EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS
Endure, Excel, Acheive
200 km Ride Report
January 20, 2007

200km San Diego Brevet Series on Fixed Gear

121.5 miles and 6600 feet of gain

Gearing 49 x 16 (close to a 53 x 17)

Total Time 7:24                                                             RESULTS

Elevation Graph to follow

Nutrition 2 bottles of E-Fuel: 210 calories, 390mg  Sodium, 150mg
Potassium for each bottle

12 packets E-Gel:  150 Calories, 230mg Sodium, 85mg Potassium and 37g
of Carbs  

Total intake: 2220 Calories expended














Well I have completed my first "Ultra" on a FG.  It was the 200km of the San
Diego Brevet Series.  Ok so it was only 121.5 miles but it's still an Ultra.  The
climbing is the most I have done on my FG.  What I am most happy about is the
when I first did this course three years ago my time on a multispeed was 7:42.  I
continued to get faster and last year my time was 7:11.  So I am quite pleased
with a finishing time of 7:24 on a Fixed Gear.

I'd like to clear the air about one thing.  When I enter events such as Double
Centuries and Brevets I enter with the desire to challenge myself, beat my time
from the previous year and yes to race against the riders that I know from the
Ultra community.  In other words, I don't ride... I race my events.  If I want to
ride, well that's what a training ride is for.  As Osprey once told me if there are
two people then it's a race.  I like Osprey's philosophy.

Furthermore, I suffer like everyone else sometimes more than everyone else.  
But to me Ultras are a challenge and an opportunity to find my limits.  

Now to my ride report:

I was pleased to see two of my friends also show up in FG.  Jack, aka
Blackbird and Chris H.  They chose to ride gearing that was better for
climbing and I chose a gearing that was better for downhills and flats.  I tried to
simulate the course demands by going up Del Dios last week,  but since I really
didn't pre-ride the whole course FG I really didn't know for sure if I chose the
right gear.  More on that later...

We rolled from Doyle Park in one of the biggest packs I have ever seen for a
200km.  This being a PBP year there were a lot more riders.  There are some
roadies that show up but this is the only Brevet in the series that they do.  Our
first challenge, as Fixies, is the on ramp and off ramp to the 5 freeway.  It can
be really fast but I was on the brakes going 35 mph.  We then roll through El
Camino Real and follow the SDBC Saturday club ride route.  The next challenge,
another fast downhill, as we head towards Fairbanks Ranch.  It was during the
downhills that I was rolling my big gear and Chris and Blackbird were spinning
like mad.  

I was determined to ride at my own pace.  A gap was created between the first
group and me and Chris urged me to bridge the gap with him but I decided it
was too soon to exert that much energy.  So on San Dieguito Rd Chris took off
and I rode the next 60 miles alone.  I like that though...that's why I love
Ultras.  I can be on my bike for hours, and hours and not talk to anyone.  I'm
happiest on my bike.  

Mile 14.3-Del Dios was the first climbing challenge of the day.  It was tough.  I
knew then the gearing was too tall and I was going to suffer the rest of the day.  
But now I was committed.  I did have a rider come up alongside and pass me as
we shared a few words.  I was wearing my headphones. I guess he didn't get
the hint.  Anyway, we chatted and he then went on ahead.  I was saving myself
for Rice Canyon still 40 miles later. I managed up Del Dios but I could see how
the gearing I had chosen was going to hurt.  I eventually passed him and never
saw him again.  His name was Bob something...  

Mile 35- I got to the first checkpoint at Deer Springs just after 9am.  I was
there last than 10 secs.  I was there long enough for my Brevet card to be signed
and then I left.    I hadn't had any fluids to drink yet so I had two full water
bottles.  

Mile 40.1-Old Castle was tough but managable then Lilac Rd was fine too.  
Couser Canyon was another story altogether.  I suffered from the moment I
made the left turn.  I crept up that hill at barely 5 mph and a max of 7.5 mph.  I
was regretting that damn FG.  I kept thinking I am going so slow someone has
to catch me.  I finally made it to the top and was relieved when it was time to
descend for a few minutes.  

Mile 54.2--Rice Canyon- This was the toughest part of the ride for me.  As
soon as I started the climb I started to cramp.  I don't usually cramp.  I have
noticed since I started riding FG I cramp more often.  I think it has to do with
the amount of gear mashing associated with the FG.  I figure it's taking more
electrolytes to mash the gear than to spin.  And what sucks about a FG cramp is
that you can't coast and massage the cramp.  Also, you are pedaling every inch
of the course.  You never get a break from turning the pedals--no coasting.  

I was on a climb in a heavy gear and it was impossible to ILT and keep going.  I
stopped 3x because the cramps were so painful.  They were mainly hamstring
cramps. So I stood up and adjusted my pedaling style to just pushing with my
quads.  Rice Canyon has about 4 different times when you think you have hit the
top.  Luckily or not so luckily I knew the top was still looming ahead.  When I
finally crested I knew from now on the rest of the ride was going in a generally
downhill direction.  The only exception was Live Oak Park.  But that was easy
compared to Rice Canyon.

Mile 66-I eventually saw Chris at Live Oak Park.  I hadn't seen him since Mile
9.4 San Dieguito Rd in Rancho Santa Fe.  I rode past him and then saw Chris
Kostman.  I was determined to press on until Control #2.  

Mile 75.1 Control#2-  I was surprised to see Blackbird, Osprey, David Roth,
another Cyclovet, and a guy on a tricked-out recumbent at the control.  I didn't
think I was that close to them.  I checked in with the volunteer and I was gone.  
I was there once again no more than 10 secs.  As I was pulling in Blackbird was
getting on his bike so I chased him down and passed him on Mission Rd and
gapped him through Hwy 76 and continued to gap him through North River Rd.  

Mile 89.9- And then I got on the bike path.  I felt great the cramping had gone
away and I felt good with my nutrition and hydration.  I also had plenty of
power.    But the headwind kept me from doing anything over 19mph.  The bike
path is 7.2  miles long I had stayed away for almost 20 miles.  But with 2.8 miles
to go on the bike path I looked back and so a train coming.  I slowed down and
waited.  They were about 200 meters back but I knew I would get caught.  I
gave up the Solo Breakaway effort.  Once I was safely tucked in their paceline
we were doing 21mph or more.  No wonder I got caught.  We hit the coast
together and the pace continued to stay high.  

The paceline eventually disbanded as we neared Swami's beach.  Several of the
members wanted to stop to go to the bathroom.  I didn't want to stop so I kept
going.  And as always, it was down to Blackbird and Osprey and Vireo.   We
kept a good pace downt the coast and then up Torrey Pines.  I was tired by then
but still climbed it with power.  The three of rode together all the way to the
finish.  Just before the finish David R. passed us at a light and we, Blackbird and
I, chased him down.  We all came in together.  OUR TIME WAS 7:24 JUST
FOUR MINUTES BEHIND THE LEAD GROUP.  Not bad for a pair of Fixies.  
Great Job Blackbird you always keep me honest on the course.

NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE WITH FIXED GEAR-- PALOMAR
MOUNTAIN JANUARY 27, 2007

NEXT EVENT MULTI-SPEED-- BUTTERFIELD DOUBLE CENTURY
FEBRUARY 17, 2007

THEN THE 300KM FIXED GEAR WHICH HAS PALOMAR MOUNTAIN