Getting old sucks, might as well have a nice bike
Coming off of the fondo successes earlier this summer, I thought I was prepared for my first race. Oh, was I wrong… Naive tactics and bad luck led to a disappointing result.…
I do a lot of long rides, both in miles, and when I get the chance, elevation. Nothing I have done prepared me for the pain that is the 2021 Horrible Hilly Hundreds 200k. Intro: 0:25 Ride Recap: 2:36 Numbers: 9:02 Right/Wrong: 12:17…
I originally signed up for the HHH last year, and when it was canceled I deferred my registration for this year. Unfortunately, their signup was early in the year, you know, back when COVID vaccine availability was still a nebulous thing, so I ignored it… Well, karma intervened; I won’t be punting on what will certainly rank among the most challenging things I’ve done… Wish me luck, and if you’re at the…
The 2021 Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) is the most epic thing I’ve ever done. This video attempts to break down the ride as it happened for me, discuss what I learned from doing something at this scale, and the observations afterwards. Dave Blodgett’s Donation Page Welcome: 00:22 Getting Dropped: 6:38 Recovery: 8:56 “Winning” RAW: 10:55 What I learned: 12:28 Observations: 15:43 …
If you follow me on Strava, you’d probably seen that I’ve been putting in some long rides recently. The reason for that, or well the main reason for that, I also like long rides, is that I’m planning to do the one-day Ride Across Wisconsin (RAW) at the end of the month. Fortunately, I won’t have to do it solo because there are at least three other riders crazy enough to attempt…
If you’d asked me two months ago, if I was going to do any organized rides in 2021, the answer would have been “no”. But a lot has changed since then. Going to be in IA for this gravel race on October 2nd, and have something else shaping up on the road in late July. As always, if you’re around make sure to say hi. The Snaggy Ridge 105 is a gravel…
I was supposed to ride the Tour de Steamboat last year, but due to a crash I didn’t have a bike, or a capable shoulder. Completing the ride is still on the bucket list, but it wouldn’t have worked out this year even without this COVID stuff, so I didn’t sign up. Still on the email list though, so I was shocked, I say, shocked to see this creative solution from the…
I knew it was going to happen. It was totally the right thing to do. But, that doesn’t make it feel better. I was using the specter of having to do 200k as impetus to keep escalating my weekend rides. Now, I’ll have to find another excuse to sell the family on ;). Dear Riders, The “Safer-at-Home” order for Wisconsin was recently extended through May 26, 2020 by Governor Tony Evers. Given the…
Assuming I make it, the 200K Horribly Hilly Hundreds will combine the longest distance, and the most elevation gain, I’ve ever completed in a single ride. I expect that it will be crushing. But, that’s kind of the point in endurance cycling. Isn’t it? Set a goal, do what you can to train and plan to achieve that goal, and suffer until you get there. Been talking a good game so far.…
I will be riding the Rough Road 100 on April 4th, as it is my first gravel “race” I’m not quite sure what to expect. I’ve ridden well over 100km on the road more times than I can count, but I’ve never done this sort of distance on a trail. My current thinking is to plan/train for it like I would for a road century (100 miles). Suggestions around how to prepare…