Well that was interesting….

Is really all I can say about the Funk Bottoms race last Saturday. I’m not sure how to elaborate on it.

It started off in the rain. And not just a drizzle. A rain storm. It rained all night, so I really worried that some roads would be out, and we would have to stop and turn around. But all went off without a hitch.

 

Let’s get this straight right away…I’m not a climber. I can climb, but not fast or quick. So stepping up to a race that has 7500 feet of climbing within 63 miles is a daunting task. So quickly do the math…yes, that is over 1000 feet per 10 miles. Just for a point of reference, Cleveland Cobbles has a little over 100 feet of climbing in 40 miles.

There was a two-mile neutral start. After that, it was everyone for themselves. For the first 12 miles I did good keeping a group of guys in my sights. After that, I was by myself checking my map, and thanks to the efforts that Chris and Marcus did the night before, all went well. Until I hit Killbuck. I missed a turn and did an extra climb. After my mistake there was a climb out of Killbuck that I thought would never stop and the cow could sense my pain. At least that what I want to believe.

Around mile 30 I met up with JG. And we rode together till the end. There came a time when we just didn’t care, and walked up most of the hills after that. I will say this…if the Funk was an gravel enduro…I’d win. On all the downhills, I just let it fly. The only time I touched the brakes was to make sure no one was coming around a corner.

With the mud, gravel and sand it was such a fun ride. The weather kept changing. It would rain down on us (by the way…I love my rain shell) for miles, and you’d forget about it, then the sun would come out and I didn’t realize it until miles later. Then I would get used to the sun and dry air, and then it would turn to a rain storm again. I loved it!

I guess the good news is that I didn’t come in last, and the Nooma (and beer) at the end was soooooooo goooooooood.

A special thanks goes out to Chris for putting it on and taking all the time to get it set up.

And just for more fun reading...here is the man himself and what he had to say about the race:

http://mrbigring.blogspot.com/2015/07/2015-funk-bottoms-gravel.html

Until next year…

Mohican 100....

One of our teammates, Mr. Big Ring, braved the Mohican 100 this year, and here is his report:
http://mrbigring.blogspot.com/2015/06/2015-mohican-100.html

and yes...he's a monster.

Thanks Chris, and keep up the great work!

Cleveland Cobbles Wrap Up...

Looking back on things and conversation; I guess this was the 5 yr of Cleveland Cobbles. Maybe I don’t count the first year, and make a big to-do about next year…any case; the day was a beautiful sunny Sunday in the late 40’s to low 50’s and we made a record right out of the gate we had a flat. So after that got fixed, we were on our way. Our normal start; up old Denison, down, & up Valley and onto the cobbles. We took a detour down some gravel and up to Harmondy park where we had a nice 20 minute wait. A few flats, and a broken chain later; we were on our way again and into Old Brooklyn.

Near the zoo we hit a nice little mud section, and some more mud at Brookside Reservation. Getting into Tremont was pretty uneventful. Getting out, was not. We drop quite a few riders getting to W. 41^st. We rode into Ohio City, and the cobbles were feeling good. Some really good roads over there. Zig-zagged around Ohio City and took a new route into the Flats passing the old Bounce. Getting to the hill in the Flats on Main, I noticed my right shifter getting loose, so standing up and thrashing the bike up the hill, might not be a good idea. Then I noticed if the lever was pushed down then it would tighten up the brake…not my first rodeo, so I made due for the time.

Out of the Flats and back into Tremont, I found myself in the back of the pack as I was getting my food on.  Through Tremont and past a couch after a pedestrian bridge, up and around W. 12st…and it was a vote for the Rowley Inn. Some went in for some…ummm…carbs. Then down the hill and more mud, and a few laps around the track. Then it was time for the last official hill, Holmden Ave. & my legs felt it on this one.

Down behind Steelyard, as I chatted with Michelle Mead. Our route was impeded by a train. Our choice was to go up Old Denison or hop over the train; over the train it was. First time for everything.

Back to the truck for some much deserved Nooma and other carbs.

Here's a Strava link to the map this year...

https://www.strava.com/activities/293284406

Great ride this year, thanks to all that came out….

what went wrong? or 765 has nowhere to go but up...

Let’s take a look at the week and day leading up to the Amish Roubaix before the actual race.

Eric had the flu and down for at least 2 days.  Chris was ok for most of the week, until the end…flu as well & on the day of. I didn’t do anything on the bike for a week, plus the day before I didn’t really eat much, and had a lot of beer. Almost threw up the morning of, but not because of the beer. My stomach just wasn’t doing well. I’m sure the beer and lack of food didn’t help.

Chris slept most of the drive down to Millersburg. Once we get down there, the smart thing to do at sign in would have been to switch to the 50k and get the hell out of the 100k…well, we weren’t smart.  We line up with the other 100k guys, and from the looks and talk of others, people were taking this damn thing seriously. So now I as a guy who just wants to go out and have fun, have to worry about someone that thinks that they are going to win this. Great…

Right off the start…we’re all in the back and we’re struggling to just hold on. So that didn’t last for long, as it seemed that everyone was taking this way too seriously. Headed up the first climb, and we were by ourselves.

 

As for myself, as I got over the first major hill at mile 5 I knew something was off. The downhill on the other side was fun, but I should not have ridden my cross bike because it seemed a little too twitchy on the downhills. Then as I hit the second big climb around mile 8 I knew what was wrong…my back started to seize up. It got real tight, and became difficult to move on the bike. While I was on the flats and downhills, I was fine. But to point the bike upward with climbs were there was no choice but to stay in the saddle, because if you stood up you’d wash out…so sit and spin on a tight back it was. So not a good climbing day at all.

I started to pass others that were having mechanical and what seemed to be other problems around mile 12. Around mile 15 the 50k guys started to pass rather quickly like it was a race or something. The last climb around mile 23 was brutal. Straight up. I caught up to Chis there, and started to serpentine the hill. My single speed experience comes into play. Cut the angle of the hill. I rode it much faster than going straight up. Once at the top, I took off. Seriously…I went like mad. I started catching people, and blowing right by them. Where was this power at the start?

As I neared the end of the first loop, I knew I couldn’t do another. It just wasn’t happening, so it was time to head straight for the bar…

Had a few porters at Millersburg brewery, and headed home. Great course, and a great time. I do think some people out there were taking it much too serious. And that mentality leads to danger if you are not experienced in that kind of terrain.

and for Chris' account of the ride:
http://mrbigring.blogspot.com/2015/04/2015-amish-country-roubiax-100k-dnf.html

Looking forward to doing it again next year…

Road Apple Roubaix:

It was a cold and snowy Saturday on February 21^st. We headed out to Middlefield to ride in the Road Apply Roubaix. All of us planned on doing the 40 miler, but as the old saying goes…Man plans and God laughs. The roads were sketchy to say the least. Chris was on his sscx, and Randy on his gravel bike; while I was on my sscx with studded tires. I tired to get video to capture the intensity of the ride, but the video did not come out the way I had hoped.

With limited traction, even with studded tires, the day did not go as planned. It was a fight to get up some of the smaller hills. Stand and pedal, loose traction. So sit and spin was the technique for the day…in more ways than one. Just to muscle through is what we did. 

Chris left Randy and I early. He knew that if he wanted to finish the 40 he’d have to take off and go. So he did. For me the worst time was out on Route 87 and the down hill. With the road conditions, and drivers; it made for a very sketchy time. My choices were to either brake the whole way with hopes of not hitting something stupid or braking too hard and falling into a ditch or worst…traffic; or just let it ride. So…I feathered the rear brake and just let it go. I can honestly say I have never been so freaked out on a bike.  I made it on a wing and a prayer. Randy and I assessed our situation and agreed to at least get off of 87 and go from there.

Once we got on more of the back roads, we were doing ok; but we weren’t getting any kind of speed. It would have taken us all day to do 40 miles, and it just wasn’t worth it. So we peeled off at the 12 mile mark and opted for hot coco, beer and pizza as the better option.

A few hours later Chris came rolling in. He was one of only five that completed the whole 40 miler…on a SINGLESPEED!!! He said it was one of the most brutal rides that he has ever done.

All things considering…it was a great ride, and we’re going to be back in the spring to ride the course without all the snow. ;) Thanks to everyone that made it happen. Next year…I’ll bring my fat bike…

getting fat...

On fat tuesday some of us were able to get out to Ray's for their "fat bikes get in free" day.  Always a good time hanging out with a bunch of people on their "Ray's bikes" and kids on their BMX bikes; and here we roll up with tires that are 4 inches. 

Ray's had this promotion last year, and I have to be honest I was a little skeptical about taking a fat bike to Ray's. Often the best bike is one that has smooth tires, and front suspension works well with the constant bumps of the wood. But actually keep the psi up on the tires, and they handle very well. With the knobby tires on the fat bikes, and thanks to a buddies post on twitter, I couldn't help but think of Buddhist Monks chanting while riding. The constant deep humming was kind of like a trance, and drew the ride into a meditative state.

There was one guy on his fat bike throwing it around like it was a little BMX bike. But make no mistake that you can throw these things around and get air on them...people that are much more riding talent than I. I'm just happy to grab some air like a little kid that just made a ramp out on the front sidewalk, and thinks that a few inches in the air is like ten feet.

We rode around for about three hours, and had a really good time. The only downside was that the Taproom next door is only open Thursday, Friday & Saturday. So no quick beer(s) before; which some say is a good thing. But I disagree. 

Until next time....