Last year I set a goal to qualify for and complete Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1200 km ride (740 miles) held in France every4 years. In 2010 I have been doing a dress rehearsal of rides that I'll have to do in 2011 to qualify. Here's a synopsis of my rides.
January: 200 km brevet
I drove to Ridgeland MS to do this brevet along the Natchez Trace. I was the only rider to finish because I was the only cyclist to start. Because of weather, illness and other issues the 5 other registered riders decided not to ride. I drove 7 hours and spent money on a hotel so there was no way I wasn't going to ride. Completed ride in 9 hours on a flat course with rain during most of the second half.
February: Warm Springs Permanent
I learned that doing a 200 km ride every month for 12 consecutive months earned an R-12 award I set that as another 2010 goal, I registered for this ride to complete on the last day in February. I was suppose to ride with Chris Kaiser at 7:00 am. I arrived late so Chris had already left. I figured that I'd complete ride before dark so I left lights in my car--big mistake. Head wind and going off course put me riding the last 25 miles in darkness. That further slowed progress and I limped to the end in 13 hours.
March 200 km Permanent
Rode the Rome GA route on a rainy Sunday. Finished in just over 10 hours.
April 300 km Gainesville Brevet
Started with about 12 other cyclists. Wound up riding solo and finished at 11:15 pm. First ride where I knew would involve night riding and while I had sufficient lights on bike I needed a helmet light to make it easier to read cue sheet.
May 400 km Dawsonville Brevet
This is a very challenging ride that goes over 4 of the 6 north Georgia gaps to Highlands and back. Time limit was 27 hours. Unfortunately I got off course twice which added 18 miles and finished about 1 hour outside the time limit. Also realized I needed a better way to carry extra gear. 2 weeks later I kept the R12 quest alive by doing the Rome permanent again, also in the rain again for the last 30 miles.
June 200 km Permanent
Rode a route in northern Virginia that went into West Virginia. First control was not open so I rode 70 miles on 2 bottles of water and gator ade and the food I started out with. Lots of hills and a little rain slowed me some and finished in 11 hours.
July 400 km Brevet
This was ride in NC from Salisbury out to Little Switzerland and back. I was nervous since it advertised same amount of elevation as Dawsonville. However, it seemed easier than Dawsonville and I completed the ride 24:45. That was 3 hours faster than my Dawsonville attempt. This time I didn't go off course, and had 2 sit down meals and a flat tire. Time on bike was 20:35. There were 9 other riders and I was the second finisher.
August 200 km Permanent
Don Schaet and I drove to Illinois to do a ride that went into Missouri. Don dropped me at start and drove ahead since he only wanted to ride a century. I caught up with Don around mile 50 of my route and we crossed the Mississippi River into Missouri. On the return Don was bitten by a dog and we had to stop for first aid supplies. At about mile 90 I pushed ahead past the car and Don picked me up at the finish. Total time about 11 hours. The next day we did a century in Kentucky and Indiana. So in 2 days we rode in 4 states which helps in our mutual goal of doing century rides in all 50 states.
September 600 km Brevet
Ride started in Greensboro NC, went into Virgina, then back through Greensboro. Then went to Fayetteville NC and back. Lots of cyclists around since there were several distances offered that weekend. I rode with a couple of cyclists doing 200 k during first 200, soloed down to Fayetteville in the dark. Showered and slept at control point hotel room about 3 hours. Had breakfast with 4 other riders and rode back to Greensboro with them. Finished ride at 5:30 Sunday evening which was total time of 33 hours.
October 200 km Permanent
Rode this new route with Chris Kaiser. Finished in 10 hours. Great route.
November 200 km Permanent
Rode the Rome route again. First 200 k ride on my single speed (47x16). Finally rode this route without any rain and finished in 9 hours 45 minutes.
December 200 Km Permanent
Did the Athens route again on my single speed (47x20). Started with 2 other riders but could not stay with them after first 25 miles on SS. Uneventful ride until mile 105 when I hit a metal speed bump and crashed. Banged up left hip and shoulder but since this was the last ride to get the R12 I kept going. Finished in 10 hours 30 minutes. Needed lights the last hour. Pretty sore for next few days but no permanent damage.
So I achieved my goal of doing a ride of more than 100 miles every month in 2010. I also rode just over 10,000 miles which is about 1500 more than I ever did in a previous year. Next year I want to increase that although haven;t set a specific mileage goal yet
