S40 - Final Training Ride + random thoughts

[YOGA_O]

Hey Cruzbikers -

Color me excited!

Today I finished my last training prep ride for the 100 mile Breakthrough T1D ride in La Crosse, WI on August 3. I rode with my training partner, Martin and we put in ~30 miles on the Doodle Trail that runs from Easley to Pickens, SC. The Doodle Trail is about 7.5 miles long one way, so we doubled it. It features a bit more climbing than the longer and better known Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC.

Tomorrow, I take the bike and a BikeFlight box to the Trek Greenville store, where they will pack it up for shipment to La Crosse. I need to make sure I mark everything so I can get the bike set up for me by the Breakthrough T1D team in La Crosse, plus I need to remove mirrors, bags, etc. I'm trying to think of how to ensure that the thru axle tool that stores in the thru axle doesn't get lost in the shuffle .I could just leave it here, since I don't know that I will need it, even if I get a flat, since I'll have SAG support on the ride.

Yes, I'm still asking for donations - here's link if you are interested. Any amount is welcome - Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Ride

So here's some stats from my time in South Carolina:
9 rides in approx 6 weeks
294 miles
Longest ride - 62.81 miles aka a METRIC CENTURY (YaY!)
Shortest ride - 15.29 on my first Doodle Trail ride
Falls = 0
Only one ride has been strictly a road ride. All others have been trail or a trail/road combo
I've really been loving riding with the Race Cage (RC). As I noted in an earlier post, I have been putting a 3.0 liter water bladder in the RC and wrapping it in a cooling towel. I've also put a Velcro loop around the right tube for the headrest and feeding the bite straw/tubing through it to keep the tubing so that it lies on my chest and doesn't fly off and catch in the rear wheel (don't ask me how I know that this can happen).

The Voile strap has come in handy at every rest stop. It's hugely important to note that when leaving a rest stop, it helps to remove the strap before trying to ride off on the next leg. Again, don't ask me how I know ...

I still can't ride with at least one hand on the handlebar, and I'm not all that eager to try it again. I also cannot retrieve something from my pocket that needs to be manipulated with two hands.

I'm still trying to understand/master moving the bike side-to-side to help climb hills. Fortunately, the Breakthrough T1D ride in La Crosse has only one big hill at about the halfway point.

Here's a couple of photos that show off the new Breakthrough T1D jersey (Yes, it IS designed for "upright" bikes) and another profile shot of my S40 with the RC.

TIA - I'll report more after I ride in August

 

[Midnight]

Awesome - you’ll do great. I hate that I didn’t get to catch up with you for a ride, I didn’t realize (read close enough) that you were in my area for this amount of time. Good luck

 

[YOGA_O]

Awesome - you’ll do great. I hate that I didn’t get to catch up with you for a ride, I didn’t realize (read close enough) that you were in my area for this amount of time. Good luck

Thanks!

When you read this, think of Arnold Schwarzenegger:

I'll be back!

We will be in SC until mid-October, so let's see if we can ride sometime.

 

[JerseyJim]

I still can't ride with at least one hand on the handlebar, and I'm not all that eager to try it again. I also cannot retrieve something from my pocket that needs to be manipulated with two hands.

Good luck with your ride! It sounds like you have done enough to complete a century. The website says a steady 10-11 mph will be enough to get through it, so it sounds like you'll have plenty of time.

If you want to be able to use both hands to get something or put something away on the bike, it's best to work up to it gradually. While I still can't ride no-handed completely, by taking both hands off and coasting, not pedaling, for a few seconds at a time and building up from there, I have been able to increase the amount of time I can go without my hands on the bars. Now in a pinch I can get something out of a bag or pocket, or swap from one hand to the other. I wouldn't try it on your big ride, but it's just a tip.

 

[cranky cyclist]

Good luck with your ride!

 

[YOGA_O]

I completely forgot to give a shout out to the STOPPY!!! The Stoppy has been a real breakthrough in my ability to handle the bike when I'm not riding.

Since arriving in South Carolina, I upgraded to using the Stoppy for loading and unloading the S40 in/out of my Honda Fit, instead of that spring-loaded stand. I've attached a few pictures. Let me note that when the frame without the rear wheel is resting on the pavement, I always place it there very gently, and it is there for the short period of time while I get the wheel in the right place.

At home, it's so convenient to unload the bike, put the rear wheel back on and then roll the bike into its storage spot. FWIW, this set of pictures was just outside the bike shop where I dropped the bike off for shipping to the Breakthrough T1D Ride in La Crosse, WI.

 

[Robert Holler]

This has become my favorite stand as well. It works really well. Particularly since these were custom made for us by special order (the company had actually stopped making them entirely and made for us at request - which took a LONG time haha) and the wheels were upgraded a bit from the original version that had much smaller more flimsy wheels.

It is a WIN.

 

[LarryOz]

We will be in SC until mid-October, so let's see if we can ride sometime.

Come visit me at the Cruzeum on Hilton Head and we can ride some. Call or text me when you know your dates better. 828-216-7860

 

[YOGA_O]

Come visit me at the Cruzeum on Hilton Head and we can ride some. Call or text me when you know your dates better. 828-216-7860

Thanks Larry - I'll have to give it some thought. You're only 5 hours away ...