300K Delavan 2008 Brevet

Since Eric already wrote a report on the 300K (about 190 miles), I thought I would just add to his.

Rick’s input:
It’s May 17th, and it’s sunny and warm for a change. It’s still windy, but not as bad as the 200K or our ride to Iowa. I don’t like wind, but wind trumps rain and cold. Anyway, back on the bike for another long ride, and I think we’re both still a bit tired from our Fleche adventure.

Similar to the Patty Hearst syndrome, I've come to love the wind. Henceforth I will not venture out on any long ride unless there is aconsiderable headwind, preferably coming in at an angle so that drafting is for naught. Not that you can catch much of a draft from Rick anyway.

Rick’s input:
Apparently, I don’t make a good wind block.

I did have sunscreen on the 300K and need it - no sunburn to report from our day on the bike yesterday. We had a lot of sun at least in the morning. It rained on us toward the end but we were just getting starting to get a little wet as we finished up at the Super8 - Rick got a little cold towards the end.

Rick’s input:
I was getting really cold. I should have put on my rain jacket, that would have helped a lot. So, I just hammered it to keep warm, and keep Eric in sight, via my mirror.

Unlike those completing events like the Galena triathlon in less than two hours, our event lasted over 13 hours - of which I estimate almost 12 hours of which was spent pedalling. We got in at 8:15PM just over an hour after the fastest riders who got in at 7:07PM. We kept our time pretty short at the five controls where we stopped. Our rolling average for the whole ride was 16.3 mph. I brought some "real" food - mainly boiled potatoes and ham sandwiches, plus bars and gels, which worked out pretty well. All I bought along the was was some grape juice and a Coke. Larry (another support person) met us at the halfway point and he had snacks, bananas, and water.

Rick’s input:
I just ate the normal bike crap food, Cliff Bars, food you find at the gas stations. I wanted to eat a burger, but no time on the last stop.

After we got in we sat around for a few minutes with David Rosenblum (who rode part of the course and was helping with ride coordination) and he served us some home-brewed beer. Some more riders came in before we went up to shower so we could go out to dinner. On the way out we talked with a couple of other recent arrivals, including the only woman (Anna, a triathlete) and Thomas Berube who had helped to design the route changes. After a filling meal at Italian Village we came back and sat around with Frank until almost midnight waiting for more riders to show up. When we went up there were still six riders out on the course. The wind had died down but there were wet roads and temps in the low '50s. One of the later arrivals said that the last leg (riding in the dark on wet roads) was his favorite part. He said it was rather pleasant since by then the wind had died down. Everyone we talked to planned to come back for the 400K in three weeks - no one was dismayed by the conditions. A hardy bunch! I think 23 started and there were four DNFs.

Rick’s input:
David only rode a 200K, so he was back early to help Frank with the riders, as they came back in. He was also in-charge of the beer. It appeared, he was really enjoying it. He’s a nice guy though. He carried my back up to my room. “I said you don’t have to do that.” He said, “you earned it.”

Our route was Delavan - Edgerton - Verona - Sauk City and then back. Not quite an out and back since the out portion went around downtown Stoughton but passed through it on the way back (there was some festival called Stoughton Days or something, including a parade, which Rick and I missed). The new section from Verona to Sauk City had three pretty good hills (each ridden twice) including one of the hills on the Madison Ironman course, which for our route was the easiest of the three. We kept up with the fast riders for about an hour then I dropped off because it was a pace that for me would not have been wise to maintain. Rick might have stayed with them but since he was burnt at the end I wonder. Anyway when he noticed my absence he too dropped off and we rode the remainder of the ride together. The lead group itself broke into pieces and missed some turns adding about 10 bonus miles to the ride. At the turn-around point the NW wind was now at our backs for quite a while until late in the ride when it shifted to the north. Before that shift there were some sections where we were just flying along at 25+ mph. All in all it was a lovely day - blue sky in the morning, dramatic cloud landscapes, lots of blooming trees along the route - crab apple, red bud, Bradford pear - and just the general bursting out of greenery everywhere. The temperature did get up to 70.

Rick’s input:
I came to ride with Eric. So, when I didn’t see Eric on the first leg, I fell back to wait for him. I know I could have hung with those lads, but given the Fleche, I wasn’t feeling all that strong.

Frank, Larry, and David did a great job supporting this ride. Thanks guys.

Everyone seems to complain that in Chicago we have winter, then two weeks of spring then summer. Well this year I think we have a real spring - which means wind, rain, and cool temperatures, and I've decided that that's OK with me. I'm also thankful that our apparently well-maintained bicycles had no mechanical problems.