Trans Iowa V10

[scooteremu]

I was riding 6 of 7 days but cut it back to Tuesday through Thursday and then Saturday and Sunday. Come April I will cut it back but primarily I work on hill repeats and threshold on another day. Saturday is usually the big day.

How many times have you finished and are you a cross bike guy?

[bouldernick]

Great points "Striker" (can't wait to call you that in person! Sounds like an awesome 80s television character). I won't go too narrow, thinking 38s, especially after this morning's pre-dawn ride. Even with great lights it can be tough to see relief on gravel. Bigger tires add a lot of security.

Also wanted to second what you said regarding training. Scooter, sounds like you've done some awesome work. Just don't get yourself injured or sick. My biggest week has been 15 hrs, but that's an exception, usually closer to 12. 

[Striker]

This year will be my fifth Trans Iowa attempt.  I missed the time cutoff to checkpoint 2 in TI 6.  Came back from that having learned a ton to finish TI 7, 8, & 9.  As for bikes this is what I have used: TI V6 - Surly Cross Check  TI V7 - Salsa Vaya  TI V8 - Salsa Vaya  TI V9 - Salsa Fargo TI V10 will most likely be the Vaya.  The Fargo will be ready to go as well, only difference will be the tires I want to run.  The Vaya shoes could be MSO's or Knards.  The Fargo would be wearing Nano's.

[scooteremu]

Great points "Striker" (can't wait to call you that in person! Sounds like an awesome 80s television character). I won't go too narrow, thinking 38s, especially after this morning's pre-dawn ride. Even with great lights it can be tough to see relief on gravel. Bigger tires add a lot of security.

Also wanted to second what you said regarding training. Scooter, sounds like you've done some awesome work. Just don't get yourself injured or sick. My biggest week has been 15 hrs, but that's an exception, usually closer to 12.  

I have been putting in around 15 and it may just be the tipping point. Hill repeats, two a days and thresholds. I also road from my house to work (50 plus miles) and back carrying my computer and stuff for work in a backpack. That was tough and a little over the top. One or two rides again at 6 hours but overall ill scale the hours back. I think it's just too much. April for me is hard due to the traveling.

[scooteremu]

Striker,

I always found the salsa bikes to be an interesting set. I like what ya got going for ya. What would be some good advice for a newbie so that he can finish. I heard riding with someone at night is crucial.

[Striker]

First and foremost ride your own race - pretty easy to caught up early and burn way too many matches.  This is a race of attrition and about personal satisfaction of finishing.  Get your set up dialed in - Cue sheet holder - practice at night with your lights and reading some mock cue sheets.  You will encounter some mud so have something handy that will work to scrape mud off the bike or your shoes.  I use a metal kabob skewer that has the right width to fit in between the cogs on a cassette.  I take chain lube and a brush, came in hand last year as it was very dusty and dry.  Riding at night is when the pace really slows down and you are the most fatigued.  Tough to stay focused on the cue sheets.  Riding in small group helps but too large of a group can be just as bad.  If one guy has a mechanical everyone stops, most do not want to leave the group, human nature.  I have experienced both.

Stop at all available convenience stores - you never know when the next one maybe.  There is a possibility of riding 120 miles at night between stops.  As G-Ted says plan to carry everything you need to ride 100 miles.

Keep stops to a minimum - easy to get sucked in if the stops linger on.

[sfuller]

How much is everybody riding, time wise, right now. I've been going 3 hrs plus on 5 of 7 days with a 7 hour ride on the weekend and I'm beat up.

I'm slowly ramping things up right now, but everyone is different. This week will be 17 hours. 3h ride on Tues, 5h ride on Sat, 6h ride on Sun. Other stuff in between. I'm using TI and the Alexander as the end of a big training block for TD in 2015, so my approach is different than what others may go through.

Striker has it right with the quality over quantity. Last year, I didn't have a ride over 8 hours before TI itself, and nothing over 4 hours up until the start of April.

[scooteremu]

Everybody has their way to get to the finish. I had to do some build up as I had not done any riding before January(marathon training). Probably a couple 7 hour rides and that is all have time for in the ways of training. Just keep riding those hills. Its just so damn hard to go out in blowing snow storms for 6 hours plus. Really gets to ya!

[scooteremu]

How is everyone doing since we are 23 days away? Since I am on vacay til a week before, its all speed work now.

[sfuller]

Feeling pretty good, still doing intervals once or twice a week, and long rides on weekends. I've been riding with my setup for the Alexander to get some seat time with that load and get used to the weight. Will split my riding this weekend between that setup and something more TI appropriate on Sunday.

[scooteremu]

I have been in the same boat. Got sick last week with the stomach bug and it was semi good timing as I was feeling kind of tired of riding so I took a week off. Going to get started again Sunday and basically hit it up 4 times a week with the same deal you have. Just getting everything together.

[scooteremu]

Anyone carrying a seat bag of any sort? I see the weather has a nice variety of sorts, especially the rain on Sunday. I really wish it would indicate the rain was on Sunday afternoon later. Then I wouldn't be thinking of bringing rain pants. Its not a problem with the jacket as the weather will get down into the 30s.

Thoughts?

[sfuller]

I will have a small seat bag on my bike again this year. I'm using one of the Porcelain Rocket Sally Ride packs with about 5L max space. I used a similar setup last year to carry my mechanical spares and tools, clothing and extra food. It allowed me easy access to things, but didn't allow me to carry too much. I'll combine that with a Revelate Tangle bag and Gas Can, one or two feedbags and four water bottles to carry everything I need.

[scooteremu]

Steve,

That is interesting as I expected many would go with the light and fast setup. I have a revelate viscacha but haven't used it all winter. With my current setup of a gas can, feed bag and tangle bag, I was pretty good on the setup. I was only worried about where to put food for that 100 or so miles of nothing. A seat bag may just fix all that. I am not worried about water as I have two 20 oz bottles and a 3L camelback.

I just hope the rain doesn't show up on Thursday. Channel 9 weather guy here has said no rain on Sunday.

Appreciate the thoughts.

[sfuller]

My big thing is not having anything on my back. Everything that I'd normally have in a backpack will go in that seat bag. I'll have spare clothes (socks/heavy base layer) in a waterproof drybag inside of the seatbag to make sure that they are dry no matter what the weather is, and to make sure I can get to my spare tools quickly.  I mainly keep packaged food handy in the tangle bag (shot blocks/waffles/bars). The feedbags are a good place for me to put bulk foods like nuts or a bag of sour patch kids, or a can of coke. I used a similar setup last year, and although it wasn't necessarily super light, I was warm and comfortable on the overnights, and I arrived at the finish with no major issues and feeling relatively fresh for the last 10 miles. The seatbag also doubles as a fender.

Half of the fun at the hotels and the start is seeing how everyone approaches their packing/logistics for the event.

[scooteremu]

Well I like fenders.

Good information and I appreciate it. Do you think you will bring any rain pants for the possibility of rain on Sunday? Seems like the seat bag is the way to make it all easier.

[sfuller]

Not sure on pants yet. I rode 6+ hours in 45F, wind and rain last weekend without them, and I, personally, wasn't cold as long as I kept moving. The good thing is my rainpaints weigh all of about 3 oz and pack tiny, so it's not a big deal to bring them.

[scooteremu]

Cool deal. Well hopefully Ill catch you at the "meat up" Appreciate the advice. Now, hopefully someone will want to ride with me during the night. I can provide oodles of chit chat.

[scooteremu]

Steve,

Did you happen to figure out the convenience store locations? I can't seem to find any details other than the checkpoint 2 and time calculations with that. I've been looking to make a cue sheet on locations of the stores. I guess I can look over the blog again.

[Striker]

Here is what I surmised from piecing things together.  I have no knowledge of the course nor do I put much faith in my predictions.

Start: @ 4 am Saturday April 26th
Checkpoint #1: @ 53.65 miles CLOSES @ 9:30 am (Estimated arrival – 8:30 am 4.5 hrs (+1 hr))
#1 C-store ??
#2 C-store about 115-120 miles after the start. (Estimated arrival – 2 pm 10 hrs)

Checkpoint #2: @176.65 miles CLOSES @ 9:30 pm (Estimated arrival – 6:45 pm 14.75 hrs (+2:15 hrs)) Rural spot
#3? C-store chance shortly afterward @ ~186 to 190 miles - less fully featured will have to get creative with nutrition choices. (Estimated arrival – 8 pm 16 hrs)
#4? C-store @ 253 miles may miss this one due to timing closes at 11 pm opens at 6 am (Estimated arrival – 1 am 21 hrs)
#5? A guess C-store @ ~305 miles (Estimated arrival – 5 am 25 hrs)

Finish line: @ 336.75 miles CLOSES @ 2pm Sunday April 27th (Estimated arrival – 8 am 28 hrs (+6 hrs))