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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

861.0. "A 24 hour time trial" by BANZAI::FISHER (BMB Finisher) Mon Sep 12 1988 09:56

    I thought I'd share this article which I wrote for the Granite
    State Wheelmen's newsletter Pedal Talk.  It describes an event
    which I rode in July, 1987.
    
    --------------------------------
    
    	My 24 Hour Time Trial
                       - ed fisher

    Remember that hot weekend last July, the one right before NEAR?
That was Ultra-Week in Capron, Illinois.  Ultra-Week is an event
consisting of four events, three of which are Ultra-Marathon events
and one of which is included for the local folks to go for a ride. 
    The Ultra-Marathon events include: the RAAM Open Midwest, a 603
mile event which must be completed in 58 hours, the best finishers
qualify for the Race Across America; the WISILL (Wisconsin-Illinois)
time-trial in which the challenge is to complete as many miles as you
can in 24 hours; and the Boone Docks Double, a race to see how fast
you can complete 200 miles. 
    The non ultra-marathon event is the Money Metric, an event which
anyone can enter for the payment of a $5 fee and receive a patch and a
cap.  The ride is either 50 or 100 km at the discretion of the rider
and uses the same course as the ultramarathon events. 
    The course is a relatively flat 28.8 mile figure 8 loop on country
roads through farmland.  There are checkpoints at the middle of the 15
mile north and 13.8 mile south loops and at the center where you can
stop to get food and water and "use the facilities."  All support
crews must remain within a three block radius of this central area
unless notified that their rider needs help. 
    Before checkin you must have your bicycle and its lighting and
reflectors checked.  You are allowed to have a day bike and a night
bike.  The night bike is checked.  You are given reflective materials
if you need some, including a fanny bumper. 
    The start of each event is a two mile controlled start led by the
Capron Fire Truck, followed by all of the women riders then the men.
Two miles out of town the riders are "turned loose."  Within a short
period of time the pack is expected to separate and drafting is not
permitted.  The RAM Open had more than 70 riders so it was a full lap
before all of the riders were separated by the minimum 4 bike lengths.
The remaining 20 laps would certainly separate the stars from the
wheelsuckers. 
    I went there for the WISILL, the 24 hour time trial.  I had never
before ridden 300 miles in a day and deemed that to be a worthwhile
goal.  The RAAM Open started Friday morning at 8 am; the Boone Docks
Double started Saturday Morning at 7 am; the WISILL started at noon on
Saturday.  The Money Metric was not to start till Sunday at 1 when
most of the racers were off the course. 
    I arrived in Capron before the start of the RAAM Open so that I
could see what things were like and check out (ride) the course, make
sure my bike still worked, etc.  I immediately decided that my
lighting was inadequate and bought a new light.  I spent the rest of
the day wiring it, protecting the wires, and, of course, breaking the
Cardinal Rule: never change anything before the big event. 
    That evening there were 45 minutes of drenching rain.  The RAAM
Open continued, the riders were into their 5th, 6th, 7th laps by then.
More than a dozen riders had finished the first 100 miles in under 5
hours, some of them for the first time in their lives.  I later asked
some of the riders what they thought of the rain and they all said
that it was not long enough. 
    Saturday morning, I arrive for checkin and bike inspection.  All
Set. I mount my numbers.  I mix 7 bottles of Ultra Energy and
Challenge of various flavors, leave them in my cooler.  My plan is to
use one per lap plus anything else I could ingest and digest, granola
bars, bananas, spaghetti (boy, does it get the handle bars messy).
I'd have to mix some more later, you should only keep it mixed for
about 12 hours, besides I don't have a dozen water battles.  I would
have to stop every lap to dash over to my van and get a bottle. 
    We start at 12 sharp according to the bank clock on the corner.
There are 48 riders, 3 are women. At 1:30 I finish the first lap,
shout out my number 151. Exchange water bottles, stuff pockets, back
on the bike, 4 minutes lost, could have gone another mile in that time
if I hadn't had to run to the van.  I start my second lap. 
    I start to notice the other riders more.  A young fellow with a
green and white jersey.  I remember him from the start.  I pass and
say, "Hi."  An older lady doing the RAAM Open.   She's not going too
fast, must be on her 10th lap or so.  Some faster riders pass me, we
exchange greetings.  I saw a pair of RAAM Open riders, one was riding
out of the saddle as much as possible.  300 plus miles in the saddle
seem to be hurting his rear. 
    I was memorizing the course to prepare myself for the night.  The
arrows are enormous: 2 feet by 2 feet and at least 4 inches wide but I
am preparing in case one is hard to see at night.  Left and Right, out
of town; Mile 2, Stop, cross; Mile 7, Right; 7.5 Right, shout your
number; 12, Right; 13, Stop, Left; Capron, townfolks on the lawns
applauding, other rider's support crews; left and right the
grandstand, Lon, water. 
    The Southern Loop: Stop (Lon's watching), cross, support crews, a
few people with water hoses (it's hot), right and left and out of
town; 2 miles, right; 4 miles, left, I'll have to watch for this one;
a big pot hole in the middle of the road; at night it's often safest
to just take the middle of the road, except here; 6 miles, left, this
one will be easy to spot, it's on what might pass for a hill; half a
mile further shout your number; 7 miles, left, 9 miles, zig right zag
left then again; the pig farm, I'll know that one tonight; The Hill, I
don't know that it's a Hill yet.  12 miles, left, the RR tracks; 13
miles, right, Stop Cross, shout your number, get stuff.  There are
supportive signs along the course.  Also a few water sprinklers
soaking part of the road.  I detour to get wet. 
    I begin the third lap. It's 3:15, I still have a 6 hr Century
going. I pass Green and White Jersey again.  Coming through the
Grandstand again, I refill a water bottle.  It's 95 degrees at the
Capron Bank and around 4 pm.  Some guy is being congratulated by Lon
for winning the RAAM Open in 32 hrs, folks applaud. He had done 467
miles in the first 24 hours, more applause. 
    I am on my way, my race is still on. I meet some friends from New
England,  ride half a lap or so with Charlie.  We must not draft and
if we ride side by side it must be 2 bike lengths apart, 1 at night.
Charles shows me how to cue on that left turn on the bottom of the
course. 
    I begin the fourth lap, I pass Green and White again.  I said,
"Hello, again."  He said, "Do you have a crew?"  I said, "No." He
said, "That's the difference, you're faster, but I have a crew so we
keep the same pace."  I pass that "older lady" again. I'm doing a lap
and a half to each of her laps.  She's not there to qualify for the
Race Across America, she's there to finish. 
    After four and a half laps I get the battery for my head lamp, it
will be dark in an hour.  Chuck it into a water bottle cage, connect
the alligator clips, yup it works.  I head off on the southern half,
still able to sprint from the stop sign.  It's still a relief to be
sprayed with a hose.  Right, left, right, left, bumps, the battery
falls out, "Oh, s**t, the wire broke, too."  I gather my parts. Grab
some duct tape from my bag.  (My tools are: a tire tool, a tube, a
pump, and a strip of duct tape.)  I taped the battery in and set off
to finish the lap before DARK.  Don't want any penalties. I made it in
Just Before Dark.  Ran over to my van and began emergency repairs.
Some of my work of the previous evening had been to make some spare
wires with clips at both ends.  I grabbed those, duct taped them,
tested it, exchanged bottles, grabbed some more GRANOLA BARS and
headed off. 
    At 1 am, I had almost a double century finished, 7 laps, a few
miles to go, then I can start the THIRD CENTURY.  I've slowed down a
bit by now, plus it's dark.  It's started to cool off.  I haven't used
my Big Ring in hours.  As I ride the top half of the loop, I notice a
feeling I haven't had all day, I have to "use the facilities." I hurry
a little. 
    In the latter half of the eighth lap, I see lightning, I hear
thunder. It's occasionally bright enough to tell how ripe the corn is.
The wind picks up.  The thought of being on a 56 mm lightning rod does
not thrill me.  I finish the lap.  I need 2 laps to make my 300 but
the weather scares me.  As I get back to the checkpoint the weather is
getting there too.  Sue Notarangelo's emergency skills take over and
she get's folks to help put the side down on the tent.  I've been in
Oklahoma during tornados, I am not thrilled with this.  Sue, veteran
of at least 5 trancontinental crossings, talks me into taking a nap.
Excellent idea.  I lie down in my van for a while, no alarm clock. 
    When I awake, I have a "Where am I?" feeling.  Being on the floor
of the back of my van is a clue that something's up.  It dawns on me.
It's 7:10 and I've got a race to finish.  I change my shorts, jersey.
"Shower?" Are you kidding.  I get my allotment of French Toast,
there's plenty of time to finish my TWO MORE LAPS. 
    I get my water, get on the bike (remove the battery), head
southward. I've got to do 56 miles in 4.5 hours, that's 12-something
mph, surely I can do that.  I did the 13.8 in 1:02, I'm on pace, I'll
get my triple. The next 15 take a little longer, my tush hurts, my
knees are stiff.  The bike feels heavy, why did I bother with all that
heavy unneeded equipment: you know, the front derailleur, left
shifter, 53 tooth chainring, those links in the chain that I didn't
need. 
    I finish the 10th lap at 10:45.  People at the checkpoint are
making sure I'm aware of how they are going to finish the race.
Remember, there's no finish line; it's your last mile marker as of
12:00. There will be officials all over the course.  I have 75 minutes
to do 12 miles.  Somehow finishing 300 miles in 24 hours and still
having to ride 3 does not appeal to me. I want to finish the whole
northern loop by noon.  I feel I can do it, after all, it's only a 12
mph pace. Every other lap I've ridden with the intention that I could
do another lap right away, I've always held back, saved some strength.
There's no more need for a reserve, I can put everything I have into
the next 15 miles, anyone can ride 15 miles. 
    The wind's out of the North.  My tush hurts.  My knees complain.
My neck screams.  Right elbow, left foot they are all saying
something. I rip open a Granola Bar, Yuch, you actually eat those
things?  I push on.  The Stop sign.  The half hearted sprint to get
back up to speed. The next five miles into the wind.  The right turn.
Eight miles to go 42 minutes, 12 mph pace with 2 minutes to spare!
Half a mile, right turn, shout 151.  The 8 mile marker, the 9; six
miles to go, 34 minutes.  I've gained 2 minutes with my tailwind!
Right turn, left turn, the crowds, the cheers, well these folks have
been here for 3 days now. 
    I get to the checkpoint with 303 miles at 11:55.  I could go down
the road another mile to make it 304 in 24 hours.  But I'd have to
ride back.  I'm in 18th place.  That's good enough for 1987. 
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
861.1BRAVOMCIS2::DELORIEAMon Sep 12 1988 12:484
    Great note Ed. I wish they had races like that around Mass. I'd
    like to WATCH :-)
    
    TD
861.2riding the 600, unsupported.NOVA::FISHERBMB FinisherMon Sep 12 1988 13:348
    There is one in Johnstown, NY, this coming weekend.  Actually
    the 600 starts in Johnstown and happens about 20 miles northward
    arounf the Great Sacondago (I think) lake.  the 24 hour is on the
    same course but going counter clockwise.
    
    I'm ready.
    
    ed
861.3:-)QUICKR::FISHERDictionary is not.Mon Jun 04 1990 12:1110
    New personal best for 24 hours.  332.0 miles, done in the Bud Light
    24-hour Challenge in Edinburg, NY. (Often referred to as Johnstown).
    
    This hardly compares to the Capron course because the downhills in
    the Adirondacks are so incredible. :-)
    
    I took a bunch of notes and will enter a better report under #1477
    later.  (If I am lucky Kevin will beat me to the punch.)
    
    ed