100 Miles Of Nowhere of Uncertainty: part I (The Plan)

Why would anyone consent to riding 100 miles on a bicycle in a day? Especially when their gear is substandard and their fitness is similarly poor?  Because….reasons.

Last year’s 100MoN was the. Worst. Physical. Test. I’ve. Ever. Put. Myself. Through. …zombies

To avoid suffering, I came up with a plan.  I resolved to stay on the bike more by riding in half-hour blocks that were regulated by a timer. I resolved to stay on my bike more by setting up “tables” where I could reach my food from the bike. I resolved to stay on the bike by only letting myself off when the timer dinged or for dad emergencies.  I made sure to have a variety of food that I could enjoy both as a snack and as a series of small meals.

Someone really smart said, “…a long race isn’t a race, it’s an eating contest.” I took them at their word and had plenty.  10 1/2 lb. Burritos, 2 softball-sized apples, a bag of chips, a bag of mini candy bars, all the swag that Fatty sent, a bag of white grapes, an 8-pack of Gatorade, a half-gallon of water.  In part II, you’ll see that I ate most of that.

Finally, I got my daily driver set up on my trainer in front of my tiny tv in my garage.  I grabbed some of my favorite DVDs, and took a deep breath.

Move More
Eat Better
Get Out And Ride

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Headwind: A Glorious Challenge, or A Disheartening Nuisance?

I’m in the midst of putting together a write-up of my 100MoN ride this weekend.  Part I comes next week.  For now enjoy this:

There are two common factors that derail long rides for me most of the time: my fitness level and headwinds.  I’ve discussed personal health and fitness enough that I’m skipping that today.  Let’s instead, (*steeples fingers, looks over his glasses*), discuss your feelings about headwinds.

Ride your bike outdoors and you’ll encounter wind; surprising, I know.  How you handle these realities is the difference between excruciating suffering and an enjoyable without.  From a gentle zephyr to a howling  gale, here are some tips to get through it, in order of wind intensity.

Spin your pedals a little faster. Don’t shift yet, make your riding a little more aerobic.

Shift down a single gear.  This will help you with the above.

Get aerodynamic. Lean over a little, duck your head and watch the side of the road. Pull your elbows in.

Shift down again.  Don’t mash your pedals, spin.  Work to maintain your forward movement.

Cry a little, but don’t stop spinning.  By now the wind would be very strong.

So, shift down enough that you can spin easily and move forward, but don’t worry about your speed anymore, just worry about going forward.

That’s it.

Move More
Eat Better
Get Out And Ride

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A Perfect Piece Of Pavement

This weekend is the cycling event that I usually most look forward to and simultaneously dread each year. The 100 Miles Of Nowhere. My attempt will be both an inexorable trial and a glorious challenge of stamina. Follow me on twitter @EricMBurgeson to get the play by play.

I’ve railed against cars before on this blog.  I’ve complained that they’re dangerous from my perspective, that many use them wastefully, and they are a crutch that makes us fat and lazy.  I have another problem with them: They isolate us from the landscape.

Why would you not want to hear, smell, and feel this?

I’ve avoided a certain street on my bicycle commute for years.  This street was so old that I could see paving BRICKS in the myriad of potholes, and the curbs were CUT LIMESTONE, not poured concrete. 

I’ve driven it many times, because my car insulates me from it.  But recently this happened:

“They” milled the road down and poured a brand new roadbed! Joy of joys, I find excuses to ride on this now.  It’s spectacular.

Smooth and flat, the way I like my coffee roads to be.  Thanks, “They”!

Move More
Eat Better
Get Out And Ride

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