Road Ride Report RR - Road (Alley?) - 100 Miles of Nowhere

So, on Saturday last, the 4th; I rode the 100 Miles of Nowhere. What is that you ask? Well, the blogger FatCyclist created this charity event with the purpose of riding 100 Miles without going anywhere.

Here's my original post about trying this as my first century
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trailhead/58274-100-miles-nowhere-june-4th-2011-a.html

On Friday night I got a few things ready, laid out my clothes, made sure I had fluids and energy ready, got the Q ready, put the race number on the bike - and most importantly, made sure the keg and jockey box were iced up and plenty of CO2.



In the morning, I got up and got ready. I threw open the garage door, hung my flag as it were and began to ride.



I took a video of the first lap. Spend two minutes counting garage doors or something if you're bored.

[video=youtube;ky9rFT8gi_w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9rFT8gi_w[/video]

I started by counting laps every 5 laps, but after awhile it became obvious that stopping for 20 seconds or so every 8 minutes or so would slow me down to much. So, I just decided to depend upon my bike computer and GPS.

After a little while, my friend Dave showed up. He can be very encouraging and made me a sign.



He got his chair and grabbed himself a beer. Then he got his bike and started to wrench on it in the garage, watching Breaking Away.

...more to come....

 

Oh, almost forgot - the obligatory 0.0 shot



A little while later Cori showed up and then Eric and then Bruce. (I don't think I got any pictures of my fans)
Cori sent me a pic of me riding



They all grabbed a beer or more, sat down and watched some of the movie, interrupted every minute and a half or so by some idiot riding by on his bike.

After a bit (maybe 70 laps or so, the last three each had to go to do something more interesting, like watch grass grow or paint dry or CalTrans workers actually do some work.

Since Eric had ridden his dual sport over, I asked him if he would motorpace me for a bit.





[video=youtube;cgPT-S68CEE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPT-S68CEE[/video]

A friend came over to do my stepdaughters hair and makeup since it was prom night. She and my wife cheered once or twice and went back into the house to do all those girly things.

So, it was kinda just me and Dave for awhile.

...still more to come...

 

I decided to fight some of the tedium by reversing my direction every 50 laps or so. It's kinda like riding your favorite loop backwards; it's the same and yet different. Or like changing directions at Over the Hump. Or, it was really like changing nothing at all except going in a different direction. It was kinda like unwinding the kinks in my neck and dizziness in my head from always going the same way.

Dave got his bike good to go and rode with me for a few laps. After two or so he asked when lunch was. I told him I planned on stopping for lunch after 50 miles. Halfway seemed like a good time for lunch. He asked when that was, I told him 8.5 miles. Dave said "Let's hurry up, I'm hungry Focker"

I put my bike in the big ring and led Dave out. We upped the pace from about 12 1/2 miles an hour or so up to 17-18 or so. I felt like I was leading out on a very short track criterium - except the dodging cars and kids and bunny hopping the occasional speed bump because a car was in our gutter line. Except, I've never been in a crit.

We got within 0.25 miles on our ~0.30 mile course and so I gave my best Dave Towle 1 to go, 1 to go yell. We rolled back to the garage at just over fifty miles. Dave grabbed a beer and sat down while I got the Q going and started cooking some burgers. He said he was tired from the hard charging we did to get to lunch. I went in and got the ladies' orders as well.

Then another friend Chris showed up, so I gave him a beer and put another burger on the Q for him.

With the cooking done, I grabbed myself a beer and my burger and sat down to watch a little of the US Soccer team getting their rears handed to them by Spain. Does anybody know how to play defense?

...still more to come...

 

After lunch I got rolling again. I started off kinda slowly since I just ate. After a few laps I got back on about my normal pace for the day. The game ended and Dave and Chris joined me for a few more laps. Chris was struggling kinda one leggeed as he'd recently tweaked his bum knee. They soon sat down for another beer and I was on my own again, dodging the cars and kids and such.

In time, Chris left and the ladies were done with their thing; so they came out to heckle a bit. Soon enough, Ann left, my wife retreated to the house and tehn Dave left (no, I wasn't out of beer).

Alone again pedalling in circles and getting a bit more tired. It was moving from afternoon to evening and it was time to walk and feed the dogs. That's my job, so off the bike for a break to go for a walk. 77 miles in; just about even with my longest ride ever which was just last month. I was moving like an old feeble dude while walking the dogs, and I felt it. A bunch of neighbors were at the pool and asked what was up. I gave them the lowdown, and they kinda got it, but also thought I must be crazy. I'd been riding my bike longer than they'd been at the pool with their kids, and they'd been there "all day!"

Got the dogs back and feed them and headed back out to the garage. I figured I was 3/4ths done and deserved a beer. So, I grabbed a frosty mug and grabbed myself one and sat down.

That beer felt great! Watched a bit of TV until my wife came out and asked WTF I was doing. I explained the whole 3/4's done thing and she told me to hurry up and get it done.

So, I finished off the great feeling beer and got back on the bike with not so great feeling legs.

...more to come...

 

So, back to the report
Back on the bike, started off slow and easy for the first few laps. Then, I started ramping it up to get to a decent pace.
About 85 miles in a neighbor on the far side of the complex drove in the complex and started yelling at me out the window that I couldn't do that (I guess she meant riding my bike?) for three more laps she stood at her garage and yelled at me each time. I said nothing, ignored her and just kept going.
Dave came back now and brought his two long haired dachsunds. He grabbed his usual spot by the chair and grabbed a beer.
I was hurting pretty much now. Miles 80-90 were getting painful, that kind where you cringe and just don't want to make that movement 'cuz it hurts. I had to keep going, so close now.
At mile 90, it was hurting more and more. At my lunch stop my computer average was 14.2 mph hour. All afternoon after lunch I watched that average slowly but surely dropping. 14.1; then 14.0; then gulp, below 14 at 13.9; 13.8; 13.7; 13.6....13.0! What! Dropping even lower? Now it seemed like it dropped every other lap or so. I had to admit defeat to this little evil computer and realize that I wouldn't hold a 14 mph average or even a 13 mph average.
Just before sunset

 

That little bike ride out of the way, I pushed Dave out of a chair and grabbed a beer and sat down.
I was pretty sore, but glad that I finished my first century.

My wife had come out for the finish and not more than four minutes after I had finished, my friend Matt showed up. He had made some math errors on when I would finish (and one too many stops at a bar on the way to my house) and missed the finish.

Beers for everyone!!

Later, I would get my stats off my computer
My computer had 100.19 miles and its been pretty on recently - so I'm counting that. 12.6 mph avg, 19.1 mph max, 7:56:30 ride time and just about 11 hours total time.
Apparently, my GPS got really bored doing circles around my complex. When I downloaded the track, I could see that it had taken side trips to San Juan Cap, Laguna Hills, Foothill Ranch, Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo.



After a bit of work hand editing, I ended up with this - but only about 67 miles. It still took some weird trips thru the houses and such.

 

A little additional..
Bruce sent me a phone video of what it looked like

[video=youtube;Kh1qfYO-B3w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh1qfYO-B3w[/video]

From left to right Dave, Cori and Eric.

Some comments
Cori - Nice job Rumpy. You were really pedaling it when I stopped by.

Chris - A great spectator event. It was fun sitting in your open garage chatting and drinking beer, while every so often something blurry went past in the background. See we told you, you could do it!

And even though this report may make it seem like all Dave does is sit around and drink beer - that's not totally accurate. He was a good supporter and heckler AND he did sit around and drink beer - multitasker!

Will I do this again? Probably. Will I do it in my complex? No freakin' way!

Besides this whole doing a century thing, this all started via the Fat Cyclist as a fundraiser for cancer charities. Hopefully, my little bit of contribution helps. My mother died of cancer, Chris has had cancer, I've had some real minor cancers and will probably have more. Somehow, we all know someone who has had cancer or been affected by it.

 

OMG! :lol: :clap:
The ultimate century! You did that in one whole day?! Classic! And very funny!! The lady yelling at you when you went by made me LOL!
Congratulations for sure! I know people that would ride 200 miles but I think they'd rather shoot themselves than do what you did!
Epic!

 

This is the coolest post since "Are you still here?" Refreshing and enjoyable post, well done even if it was at the expense of your own sanity.

 

Not to sure I could do what you did. I like riding century's but this is a tough way to do one. Congrats on your first century....now you wanna try a double?

 

This is the Malcolm Gladwell of ride reports.

 

Great ride report. Serious enough with a flair of "tongue-in-cheek". A great tone.

I did my first training for a century on a road bike - hopefully will ride in September.

Good job!
Jeff

 

Just a quick heads up - it's happening again.
Official date is June 2, but I'll do it June 3.
I'll add it to the calendar a bit later.

If you want to officially register, it's $89 and will probably sell out today
http://www.fatcyclist.com

This year, Fatty is raising funds (he's shooting for and will get $35k+) for summer camps for kids of cancer parents.

My route will be the entire Aliso Creek trail 3x with stops at Cook's for a beer each time.
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=47475

More to come later.

 

Well, it's sold out. He raised $35 in a few hours for Livestrong and Camp Kesem.
Come join me on 6-3

 

This RR is awesome for so many reasons!! Thanks for sharing. It almost makes me want to think about getting a road bike......naaaaahhhh!

 

I finally put it on the calendar for this year
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=3610&day=2012-6-3

So, I'll be doing the 100 Miles of Nowhere this Sunday, June 3rd.
What is that you ask? Well, here's a little background reading.


http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/04/03/start-getting-ready-for-the-2012-100-miles-of-nowhere/


http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/04/17/register-now-for-the-2012-100-miles-of-nowhere/


Here is the route that I will be doing, the entire Aliso Creek Bike Trail
http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_racer.php?route_id=47475


Three round trips should give me just about 100 miles, with a stop at Cook's each time for beer.






Here is a little info on last year's ride, the before
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trailhead/58274-100-miles-nowhere-june-4th-2011-a.html


and the after
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/roadie-hangout/58589-rr-road-alley-100-miles-nowhere.html


So, what can you do? You can come heckle me, ride a portion with me, or ride the whole thing with me.
Or, meet me at Cook's for a beer or two or three.
Since this is a fundraiser for Livestrong, you can also donate to my Livestrong Davis ride online or in person.
I got a whole bunch of Livestrong bracelets as well, so if you need one - any $ donation will get you one.
http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/JimboDavis


STR Calendar Listing
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=3610&day=2012-6-3


I'll be starting at Heroes Park at Los Alisos and Jeronimo at 8am on Sunday, June 3rd. I anticipate each round trip taking 2 1/2 to 3 hours, with a little time added for rest stops at the truck and at Cook's.
I plan to park as close as possible to the corner by the RR tracks. Look for my truck with Livestrong banners on it. It's a grey Dodge Dakota with RUMPLD as the license plate.
I'll head south on the trail first to the sewage plant, and then north back up to Cook's.
I will be writing in chalk each time I pass my truck with time and direction.
Look for me on the trail, I'll be on my black Ibis road bike with a black and orange Fatcyclist jersey and a number plate on the front of the bike.
You can also follow my updates on Twitter @Rumpledhasher


Estimated times are (and these are big guesses and maybe optimistic)
Start 8 am
back at Heroes Park at about 9:45 am
Cook's at 10:30
Heroes Park 11am
Heroes Park 12:45pm
Cooks at 1:30 pm
Heroes Park 2pm
Heroes Park 3:45 pm
Cook's 4:30
Heroes Park 5:15 and done.


Beer and food probably to follow somewhere.

 

Starting in about an hour

 

Doing It Again in 2013!

Once again, the 100 Miles of Nowhere



I put it on the calendar for this year
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=3754&day=2013-6-2

So, I'll be doing the 100 Miles of Nowhere this year on Sunday, June 2nd.
What is that you ask? Well, here's a little background reading.


http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/04/03...es-of-nowhere/


http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/04/17...es-of-nowhere/

http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/04/11/the-2013-100-miles-of-nowhere-plan-your-madness/

http://www.fatcyclist.com/2013/04/17/register-now-for-the-2013-100-miles-of-nowhere/


Here is the route that I will be doing, the entire Aliso Creek Bike Trail
http://www.geoladders.com/gps_route_...route_id=47475


Three round trips should give me just about 100 miles, with a stop at Cook's each time for beer.






Here is a little info on my silly 2011 ride, the before
100 Miles of Nowhere - June 4th, 2011


and the after
RR - Road (Alley?) - 100 Miles of Nowhere


So, what can you do? You can come heckle me, ride a portion with me, or ride the whole thing with me.
Or, meet me at Cook's for a beer or two or three.
Since this is a fundraiser for Livestrong, you can also donate to my Livestrong Davis ride online or in person.
I got a whole bunch of Livestrong bracelets as well, so if you need one - any $ donation will get you one.
http://laf.livestrong.org/goto/JimboDavis


STR Calendar Listing
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/foru...0&day=2012-6-3


I'll be starting at Heroes Park at Los Alisos and Jeronimo at 8am on Sunday, June 2nd. I anticipate each round trip taking about 3 hours, with a little time added for rest stops at the truck and at Cook's.
I plan to park as close as possible to the corner by the RR tracks. Look for my truck with Livestrong banners on it. It's a grey Dodge Dakota with RUMPLD as the license plate.
I'll head south on the trail first to the sewage plant, and then north back up to Cook's.
I will be writing in chalk each time I pass my truck with time and direction.
Look for me on the trail, I'll be on my black Ibis road bike with a black and orange Fatcyclist jersey and a number plate on the front of the bike.
You can also follow my updates on Twitter @Rumpledhasher


Estimated times are (and these are guesses but came close in 2012)
Start 8 am
back at Heroes Park at about 9:45 am
Cook's at 10:30
Heroes Park 11am
Heroes Park 12:45pm
Cooks at 1:30 pm
Heroes Park 2:30 pm
Heroes Park 4:20 pm
Cook's 5:15
Heroes Park 6:15 and done.


Beer and food probably to follow somewhere.

 

It's on for this Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.

Anyone wanna join me? Heckle me? Have a beer with me?

And, it's gonna be HOT!

 

I will wait for the ride report and pics...so many other posts about racing, out of the way places, road trips, etc., while the best reports are like this one...