Brevet #2 of 2024, this time on my Legolas

[Bill Lindsay]

Today was the SFRandonneurs Russian River 200k brevet.  Executive summary: I did it on my Legolas, and finished in 9 hours on the button, clock running, which is a very good time for me. I'm fired up to tackle the 300 in March.  

TL/DR

I was signed up for the 2/24 200k, in preparation for the 3/9 300k event, but a family gathering got arranged on that weekend and I had to pivot to the 2/10 event.  It's fortunate that SFR has so many events, especially in the Winter months.  The Russian River 200k route looks like two lollipops. Unlike most SFR Marin County rides, it doesn't start at the Golden Gate Bridge.  Instead it starts at the end of Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael.  The "stem" of the first lollipop follows Lucas Valley Road all the way to Nicosio. Then you go counter clockwise around the first half of the first lollipop hitting the tip of the stem of the second lollipop in Fallon.  The second stem ends in Valley Ford, and then we go counter clockwise again up through Occidental, Rio Vista, Guerneville and alongside the Russian River.  That second lollipop loop meets up with the Pacific Coast and curls back down to Valley Ford, retraces stem #2 and returns to the coast along Tomales Bay before meeting back up with stem #1 in Nicosio, and it's back Lucas Valley Road to where you started.  It was a gorgeous route and a splendid day.  After a ton of heavy rain, there was a lot of evidence of it having been stormy, and lots of wet roads, but no rain today. 

At the start at 7AM temperatures were in the low 40s, so I wore bib shorts plus knee warmers.  I wore a wool base layer, and a thermal SFR long sleeve jersey, with my rain jacket over that and a reflective vest on top of that.  I wore some light full finger gloves, and over socks over my road shoes.  It dropped to the mid 30s in some of the valleys and my fingers were in pain from the cold.  I was just barely warm enough on the feet, and for a minute I wished I had worn a buff or similar to pull over my nose and ears.  By 10AM it warmed up enough that it was no longer a problem, and in the afternoon a lot of the layers came off as the temperatures got up to the mid 50s.  

My Legolas was originally a 1x10, but I changed it out to a 2x10 late last year.  I used It on my birthday to summit Mount Diablo, with Barlow Pass Extralight road tires.  The bike did great on that ride, but after 55 miles, my saddle was not comfortable.  I've got an ultra lightweight Selle Italia saddle on there, because it's a cyclocross race bike!  Races last an hour and you're running part of the time.  Who cares if your saddle is comfortable?  The night before I swapped out my Gilles Berthoud Soulor leather saddle, and I'm glad I did.  My hindquarters handled the day without any objections.  

The bike did perfectly.  Fast and nimble, but easy to control.  No mechanicals and no flats.  I hammered the last 40km to just get under the wire at 9 hours.  Strava gives me 8 hours 40 minutes moving.  My fitness is progressing nicely.  I've lost about 12 pounds of pudge I didn't need, and my general strength from Orange Theory Fitness seems to be paying dividends.  Despite a couple nagging aches and pains, the body did well today.  

Another last minute bike setup change was I decided to run Look style pedals, instead of SPDs.  My left ankle has been bugging me and I feel a lot more planted on the solid wide platform of Look pedals.  That choice served me well all day, with no foot, pedal or ankle issues.  

Nutrition-wise I did nothing in preparation.  I had a biggish breakfast and packed no food.  In Valley Ford I bought a chocolate chip cookie, a package of cashews and a bag of Hairdo ginger candy.  On my second trip to Valley Ford I restocked water and had a slice of Lemon Cake.  That all did fine, and I didn't actually get into the cashews until after the ride.  

I did my normal Four 50k sections.  Section 1 I took it easy and warmed up.  Section 2 I pushed harder.  Section 3, I dug deep and got after it.  Section 4 would normally be a mellow victory lap to get you home, but I really wanted to make 9 hours so I hammered, and it worked out.  A couple of the "fast group" riders who went off the front at the start were still at the finish when I got there, so I wasn't far behind them.  

Anyway, I'm pleased with my ride and feel ready for the 300 next month. I do NOT intend to use my new RoadeoRosa on the 300, but I'm holding an outside shot that I may use it for the 600.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Keith Paugh]

Wow Bill, I am impressed.

Sounds like an incredible ride. Congrats!

In the face of chocolate chips and lemon cake, cashews are going to play third fiddle.

k.

On Feb 10, 2024, at 6:11 PM, Bill Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:

Today was the SFRandonneurs Russian River 200k brevet.  Executive summary: I did it on my Legolas, and finished in 9 hours on the button, clock running, which is a very good time for me. I'm fired up to tackle the 300 in March.  

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[Stephen Durfee]

Sounds like a great day Bill!

[Steven Sweedler]

Nice ride Bill, I enjoy your very readable write ups.

Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshire

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[JohnS]

Congrats Bill on completing your 1st 200K this year in 9 hours and loosing 12 pounds. I'm sure being that much lighter helped going up the hills. 

JohnS