Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:44:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ted <fit2r...@gmail.com>
To: randon@googlegroups.com
Message-Id: <b81b8707-e234-41e2-b974-77149aadf7f9@googlegroups.com>
Subject: First 600K
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I completed my first 600K (and SR series) last weekend.  I thought I would 
share some of my thoughts on the ride.  I'm approaching my mid-50s and am 
by no means some super-fit athlete.  While I've ridden bikes for many 
years, my longest rides prior to this year were the 200K brevets I did in 
2010/11.  I found the longer brevets this year to be tough, but 
surprisingly doable.  I would encourage anyone who is doubting whether they 
can go the longer distances to give it a try!

This was the Alaskan Gakona-Delta-Tok-Gakona 600K, a beautiful triangle 
route in interior Alaska.  We had beautiful sunny weather for much of the 
ride with a fair amount of headwinds and an afternoon thundershower. 

I did experience a number of issues, some that I've had on the shorter 
rides, but others that I have read about but never encountered personally.  
I've been thinking how I might mitigate these in the future.

I haven't been completely comfortable on my Berthoud saddle.  This saddle 
is new this year and perhaps just isn't fully broken in.  My butt was 
pretty sore by the end of the ride.

Late the first day with about 30 miles to the sleep stop I was quickly 
loosing energy, but I couldn't eat anything in my bag.  I nearly gagged 
just getting a Gu down.  Clearly I need to get the food thing dialed in a 
little better.  I've experienced this to a milder degree on the shorter 
rides but had options available for some real food where none existed this 
ride.

New to me for this ride:

Numbness in my toes and right hand (ring and little finger) that lasted for 
several days after the ride.

Right thumb refused to work the paddle on my Campy shifter by the middle of 
the second day.  It's still weak when trying to grip something.

Tendinitis in my right Achilles tendon.  It's still sore.

All in all it was a great ride and I can even dream of attempting a 
1000-1200K sometime.

A few pictures from the ride here<http://www.flickr.com/photos/akted/sets/72157630350137600/>
.

Ted

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I completed my first 600K (and SR series) last weekend.&nbsp; I thought I w=
ould share some of my thoughts on the ride.&nbsp; I'm approaching my mid-50=
s and am by no means some super-fit athlete.&nbsp; While I've ridden bikes =
for many years, my longest rides prior to this year were the 200K brevets I=
 did in 2010/11.&nbsp; I found the longer brevets this year to be tough, bu=
t surprisingly doable.&nbsp; I would encourage anyone who is doubting wheth=
er they can go the longer distances to give it a try!<br><br>This was the A=
laskan Gakona-Delta-Tok-Gakona 600K, a beautiful triangle route in interior=
 Alaska.&nbsp; We had beautiful sunny weather for much of the ride with a f=
air amount of headwinds and an afternoon thundershower. <br><br>I did exper=
ience a number of issues, some that I've had on the shorter rides, but othe=
rs that I have read about but never encountered personally.&nbsp; I've been=
 thinking how I might mitigate these in the future.<br><br>I haven't been c=
ompletely comfortable on my Berthoud saddle.&nbsp; This saddle is new this =
year and perhaps just isn't fully broken in.&nbsp; My butt was pretty sore =
by the end of the ride.<br><br>Late the first day with about 30 miles to th=
e sleep stop I was quickly loosing energy, but I couldn't eat anything in m=
y bag.&nbsp; I nearly gagged just getting a Gu down.&nbsp; Clearly I need t=
o get the food thing dialed in a little better.&nbsp; I've experienced this=
 to a milder degree on the shorter rides but had options available for some=
 real food where none existed this ride.<br><br>New to me for this ride:<br=
><br>Numbness in my toes and right hand (ring and little finger) that laste=
d for several days after the ride.<br><br>Right thumb refused to work the p=
addle on my Campy shifter by the middle of the second day.&nbsp; It's still=
 weak when trying to grip something.<br><br>Tendinitis in my right Achilles=
 tendon.&nbsp; It's still sore.<br><br>All in all it was a great ride and I=
 can even dream of attempting a 1000-1200K sometime.<br><br>A few pictures =
from the ride <a href=3D"http://www.flickr.com/photos/akted/sets/7215763035=
0137600/">here</a>.<br><br>Ted<br>
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