EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS
Endure, Excel, Acheive
2007 200 km Ride Report Fixed Gear
| 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 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 |
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ADDITIONAL SAN DIEGO 200KM BREVET REPORTS |
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