I am equipping similarly to last year. I'm using my winter beater bike (Specialized Allez) with 28mm Specialized Armadillo road tires. The only thing I'm changing is gearing. Last year I used standard road triple, a 30/25 minimum ratio. I utterly died by the time I got to Patten Hill. This year, despite climbing a little stronger, I'll use a 28/26 minimum ratio. I'm hoping the gravel is a little less loose this year too. Last year had many sections loose as marbles. There were some serious crashes as a result. My setup is heavy at 23 lbs. I'll be sport'n a full Camelbak too, and with clothes my total riding weight will tip north of 200 lbs I'm sure. Great strength training, or more likely another one of those rides of dubious training value.I don't have any goals for this ride. It is a timed RUSA event, but I have never bothered with getting my passport card signed at each checkpoint in the past. I believe record numbers have signed up this year. I will also be starting on time at 6am. Plan to hook up with Solobreak, Dave Penney, and several IBC teammates. I'll spend a week recovering from this ride just in time for my next hillclimb event.
2 comments:
Um, was it necessary to show the D2R2 profile?! At least it won't be crazy hot like last year and, although I rode a tandem in 2007 with my now wife, it will be a joy (probably wrong word) to be on my Look with 25mm tires and 34f x 27r gearing. I wonder what hallucinations I'll create in my mind by the time I reach Patten Rd. this year....
I just took my D2R2 jalopy out for a spin. I'm disappointed in how slow it rolls on pavement. It is almost as sluggish as the Toughies lined, Slime filled tires on the Mt Evans rental bike. When I rolled the bike back into the basement, I smelt a hot rubber smell. The tires were hot! I just hope on dirt they are faster than my next option, 23mm racing tires. I bought those tires originally for the tandem, but I know now I'll have to find something better.
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