Our Gainesville Cycling Horse Farm 100 is just around the corner as I write this message.
A group of us preparing for the event rode the latter part of the course this past weekend. We were testing our hill climbing skills, myself I was just checking out the granny gear to see if it was still operational. It worked perfectly, no skips, or grinding noises, slow as molasses though, or was that me? As we rode that portion we were reminded why we call it the Horse Farm Hundred. We are very fortunate to have that countryside so close at hand. A fifteen minute ride from our city and we can experience some of the best cycling in Florida.
It seems before any riding event there is always a prithee of advice on how to prepare for the ride. Everyone seems to have their own secret which they share unabashedly to any listener within shouting distance.
Changing anything on your bicycle the week before the event is a big no no. This includes trying a new piece of equipment the day of the ride. Having your bicycle tuned up two days before the ride is not a good idea either. Four weeks yes, two days no.
Food advice is big on the list too. High carbo yes, fat no, salt yes, and above all read the label before ingesting. On one ride I saw someone trying to squeeze down their chain lube. Always always read the label.
What to drink, and how much is another important factor. It's probably me (not too keen on algebraic problem solving puzzles) i.e., if I drink 4 ounces every half hour...and I ride 57 miles in 74 minutes, and bring 2 bottles that hold 14 ounces, one I filled once and the other has 1/4 liquid left (evaporation factor not included), Question? have I consumed the correct amount of liquid to keep hydrated. Answer? If you can still ask the question something must be working?
High tech stuff is in too. Clipless peddles, odometers, heart rate monitors, lighter than light color coordinated helmet and glasses, tires that are filled precisely at 110 psi back and precisely 100 psi front that will give us that extra 1.2 mph to carry us over the course in record time. Has anyone thought of carrying a gyroscopic horizon indicator? That way we could really see if our curve turning is at the correct pitch. I like the old method--if you find yourself on the tarmac, most likely you leaned just a bit too far.
I think Bill Boyett said it best during our tryout ride this past weekend. He was telling us that while riding to his in-laws (64 miles) he was getting a little grumpy and thinking as he looked down at his odometer that he had another 15 miles to go. When he looked up, coming down the hill was a young man on a one speed, beat up, fat tire Sears special with a grin on his face as wide as the sky...for he was having fun. You're right Bill, we sometimes loose sight of why we're out here. We get too busy reading the high tech info, and worry too much about our tire pressure or which direction the wind may be coming from rather than listening to that little child in all of us that says it's just fun! So have fun and hope to see you on the Horse Farm Hundred.
P.S. Does anyone know where I can buy an odometer that includes gyroscopic horizon readings?