Civil War Century Ride

GPS Track of My Civil War Century Ride

Elevation Profile

That was hard!

I’ve liked riding bikes all my life. When I was raising my family, I would get out of the habit of riding, restart for a few years, then fall back out of the habit. It was especially hard to go back out in the Spring after a Winter of getting out of shape. Now that my children are gone, I’ve gotten back to cycling, riding more than ever. And I got a smart trainer so I can train indoors when the weather is bad. I’ve come to know some things about myself: I find long hours in the saddle to be very therapeutic - my mind wanders, and I enjoy a hard challenge - it gives me something for which to train. Without a goal, I don’t push myself to get fitter.

I’ve wondered for years whether I could actually complete the annual Civil War Century Ride. This event happens every September, starts and ends in Thurmont Maryland, wanders through mountains, and visits Gettysburg and Antietam, hence the name. And the route features 7000+ feet of climbing. I’ve done century rides before, but they were flat. I knew this would be a stretch goal when I decided last year to do this ride, and I trained all winter and spring. My training slacked some this summer, with two trips that interrupted my routine. I showed up for the ride in reasonably good shape.

The route has a 1000 foot climb over 7 miles right at the start. I was afraid this would be too hard for me. I shouldn’t have worried. It was strenuous, but when I reached the top of the climb I was surprised, thinking, well that wasn’t so hard. But of course I did that climb with fresh legs and in cool temperatures.

Then I had the first of many descents during which I reached speeds in the 30s. There were a few descents during which I reached the 40s. I would bend down into a sloppy aero position to try to preserve kinetic energy to coast at least a little up the next climb. During every descent, I was in the drops, hands on the brakes, ready to slow down, busy checking for hazards ahead and thinking, “Please don’t hit anything! Now I’m going to have to climb again.”

So it was up, down, up, down, all day. I was doing OK until the climb at mile 60. That one was grueling. The climb actually started at about mile 48, with a long, but relatively gentle ascent of about 300 feet to about mile 59. Then there was a brief ride through Smithsburg, a right turn onto Raven Rock Road, left onto Ritchie Road, all during a relentless climb of about 800 feet, with all of it steep, parts more than 10%. Coming as it did when it was hot and I had just climbed 300 feet and with 60 miles in my legs, I was pretty tired at the top.

Then came the relatively flat part of the route, about 30 miles with only 500 feet of climbing. The brief ride through the Gettysburg battlefield was cool. I rode right past Little Round Top, thinking about how close the Confederates came to winning at that spot, and how brutal the fighting was. And then it was just a long slog back to Thurmont. I reached the end, really tired, and glad to be off my bike.

It’s good that I downloaded the course GPX file and installed it on my cycling computer. The route was marked with spray-painted marks on the road to indicate turns. But it was very easy to miss them, especially when the turn came on a descent. It’s hard to see a small bit of green paint on the road when I’m descending at 30mph with my attention on hazard avoidance. I spent most of the day constantly looking at the computer to verify that I was still on course. This route had a lot of turns and I couldn’t trust that the riders ahead of me were doing the same course (there were shorter options) or that they were even on the course that they wanted.

The rest stops were just OK. There were lots of bananas and sliced peaches on offer. But there was also plenty of water and Gatorade.

The weather was OK. I would have liked for it to be a little cooler, but I can’t complain. The temperature at the start was about 70 and it was overcast and the wind was very light, but it cleared up after a couple of hours. It also warmed up and the direct sun made for some hot stretches. With about 20 miles to go I was worried that it might rain as clouds rolled in, but the rain seems to have passed to the east, and it got sunny and hot again, and the wind picked up. It was sunny and windy as I finished. The ice cream at the start/finish was wonderful.

This was a real challenge - a hard stretch goal; I’m glad I did it; I doubt I’ll ever sign up again for that kind of ride with so many climbs.

Final numbers: 103.6 miles, 7667 feet climbed, maximum speed: 49.9mph.

Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride 2025

Challenge Ride Route

Yesterday I rode in the 2025 Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride. I’ve done this once before, but skipped recent years because of other plans. This year is the first iteration of this ride in which the start/finish line is actually in DC adjacent to the US Capitol building. I’ve been training all winter; I wanted to see if I could get another gold medal.

Sadly, I just missed the cut-off; I wasn’t able to start another lap with about 30 minutes left to go in the three-hour window. I completed four laps, enough only for a silver medal. They physically blocked the course to prevent riders from going out for another lap.

Waiting to Start

I Rarely See the Washington Monument from this Side

The Ride Started Shortly After Sunrise

It was really cool to be able to ride in DC without worrying about cars. In fact, this was my first time ever riding in the District, after 30+ years living nearby. I parked in East Potomac Park near Hains Point, then rode to the starting area. I was near the front at the start and we got going much faster than last time because there weren’t so many early choke points. I quickly learned that there are hills that I had never noticed when I drove my car on those same streets. There are also lots of manhole covers, some with deep depressions. I spent a lot of the time on Independence Avenue just avoiding potholes and deep manhole covers. The course proceeded west on Independence, south on 14th, and across the Potomac on the I395 express lanes, then, near the Pentagon, joined the course from previous years between Crystal City and Rosslyn. The course was mostly in pretty good shape, with only a few places where there were deep gaps in the concrete. I really didn't like the expansion joints on the 14th Street Bridge; they look like intermeshing teeth with gaps that could grab my wheels, but I never had any trouble with them. There was a lot of rain overnight and the road started out damp with a few puddles, but it mostly dried out before the end of the ride. The temperature was pretty cool at the start but I warmed up quickly and only broke out in a brief sweat a few times.

So how did it go?

• I think I’m in better shape than last time. I actually rode slightly faster, on average.
• The wind sucked; it was windy all morning.
• I tried to be mindful about drinking but should have done it more often. Same for eating.
• I was able to produce power surges whenever I needed for climbs.
• If I do it again, I need to show up in better shape to get past the cut-off at 2 1/2 hours.

 

 

Six Pillars Century Ride 2025

GPS Track of Six Pillars Century Ride

It was windy!

Totals: 102 miles, 780 feet of elevation gained.

I’ve wanted to do this ride for several years in a row as an early season organized event, but always had to cancel, either because of bad weather or, one year, I had just had major surgery. This year the weather was cool and clear, but very windy.

I drove to Cambridge early in the morning, claimed my rider packet, and started riding around 7AM. This was not a closed course, but traffic was very light. I and about 100 riders did the 100-mile course. The rest stops had limited selections of snacks, but plenty of water and Gatorade.

I spent the whole ride in brutal headwinds and gusting side winds and merciful tailwinds. The scenery varied among typical Delmarva pine forests, wetlands, and brief coastal views. I had never seen this part of the Maryland Eastern Shore; it was a nice exploration. There was very little shade. I was glad I was mostly covered. I ended up nearly sunburned on my wrists where my sun sleeves left a gap with my gloves: now I have weird dark stripes on my wrists.

It was a long slog and I finally got back to Cambridge. I missed the turn before the airport near mile 90 and, by the time I figured that out, I just looked at my phone to figure out the best route back to the course. It added maybe a mile to the ride.

Instrument error was obvious through the entire ride: my Garmin 530 bike computer regularly showed my elevation was below zero.

This was my third century ride, but the slowest. I’m glad I finally got to do it. I doubt I’ll volunteer for this windfest again.

Five Boro Bike Tour

Standing on Church Street while Waiting to Start

On May 4, I participated in the Five Boro Bike Tour. This is an annual bike ride that visits all five boroughs of New York City on streets that are closed to automobile traffic. I’ve wanted to do this ride for a while, but hesitated because of its reputation for crowds and erratic riders. I knew I would regret it if I never tried it, so I signed up.

My wife and I drove up from Virginia on Friday and stayed for two nights in Newark. I took public transportation into Manhattan on Saturday to pick my rider’s packet up. My brief walk through Midtown reminded me why I can take big cities in small doses only. After picking the material up I had to exit the building through the gift shop, meaning, there were loads of vendors selling cycling gear. I think they don't offer to mail packets to riders because that forces riders to come on site and walk past the vendors.

On Sunday morning, my wife and I drove to the ferry dock on Staten Island and parked at the outlet mall. We boarded the ferry and went to Manhattan. Her plan was, while I rode in the event, she would visit friends. There were a few hundred other cyclists on the ferry, with their bikes, and wearing spandex and jerseys. When we reached Manhattan, I rode my bike on the designated route to the starting area for Wave 2, namely, Church Street. I had to listen to way too many speakers on stage talk about how great the ride is and how wonderful the sponsor is. I wondered whether they did this routine for every wave. Then a choir sang the national anthem, and we finally got the starting horn. I was way back in the pack, and the riders ahead of me were moving slowly to the start line, so we all straddle-walked our bikes to the start, where we were finally able to start riding.

My GPS Track from Lower Manhattan to the Staten Island Ferry

The route went right up the middle of Manhattan, on 6th Avenue, past Macy’s and Radio City Music Hall, into Central Park. The crowd of riders was thick; I had to spend so much of my time avoiding collisions and road hazards (parked cars, concrete dividers, bollards, vented manhole covers) that I didn’t get to enjoy seeing the sights along the way.

Google Earth View of My GPS Track through Midtown Manhattan

When I zoom into the plot of my GPS track, it looks like I was drunk, even disappearing into buildings sometimes. I think it was a combination of weaving through traffic and GPS receiver instrument error.

In Central Park I was amused by the many joggers who just wanted a regular quiet Sunday morning jog in the park, but instead had to deal with a massive swarm of cyclists. Finally the crowd thinned out after exiting Central Park and I was able to relax a little on the way through Harlem.

I crossed the Harlem River and then very shortly afterward went right back to Manhattan. The Bronx got short shrift on this route. Back in Manhattan, the route led along the East River on FDR Drive down to the Queensboro Bridge. This was the only spot that was dangerous: the riders bunched up on the climb, with some riders walking, others riding very slowly, and no one leaving room for riders to pass on the left. This is the only place where I saw a crash; I had to swerve to miss the fallen rider.

Into Queens I went, following the winding route, first North, then South, into Brooklyn, then through Brooklyn, finally reaching the expressway that leads to the Verrazzano Bridge. The headwind on that elevated road was pretty brutal. Finally I approached the bridge and I was worried that I’d have a hard time making the climb: my shifter battery died and I was stuck in a single gear, and by this point I had 30+ miles in my legs. I worried for nothing - the climb wasn’t all that hard. I coasted down the other side into the finish line festival. After a brief rest and water break, I got back on my bike and went back to the outlet mall where I was parked.

BIG LESSON: Always bring the battery charger on cycling trips and always check the charge the night before the ride. After getting home, I discovered that the wire that powers my rear derailleur was unplugged. This must have happened when I removed/reattached my rear wheel for the car trip. After plugging it back in, my gear shifting started working again.

I was surprised at how many women were riding. At home I see maybe one woman cyclist for every ten men riding near my home. I’m glad that there were more women participating. And there were lots of black and Asian riders. I’m glad there are so many people of color participating in what in Virginia seems to be a white- male-dominated sport.

I saw one guy wearing blue jeans while riding; seems like a recipe for pain. Lots of people wore plain athletic shorts and t-shirts. But most wore typical cycling clothing: spandex and jerseys. It was cool, and started out cloudy, then cleared up to be pretty sunny, and by the time I got to the finish line it was overcast. It started raining after I got back to my car, so I managed to stay dry. When I left the car on the way to Manhattan, I decided to leave my jacket behind, which turned out to be a good move because I didn’t need it. Well, I didn’t need it on the ride. I wished I had it on the ferry because the doors were open and it was cold on the water.

I saw a few recumbent bikes, a few tandems, a few elliptical bikes, and even a few hand bikes. But the most unusual was a Penny Farthing. I saw him at the start, and again in the parking lot when I packed up; he apparently parked in the same place that I did. I would have liked to see how he did the climbs and descents. Actually I would have liked to see him mount and dismount; I’ve never figured out how riders do that.

There were several rest stops with water and toilets. I didn’t stop at any of them; I didn’t need to. So I can’t comment on the rest stops with respect to water, toilets, or food.

Overall, it was about 42 miles of riding, including the ride to the start from the Manhattan ferry terminal, and the ride from the finish festival back to the ferry terminal on Staten Island. I’m glad I did it; I had fun; I doubt I’ll do it again.

After the ride, my wife and I met at the parking garage. I changed into street clothes and we headed home. This was our first road trip in her new electric vehicle. Finding and using chargers was an adventure in itself.

Skyline Drive Cycling

This morning I went for a bike ride on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. I’ve lived in Northern Virginia for a long time and I’ve been to this park a handful of times, but this was my first time riding my bike there.

I’m considering some cycling events next year in which hill climbing is part of the courses. Here in Northern Virginia, there aren’t many big hills. Skyline drive has lots of hills and it has a biker-friendly reputation. The weather is good this weekend, a bit chilly but calm wind. And the Fall colors are approaching peak. So I made the drive to Front Royal and parked just outside the fee station at the north entrance.

Fog Obscures the Shenandoah River

The first 6 miles were about 1600 feet of climbing to the top of the first hill. Or is it a mountain? Anyway I took it easy, knowing I had a lot of climbing ahead. Then the roller coaster started. It was a sequence of climbs and descents, with hardly any flat ground. I alternated between sweating climbs and chilly descents. I reached the Elkwallow wayside at mile 24, rested, ate, and started the return trip.

The first climb after the wayside on the return ride was kind of grueling, but after that the miles flew by. My speed on the descents were often in the 30s. Finally I reached the entrance station, only to see cars lined up trying to enter the park. This line extended into Front Royal for quite a long way. These were people who wanted to see the Fall colors.

I got back to my car a sweaty mess. Final numbers: 47.74 miles, 5,778 feet of climbing. That’s a new single day climbing record for me.

Sea Gull Century Ride 2022

On October 8, I rode in the Sea Gull Century cycling event that started and ended on the Salisbury University campus in Maryland. This was my second century ride of the year, and also my second ever.

Overall, this was a well-run event. The course was well-marked. The roads were in very good condition. The course is a circle, east of the city of Salisbury, on very flat terrain. The rest stops were well stocked with food and drinks. This is a popular event with clubs coming from far away to participate. The event was sold out.

The weather at the 7AM start was chilly and overcast and breezy. I wore a helmet liner, arm warmers, base layer, jersey, and gilet. I was especially glad for the gilet when it started raining after about mile 42. The rain lasted only a few minutes and the roads dried out over the next hour. The sun came out at about 11AM. I was finally able to take the arm warmers and gilet and helmet liner off at the last rest stop at mile 82.

Shortly after I made the last turn onto the road to Assateague Island, I was passed by two ambulances with sirens on. I soon arrived at the scene of the accident to which they were responding. I’m not one to linger and stare at an accident so I didn’t see much, but I did notice several bikes in the ditch and EMTs working on people who were out of sight. They were all gone by the time I came back past the same spot. This was the only accident of which I’m aware.

Speaking of Assateague, this was my first visit to the Maryland part of this island. The bridge climb was short and steep and easily the most prominent “terrain” feature of the ride. There were no horses around, probably because there were so many people, but there was a lot of horse shit. This was my favorite of the rest stops, with lots of room and food, right there next to the Atlantic Ocean.

I finished the ride under sunny skies and in gusting wind, riding through the tunnel, emerging to ride through a sparse crowd and cheerleaders cheering. I was really tired and ready to be done.

I was careful to take a few days off the bike before the event so I could start rested. Unfortunately, I hardly slept the night before, just turning over and over in bed. I had a COVID booster vaccination on Wednesday and, while I’ve had no serious reaction, my shoulder has been sore, my armpit is swollen, and my resting heart rate has been elevated ever since. I have no idea whether this contributed to my poor sleep, but I was not 100% when I started the ride.

I loaded up on calories the day before, and I ate before the ride. I wasn’t hungry but ate at each rest stop: I’ve never before had so many bananas in one day. I was especially fond of the Fig Newtons at the last rest stop. Because it was so cool, I didn’t sweat much and wasn’t thirsty, but I drank at the rest stops.

This was my second century ride, but my first was not a typical century. My first century, during RAGBRAI 2022, was a west to east ride with a near direct tail wind nearly the whole day. Also, there weren’t many pace lines in my first century, and the ones that were there were small. The Seagull Century is a circuit. And there are lots of club pace lines. I think the first one that passed me had 200 riders. The ones that followed were more like 20-50 riders. The rest stops were also different. During RAGBRAI, there were no designated rest stops, only pass-through towns where I could buy food and refill my bottles. The Seagull rest stops had bananas, bagels, cookies, and other snack food. So I stopped at each rest stop, as compared with RAGBRAI, during which I stopped when I wanted to. Now obviously I could have stopped anywhere I wanted during the Sea Gull, but I didn’t.

I was hoping to finish faster, but, given the wind, my lack of sleep, and the lingering effects of my COVID shot, I think I did OK. My final results: 101.0 miles, 1,004 feet of climb, 6:08 hours of moving time, 2,874 active calories.

Seagull Century Route

After the ride, I drove home and relaxed for the rest of the day. I laid down for a nap, but wound up sleeping for 12 hours.

RAGBRAI 2022

During the period July 23-30, I participated in the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). This event started with an exposition on Saturday (Day 0) in the town of Sergeant Bluff, then consisted of a seven day bike ride, with overnight stays in several towns, concluding in Lansing. The entire course is shown below, color-coded by day.

RAGBRAI 2022 Course

You may think that Iowa is flat. I assure you it is not. The first day took us through the Loess Hills. The last day wound through hills near the Mississippi River. In between, the terrain was a lot of rolling hills.

This year the event included an Imperial century day as part of the official course. In recent years there has been no century day, but on one day each year, there was the option to complete an additional loop to bring the total miles for that day to at least 100.

The weather was nearly perfect. It rained a few times, but never on me while I was out on my bike. Last year, it was so hot and humid that I left the campground in the dark every morning just to get as many miles in as possible before the heat of the day could build. This year, the temperatures topped out in the mid 80s and it was actually chilly several mornings, as low as 55 degrees. I was staying in campgrounds and was glad I brought a sleeping bag.

I stopped for ice cream at Beekman’s only once, on the century day. The rest and calories were wonderful even though it was only 9AM. I had already been on the road for 4 hours at this point.

Beekman’s Ice Cream

In Pocahontas, I wandered by the main campground and its baggage claim area. Most riders put their gear (tent, clothing, etc) on a truck each morning and meet the truck at the next overnight town. Claiming your luggage can be an exercise in searching...

Baggage Claim

The skies got gloomy but did not open up in Emmetsburg.

Emmetsburg Campground

On the last day, it is a tradition for riders to dip their front wheels in the Mississippi River. Because I started early, I was finished early, before the crowd, and there was no line at the wheel dip site in Lansing.

Lansing Wheel Dip

I haven't seen official counts of actual registered participants. The only thing I can say is that I personally saw thousands of riders. How can I say this? I finished early on Day 7 (Saturday) and was in my car heading home to Virginia when my route crossed the official RAGBRAI route. For about 2 miles, in the town of Waukon, I saw the oncoming lane completely filled with riders who were still on the course.

Notes

• Total Mileage: 469.2
• Total Climb: 13,041 feet
• Longest Single Day: 104.8 miles (new personal record and first century ride)
• Greatest Single Day Climb Total: 2,963 feet (new personal record)

Daily Summary

I stayed in charter service campgrounds. These numbers are directly off my Garmin bike computer and they do not exactly match the official course because my ride each day was from/to the charter service's campgrounds, not the main RAGBRAI campgrounds.

Day 1: Sergeant Bluff to Ida Grove, 53.9 miles, 2467 feet of climb

Day 1: Sergeant Bluff to Ida Grove

Day 1 Elevation Profile

Day 2: Ida Grove to Pocahontas, 72.6 miles, 1873 feet of climb

Day 2: Ida Grove to Pocahontas

Day 2 Elevation Profile

Day 3: Pocahontas to Emmetsburg, 57.3 miles, 669 feet of climb

Day 3: Pocahontas to Emmetsburg

Day 3 Elevation Profile

Day 4: Emmetsburg to Mason City, 104.8 miles, 1847 feet of climb, thankfully there was a consistent wind from the West. The first part of this day's course backtracked the end of the previous day's course.

Day 4: Emmetsburg to Mason City

Day 4 Elevation Profile

Day 5: Mason City to Charles City, 48.7 miles, 1240 feet of climb

Day 5: Mason City to Charles City

Day 5 Elevation Profile

Day 6: Charles City to West Union: 63.6 miles, 1982 feet of climb

Day 6: Charles City to West Union

Day 6 Elevation Profile

Day 7: West Union to Lansing, 68.3 miles, 2963 feet of climb, the hill climb at mile 15 was very steep: at one point my GPS unit reported a 9% grade. The descent to the Mississippi River around mile 60 was very fast, with sustained speeds in the high 20s, peaking at 38mph.

Day 7: West Union to Lansing

Day 7 Elevation Profile

I had a great time biking, seeing Iowa from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, meeting lots of fellow riders, and enjoying Iowa hospitality.

RAGBRAI Training #2 (2022)

RAGBRAI starts in a few days. It feels like I’ve been a training slacker because I spent two weeks in Alaska, then was really tired when I returned home, and then there was rain. I haven’t spent much time on my bike lately. I’ve used the indoor trainer some.

So far in 2022, I’ve ridden 1273 miles outdoors, with an additional 1952 virtual miles on Zwift. I’ve had two weekends of three days off during which I rode on the W&OD all three days, for roughly 180 miles each of those weekends. Hopefully I’m at least as well-prepared this year as I was last year at this time.

What’s different this year is the century day. I’ve never ridden 100 miles in a day. Next week, I’ll do it in the middle of a week of riding every day. I have a nutrition and hydration plan. I hope it’s a good plan.

Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride

Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride Route

Today I participated in the Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride. I’ve never, until today, participated in any timed cycling event. The challenge was to ride as many laps as possible in three hours. This was not a race against people; it was a race against the clock.

When I signed up, I looked at the course: 6.5 miles. I looked at my best speeds for my rides this year. I did the math. I could expect to complete 7 laps, or maybe 8 if I had a good day.

So I showed up, stood in the starting area with hundreds of other riders, and waited for the start. I was worried that I might crash in the mass of riders as the race began. It was crowded for a while but eventually people spread out. My first lap could have been faster, but for all the slower riders in the way for the first mile or so.

The first few laps were ridiculously fast (for me anyway). I occasionally got stuck in a bunch of slower riders or crowded by pace lines, but mostly I could ride at my own pace. When I finished lap 4 and I was still managing to hold 20 mph, I had the first inkling that maybe I could complete 9 laps.

But then the wind picked up and I started to tire. My lap times started to increase. There were 2 portions of the outbound course that were particularly tough climbs (not steep, but hard to do when I was tired) directly into the wind. Nothing on the entire course was all that steep, but I found it hard to keep my speed up. I forced myself to drink even though I wasn’t thirsty. I ate Blok energy food even though I wasn’t hungry: I was afraid I would bonk.

I passed the Start/Finish line with about 25 minutes left at the end of lap 8. Lots of riders were leaving the course. I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t try for a 9th lap. I started lap 9. I had a cramp right after the turnaround in Rosslyn. I saw the broom wagon on the outbound side of the course as I was passing Arlington National Cemetery inbound. I finished the 9th lap with 1 minute to spare.

Notes:

• 9 laps was the minimum for the gold medal group, so I got my gold medal.
• Total distance: 58.4 miles, 1775 feet of climb, 19.6 mph average speed.
• At one point I was riding along mostly by myself when I was overtaken by a peloton. I had riders passing me on both sides.
• I saw one crash happen about 100 feet in front of me.
• This was the “Armed Forces Cycling Classic”. I wore my US Army Jersey. There were lots of Navy and Army and Air Force jerseys. Some spectators near the end of each lap yelled “Go Army!”, several times as I went by.
• I rested for several days before the event. I’m certain that helped a lot. 
• I was worried about hydration, but it was a cool morning so I didn’t sweat much. I had 2 bottles of water mixed with Skratch. I ate a breakfast with carbs and sugar before the event. I have no idea if the calories in the water and the 4 Bloks that I ate had any effect, but I never felt close to bonking.
• My usual training ride course on the W&OD trail is almost 60 miles and I usually take a break halfway. This ride was nearly as far but faster and with no breaks. I was worried that I’d fade. And I did fade: my last few laps were significantly slower than my first few. But even those slower laps were faster than I usually ride on the W&OD.
• I set 2 personal records: max speed over a 40 km course and max average power over 20 minutes. I have no idea why I was so fast relative to my usual speed. I’m speculating that it’s the combination of relatively flat course, rest, adrenaline, great weather (except for the wind), a good road surface, and a clear performance goal.
• If I do it again: drink and eat more on the bike, eat a snack in the starting area, drink water in the car on the way to the event.

Overall, I’m very happy with my results, having exceeded even my stretch goal of 8 laps.

Shortly Before the Start

Gold Finisher Medal

RAGBRAI Training #1 (2022)

I signed up for RAGBRAI again. I had so much fun in 2021, I decided to do it again. Actually, in addition to the fun, I liked having a goal that guided my training.

I’ve been using Zwift all Winter and Spring so, as the weather finally warmed up here in Virginia, I’m starting the outdoor riding season in good shape. My crucial test last year about my RAGBRAI readiness was a 3 day weekend during which I rode 60 miles each day. This year I accomplished that same goal pretty early in the season.

This year there is a century day during RAGBRAI. I’ve never ridden a century and I wanted to do one before going to Iowa. I signed up for the 6 Pillars Century Ride, but the weather was awful that day and I reluctantly rolled my registration to next year. So my first century ride ever will be during RAGBRAI. This is easily the biggest concern I have about RAGBRAI this year: whether I’ll have a hard time on the century day. Last year there were 2 days of 80+ miles. The century day is not THAT much longer. Nevertheless, I’ve never done it so I’m concerned about preparation.

So far (late May), I’ve done my usual W&OD trail training ride 12+ times this year. That compares with 15 times last year before RAGBRAI. I still have 2 months to train; undoubtedly I’ll get more of those 60+ mile rides done.

Of note:

• This was the first hot weekend. I took deliberate steps to drink more, eat more, and rest more. I’m testing my hydration strategy (Skratch mix) and food strategy (eat before riding, Clif bar, then Blok energy food).
• I LIKE MY NEW BIKE. My Canyon Endurace is a dream to ride. This weekend marked a thousand miles on it. The electronic shifting is smooth and reliable and I don’t have to index the gears. The stiff frame transfers power nicely.
• I put a great saddle on it. No ass problems yet.
• My winter training did wonders. I’m setting personal records on courses that I’ve ridden a hundred times.
• Yesterday I took a break in Purcellville. I was sitting there, quietly eating and drinking, when a car went by. The driver slowed down, rolled his window down, and yelled, “Geaux Tigers!”. I was wearing an LSU jersey. Later that day, I passed a biker going in the opposite direction. After he passed me, he yelled back, “War Eagle!” The lesson: wear interesting jerseys.

Alpe du Zwift and Winter Training

When my son graduated from high school in 2019, I suddenly had a lot more time on my hands. His sporting events were over. I no longer had to drive him around to school and practice and other events because he finally got his driver’s license. What to do with the extra time? I bought a new bike.

I’m now in my third winter since getting that bike. I’m in my Winter training time. But let me digress…

I’ve had several phases in life during which I would get excited about bike riding, then ride all Summer, building fitness, only to stop for the Winter because it was just too cold to ride outside. I tried stationary trainers but just didn’t stay with the routine. Then Spring would arrive, and my first few rides outside were cold and I was in awful shape so I was always sore at the beginning of the outdoor riding season. After years of this cycle, I would get busy with other things and stop riding altogether. This “ride for a few years then quit” cycle happened a few times.

Now I’m back on the bike, and had the same problem: I need a way to stay fit over the Winter. This time I have some advantages: technology has improved and I have a bigger budget.

I bought a turbo trainer and, for the first Winter, I used Rouvy. It was OK, and I definitely improved my fitness over the Winter, but I decided to try Zwift during my second Winter training cycle.

After a few months of regular Zwift use, I decided to do the Alpe du Zwift climb. I had ridden (virtually) every day for a few weeks before that and I was pushing myself a lot, knowing that I was about to leave on vacation and have a break from training. I finished that climb absolutely exhausted and my first few days of vacation were a new experience in soreness. But, I did it.

Upon my return from vacation, I spent a lot of time on the trainer, climbed Alpe du Zwift a few more times, and entered the outdoor riding season in the best shape in 20+ years. I trained indoors to build power. Once I got outside, I started training for distance to be ready for RAGBRAI.

OK, nice review of history, but what’s the point?

I’m taking a moment to reflect upon my fitness improvement progress:

• In 2019, when I first got my new bike, I was tired after only eight miles. I was getting passed by other bikers all the time. My average ride speed was awful.
• In 2020, my stamina was better, my speed was better, and I was still awfully slow. I had a lot of time off from work because of the COVID-19 pandemic and I rode a lot.
• In 2021, my fitness continued to improve, my average ride speed finally topped 16mph (in hills), and it’s no big deal for me to ride 50+ miles at any time.
• In early 2022, just yesterday, I climbed Alpe du Zwift for the 9th time (finally got the wheels), and I feel good enough to climb it again today.

After nearly three years of riding, I’m in good shape, I feel great, I’ve lost weight, and my resting heart rate is in the high 40s. And most importantly, I still enjoy cycling.

RAGBRAI Preparation #3

Today I finished my last RAGBRAI training ride. I won't be able to ride between now and the event because of work and an out-of-town trip. I hope I'm ready.

Here's a training summary for the year 2021 so far, according to Strava:

• 3020 total miles
• 1945 of those miles were virtual on Zwift
• 1075 of those miles were outdoors
• 15 round trips from Hunter Mill road to Purcellville via the W&OD trail added up to just under 900 miles
• 175 miles were split between trips to Occoquan and Prince William Forest Park

RAGBRAI Preparation #2

 My training plan for RAGBRAI has worked out well so far. I’ve ridden several weekends in a row of 60 miles per day, 120 miles per weekend. At first, the Sunday rides and Mondays at work were tough. It’s still not easy, but it’s much easier.

Of course it couldn’t be that simple. This past Sunday I got out to Purcellville and then my bike started making an awful noise every time I coasted and I had intermittent issues with the chain staying in the selected gear.

I made it home and when I took the cassette off the hub it was apparent that the cassette was wobbling, meaning the hub was wobbling. The race that covers the bearings was mangled. I removed the hub and then removed the race and discovered that several ball bearings had escaped their installed location and in their absence the axle was no longer held in place, hence the wobbling hub and cassette. I couldn’t get the ball bearings back in place and I needed a new race.

I searched online for a replacement hub/axle assembly (they’re a unit on this wheel). No luck, except for a single supplier in Germany. I took the wheel to a bike shop, hoping they as a Specialized dealer could order a replacement or fix the old part. The part could not be repaired and it was no longer produced.

I had been considering upgrading my wheels; this incident forced me to actually do it. I bought a new pair of wheels. The shop transferred my old brake discs and tubes and tires to the new wheels.

I went on my first ride on the new wheels today. I like them, but the hub sounds a lot louder when I coast. The wheels produce more noise too, probably because of the spokes that are more like thin strips of metal than cylindrical in shape.

I have one last weekend to train before I leave for Iceland, and shortly after my return it’s time for RAGBRAI. And while it sucks that my wheel was irreparable, I consider myself lucky that this happened before my trip to Iowa. It would have been a devastating blow to get there and then have an unfixable mechanical failure while riding. It’s unlikely that I would have been able to easily find new wheels for my bike with its disc brakes and thru axles.

RAGBRAI Preparation #1

Two years ago my son went to college and suddenly I had a lot of time on my hands. I started cycling again. That was 2019. I quickly found out that I was in awful shape.

I got serious by riding a lot. My stamina improved. My speed (gradually) improved. A lot has changed since I last rode: there's a lot of training info on the web and services like Strava and Zwift make it easy to track activity and train effectively. Well, it doesn't make training easy but it does make it easier to know what to do. I embraced the training. I embraced the technology. I got a heart rate monitor, cadence sensor, power meter, and turbo trainer. No more excuses that it's too cold: that's what the turbo trainer is for. I rode (outside) more than 1,000 miles in 2019.

In the Fall of 2019 I stumbled upon a reference to RAGBRAI. I started reading about it. I watched YouTube videos. I decided to go. I subscribed to Rouvy and started training. A lot. I didn't know I could sweat that much. I got a Lasko fan that's designed to dry a flooded room's walls. I have it blasting air on me when I train. I (virtually) rode all Winter. As soon as RAGBRAI registration opened, I registered for the lottery. I booked a charter company for the ride from the end town to the start town.

Then I heard about COVID-19 in early 2020. I kept training, hoping there would be a quick shutdown of the disease. But no, it got worse. RAGBRAI was cancelled.

I kept riding indoors when it was cold, outdoors when it was warm. I kept training. I was enjoying it. I set personal records for distance. I rode 2,000 miles in 2020. 

Finally, it's 2021. I got my COVID-19 vaccinations. The rates of new infections are dropping fast. RAGBRAI is on. My RAGBRAI registration rolled to this year with no lottery for me. My charter company did the same.

So now it's the home stretch of training. I have about 6 weeks left. And it's HOT now. I've switched from 20-30 mile rides to longer ones. My plan is to ride 60 miles on the W&OD trail every day that I have off from work. That should get me ready for the heat, distance, and hours in the saddle on successive days. Others who have ridden RAGBRAI in the past have said that day #2 is the hardest because it's the first day that you start with a sore ass. It seems to me that RAGBRAI prep is more about training my ass for hours in the saddle than it is about speed or stamina. The route passes through several towns each day. It's really like several 10-15 mile rides in one day. It's not 40-80 miles nonstop.

And finally I need to make sure my bike is in good working order. When I went out on my first long ride in a few months, I started with a quiet bike and ended with creaking and groaning and a rattling stem. I went through a thorough round of greasing parts and found that one of the bearings in my stem was broken. So I ordered a new one and installed it. Next up: replace the chain and then I'll reindex the derailleurs. And I'll make sure to test ride before I leave for Iowa. My rear tire is looking a little worn too. I just ordered two new tires today.

For now, it's train, train, train, sweat, sweat, sweat.

Specialized Phenom Comp Saddle Review

I've been riding my bike a lot. As the weather got cold, I put my bike on a turbo trainer and subscribed to Zwift so I could stay in shape over the winter. It took about 2 months to figure out that the stock saddle is not working for me. That saddle was fine when I rode outside. The occasional stops for traffic and the odd hill climb got me out of the saddle enough to hide the problems with that stock saddle. But riding on Zwift is another matter.

Indoor riding means my butt is planted on the saddle, sometimes for a couple of hours. I could ride outdoors on that saddle for four hours. But 90 minutes indoors, after riding 6-7 days a week, was definitely uncomfortable.

OK, time for a new saddle. It should be simple, right? Wrong.

There are TOO many options. But the first problem: what size should I get?

It turns out there are standard widths. It felt like the stock saddle that I have is just a little small. I went to the bike shop and the salesman had me sit on a memory foam cushion. Then she put two ball bearings into the depressions that my sit bones made. Then she measured. Yep. My saddle is too small.

Their selection was pretty limited. My choice: shop around more, or just try something. All of my reading about this topic showed that there's no science to this, no easy guide. You just have to try saddles until you find something that works. I saw no point in looking around for anything else when I would have no reason to believe that anything else is easier to decide is right for me. So I bought a Specialized Phenom Comp saddle.

Installation was quick work. I tried it today. It already feels better. I have 14 days from the date of purchase to return it. I'm going to ride a lot in the meantime to see if I want to keep it.

Update: it's now 4 months later and this saddle has worked well for me. The ultimate test is to see how it works for me when I go to RAGBRAI.

W&OD Trail

Normally I write this blog only about photography. But today I did something I've wanted to do for a long time and I want to write about it.

After several years of letting my bike gather dust, I decided to start riding again. I took a look at my old bike and decided that it was time to start over.

I did some research, asked some friends who ride, and settled on a model and bought it. Then I started the long slog to get into riding shape. Those first few rides were pretty short. After a month or so, I started exploring routes and settled on a regular 22 mile route from my home to a park at the mouth of the Occoquan River. Eleven miles out, same route back. And there's a big climb (big for me anyway) out of the park so I was getting some lung burning workouts. More importantly, I was getting into shape. I'm never going to be fast or ride for dozens of miles at a time, but I'm reaching my goal of exercising more.

It's Labor Day weekend; I decided it's time to do the long ride that I've wanted to do for a while. I put my bike in the car and drove to Purcellville. My wife drove away, leaving me there at the trail head for the W&OD trail. Because I started at dawn, I mostly had the trail to myself and even startled a family of deer. The miles flew by, probably at least partially because the trail descends from 600 feet toward sea level. I flew through Leesburg. I started running into traffic in Herndon: pedestrians, joggers, more bikers. Reston was crowded. So was Vienna. Finally I reached the other end of the trail in Shirlington after 45 miles of riding. From there I took the 4 Mile Trail to the Mount Vernon Trail next to the Potomac River. I rested for a while at Gravelly Point to watch airplanes, then rode to the Pentagon, where I had arranged for pickup.

My total mileage was 52.9, with breaks in Leesburg, Reston, Falls Church, and Gravelly Point. This is a personal record, exceeding my previous record by about 3 miles. Man it was fun, and I'm expecting to pay for it tomorrow with sore thighs and a painful ass. But it was absolutely worth it.