Sunday, August 30, 2009

Camelbak-less?

Can one survive the SM100 with two water bottles and refill at the six aid stations? I'm gonna try it. Here is the plan:

One 750 mL bottle in bottle cage
One 500-mL bottle in jersey pocket
One pump behind seatpost

Also in pocket:
One spare tube
One tire lever
One spare derailleur hanger
One Powerlink
One chain tool
One set of wrenches: M8, M6, M5, M4, Torx 25
One box of stick on patches
Two packs of Clif Shot Bloks
One car key (maybe)
Nuun (maybe)

In drop bags:
Packs of Clif Bloks
Light

Monday, August 24, 2009

Jersey Size


European vs. American.

Both are size large, but the blue one (European) is a little tight for mountain biking, maybe OK for road rides.

Garmin Edge 305

My Edge 305 is having an issue. Recently it would shut off automatically in the middle of a bumpy ride,especially on the rigid Vicious Monolith. It happened several times. It restarted fine every time. I contacted Garmin today via email, will see how they say about it.

BTW the new Garmin Connect doesn't like my 305. I cannot upload any long rides. The browser just hangs.

Update Monday 8/24: Garmin replied the issue is covered by warranty. I'll send it back after the SM100.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Nutrition

I am going to pack bags of caffeinated Shot Bloks and a tube of Nuun for the long ride in two weeks. Never had Nuun before, hopefully it works for me.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nearly DNFed MoCo Loop

I almost DNFed the MoCo loop on Sunday. Actually technically I did because I had to skip the Clopper Lake and headed straight back to Schaeffer with my last bit of will power.

Now think of it most likely it was the electrolytes. I drank and sweated at least twice as much as I did before. All fluid I took in was water.

Denis was strong all the way.

GPS track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10841571

First Solo Road Ride

Saturday early morning I did my first solo road ride on the Vicious. 25 miles from Germantown to Poolesville following the loop posted by Todd on bikely. I had to stop a few times just to make sure I was still on the right track. Other than those I was smoothly cruising. There wasn't much climbing so geared at 44x15 was fine for that loop. But still I might try 44x16 next time just to get a sense.

GPS track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/10724831

Turns Distance
(mi)
Total Distance
(mi)
Head southwest on Schaeffer Rd 2.4 2.4
Slight right at MD-121/White Ground Rd 1.0 3.3
Turn left at Old Bucklodge Ln 2.0 5.3
Turn left at Bucklodge Rd/MD-117 0.7 6.0
Turn right at Whites Store Rd 1.8 7.8
Turn left at Peach Tree Rd 2.6 10.4
Turn left at Darnestown Rd/MD-28 0.2 10.6
Turn right at Cattail Rd 1.9 12.5
Turn left to stay on Cattail Rd 0.2 12.7
Turn left at Fisher Ave/MD-107 0.1 12.8
Turn right at Wootton Ave 0.2 13.0
Turn left at Hughes Rd 2.9 15.9
Turn left at Sugarland Rd 1.3 17.2
Turn left to stay on Sugarland Rd 3.5 20.7
Turn left at Darnestown Rd/MD-28 0.0 20.7
Turn right at MD-121/White Ground Rd 1.7 22.5
Sharp right at Schaeffer Rd 2.4 24.8

Monday, August 3, 2009

Vicious Cycles Electric Warrior


It's built.

I still need to swap out some parts - crankset (currently it's an improper mountain set, the chainline is outboard way too much), stem (a real 73 degree 100 mm road stem), seatpost (a shorter Thomson), track end chain tugs (the Surly is just overkill for this), and maybe gearing (right now is 44-15, will try 44-16 later), but the bike is rideable as is, and quite comfortable. I really love the bullhorn bars and the TT brake levers.

17 lb with pedals. All black and white so I added in one red chainring bolt so it doesn't look like a 1930 movie.