BlazingPedals

Jim,
You're remembering correctly, the Wolverine - whatever - used to be a 24-hour challenge. I guess it was pared back because the park authorities would no longer allow permits for 24 and finally even for 12 hour exclusive use. I've got a certificate around here somewhere, but I think it was 2004. It was the last year they could get a permit. I think the park was closed completely for a few years.

The ride was an adventure for me. I was on a new bike that I'd built from a bare frame without so much as an around-the-block road test, and I only got about 4 hours' sleep the night before. Being so flat, it was made for speed, and I challenged myself to pass the 'grandstand' area doing at least 26 mph on every lap for most of the event - when I wasn't napping.

Jim from Boston

Thanks for the reply, BP. I wonder when it was inaugurated (at least before 1971). One other popular long-distance ride I recall back then was TOSROV (Tour of the Scioto River Valley [Ohio]), and DALMAC (Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw Bicycle Tour) started around then; I actually spoke to Dick Allen about it...Ayup, I did...

BlazingPedals

Dick still does DALMAC every year, although I think he has a private SAG these days -- he's 82 or 83 I think. I have done it something like 27 times. Not signed up this year; I was planning on doing something else instead. But then the other rides I was planning on all filled before I got in, so I may be back again for #28.

Machka 

The story of our Easter Weekend ...

https://www.bikeforums.net/long-dista...l#post19521294

az_cyclist

one of the club members is organizing a 200k in the high country Saturday. I am considering it

wphamilton

I'm not one of the long distance cycling heros, but for what it's worth I get in 50-65 mile rides on most weekends, and the training is basically 80 miles of commuting during the week. The commutes help with my biggest challenge - finding the time.

Road Fan

A few years ago I did a handful of metric centuries. Then I got a job and my time has been restricted ever since. Last year I got a couple of 50 milers, but not much other riding than that. This year we're planning a 40 or 50 mile ride in just a few weeks, but since I started working again I haven't built the fitness I had.

Machka 

And now I've added the routes and elevation profiles ...

https://www.bikeforums.net/long-dista...l#post19528866

rydabent

Dare I mention that for cyclist that ride long distances, a bent is a great choice. More and more cross country cyclist are turning to bents of some form for comfort and the view. Long hours "in the saddle" are are much easier on a sling seat than on a hard saddle.

wphamilton

I think you might have mentioned that

A 'bent is on my bucket list but way off in the future somewhere. I'd probably put an electric assist on it and some sort of enclosure faring.

BigAura

Is this true for touring? Any numbers? It seems to me I see less recumbents than I used to. It may be that I do a lot of touring on back-country gravel and such, on which recumbents are very very rare.

OldTryGuy

Our local American Cancer Society "Relay For Life" Relay For Life of Venice | Sign Up For Relay For Life of Relay For Life of Venice

was 7PM yesterday to 7AM today. We kicked off the walk at 7:23PM with myself leading the Survivors Lap on my bike then heading out on to the roads of S. Venice, Englewood, Rotonda, Guld Cove and S. Gulf Cove. Biked thru the night and returned to the Relay at 6:25AM with 152.16 miles completed. Not able to walk like the past 3 years.... 2014 for 13.21 miles, 2015 for 32.5 miles and 2016 for 33 miles/half my age..... due to knees bone on bone from bowed legs. Smoke and debris filled the air and my lungs while riding in Gulf Cove due to the fires in SW FL. Wife mentioned that a couple of helicopters dipped water buckets in the intracoastal during the night. Next year will be 175 miles.

While my first year walking was just a "spur of the moment," in April 2015 I got my ticket punched for the Prostate Cancer Club with Gleason 10 aggressive. Just gonna carry on like nothing has changed.

Rowan

You may think so, and Amanda Coker is sharing her rides between a bent and upright. And there are some aero advantages in races such as the 24H TTs that we have participated in.

But generally, no, there is not an increase in the number of bents being used for long distance events. Even a friend of ours who went to bents for four or five years because of lower back issues is now back riding uprights for events such as PBP and other randonnees and grateful for it... he simply didn't like bents.

OldTryGuy

No BENT for Freddie, and that's only 1,000,000+ miles....... https://miles4melanoma.com/freddiehoffman/

Jim from Boston

Machka 

Saturday 24 June -- Rowan and I cycled what was probably the most difficult / challenging 200 km randonnee (long distance cycling event ) I've ever done. 210 km with 2700 metres of climbing in a heat we haven't experienced since we were in Queensland at Easter in 2016.

We made a guest appearance with the BC Randonneurs and did the 200K event of the Peace to Parliament "hell week". Some riders also did only the 200K, but some did the whole set of four rides from Fort St. John all the way down to Victoria.
Peace to Parliament - 4 brevets from Fort St John to Victoria in June 2017

Rowan was all right in the heat. He is usually the one who struggles with hot temperatures. But this time it was me. By about the half way point I knew I was battling heat exhaustion. I think May's surgery put a dent in my fitness level.

Nevertheless we finished the ride within the time limit ... with 30 min to spare! Our total time was 13 hours.

And then went for a 2-3 km walk to find dinner!


Distance: 212.1km (including the ride up to our B&B)
Elevation: 2,729m
Moving Time: 11:39:32
Elapsed Time: 13:36:03
Speed: Avg: 18.2km/h | Max: 50.4km/h


Sunday 25 June -- After a deep 8 hours of sleep, we were up for a delicious breakfast at our B&B, and then off again.

We needed to cycle back to Duncan to complete the circle. Today's ride gave us a chance to ride some of the cycling trails in Victoria and that was a really pleasant part of the ride. Then up and over a hill to the ferry to take us across to the second half of the journey. That second half of the journey was a little bit more difficult with a few more climbs ... and heat. The official "in the shade" temp reached 32C, but our on-bike computers showed as high as 40C while we were cycling.

We finally stopped for lunch where we ate salty food and had quite a lot to drink to rehydrate.

From there, we only had about 10 km to go, and were into our destination in no time to complete a challenging little short tour loop (a randonnee + recovery ride) on a hot, hot weekend!

Distance: 51.6km
Elevation: 422m
Moving Time: 3:24:10
Elapsed Time: 5:52:08
Speed: Avg: 15.2km/h | Max: 47.9km/h



Saturday 01 July -- Canada Day!

We cycled our first Canada Day Populaire ... 150 km for Canada's 150th birthday.

There were about 600 riders on this event which ran throughout the lower mainland BC. We got some hills, some flat, lots of wind and lots of sun!

And then we cycled a bit more to get our century.

Distance: 161.5km
Elevation: 1270 metres
Moving Time: 7:49:22
Elapsed Time: 9:06:31
Speed: Avg: 20.6km/h | Max: 50.8km/h


It's been a busy couple weeks!

The goals we completed:

1. We successfully completed yet another Petite Year Round Randonneur cycling distance, making this the 9th month in a row.

2. We successfully completed yet another Century (100 mile) ride, making this the 7th month in a row for that.

And as a bonus, we did two long rides (the 213 km ride last weekend and the 161 km ride this weekend) in Canada with a club I have ridden with in the past, and got to see several people I knew back then.

Machka 

What's next on your schedule?

TiHabanero

There was a time not too long ago I had a real need to do double centuries. This year, something clicked and I came to realize that is not how I enjoy cycling anymore. I enjoy riding in the sun, out in farm country, or on hilly roads lined with old wood growth. Distance is completely irrelevant now, enjoyment is the goal, and I enjoy the time I have on the bike.

Machka 

I went through a bit of a down time where I didn't do much in the way of distance too ... but I've been back at it again the last couple years!

OldTryGuy

Last Friday at 10:10PM was the start of my birthday ride. Doubling my age as I've done for a number of years was originally the plan but then I got bitten by the 200 mile bug. Accomplished the 200 miles then added 1 mile extra to triple my age then 1 more mile for a palindrome 202 total. Thought that would be my long ride until my July 26th Memorial 100 Miler for buddy Pete Cornell killed by a semi 5 years ago when he was only 700 miles from completing a Prudhoe Bay to Key West ride, but now contemplating 250 miles this Friday night/Saturday morning since the moon is close to full and I really enjoy full moon riding. If the rains hold off it's out the door around 7PM Friday.

Carbonfiberboy 

July 9, some friends and I will do a 115 mile, 8000' loop ride, mostly 2 passes, much of it in eastern Washington which should be 95° but dry. It's a great training ride for RAMROD, 154 miles and 9000' later in July. I have a ticket for it again this year. Really looking forward to it. These are gorgeous rides.

bibike

Turned 70 this year and recently did a 70 mile charity ride under 5 hours near KC, MO. This week did a 60 mile training ride and looking at either the 70 or the 100 mile in two weeks. Not sure I want to commit to the 100 although I can make the decision at the 50-60 mile station. Will watch temps and wind for that day.

By the way I see the term "Hell's Gate" a lot in group rides stating you must be past Hell's Gate by a certain time. There is never any mention of where it is on the course, number of miles, etc. What exactly does this term refer to?

Mack3601

I've done one century so far - last summer. Plan on another one this summer.

revchuck 

@bibike- "Hell's Gate" refers to a point you must pass by a given time in order to proceed on the longer route. If you don't pass it by that time you'll be required to take the shorter route.

2manybikes

Another good day, yesterday. 152 miles (244 Kilometers). On a 18 lb road bike. Saw first skunk in years. Heard coyotes howling in the distance, for the first time, it was a full moon, maybe they really do howl at the moon. Saw one coyote, one huge deer, a doe. Coyotes are know to inhabit a place I ride by frequently. Hope they don't think I'm a deer. Lotza dumb rabbits all over the road. A few domestic house cats. And a couple of bats.