Last year I was in several events where the temperatures were in the upper 90's or lower 100's. It was absolutely brutal. Of course, it could rain at every event this year, but I am not coming into 2011 wanting to bake my insides out again. That means I will need to basically work harder at getting ready, which means I will have to do a lot more preparatory riding/training. Since I have to do Trans Iowa first, that cuts into spring time riding a bit. The good news? I have next to no recon to do. That will help, but still, spring is unpredictable and time is tighter then. Result? No spring events for me. There will possibly be CIRREM if I can work it out. That will be a training ride, for the most part. Every open time slot will be spent testing for Twenty Nine Inches, or doing longer gravel rides. The first event will demand that I be at my best to finish: The Dirty Kanza 200.
Secondly, I discovered night time gravel road riding with d.p. That will hopefully start again with the warmer weather. It certainly could help with early season miles. At any rate, it should be fun. Oh yeah.....fun. I'm going to be making sure that more fun rides happen as well.
So, besides the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational, which most likely will be in mid-July again, I am not really doing anything organized as of this time. I may add one thing here or there, but I am keeping the focus sharp on these events and rides and that's it.
So, that's my plan. As of right now anyway. I bit off way more than I could chew last year, and had to blow off a couple of events due to lack of training, and suffered like a dog when I was at events. Not fun. And as I said, I am adding in more fun for 2011.
I remember racing was a pain back in the 90's and was reminded of that again last year. Fun is still fun. I get that. So I am going to have fun in 2011. I hope you all do too.
7 comments:
I'm with you on the heat, I'd rather freeze than fry. I had one day on the ride out to ragbrai I was on a gravel road with my loaded bike after about 90 miles with less than 25 to go to camp I actually found shade next to a concrete barrier on the side of the road and laid down for half an hour trying to regain my ability to go on. I'm hoping to make the death ride this year.
i've missed a few death rides. need to return for that.
@Courtney, @mw: The GTDRI will be closer to you two guys as well. I'm pretty sure I am looking at doing a Jasper/Powesheik County loop, which is right around Grinnell/Newton, Iowa.
Hope to see ya both there.
Sounds like you've got the right idea. Keeping it fun should be priority #1. Looking forward to having you back in Lincoln in August!
Hope you can make CIRREM GT. I'm going to be showing up to have fun and support the event. I don't care about my speed. It will be a ride. Love to have you as a companion. I can offer up a warm bed the night before as well.
@Steve Fuller: It is my intention to make it one way or the other. I'll hit you up closer to the event concerning your offer. Thanks!
I haven't spoken much about my 2011 plans yet either, other than to say that I plan to race my mountain bike proportionately a lot more this year, and to have a lot more fun. Those are my two big goals.
I think we're much on the same page...
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