be the tough part. But the weather forecast for Sebring Florida combined with the weather forecast for Iowa make the trip seem like a great option.
Another insane aspect of the trip is completing in February one of our longest rides EVER. Combine that with the nasty winter we've had and you have a recipe for pain and suffering.
After leaving Wiford's place we picked up Larry Ide and Paul Carpenter in Monmouth. The van was packed just about as full as we could get it. Four bikes on the roof, two coolers on the luggage rack on the back. Inside we had the four front wheels for the bikes on the roof, two complete sets of backup wheels, two more coolers, four big Tupperware containers, and our duffel bags. It was a tight squeeze but we made it.
The great part about driving south in the winter is the excitement as you watch the temperatures keep getting warmer and warmer. It was 50 degrees the first stop, 65 in Nashville and by the time we stopped in Lake City Florida at 11:00 PM it was still 60 degrees.
The plan for day two (Friday) was to get up early and arrive in Sebring in time to ride, buy groceries, check in for the race and get ready for Saturday. The ride was 33 miles in the 85 degree sun. Just being outside with that kind of weather threw the sanity of the trip out the window. We should have kept riding but we had other things to get ready.
There was over 200 riders registered for the three races (24 hour non-drafting, 24 and 12 drafting). The format is a mass start down about a 1/4 mile straight then a 90 degree turn onto the 3.7 mile road race course for three laps before heading out of town on a 91 mile loop. After the 91 mile loop you complete as many 11 mile loops as you can before 6:00 then on to the 3.7 mile course until your 12 or 24 hours is up.
The start reminded me of my days of road/criterium racing. Everybody wants to get in good position for the first turn and then stay to the front as several riders push the pace to try and shred the field. Wiford and I were in hog heaven. Two recumbents went to the front and blasted the first lap with Wiford and I in tow. After 11 miles on the track our average speed was 24 mph.
Once on the road 20 more cyclist caught on including Larry and Paul. This group stayed together until the 50 mile sag stop when about half stopped for supplies as the rest of us rolled on. At the 75 mile mark there was another sag. This time Paul, Wiford and I stopped for water. 12 miles of chasing later we were back with the group for the finish of the loop. The average speed for the first 101 miles was 23.5 with the first 100 covered in 4:16. That beat my previous fastest 100 by 4 minutes.
Now we were on the 11 mile loop for a couple of hours as the heat increased and the winds kicked up. The four of us got split up at this point with each of us stopping for different lengths of time at different laps. Getting ready to go for the third lap I noticed I had a flat rear tire so had to grab one of the extras we brought. It sure is nice to have entire wheels instead of having to change the tube.
The fifth lap is when I got my first cramp and they lasted for three laps. The wind was kicking my butt, my neck was killing me and my rear was starting to get sore. This is when I started questioning this entire "Race Across the West" idea. How was I going to be able to handle more heat, more miles, and much more climbing at altitude. Was my body really able to handle this endurance riding or should I go back to shorter racing.
After a brief pity-party I switch from race mode to RAGBRAI mode. I would slow up and chat with other rides as I passed them. I saw a lady with her husband at one corner cheering us on as we passed. She was wearing a neck brace as she sat and watch the riders go by. Once I saw that I was ashamed that I was complaining about my neck that was going to be sore for about 16 hours when he's was probably sore for many weeks. This really put the entire ride into prospective and the pity-party ended. I finished my first 200 in 10:15. I think that is my second fastest 200 ever.
At 5:45 I entered the 3.7 miles track for the first of 55 laps. I thought this was going to be pretty boring and I was right. At least it was not an oval but more shaped like a balloon letter C. It was tough not to stop each lap and take a break as my neck was killing me and my rear end was on fire. About midnight I decided to do 5 laps between stops. Paul was doing 11 at a time. At different times I would catch up with Paul and we would ride a couple laps together until I stopped. Total we rode around 20 laps together and that helped.
After midnight Larry got his wheel stuck in a crack and went down breaking his collar bone and getting road rash on both his knees. He rode another 4 laps before calling it a night with 308 for third place in his age group. Paul gained a couple laps on me during the night and finished with 415 winning his age group, I had 408 good for second in my age group. Wiford ended with 238 for third overall in the 12 hour and second in his age group.
The drive back was long. Almost 23 hours after leaving Sebring I pulled into the drive way. Wiford and I share the drive home with him doing the majority.
I will post pictures as soon as I have some.
Lessons learned:
More water during the heat of the day, loosen up your shoes the minute your feet feel tingly, I need a different seat and maybe different chamois cream. More neck strengthening workouts.
Another insane aspect of the trip is completing in February one of our longest rides EVER. Combine that with the nasty winter we've had and you have a recipe for pain and suffering.
After leaving Wiford's place we picked up Larry Ide and Paul Carpenter in Monmouth. The van was packed just about as full as we could get it. Four bikes on the roof, two coolers on the luggage rack on the back. Inside we had the four front wheels for the bikes on the roof, two complete sets of backup wheels, two more coolers, four big Tupperware containers, and our duffel bags. It was a tight squeeze but we made it.
The great part about driving south in the winter is the excitement as you watch the temperatures keep getting warmer and warmer. It was 50 degrees the first stop, 65 in Nashville and by the time we stopped in Lake City Florida at 11:00 PM it was still 60 degrees.
The plan for day two (Friday) was to get up early and arrive in Sebring in time to ride, buy groceries, check in for the race and get ready for Saturday. The ride was 33 miles in the 85 degree sun. Just being outside with that kind of weather threw the sanity of the trip out the window. We should have kept riding but we had other things to get ready.
There was over 200 riders registered for the three races (24 hour non-drafting, 24 and 12 drafting). The format is a mass start down about a 1/4 mile straight then a 90 degree turn onto the 3.7 mile road race course for three laps before heading out of town on a 91 mile loop. After the 91 mile loop you complete as many 11 mile loops as you can before 6:00 then on to the 3.7 mile course until your 12 or 24 hours is up.
The start reminded me of my days of road/criterium racing. Everybody wants to get in good position for the first turn and then stay to the front as several riders push the pace to try and shred the field. Wiford and I were in hog heaven. Two recumbents went to the front and blasted the first lap with Wiford and I in tow. After 11 miles on the track our average speed was 24 mph.
Once on the road 20 more cyclist caught on including Larry and Paul. This group stayed together until the 50 mile sag stop when about half stopped for supplies as the rest of us rolled on. At the 75 mile mark there was another sag. This time Paul, Wiford and I stopped for water. 12 miles of chasing later we were back with the group for the finish of the loop. The average speed for the first 101 miles was 23.5 with the first 100 covered in 4:16. That beat my previous fastest 100 by 4 minutes.
Now we were on the 11 mile loop for a couple of hours as the heat increased and the winds kicked up. The four of us got split up at this point with each of us stopping for different lengths of time at different laps. Getting ready to go for the third lap I noticed I had a flat rear tire so had to grab one of the extras we brought. It sure is nice to have entire wheels instead of having to change the tube.
The fifth lap is when I got my first cramp and they lasted for three laps. The wind was kicking my butt, my neck was killing me and my rear was starting to get sore. This is when I started questioning this entire "Race Across the West" idea. How was I going to be able to handle more heat, more miles, and much more climbing at altitude. Was my body really able to handle this endurance riding or should I go back to shorter racing.
After a brief pity-party I switch from race mode to RAGBRAI mode. I would slow up and chat with other rides as I passed them. I saw a lady with her husband at one corner cheering us on as we passed. She was wearing a neck brace as she sat and watch the riders go by. Once I saw that I was ashamed that I was complaining about my neck that was going to be sore for about 16 hours when he's was probably sore for many weeks. This really put the entire ride into prospective and the pity-party ended. I finished my first 200 in 10:15. I think that is my second fastest 200 ever.
At 5:45 I entered the 3.7 miles track for the first of 55 laps. I thought this was going to be pretty boring and I was right. At least it was not an oval but more shaped like a balloon letter C. It was tough not to stop each lap and take a break as my neck was killing me and my rear end was on fire. About midnight I decided to do 5 laps between stops. Paul was doing 11 at a time. At different times I would catch up with Paul and we would ride a couple laps together until I stopped. Total we rode around 20 laps together and that helped.
After midnight Larry got his wheel stuck in a crack and went down breaking his collar bone and getting road rash on both his knees. He rode another 4 laps before calling it a night with 308 for third place in his age group. Paul gained a couple laps on me during the night and finished with 415 winning his age group, I had 408 good for second in my age group. Wiford ended with 238 for third overall in the 12 hour and second in his age group.
The drive back was long. Almost 23 hours after leaving Sebring I pulled into the drive way. Wiford and I share the drive home with him doing the majority.
I will post pictures as soon as I have some.
Lessons learned:
More water during the heat of the day, loosen up your shoes the minute your feet feel tingly, I need a different seat and maybe different chamois cream. More neck strengthening workouts.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Well, here goes nothing.
There is nothing left to do to get ready for Sebring except pack and drive.
The weather this last week provided some great opportunities to get out and put in some miles. I was able to get 40 in Thursday and Friday, 70 on Saturday and 33 on Sunday. Sunday's 70 felt pretty good. We had a really nice group of six including Chris who got out for the first time in a couple months.
This week will be spent cleaning the bike, packing and a few final preperations before leaving at 4:45 am Thursday morning. Hopefully we will be in Florida by 10:00 pm. We are hoping to get a nice ride in Friday afternoon in the warm weather to make sure everything still works.
I really don't have any "stretch" goals for the race. I would like to get 400 miles. The record for the draft legal category at my age is 426. If things fall into place I think the record is within reach. I am banking on being able to draft offsetting my February conditioning.
The pie fund raiser for the race is going pretty good. Connie has made close to 60 pies so far and the orders keep trickling in. She figures she will bake until the end of April when the weather gets nice and she will want to spend more time outside instead of in the kitchen.
The next post will be post-Sebring.
The weather this last week provided some great opportunities to get out and put in some miles. I was able to get 40 in Thursday and Friday, 70 on Saturday and 33 on Sunday. Sunday's 70 felt pretty good. We had a really nice group of six including Chris who got out for the first time in a couple months.
This week will be spent cleaning the bike, packing and a few final preperations before leaving at 4:45 am Thursday morning. Hopefully we will be in Florida by 10:00 pm. We are hoping to get a nice ride in Friday afternoon in the warm weather to make sure everything still works.
I really don't have any "stretch" goals for the race. I would like to get 400 miles. The record for the draft legal category at my age is 426. If things fall into place I think the record is within reach. I am banking on being able to draft offsetting my February conditioning.
The pie fund raiser for the race is going pretty good. Connie has made close to 60 pies so far and the orders keep trickling in. She figures she will bake until the end of April when the weather gets nice and she will want to spend more time outside instead of in the kitchen.
The next post will be post-Sebring.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Spring is in the Air?
What a nice surprise to be able to ride outside without freezing to death.
All week the forecast for Saturday and Sunday looked pretty good. Low 40's for Saturday and upper 30's for Sunday. You know it has been a long winter when you get excited and call your friends when the forecast is above freezing.
Wednesday they said Saturday was supposed to be breezy out of the west. Being the creative thinker I am I asked my wife if she wanted to go shopping in Williamsburg on Sunday. This would be by herself of course with me tail-winding home. By Thursday they had changed to forecast to be winds out of the south. She said she wouldn't mind shopping in Burlington. So I was set. The plan was to get 75-80 miles in non-stop. I took the Camelback, two water bottles and two pop-tarts.
We left home at 11:15 and headed south. By that time they were forecasting mid to upper 40's. When she dropped me off West of Burlington the van said it was 50 degrees with about 20 mph winds out of the south. Very sweet!!
I headed north through Yarmouth, Mount Union, Winfield, Columbus Junction, Conesville, Nichols and home. 80 miles total non-stop. As I got to Columbus Junction the wind started dying and so did I. In Nichols I started to feel like I was running on empty. I had to do a 4 miles loop close to home to get the 80 miles. Average speed 20.8 mph.
Sunday we had a group ride from Greg's house at 12:00. It was a rare weekend that Greg did not have any roller races on Sunday and could ride. Unfortunately he had some family commitments and could not ride anyway. The morning was damp and cloudy with a little breeze out of the west. Jon S, Doyley, Wiford, Chad, Bill Harper and I did a nice out and back to West Liberty. We had a tough time keeping Chad in line on the way out as the rest of us just wanted a nice group ride. The ride back was more under control. The sun finally popped out as we finished.
It was a good week mileage wise with 130 miles outside and 82 miles inside. The goal for this week is to get a century in this Saturday. The weather looks like it should cooperate.
All week the forecast for Saturday and Sunday looked pretty good. Low 40's for Saturday and upper 30's for Sunday. You know it has been a long winter when you get excited and call your friends when the forecast is above freezing.
Wednesday they said Saturday was supposed to be breezy out of the west. Being the creative thinker I am I asked my wife if she wanted to go shopping in Williamsburg on Sunday. This would be by herself of course with me tail-winding home. By Thursday they had changed to forecast to be winds out of the south. She said she wouldn't mind shopping in Burlington. So I was set. The plan was to get 75-80 miles in non-stop. I took the Camelback, two water bottles and two pop-tarts.
We left home at 11:15 and headed south. By that time they were forecasting mid to upper 40's. When she dropped me off West of Burlington the van said it was 50 degrees with about 20 mph winds out of the south. Very sweet!!
I headed north through Yarmouth, Mount Union, Winfield, Columbus Junction, Conesville, Nichols and home. 80 miles total non-stop. As I got to Columbus Junction the wind started dying and so did I. In Nichols I started to feel like I was running on empty. I had to do a 4 miles loop close to home to get the 80 miles. Average speed 20.8 mph.
Sunday we had a group ride from Greg's house at 12:00. It was a rare weekend that Greg did not have any roller races on Sunday and could ride. Unfortunately he had some family commitments and could not ride anyway. The morning was damp and cloudy with a little breeze out of the west. Jon S, Doyley, Wiford, Chad, Bill Harper and I did a nice out and back to West Liberty. We had a tough time keeping Chad in line on the way out as the rest of us just wanted a nice group ride. The ride back was more under control. The sun finally popped out as we finished.
It was a good week mileage wise with 130 miles outside and 82 miles inside. The goal for this week is to get a century in this Saturday. The weather looks like it should cooperate.
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