Whiskey 25 Pre-Ride

Pre rode the 25 course today. We had a very nice day for a ride. Met Dave (Ionsmuse) at 0530 downtown for the start, and within 10 minutes, we were stripping off the jackets. We also got to enjoy a beautiful pre dawn moon, and sunrise.

This was my first ride of the course on anything other than a FS geary bike. If you would have told me a year ago, or even 6 months ago, that I would ride this rigid SS, I would have told you I would never do it, would never finish it, and would totally suffer. To my surprise, I really enjoyed myself, and don't really feel too worked over.

I felt strong and steady on the climbs. I didn't crap out on the long climb in the middle of the race like I usually do(didn't go too fast either).

Part of the reason for riding the rigid bike was testing the new hand position with traditional carbon riser bars. The descents on the course are a bit jarring, so I didn't know what to expect. Suffice it to say I am very pleased with the lack of palmar pain I have in my hands. Well, my right hand at least since I went OTB at one point, and managed to impale my left hand on a sharp rock just over Guyon's canal. Sort of invalidated the testing, since that is exactly where I wanted to avoid impacts with the bars. I can tell you that it feels a lot more damaging to take a rock to that area compared to a few hours of riding drops.

The jury on the bike set up is that I like it and will stick with it for a while. I fully expected to come home from this ride ready to give up rigid and put the Reba back on. Hands are happy....well, right hand is happy.

The course is in good shape, and was actually quite fun. The only really dangerous part being the descent on 260 which is still rocky and loose. Technical sections (48) remain challenging.
The end of the course has been changed a bit and is longer but more fun than before. I think anyone on the race will really enjoy it.

With two flats (thorns), and a crash, and only a very short break at the overlook, we were done in 4:20. Dave was quite strong on the climbs and easily dropped me whenever he felt like it, so he would have no trouble pulling a 3:30 in this thing at race pace, probably faster. I think I can easily shoot for the high three hour mark with no mechanicals. Breaking four hours would be a worthy goal. Hitting 3:30 might be out of reach.

Interestingly, in 2005 I rode the race in three hours even. This was before they added the 393 section from Camp Pearlstein, and the extra climb at the end. Hard to believe they added an hour to the course with those changes, but I guess it is possible. I am in way better shape now compared to two years ago, riding a much better climbing bike. There is no way I made that up that much time on the descents. Perhaps SS is just slow...rigid more so. Fun though.

I am still up in the air about how it will be to ride in the crowd like I observed last year. I think it would ruin some of the best bits of trail (393, 48) being stuck in the conga line I observed last year. Apparently they are opening it up to even more riders this year.