Raven Rock Ramble, North Carolina

[Jim Parker]

Here are a couple of photos taken after the event. L>R : Jim, Doug, and Larry. Hundreds of riders picked various routes. This trio did the 100-mile. Larry would have beat me by a lot this year, but he took a wrong turn (actually a U-turn) AND got a flat. We still finished together. My average time for 104 miles was 20.7 mph with about 4800 ft of elevation. There were some other Cruzbikers participating, but they left before we got in. Last year I was in much better condition (having been training for RAAM). I was happy with my time, considering. My max speed today was 45.6 mph




And here is a testament to the comfort of the bikes. We used them as lounge chairs for resting, chatting, and belly-scratching after the 100-miler. I didn't see any standard bike riders sitting around on their saddles chatting after the ride. I think I'm about to fall asleep in this photo.



Tech notes: I have always been a proponent of our stock headrest. But I put our performance adjustable headrest on this bike yesterday, got it tuned-in, and I really liked it. I could rest my head a little more forward than I've ever been able to before, and it was more comfortable on the long ride.
Also note Larry and I put our light mount posts on the CF race case pointing UP... more aero and you don't lose your light.

 

[LarryOz]

Hard ride. It was great to ride with Jim & Doug again too!
Plus Jim keeps his KOM!!!

Jim and I started many minutes or so after the main group thinking it would be motivating to try and catch everyone. Looking at Strava Flyby, it looks like we spotted them 3 miles, so 9 minutes at least since climbing. Turned out to be pretty hard to pass everyone, as there were 650 riders and many groups just hogged the road and made it difficult to get around them. I really got tired of realling "ON YOUR LEFT!", especially when no one appeared to listen!

I lost Jim somewhere between 5-10 miles trying to go around groups I think. Around mile 11.7 I thought I was off course because I did not see the "white" arrows in the rode. I asked someone what route we were on and they said the 62 mile route. I turned back - passed Jim a minute or 2 later later - told him I thought we were on the wrong route. He shook his head. I kept riding backwards until I spotted the white arrow on the road and turned around and started going back the original way, thinking it might have branched off. It did not, there were not many white arrows on the road, but lots of yellow ones. I lost 4:10 on that maneuver!! So that meant I spotted the main field over 13 minutes now!

I rode pretty hard and eventually caught up with Jim again. Then lost him when he blew through a turn (at the same place we all got "lost" last year.) About mile 70, I front flatted at the "exact" place I flatted last year. Not sure what I hit, but it punctured the sidewall and it would not seal. Sealant spewing out, but never sealed. I tried to pump it up and let it seal for over 10 minutes (what a waste of time!!!) and eventually stuck a tube in it. I actually spend 23 minutes down because of this flat. Amazing how time flies!!! Jim caught up to me at that point (and few other fast guys) and helped me put my front wheel back one. He took off and I grabbed some oranges, water and went to the bathroom and then took off chasing him again. (just like last year!!). I finally caught Jim after about 20 miles, as we turned onto Sharron Harris Road; about 6 miles from the finish. We rode into the finish together, just as we started. I am definitely not as in as good as shape as I was last year (all that RAAM training I guess). Just don't seem to have as much "long distance" endurance

I think Jim & I might have tied for the "fastest" loop time. For some reason Strava is not giving me a "place" for the Raven Rock Ramble KOM, probably because I back-tracked that section back at mile 11.7.

I averaged 22.6 while riding, too bad I lost almost 1/2 hour again between the flat and the "wrong turn".
A very good workout though!

The Strava flyby is pretty cool to watch, especially if you zoom in a little bit and watch the action between everyone a little more closely
https://labs.strava.com/flyby/viewer/#1554409452?c=dnrc8zn7&z=B&t=1QxlSr&a=7GemXGAiqlw

I did video the entire ride again. I will attempt to process it in the next day or two and post.

 

[Doug Kline]

This trio did the 100-mile.

To be fair, knowing the course, I trimmed off a silly 7 mile loop with 400 feet of climb and did 98 miles. Much closer to a century than 105 miles. Finished just at 5 hours which was my fastest Raven Rock Ramble ever. One quick stop. Last year I cramped up 40 miles in while trying to chase Maria. But Maria couldn't make it this year, so I rode a wee bit more sensible. Still, I'm not a mountain goat so I was cranking it out at my max. It was a good day.

Well...not a fully good day. I rider got hit today turning left into a rest stop. He's in the hospital, assessing the damage. A car from behind overtook him in the intersection. Hit his head hard. It reminds me just how important my 80mm B&H mirrors on my handlebars are to me. They give me a easy, clear view of what cars are doing behind me.

 

[Doug Kline]

It's really hard to look at the route without thinking "there's something in that route that's not needed".

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12996019

 

[Pollock]

Nice ride guys!

I need to remember this next year. It’s right in my backyard! Perhaps ‘just’ the metric century though.

 

[Doug Kline]

I need to remember this next year.

Set a calendar item. Registration is Dec 1. Last Dec 1 it filled up in less than 14 hours. This Dec 1 it will go even quicker.

 

[Pollock]

Thanks for the tip. Reminds me of signing up for the Medoc trail run.