Training Log Archive: Mr Wonderful

Was curious after BNM's brisk ride. Rolled out the first mile or so, then got on it for 7, turned around and tried to hold on to get 16 in the hour.

50 meters from the last set of tracks, the lights went off, so turned down a side street to finish. Then rolled to the tracks and waited over 20 minutes. Had I known, the train-track free circumvention is like 5 miles and would have been a toss up. But usually they are more like 10 minutes.

C • Ride 3

Buddy Eric rode over the four miles from his place, then we ran up to the new M5 bridge and a bit beyond. The bit beyond was really fun, crushed gravel and well-shaded.

C • Nice! 1

Then I escorted him the first mile out of town in order to show off wheelie progress. I didn't do too bad all things considered, but lacked power to save anything that fell forward. Understandable, given the warmup!

Should have been disciplined and jumped out right after wee man was down, but puttered around a bit. Got out late and couldn't do much. Everything was wobbly, fell sort of block goals (cross walks / stop signs) by like 30 feet left and right...but occasional moments of progress, with another in the 1250' range. Did nearly get around a city turn (left hand so wider), and did do a gentle bend.

I tried to ride wheelie circles in the parking lot, but couldn't get very far around, then decided on a whim to try Junction before calling it a night, since on the last wander to the standard park, it looked like it had a nice run of a light grade, which is the easiest.

Nearly got it end to end. Another time!

Not real training, just some wheelies and urban exploration. I found at least part of the underground/pirate skatepark tucked in the dark recesses of an abandoned, overgrown parking lot, although it looks a little rough. Needs a broom for sure.

Painfully just short of my personal best, I am now back in the four digit club for wheelie length, in feet, woo woo, at around 1200'. 2/3rds of the way through, the balance point felt like it grew in size and I was in the zone, at peace, until it slipped away from me before I could save it.

Also, I can now sneak in an upshift sometimes if needed.

New goal...just do anything.

So, 11 pm, all I wanted to do was try some wheelies. So I did. I'm getting my mojo back. Eventually was able to do some stop sign to stop sign ones on reasonable blocks. Still haven't hit my old PR (1320'), but it's within reach I think with more practice. I got around an 850' max, and that was towards the end so maybe fresher and flatter I have a chance.

To give you an idea how much wheelie-ing, my bike computer was 2.3 miles less, and the front wheel does spin for a little while after lift off.

Mostly 9:40, one quarter at 8:00 yo test the waters. Walked the last .17

Picking up a truck to return 11 of the 12 arborvitaes, which are dead. HD didn't fuss, so no hassle other than the hassle of digging trenches, clearing roots, planting them, watering them, and pulling them out and lugging them back.

No power, not sure if general lack of fitness, heat, or too soon after high effort C burg. Come back, power, come back.

Not sure why the auto sync isn't working, will have to look into it with manual gc web sync disabled now.

Back from truck drop off, with a few detours for small bridges and the snipped of singletrack available on this option.

Six c at Seidman. The orienteering itself went smoothly. Map needs a lot of work to be up to real standards, we'll see how far it gets by Black Friday. Four other points by car, after driving around in my increasingly failing (already terminal) car. I had to search up the new dash light pattern, which gave me concern for the upcoming 120 mile trip home.

Thankfully, whatever vexed it at 40 mph on the hills around the race venue did not bother it at 80 mph on the freeway, and the trip was uneventful save for some interesting cargo transport.



And yes, the recreational double is legal in Michigan.

Event: Michigan Adventure Race: Cannonsburg - 4, 7, 12 Hours
 

tl; dr - reasonably successful 12 hr Cannonsburg Edition.

~~

Two errors, both arguably voting related so maybe I shouldn't do that anymore.

"Turn right on the two track to get to #2" said the event director.

The interpretation of that (or whatever the exact wording) vexed more than half of the field.

I thought he meant, turn right at the two track, then proceed on the route to #2, which was single track.

Teammate and most of the field thought it meant the two track would lead you right to #2. I figured I misheard.

Much time was lost once we made the wrong call at the single track split off. And failing to wheel distances, we ended up on the backside of the ski hill and just came back through the start/finish, a journey of shame, before easily riding to it on the correct path.

After that, things went smoothly, other than my sluggish bike riding. One more bobble would be in the southernmost o section. We had to cross a swampy area with thick vegetation. My shoe came off at one point. Anyway, we hit the ridge, but were unsure if left or right of the reentrant. I thought I saw downslope to the right, but an acquired team voted left and that was the nicer woods, so we tried it and went to some property and then backtracked. I should have aimed off better or poked around a little more right where we landed.

Clean the rest of the way. It was fun to go on my crudely produced maps woo woo.

The most heated discussion of the race began after leaving the final o course. We were promised 3.7 miles of single track to do the last three ride-n-see points (not marked on map). I thought we would arrive in time to require only a modest pace to complete it. Teammate was certain we wouldn't, and would need to skip it entirely.

I am at a place where I would 1000x rather try to clear and fail than bank 40/42 or whatever. Teammate felt otherwise. I said if we were calling it this early, at least I could start walking up hills now, and that got the decision point pushed back to the entry to the single track. There, we agreed to ride until it seemed more like we wouldn't make it. We finally got the first after 2 miles of "WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, BAIL BAIL". I continued to try to get the second - if 3.7 miles was right, we needed <5 mph, seemed possible. Another full mile of no flag, I agreed to bail, which took yet more time thanks to the twists and turns. Finally we found some two track to take back, and whizzed by the Singletrackers who had just gotten #2, ARGH. Oh well.

I missed my sweet spot of last team to clear. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised - I don't exercise much, am chunky, and it was mostly hot other than the merciful T storm that cooled me down for an hour or so.

I see a lot of my logistics were rusty, also not a shocker. What was last AR, a year ago??

C • I assume our clapping was a... 2

Event: The Longest Day and a Half {POSTPONED}