pedlpadl
Well-Known Member
Anyone going to this event this year? I'm considering doing the non-competitive century. Would love to meet some of you. I see some prominent CruzBikers holding records at this event!
Mid-Atlantic 12/24 - August 20, 2016
- Thread starter pedlpadl
- Start date
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Jim rode a sub 4-hour in 2014.
He and I placed 1,2 last year (2015).
I am pretty sure Jim & Maria are going this year, and I am planning on it as well.
Not much difference between the competitive and non competitive, except I think you don't leave together.
You won't find a better or flatter route either. It is very nice!
Alvin Maxwell holds a nice event. You'll have a great time!
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LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
ratz
Wielder of the Rubber Mallet
Larry aren't you legs registered with the Feds as weapons of mass destruction? So you have to drop out?I don't think they allow firearms of any kind at this event!
hoyden
Well-Known Member
Or classified as "high capacity" legs as defined by the Assault Recumbent Ban.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Not likely Ratz, with these skinny little things - (21" circ)!
On the contrary, I have heard rumors that your thighs are like small tree trunks - someday when I "grow up", I want my thighs to be as strong as yours.
That's one of my secret goals for a winter - build some more muscle mass down there - but who knows, maybe it isn't really required unless you want to crank out those killer high sprint watts like you do. I remember running X-country in HS. The fastest people almost defied logic: There where skinnier than everyone else, and to look at their legs, you would wonder if they could even make it across the parking lot - and then they would summarily put a whipping on you in the next 3 to 5 miles and not even seem like it affected them! It's a mystery!
Doug Kline
Guru
Mid-Atlantic 24 hour 2-person Cruzbike relay team anyone?
I'm planning on doing the 24 hour again this year. Last year I talked some friends into forming five 2-person relay teams on DF. All the teams met our goal and got over 400 miles. It was a convenient loop hole for getting into the 400 mile club, as I can't quite do that solo yet. This year I'm taking my V20. I've been working on getting comfortable on it and rode a little over 200 miles this week. I think I'll be ready to do 200 in a day by next month, so... I can either go out at an easy pace and PR on single-day miles or talk someone into teaming up with me to get at least 400 combined.
I've gotten over 200 miles in a single day four times on my DF with 208 my maximum, but it was really too painful to go any further. I had to switch to a Thor seat to get comfortable on the V20, but everything is good now. The bike is ready for some distance riding and after the training this week I'm ready to commit to the 24 hour.
I'm planning on doing the 24 hour again this year. Last year I talked some friends into forming five 2-person relay teams on DF. All the teams met our goal and got over 400 miles. It was a convenient loop hole for getting into the 400 mile club, as I can't quite do that solo yet. This year I'm taking my V20. I've been working on getting comfortable on it and rode a little over 200 miles this week. I think I'll be ready to do 200 in a day by next month, so... I can either go out at an easy pace and PR on single-day miles or talk someone into teaming up with me to get at least 400 combined.
I've gotten over 200 miles in a single day four times on my DF with 208 my maximum, but it was really too painful to go any further. I had to switch to a Thor seat to get comfortable on the V20, but everything is good now. The bike is ready for some distance riding and after the training this week I'm ready to commit to the 24 hour.
Doug Kline
Guru
I did a century (165km) yesterday on the Mid Atlantic 12/24 course. The rain held off long enough and the ride went well. So I signed up for the 24 hour non-drafting solo. I won't be setting any records but would like to PR. I still have to keep a firm grip on the handlebar, not a full death grip, but enough that my hands still hurt a day later. However I did have my friend on his DF trying to draft off me so I tried to stay much steadier than I'll have to with no one near me. I think my hands will give out before my legs.
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
Oh the memories of the pain from my hands during last years 24hr. Never have I wanted to be able to ride with no hands on the bars so much in my life.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Way to go Doug - I'll be there, but will be defending my Century Title, so no 12 or 24 for me.
I know you will do great and look forward to seeing you again.
As far as a death grip goes with you hands. What has helped me was to just keep ever so slightly less and less "grip" on the bars.
Try these drills:
With your palms open and against the back of the bars, apply just a small amount of pressure against "back" of the bars with your palms. (i.e. You will probably just be pushing one side or the other to counteract your pedaling over-steer). While you are doing this concentrate on pedaling in full circles with you legs. I'm not talking monster power, but something relatively easy - 100-150watts or so, so you are not having to really push or pull hard with you feet against the pedals. You are training your legs to help you steer and teaching you brain that you don't really need your hands that much, especially to "grip" the handlebars.
Then after that drill do the same thing, but instead of using you palms with gentle "push tapping/touching" on the handle, do the reverse: reach around the top of your bars with your fingers and you will be "pull tapping/touching" the bars. Do the same drill this way - keep your cadence and power as level as you can.
Pretty soon you can experiment with ever so slightly lifting you hands off the bars - just a mm or so - if you wobble - give slightly correction, but don't "grip" the bars unless you really have to totally take over to avoid a spill.
Practice this every time you ride - you will never have to "grip" the handlebars hard, unless you are trying to use your upper body to help generate power for a hill climb or strong acceleration.
Eventually you'll be able to ride totally with no hands - like Jim does - lacing your fingers together behind your helmet!
Good Luck - and see at the Mid-Atlantic event!
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Practice on you trainer Jason - that way you won't fall - then just do the same on the open road (works me for!)
I know you play the video games while on the trainer - maybe you just need to take a controller with you when you ride outdoors and you won't need to touch the handlebars much.
Doug Kline
Guru
Thanks for the advice Larry. I'm headed off to New Zealand for the next three weekend so I've run out of time to practice. I get back in time to start tapering so will do gentle riding just working on my hands the weekend before. Looking forward to catching up with you next month.
pedlpadl
Well-Known Member
I notice in your picture that you aren't wearing gloves. They do help with the grip problem, especially if your hands are sweaty. Another thing you can do is ride one handed frequently to give one hand or the other a break. I also frequently keep my palms on the grips and wave my fingers for a break. I may see you at the event, probably as you fly past me.
RojoRacing
Donut Powered Wise-guy
Maybe I can wire a servo into the boom and control the steering via the playstation control. Then if I mount a camera with live feed I can have my pit crew steer for me while I rest my eyes
super slim
Zen MBB Master
Jason, I hope you realize that a Tesla driver while in autopilot, died recently after a collision while watching a movie!
