Randonneur adventures

Steve's Randonneur blog

My first "DNF " - 300 km - The Hills are Alive; April 25 2009

(Better a DNF at 221 km than a DNTry!)

Saturday morning I was up before my 4 AM alarm. Friday's -2 heavy frost caused me a little concern and I had decided I would bail if the temperature was below 5. Checking the temp with a flashlight, to avoid waking Melissa, I discovered what was to be the norm for the day; just enough good news to keep going. 6 degrees, just one degree on the side of a green light. The previous 200 km brevet had been doable. I have completed 200 km rides before. Today would be different, 300 km was pushing new limits. From the outset I decided 5 hours per 100 km would be the goal. injured

Within that I would let my body decide when to call it quits. Melissa, as always, was supportive.

After going through my morning routine I made the decision to ride the few km to the start. A little relaxed warm up before attacking the course. The start was 6 AM at Esquimalt and Tyee, after formalities we were off. Starting mid pack I was soon passed by a few more experianced Randonnuers. I had done most of the first 100 many times, along the waterfront, out to the first checkpoint in Sydney and back through Brentwood to Prospect lake. Somewhere near 10 mile Point David Kirsop caught up with me and we teamed up drafting each other well into West Saanich Road. After the airport I bid Dave adiue as I knew I could not keep his pace for the entire ride. I needed to reserve energy for the climbs ahead.

topo route

Official route (less Sooke) in yellow; additional distance in purple.

Turning off Prospect to Munn Road the climbs began. There is a reason they call it the highlands. I had ridden hard with Dave and was averaging over 25 kph when I turned onto Munn. This was to drastically change. Riding alone from Brentwood, the steady climb up Munn was eating away at my confidence. Five kilometres shy of Millstream lake road I stopped to pull out my map and confirm that I still had farther to climb still. On the up side, or rather once on the upside, the turn onto Millstream brought a welcome descent to the second checkpoint in Langford. At 106.9 km my time of passage was 10:58 AM, 2 minutes under my self imposed 5 hour cut off. After signing my Brevet Card the Co-op attendant explained to his co-worker that I was doing a "kind of bicycle marathon ". Bouyed by my newfound "celebrity status " I stretched and headed out to tackle the Malahat. The next personal time check would be 4 PM with a goal of being 28 km past the Duncan Tim Horton's checkpoint.

My enthusiasm waned as Saturday morning highway traffic droned past me. By Goldstream Park hunger and cold drove me to a picnic site where I refuelled and changed my top. "Discretion is the better part of valour ", I told myself as I returned to the climb up the "hat ". While my legs were willing the cold of the morning was not lifting and the gathering clouds were mocking my decision against bringing rain gear. By the time I pulled into the rest area lookout on the summit I had decided to bail at Mill Bay and take the ferry home. Having ridden alone for as long as I had I was convinced the rest of the riders were long gone. As I sat on the picnic table, contemplating an early defeat, Jenny Watson and Patrick Wright on their tandem, along with another Randonneur waved to me as they passed. I reassessed where I was at in the scheme of things. Still I had to consider how far I had come in just over two years. The route passed by the Mill Bay terminal, I would decide once I got there.

At the turn off to the ferry ramp is a small cemetery. As I arrived the sun came out, a decision had to be made. While my legs would keep spinning I had an ominous feeling my energy was ebbing. Standing there, looking over the graveyard I was reminded that I was still on this side of the turf, I chuckled to myself. Two more Randonneurs rode by. I decided to at least get to "Timmy's", after all it was flat there and back to the ferry. The "Lakes and Herd" road hills would remind me why this was called" The Hills are Alive". However, arriving at the 172 km checkpoint at 3:17 I knew there was no way to meet my next time goal. I would not complete.

While at Tim Horton's I met the two riders, Philip Lennox and Jim Runkel, who had passed me in Mill Bay. Dave Macmurchie and I had leap-frogged each other through Duncan. Brynne and Mike Croy joined us all for an afternoon meal. We chatted and I explained my decision to accept a DNF on this brevet. While everyone was understanding, Brynne and Mike advised me the trip over Shawnigan was not as daunting as the summit. They invited me to ride with them to the Humpback turnoff. Their encouragement made the difference and once more I set out on the course. Shortly after leaving Duncan I would fade back again, resolved now to at least ride the remainder home

google map

Dave Macmurchie caught up with me at Shawnigan while I took a break again to stretch. I would catch him on the climb to the highway where he stopped to dress for the downhill run into Goldstream. I was out of dry clothes so a change was moot. The rest on the down hill would be my preparation for the last few kilometres home. Waiting at Humpback road were Brynne and Mike Croy. Dave's trepidation of doing Humpback alone was for not as they had kindly waited to see if we were going to continue.
DeadHorse

After 221 km officially, 12 1/2 hours on the road, this time my decision was final; I was heading home. I was unprepared for two more hours of cool night riding, a risk I would not take. The "Three musketeers" signed off my brevet card, and rode off into the sunset. In a little under an hour I was home, a phone call to Lindsay, the ride organiser to confirm my DNF and hear that Brynne, Mike and Dave had made it to Sooke and were heading back to the final checkpoint ended this adventure for me.

Epilogue
At the end of my 13+ hours on the road, 244 km was my odometer reading (11:16 riding, 21+ kph), the longest distance I had ever completed in a day.. A worthwhile effort in overcoming the "naysayer" old

in the back of my mind. Riding alone for a good portion was challenging, yet rewarding in the success of overcoming my own doubts. 55 km more next time, and there will be a next time. I will be a little more prepared both with gear and physically. Now if they only had a brevet from Merrit to Vancouver. Ah, ha, they could call it "The Hill is our Friend".

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My first "official " randonneur ride: 200 km - Tour of the Cowichan Valley; April 11 2009

Great people, cloud cover, cool, spitting rain, Chilly around Shawnigan, warm at Cowichan Lake and Duncan, Overall a great day for my first 205 km Brevet

Early (4 AM) start to the day for me. A large high carbohydrate meal, Qi gong, recheck the gear and bike, then head over to Dewain's for the drive up. Arrive with plenty of time to set up yet still manage to start a little behind the group. Dewain (aka "the hammer") leads us off in a sprint to quickly catch the main group, then take the lead. A few more sprints and I become very aware I am not the athlete "the hammer" is. We manage to keep up with the lead group until the Cowichan Bay hill where they pull away. At the turn left onto Cherry Point Rd. we have the second group pass us in our confusion about road names and stop sign count. A couple more sprints along Cherry Point and we are ahead of the second group. The climb to Shawnigan Lake proves beyond a doubt I cannot keep pace with Dewain. After the 50 km checkpoint he is away to catch the lead group. Our average speed is 26+ km/hr way over what I had planned.

Google earth map of route

The trip around Shawnigan is bittersweet. I have faded back to the pace I should have maintained. Enjoying the scenery more in spite of the chill. Alas my nemesis strikes at 70km, in spite of an increased dose of calcium, light cramps at first, followed by warning cramps. Trying to keep pace was my mistake. Testosterone is such a curse at times. A stop, some stretches and a slow spin to the top of the Cobble Hill Rd was the trick. Coasting down the hill to the highway was the ticket. Another stretching break at the picnic site off the highway and that would be the last of the cramps. Doing 12 metrics since January was paying dividends. The ride through the Kokisilah is pastoral. I ask at the 100 km checkpoint; "the hammer" has gained half an hour on me.

Elevation profile

A quick couple of turns and we pass through Duncan. I find myself riding with Mike Poplawski, an experianced Randonneur. A few words of encouragement and I am mentally back in the game. I start the countdown. Psychologically I count the kilometres left once I am past the halfway point. The first hill a reminder Cowichan lake is a ways up yet. Mike is to the point, "rivers run downhill". Decievingly simple at first, the hills become steeper as we proceed. I start to slip back, catching up on the downhills. Then there are no downhills, the climb just continues, I fade back. Finally after promising myself I would stop "just around the next bend", I give in, take a short break. Refueling with ensure and a couple of boiled baby potatoes has been the mainstay this ride. Now I add dark chocolate as an incentive, from here on every 20 km I will enjoy the added treat. I have stopped counting down to the end of the ride and am merely counting to Lake Cowichan. the numbers are smaller, and then it is "flat ", so I tell myself. Greendale is a pleasant ride along the river, and suddenly I am at Lake Cowichan. Fuel and rest restore my confidence. Less than 15 km to the third checkpoint. With 10 km until I turn around, the lead pack appears, Dewain in front heading downhill for the last 50 km. "The hammer" has gained at least an hour on me.

Topographic map

A complete change of clothes is my reward for doing the first 150 km. Rest, fuel and more chocolate prepares me for the 20 "flat" km before what will be a long down hill run to the highway. Life does not get any better than this. At the third checkpoint my average speed had dipped close to 20 kph. Now with a little effort I am flying downhill at speeds up to 60 kph. The road simply disappears under my bike. Before I know it I am through Duncan and drafting behind Devon Mihalyi and Luke Galley a couple of Randoneers (who stopped in Duncan for a snack). Chemanus looms into view, and suddenly it is over. The ride is complete and the feeling of elation is grand. 205 km, 9:10 riding time, 22.3 average kph. With rest breaks a total of 10:20 on the road. I am happy with my first attempt. To think of where I was just over 2 years ago, I feel extremely lucky.

Epilogue
Dewain has had just under 2 hours to relax and have a meal while waiting. He completed in 8:30 total time. We load up and head for home. Today I am grateful to Stephanie and Dewain for their advice regarding the Hot/Cold treatment of muscles for recovery. I seem only to have my regular aches and pains, no residual leg muscle trouble. this can not be that bad, maybe I will try it again. Ah, how gentle my memory is. Take a virtual ride on the bikely interactive map. Zoom into Chemainus; click on the start tour button; use the <> to travel the route. It is best viewed as a "hybrid " map. Enjoy.

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