Strathmore 200, April 20

[Peter]

Just one week left for our first 200 this season. 

All those who need the series for a 1200 km this year should come and do this ride next Saturday. If the weather is unbearable we will postpone the ride. The only other ride 200 before July will be in Medicine Hat April 27.

Please make sure you let the Calgary ride coordinator know by Thursday night if you come for the ride, send in your membership papers before if possible at all.

Peter

[Peter]

I rode more than 5 hours Saturday with temperatures above zero, clouds, wind, rain, hail and snow for more than half of the time with the Randonneurs in Ontario. From Alberta I was not used anymore to ride in the humid weather with rain, it feels colder than a dry minus 5 in Calgary. However, the water in the bottle does not freeze, if you have anything left. To my surprise I ran out of water. The store where I planned to reload was closed: they had been without power for more than 30 hours!

 

Anyway, the forecast for our first 200 currently does not look very nice; you know though that in Calgary the forecast is a gamble.

If the forecast does not get much worse the ride is a go. That means we have to be well prepared to endure the potential rain and maybe a bit of snow as well. So make sure you get your warm, water resistent gear ready.

We will start at 8am sharp!

Peter

[Willi Fast]

While the southern contingent prepares for the Strathmore 200, us northerners will be contemplating the Warburg 200.  Currently, although cooler than seasonal, the Edmonton forecast for Saturday is passable, with < 50% P.O.P.  This past weekend’s new snow did not amount to as much as forecast, and is now mostly gone.  Hopefully roads in the country will be OK.  It sounds like we could have up to 4 or 5 riders for the Warburg this year – a treat for the Edmonton riders.

 

Joel – can you confirm the planned 07:00 start?

 

Are the brevet card and routing instructions on the web site current and up to date?

 

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Willi Fast, MSc RPF
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Edmonton , AB, T5G 0X5
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Alberta Randonneurs Website: http://www.albertarandonneurs.com/index.htm
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[Joel Paschke]

Brevet card and directions are correct as posted, and yes, 7:00 am start. I know, it's early, but it's already pretty light by 7:00.

-Joel

[Jeff Shmoorkoff]

I would favor an 8am start just for a we'e bit more warmth at the start. Jeff

Sent from my iPhone

[John A]

I'm new at this so I have a couple of questions:  How do I register for the Strathmore 200? Where should I take my bike for the inspection?  When? Is there anything that is not in the Rando site that I should know?

John

[Joel Paschke]

You don't need to register for specific rides, just show up at the place and time shown on the website. You need to submit your club membership forms prior to the ride (preferably - you can also bring your completed forms and payment to the ride, but it's best to mail it prior). See: http://albertarandonneurs.com/membership-info.html and make sure you mail your forms and payment to the address shown on that page (not the one on the form) : 

Alberta Randonneurs
1934 29 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2T 1N1

The bike check, if there is one, will happen just prior to the ride. Show up minimum 15 minutes before the ride starts. Make sure you have a helmet and some kind of rear-facing reflective material.

-Joel

[Peter]

The Strathmore 200 on Saturday, April 20, is a go.
There are about 4 to 7 riders coming, two of them first time Randonneurs.


If you need a 200 for a series this year and don't want to ride this Saturday you have the option to ride in Medicine Hat one week later (scheduled ride is Cypress Hill 200) and potentially in Edmonton the Warburg 200. Edmonton Chapter will likely offer the ride again since the forecast calls for 1C and snow with wind speeds around 50km/h.

Peter

[Peter]

Quick Report:
John (new member, first Rando ride), Chester, Maurice and I from the Balsac gas station to the first 200 this. We decided to stay together for the ride to make it more enjoyable.
A NW wind of about 20 to 40 km/h all the way to Crossfield. After a 10 min stop we had an easy section to Beiseker. The wind got stronger and came straight from the North. Nice on the two sections going south, it helped up the little hill into Strathmore. Going East the snow flurries and sometimes fine ice crystals kept us fresh and  felt like sand on the face. We had a bit longer stop at the A&W in Strathmore, the last opportunity to get some of the spent energy back.
On the way North we rode in a paceline at 15 to 20 km/h, downhill! The wind was now at a base over 50 km/h with gusts of 80km/h. When I led my watt meter showed around 280 Watt, drafting still 140. This at 15km/h.
Maurice started to feel really bad, somehow the food did not sit well with him. After two consultations with the group he finally decided to take a break at the side of the road.
John, Chester and I continued at a slow pace. The main stretch was riding West. The wind was so strong that we had to lean visibly to the right to go straight, I believe the wind was now at a steady 80 km/h. Only a few times we had little cross wind, that was were trees and bushes close to the road slowed it down. What a relieve.
We finally arrived after 9h45min. Cudos to John, who had a tough first ride with the Randos and did an excellent job, came well prepared in regards to bike, clothes and fitness.
Chester and I had a quick snack and beers in the Cross Iron Mall. Before I went home I went East on 566 to check on Maurice. I was glad he was only 3km before the end. He had recovered and had done the hard work all alone, congratulation to your endurance and strong will, Maurice.
The average temperature was probably around two degrees, most of the time there was some kind of dry precipitation, flurries or ice crystals, low density and the road was always dry, including the shoulders. We had no technical failures, not even a flat.