600 K ACP brevet - Frederick, MD - 6/3/06

Finally I did it ! 375 miles (actually my odometer showed 381.40 miles, in part due to some unexpected detour caused by roadworks) in less than 40 hours including stops. My game plan was to ride it in 30 hours and take 6 hours stops, but without sleeping. I actually rode 30 hours 23 minutes and 49 secondes and took 8 hours of stops, including 3 hours 15 minutes at the sleep stop. All this was dead on target and I was very satisfied with those results.
If feels good after last year failure. Thanks to all those who helped me along the way, Mike Scott, Doug Young, Nick Bull, Natacha, of course CTS (my secret weapon).
On Friday, after a one hour ride with one interval to "tune up" my legs, it was off to Frederick where we arrived around 1:00 p.m., as usual a little too early to check in.
I took Natacha to the Hard Times Cafe for some Chili. I chose the vegetarian one and Natacha the Texas one. Unfortunately for her, this turned out to be a bad choice as the meat was actually swimming in oil !
Back to the hotel, I prepared the bike and took a nap. Around 5:00 p.m., we went to the Olive Garden. I thought it would be faster to take the expressway, and I managed to get lost. Anyway, we finally found the place and I was able to enjoy my spaghettis and Turamitsu. Then, back again to the hotel for a short night.
I got up at 2:45, for the traditional breakfast of home prepared oat meal, shower, stretching and get ready.
The start took place at 4:00 a.m. under a light rain that would last for around 4 to 5 hours. A few minutes after the start, I was already on my own, everyone else speeding away. But this time, I was determined not to let anything get me divert from my own pace. And the way the whole ride went for me proved me right.
At the first control, I caught up with Bill who had made a wrong turn and had had to back track for a few miles. We rode a few miles together, but again, I made sure that I did not have to push to stay with him and eventually let him go.
I then found Matt and Paul and rode with them until we caught up with Nick Bull with whom I finished that segment of the ride until the sleep stop. The fact that I finished together with Nick (and Bill) meant that we were riding at very similar pace. That first loop of 236.8 miles did not feel too difficult for 6,070 feet of climbing, but in only 2 main climbs.
So we agreed to do the second loop together.
Having arrived at the hotel at 1:00 a.m. allowed me to shower, sleep for a little more than 90 minutes while Natacha went to Denny's to get me some pancakes and hash browns, eat, stretch, get into dry clothes, adjust the rear derailleur which had caused me many problems during the first loop, and left with Nick at 4:15 a.m.
That day proved to be a wonderful day in terms of weather, blue sky, dry air and for most of the morning no wind.
We worked very well with Nick. He would tend to ride a little faster than me on the flat, but I was more comfortable than him on the hills, which were many, short and very steep. This second loop, made of 144.6 miles felt very tough with 4,210 feet of climbing, but in many different climbs.
In all, as Nick put it, we made quite a good team and the day went by almost fast.
Maybe things were going too well. A little less than 10 miles from the finish, I hugged the side of the road a little too close and my front wheel fell off the side of the thick coat of tarmac covering the road, and I went down quite hard. Fortunately, there was no damage to the bike, minor injuries to myself, especially the right hand, which made it difficult to operate brake and derailleur, and of course a big bruise to my ego. But after a few minutes, we were back on track, riding at a good pace and we finished at 6:23 p.m., well on target and in line with our game plan. And this time, I tooke the time to take some pictures.
But how in hell can you do twice that much ! . . . .
That's what I thought after the 300 K so I guess that eventually a 1200 might not be totally out of reach. . . .but not this year.

400 K Brevet out of Frederick, MD

As I am preparing to go for the 600, I realize that I missed out on the 400 K.
Actually, I was so obsessed with sticking with Young and never having to chase for whatever reason, I took only 1 picture at the start.
Pity, as this 400 was in fact quite pleasant. We started with a light drizzle which protected us from any kind of wind. We took it easy and at first rode with Tom.
During the ride, we kept loosing riders and gaining some new ones. In fact, we would find the same group at almost all the stops.
During the day, the wind blew as forecast, 10 to 20 mph from the West. In my view, it did not affect us too much as it almost never was a head wind, and instead, before it died, became a tail wind as we made our way back to Frederick.
I admired the way Matt rides those brevet and I wish I could stick to a similar game plan. For the first 3/4 of the ride, he goes very easy and we kept passing him. However, he would invariably arrive at the next pit stop a few minutes after us and be gone long before us. And then, on the last leg, he just took off and disappear, finishing the ride 2 and a half hour ahead of us.
Again I had that problem of this big pocket of air blocked in my oesaphagus. I can't wait to see the doctor on Monday and see if this can be helped.
Other than that, I made a bad mistake keeping all my clothing on the climbs through south mountain. I was soaking wet at the top and got very cold on the downhill. So much that I was hoping to be able to rent a room at the hotel where the next control was, take a hot shower and dry my clothes. This turned out to be impossible. Instead, I had three hot chocolate and a hot decaf coffee, and I followed Thom advice and put some newspaper on my chest. That did the trick and I finished stronger than I ever had on a brevet.
The fact that I was able to ride with Doug the whole day made a lot of difference and I hope that this would be the same for the 600, although Doug tells me that he will only be able to do the first 300 K loop.
We shall see. Meanwhile, I am very happy in the way I finished that 400 K, even if I don't forget the very favourable circumstances (nice weather, nice company).