Howling Grits practice ride

Jayjay and I rode Jerry's Howling Grits 100K populaire today, not for credit, but just to see if we could do it.  We might actually finish in time.  The hills were a challenge for us, since Jerry has done a masterful job of linking together roads with minimal flat sections.  And it was hot, though we dodged the worst since it was overcast the first several hours.  Of course, we won't stop at a shaded beachy stretch along Jordan Lake on a real ride, like we did today.   And I will definitely not ride my bike the 10 miles from home to the start, like I did today.  Maybe we'll try again in October, when it's cooler.

Of course, what would a rando ride be without a detour?    Photos

Bike maintenance

I noticed two diagonal slits in the sidewalls of my rear tire during our last 200K. There was one slit on each side of the tire, about two inches apart. Very odd. I bought a new rear tire and installed it tonight.

While the wheel was off, I replaced my spoke silencers with new plastic strips (re-purposed from the packaging of a lawn mower blade). My spokes are notched from wear and make an annoying click when I ride. These strips keep them separated and quiet. And the silence helps me ignore that the spokes are ready to break.

Am I a redneck rando? Photos

Snarky Sprints

Four randos rode the RUSA Tar Heel 200K on a beautiful summer day today. Dean, Jayjay, Mike and I started at daybreak in Benson. Mike rode with great vigor, fresh from a 1000K in California. The rest of us rode slow and had great conversation. Click on the little thumbnail photo here to see Dean and Mike the second time we met, some miles from the turnaround point in Tar Heel.

Quote of the day, from Jayjay to a non-rando roadie friend:

"Randos don't sprint for county line signs. We sprint for state lines."

...which segues nicely to this little video of me NOT fooling Dean at the Bladen County line: video

And a few unremarkable snapshots: photos

No flats or mechanicals, just the usual dogs, detours, and missing signs. A great day on the bikes.

200K meets 200K

Jayjay and I rode the RUSA Tar Heel 200K today, from Benson, NC to Tar Heel, NC, and back. Unlike last week, I remembered to collect my perm card at every checkpoint today. We enjoyed a variety of weather: hot and overcast, hot and sunny, and hot and rainy. We were well prepared with our insulated luggage, ice socks, and indomitable spirits.

We had the privilege of crossing paths with two other randos riding the same route today, Dean and Lin. Jayjay and I started early, and Dean and Lin started a while later. The first time we met was just outside the turnaround point at Tar Heel. Dean and Lin were arriving just as Jayjay and I were departing. We stopped, took photos, gave the secret rando handshakes, and went on our ways. The second time was at the finish in Benson. Jayjay and I barely had time to pack up our bikes and get our cards stamped when Dean and Lin rolled in.

Just don't asked what times we all started.

Click here for photos with captions.

DNF means 'Do Not Forget'

Let's review several lessons from Rando 101:

1) Do not forget your perm card at a checkpoint.

2) Do not forget your credit card with your perm card at a checkpoint.

3) Do not ride your bike 14 miles before discovering mistakes 1 and 2.

I violated these simple rules today on an otherwise perfect summer day while riding the Tar Heel 200K.

All the gory self-deprecating details are here, with verbosely captioned photos.

I blame it on my summertime obsession with ice. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Rando Habits and Real Life

Have you ever noticed how habits can transfer from one activity to another?

I drove 500 miles solo from NC to NJ last weekend, in record time. Whenever I stopped for gas, I raced through the convenience stores: quick bathroom, grabbed snacks and drink, then ate on the road. I realized after the second stop that a year of rando events was getting me back on the road incredibly fast. Very neat.

Right Hooks

Question: When is a right hook not a right hook?
Hypothesis: When both the car and bicycle turn right.

As part of my commute, I sprint along a short narrow section of NC54 (an aggressively driven, ostensibly 45mph (72km/h), two-lane road) and turn right up a short steep hill into a housing development. For the first time one day last week, a car pulled directly alongside me and matched my speed as we reached the intersection. I noticed his right turn signal flashing. Then the two of us both turned right and whipped around the corner, perfectly synchronized, no more than 3 ft (1m) apart. Wow, what was that? I filed it away as a fluke.

Amazingly, it happened again yesterday. Another fluke?

I am choosing to believe these drivers are seeing my extended arm and recognizing it as a right-turn signal, which is good. But I'm not yet sure a synchronized turn is a good thing. Maybe with more practice...