Trans Iowa V.9 was a success

A full and detailed post regarding the race report for trans iowa is soon to come.  Yesterday the car had a flat tire and today the fridge stopped working, but you know what? I'll take it after all the good luck I had this weekend.  What a great race and fun time.  I ended up finishing 6th overall 3rd open male.  I rode with some insanely tough riders, had perfect weather, and no mechanical issues.

I packed a bunch of stuff with me that I didn't even use, in fact most of it I forgot I had.  At night I got so cold and hungry not realizing until today when I unpacked my camel pack that I had handwarmers and cliff bars stuffed inside. If I only knew...

I will draw from those memories for years.  There were times while training for this event that I wanted to drop out even before the race started, but once I was in the race quitting never once crossed my mind.  No matter how bad it hurt or how slow I was going, I knew I was going to finish or die trying.  I didn't care if I finished last as long as I finished.

To end up placing so well and being competitive was a great bonus!

More to come,
David

Start packin

I'm getting everything packed for Trans Iowa, only a few days away.  It sure is tough trying to decide what I will need while spending 30+ hours on a bicycle.

Checking the water packs for leaks.

Sunrise on Saturday is 6:15 Sunset is 8:00.  With those times, I will be spending 12 hours in the dark between Saturday morning and night.  I am double checking the run times on my lights.  There are no outlets to charge batteries in the middle of farm road iowa!

Seems like I am forgetting something...

The bike is ready.

Evan doing the final bolt check. 

Power cell to charge bike computer.  It can also hook up to my headlight and cell phone if those run out of batteries.

What a difference a few days makes.  Sunday I posted how calm and not worried I was, and today I'm really starting to get anxious.  I'm just ready to get this race started!

-David

No bikes this weekend.

Took a trip up north with Dad and uncle Dan to work on the "shouse" (shack/house).  I wish I would have gotten a before picture, the new siding we put on really made it look a lot better.  Still lots of work to be done.

After we got done Sunday afternoon I snuck off to climb Castle Rock.

It was good!

I have been busy with life the last week or so and the bike has been collecting dust as a result.  I don't feel to bad about it because I have been running instead.  I'm just sick of riding my bike in the rain and cold!  Only a few more days till Trans Iowa.  I'm not as anxious as I thought I would be.  I am heading into a lot of unknowns and I am ready to see if I can hold up.

Here is a  short video from the top of Castle Rock today.

3 weeks left

     Trans Iowa is less than 3 weeks away, and I'm feeling good.  The bike seat is becoming a pain in my ass, but I suppose that comes with the miles.  My goal for March was 800 miles and I ended up with 840.  I started off April this week with 246 miles, that included commutes to work, a 100 mile ride and a 3 mile run.

For some reason when I'm biking to work the sunrise looks awesome, but I never notice it in my car.

This well is always flowing and people are often filling gallon jugs from it.  It tastes like normal water to me.

Harry on the attack.

Saturday morning I got out early and rode over to Crystal Lake to see if anyone was heading out for the group ride from Wheel Werks at 8am.  Turns out Bryce and Harry were there and ready to go.  They started off strong, at one point I looked down on a flat section of road and saw we were cruising along at 28 mph.  My mountain bike tires were howling like super swampers on a 4x4. 

The flags were flying strong.

Luckily once we turned and started heading into the wind they turned it down a couple notches and I was back in my comfortable heart rate again.  The wind was brutal, but luckily I started the ride heading into the wind so when I circled around and started heading home I had smooth sailing. 

Swanson Rd., I wonder if its related to the chicken broth.

The angry Silo.

After the 100 miles on Saturday I didn't really feel like riding Sunday.  So I went for a little run.  It was a nice change of motion and with the warm temps I enjoyed it. One more week of torture and then taper off for two weeks.  Cant wait.

-David

Redemption

       Two Sundays ago I went out with a flawed plan to do 100 miles.  The problem with that plan started on Friday night with bacon wrapped tater tots and beers, continued on Saturday night with fried chicken and more beer.  So at mile 70 last weekend I hit "the wall" and limped home then drove to Mcdonalds for a quarter pounder with cheese.  Just writing that paragraph makes me think heart attack.

        This Sunday I was far more prepared. I kept the beers within reason and the food more nutritious.  I had envisioned a loop close to home that would piece together some of the gravel roads I know, which ended up being 27ish miles.  I did a lap around it with Jay first then we split up and I headed north around Lake Geneva then did a second lap of the gravel loop.  I ended up with 96 miles then rode around the block a few times just to click over the hundred.

       The bike is really coming together now and the more I ride it the happier I am with it.  Its been on my mind since I signed up for Trans Iowa, how will I get a bike that I can ride 320 miles of gravel and dirt roads?  The bike I have concocted will not be the fastest or most efficient but it is set up to be comfortable and dependable.  She now has a name... "Marie" The Salsa Mariachi.

       -David

St. Patrick's Weekend

Saturday night I went out and rode around Lake Geneva. It was a chilly but nice ride.  I was motivated by Strava, someone stole my KOM on one of the climbs near LG so I had to go redeem myself. I pushed pretty hard, but my legs felt a sluggish so I figured I didn't get the KOM back, but when I checked the time I beat him by 1 second. Sweet.

Right it in the middle of this picture you can see 8 deer in the middle of the field.

Jay Barre took a group of six out to Lake Geneva for a ride.  Once we got there, 3 split off on there own way.  Jay, Ari, and I went on around the lake then back to Woodstock.  Ari left to go to work, and jay and I went back out to ride in the Bull Valley area.  Those last two hills at the 70 mile mark nearly killed me and I had to send Jay on his way.  I ended up with 77 miles, and Jay came back with 101.  What a beast on a single speed.

I needed food bad, and even though it seems backwards to eat crap food after a ride, the quarter pounder with cheese was calling my name.  Strava says I burned 2600 calories, not to worry I put 1100 back in with a burger and fries.

The rest was refueled with green beer and corned beef.

What a great ride, Thanks Jay.

-David

P.S. sorry about the half eaten banana on your counter.

Maximum Destruction

       My legs feel like that camper.  Maximum Destruction has begun, I just hope its not to little to late.  I am on track for 800 miles on the bike this month, and I still think 1000 is possible.  45 Days till trans iowa!  I am excited.  Today was a day of rest after 130 miles last weekend, plus rides Monday and Tuesday.  Sunday I rode with some fast guys, and they really showed me how much I've been slacking while riding alone.  It was nice to have company during the 60+ rain ride.  When I got home I stuffed my face and took a nap.

      I feel like I'm doing the right things.  My leg muscles hurt bad, but in a good way, not an injured way.  I am planning a ride in Iowa for next weekend.  I also have a lot of miles planned for Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday of this week.  I like the idea of linking the rides together like that, it gives a small amount of time for healing but not enough to get the legs feeling 100% again.  I want to keep them sore, I think that will be the best for 320 miles of gravel and dirt roads. 

Keep pushing,

David