Cycling Thread

[Fuzz]

Most years the route is a bit different for the RTCC. I've done 5 of them. I think the shortest was 106km, longest 130 of the ones I did.

[Nandric]

My longest was several years ago on the island, where I rode from Victoria to Port Renfrew and back which was 250k and took me about 9.5hours solo. I miss those days when I thought that was a good idea and could actually throw it down.

[millhouse11]

The Penticton Fondo is awesome. My favorite. Have fun.

[squiggs96]

My longest ride, as previously stated, was the 122 km Whistler granfondo. Outside of that I did 70 kms last Sunday, and I did 60 kms three days before that, and another 60 kms on Tuesday this week. I'll likely do 60 kms tomorrow and then a long ride on Sunday in the 70-80 kms range.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by millhouse11

The Penticton Fondo is awesome. My favorite. Have fun.

a friend of mine did it one of the years when Eddy Merckx showed up. Got to meet the man himself, that would have been cool. Neat that his son has settled in the Okanogan.

[millhouse11]

My only advice is to try and take your own drink tablets/electrolytes. When I did it, it was HOT. Like 40 degrees. I sweat a lot, and I assumed they would have a good quality sports drink, so I just went with it. It was gatorade. And by km 115, I was cramping, and my stomach was not happy with all of the sugar. I had to take a break at the stop, and let things settle before I could move on. Fortunately they had good stuff at that stop, and they let me have some of that. I learnt that ride to always carry what I like, and what agrees with my body. I finished the 160km, but my last 45 was quite a bit slower than my first 115. Beautiful ride.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by millhouse11

My only advice is to try and take your own drink tablets/electrolytes. When I did it, it was HOT. Like 40 degrees. I sweat a lot, and I assumed they would have a good quality sports drink, so I just went with it. It was gatorade. And by km 115, I was cramping, and my stomach was not happy with all of the sugar. I had to take a break at the stop, and let things settle before I could move on. Fortunately they had good stuff at that stop, and they let me have some of that. I learnt that ride to always carry what I like, and what agrees with my body. I finished the 160km, but my last 45 was quite a bit slower than my first 115. Beautiful ride.

I have really gotten into nutrition with my increased cycling. I'm a big fan of Vega products. Their electrolyte powder is excellent, and I now like it better than powerade. I'll be bringing a few gels and a couple bars on the ride. I find a big key for me is the recovery drink and the sport protein powder after. I like the pre-workout energizer for how it helps me through the rides/workouts, but it's not as essential as the others. I like the berry versions of all their products, as I find the chocolate and vanilla ones taste terrible. I think that's because I like chocolate with sugar, and these taste like fake chocolate.

Judging by the map, the last 20 kms are downhill, so as long as I make it to 140 I should be okay.

[millhouse11]

the last 20km is downhill...kind of. Once you hit town, you are like, "I made it!", but then you feel like, wtf? I'm climbing. Those last 5km through town are the worst. And it's not hard, but just hard enough after being on the bike for that long that you feel like someone kicked you in the nuts and walked off laughing. Sorry, I'm being over dramatic. It's not that bad.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by millhouse11

the last 20km is downhill...kind of. Once you hit town, you are like, "I made it!", but then you feel like, wtf? I'm climbing. Those last 5km through town are the worst. And it's not hard, but just hard enough after being on the bike for that long that you feel like someone kicked you in the nuts and walked off laughing. Sorry, I'm being over dramatic. It's not that bad.

The last 10 kms in Whistler suuuuucked. I kept looking at the girl I was riding beside and asking "Is this the last hill?". She just kept shaking her head and looking like she had to tell me Santa wasn't real.

I went through the finish line and did a double thumbs up pose. I then immediately slumped over my handlebars. Unfortunately for me, I didn't know the pictures were being taken about a 50 metres after the finish line, and I look like I'm dying.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Unfortunately for me, I didn't know the pictures were being taken about a 50 metres after the finish line, and I look like I'm dying.

You're posting that photo right?

[KTrain]

Had a beautiful ride in this morning with a bunch of personal records. But now I'm looking at all the wind and realizing it must have been behind me the entire way. Now regret is creeping in. I know it'll be a full headwind the entire way home.

[Bigtime]

Yup, it's gonna be like yesterday. My ride home was almost 7 minutes longer than average because of the headwind yesterday. Brutal.

[Northendzone]

we must all live in the south as I had the same issue yesterday as well.

wind is cool as well.......

[Northendzone]

Rode up bragging rights and Merlin today....both seemed to have more elevation gain than I remember.

I struggled with three parts of the ride, some of the early going on BR, and two of the rock gardens on Merlin.

Also stopped at cycle 22x, the boys there are very friendly and had a few very nice rigs for sales. Picked myself up a bontranger flash pump for $130 (my buddy bought a bike there and I used his discount).

Thinking about riding goat creek next weekend, but family plans may kybosh that.

[Fuzz]

^Let me know if Goat creek is dry, would like to do it in 2 weeks. Thanks!

[cracher]

My longest is around 140km of mild free-ride trail. Full disclosure: Shuttle assisted. Actual longest in a day is under 80 on Calgary pathways.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Rode up bragging rights and Merlin today....both seemed to have more elevation gain than I remember.

We did Merlin today in a different loop than I've done before. Telephone Loop -> Disconnect -> Long Distance -> Reconnect -> Merlin. Made the elevation gain more tolerable that way I found. Longer though.

Originally Posted by Fuzz

^Let me know if Goat creek is dry, would like to do it in 2 weeks. Thanks!

It's dry-ish. Half was great, other half was a bit muddy but not bad. That's second-hand info from last week, so take it as you will.

[Northendzone]

^ read something on Facebook about a new way to do Merlin that alleviates traffic on the way there. Wonder if this is the route the Facebook folks were talking about.

Thought about riding today, but legs felt heavy. Used the day to get some stuff done around the house. Hoping to commute 4x this week.

[millhouse11]

Rode Fernie this weekend. Conditions were excellent. Did Ridgemont Saturday morning, ecoterrorist, deadfall, oh dear. In the afternoon rode Roots up to hyperextension. I was bagged, so we turned around and rode the rest of the roots loop. Yesterday we did Project 9. Holy crap does that climb get steep after the powerline. But so worth it. The downhill was so much fun. I was demoing a 27.5 plus bike all weekend. I was sceptical, but I have to say, the traction was incredible. I was riding stuff I couldn't on my 29er. It was pretty much cheating on the downhills.

[Northendzone]

^ what, no lazy lizard?