Jan in the AR Highcountry Race

[Paul Clifton]

I suspect most of y'all got the email from Rene Herse that Jan is riding the south loop option of the Arkansas Highcountry race this year. Well it started this morning, 4 hours ago, and he's currently in the lead after what looks like a good bit of sorting out the field. Pretty cool. I hope he has a great ride. There's no telling what the next several hundred miles and several nights in the Ozarks will bring.

Here are the dots for anyone who's interested: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/arhc22/?34.713938,-93.350552,9.72

Paul in AR

[randal...@gmail.com]

Looks like Our Guy Jan™ hasn't had an update since an hour ago and Jim Phillips has moved into the lead?

Interesting loadout for the race too:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjb6VpgMXIb/

[Greg Achtem]

Not 650B though. 😉

However it is very cool that he is doing it on that particular “all road” rig. It looks delightfully out of place in this bikepacking.com feature on the racer’s bikes. https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2022-arkansas-high-country-race-rigs/

Odd that Jan Heine’s is the only entry that doesn’t state his age in the article. 

On Oct 8, 2022, at 10:02, Paul Clifton <paulgc...@gmail.com> wrote:



I suspect most of y'all got the email from Rene Herse that Jan is riding the south loop option of the Arkansas Highcountry race this year. Well it started this morning, 4 hours ago, and he's currently in the lead after what looks like a good bit of sorting out the field. Pretty cool. I hope he has a great ride. There's no telling what the next several hundred miles and several nights in the Ozarks will bring.

Here are the dots for anyone who's interested: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/arhc22/?34.713938,-93.350552,9.72

Paul in AR

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[Paul Clifton]

Ha, you're right! I definitely didn't look close enough at the rigs, and I can't keep the tire names straight anyway. Just assumed Jan would be on 650bs :)

I was hoping to ride the Ouachita Triple Crown on my 650b Gus Boots Willsen, but I injured myself in June, right after I got it built up, and am just now starting to feel better. I'll get it down there this Fall sometime, I hope. I think it would have taken me 6 or 7 days to do the whole loop - so no reason to race it anyway.

Paul

[jeff.b...@gmail.com]

I know it's not 650B so we might not need to discuss it further but, I thought the mint green bike was Mark's? I wonder why Jan has been on this bike for the last few rides instead of his light blue Rene with the Nivex from the Oregon Outback?

[randal...@gmail.com]

Did something happen to his Herse at Unbound XL this year? That was the last public viewing of it - his IG and Youtube appearances since then have all been with Mark's bike. Would we ever hear about a Rene Herse frameset that failed after 350 miles of gravel? What's the highest mileage modern RH bike? He had 16,000km on his first (second?) built by Nobliette. The mind wonders about thinwall frame tubes, flexible fork legs and long term gravel racing.

[JohnS]

Well it could be the gearing on Mark's bike is easier to tweak since it's a 1x??? and he said he put a smaller chainring on it because of the hills. As I recall, Jan's bike has the Maxi-car hub, which I think is a 5 speed. Just speculating.

JohnS

[Steve Palincsar]

On 10/8/22 1:06 PM, Greg Achtem wrote:
> Not 650B though. 😉
>
> However it is very cool that he is doing it on that particular “all
> road” rig. It looks delightfully out of place in this bikepacking.com
> feature on the racer’s bikes.
> https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2022-arkansas-high-country-race-rigs/

I started reading the article at the top, scrolling down looking at the
pictures of the other bikes without reading the stories and then I hit
Jan's -- and I just laughed out loud it was so funny. I have little
doubt he can make it work, he practices this sort of "more survival than
camping" style of woods travel a lot.  But the contrast with the rigs
before his in the article, all seemingly set up for a month of camping
out, is downright hilarious.  To be fair, I think the most heavily
loaded are doing more than twice the distance on a more arduous route
than the one he's doing, but it looks like they're doing loaded touring
and he's doing randonneuring.

>
> Odd that Jan Heine’s is the only entry that doesn’t state his age in
> the article.

There are a couple of other riders close to his age, I think, but many
are easily half his age.

>
>> On Oct 8, 2022, at 10:02, Paul Clifton <paulgc...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> I suspect most of y'all got the email from Rene Herse that Jan is
>> riding the south loop option of the Arkansas Highcountry race this
>> year. Well it started this morning, 4 hours ago, and he's currently
>> in the lead after what looks like a good bit of sorting out the
>> field. Pretty cool. I hope he has a great ride. There's no telling
>> what the next several hundred miles and several nights in the Ozarks
>> will bring.
>>
>> Here are the dots for anyone who's interested:
>> https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/arhc22/?34.713938,-93.350552,9.72
>>
>> Paul in AR
>> --

Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia
USA

[ericni...@gmail.com]

Ten hours into the race, Jan is currently in the lead on the south loop.  His tracker reports an hour of total stopped time during the first ten hours.  That's sort-of average for rando*, but much more than typical for Jan.  Second and third place riders show around 30 minutes of stopped time, which suggests that Jan is moving well, when he's moving. 

*a move percentage of 0.9 (one hour stopped in ten) is my yardstick for a decent, no-faff long ride.  It's a good metric until the ride gets long enough to require significant sleep. 

Eric in NH

[Greg Achtem]

He does call that bike “our” (Rene Herse) test rig in various posts. Sorry, no cite. The last Nobilette Herse was a 650B x 42 iirc. So not appropriate for the course maybe? 

On Oct 8, 2022, at 14:48, randal...@gmail.com <randal...@gmail.com> wrote:

Did something happen to his Herse at Unbound XL this year? That was the last public viewing of it - his IG and Youtube appearances since then have all been with Mark's bike. Would we ever hear about a Rene Herse frameset that failed after 350 miles of gravel? What's the highest mileage modern RH bike? He had 16,000km on his first (second?) built by Nobliette. The mind wonders about thinwall frame tubes, flexible fork legs and long term gravel racing.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/650b/2765d32f-f8db-49d0-a1b5-63bb3371894cn%40googlegroups.com.

[Paul Clifton]

The more I look at Jan's rig, the cooler it gets. He really has just stripped it down to the bare minimum based on all the stuff he's been writing about since the first Oregon Outback he did.

I'm a big, heavy guy, so the smallest tire I like for our chunkiest roads around here is 650x60. Most people seem to ride 700x50. Jan's 26x60 look plenty plush, but I'll be interested to hear what he thinks about 26" when the rocks on the road surface are bigger than my fist. I suspect there will be a few descents that he'll have to take a little slower than he would with a bigger wheel.

My Boulder All Road with 650x42 is definitely not enough rubber. It barely fits 650x50 Gravel King slicks, and (for me) that's almost enough tire for most of the riding here. It won't fit the 650x48 Switchback Hills, which is a bummer because I'd really like to give them a shot on the worst roads. I have them on a Rosco Bubbe set up with a fixed/free flipflop now, so I'll have to get it out in the forest in the next few weeks.

Looks like Jan took a break at the top of a tough climb with a great view around 10am and is back on the road and still in the lead.

Paul

[etorg...@yahoo.com]

I don't know what counts as long term gravel racing, but will add that I have been riding and racing a 1990 Merlin Road titanium bike in 650b formation, complete with a "potato chip" to allow for 42mm rear tire clearance.  I have seriously underbiked with it on single track.  So far it has always been me crying "uncle" and not the bike.  

It is always nice to have someone cheering for you, so I will say "Go Jan!" Show them what an All Roads/monstercross can do in an event dominates by Carbon fiber and MTB sensibilities.  (26 inch no less!)

Eli

In Albq, who sometimes rides his 650b (-25mm) rig too.  

https://www.ticycles.com/retrofit-potato-chip 

[William Lindsay]

Jan is still leading his category, but it’s amusing that he is trailing behind the one and only entrant in the single speed category on the same course. That must be a strong rider!

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito Ca

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[etorg...@yahoo.com]

He must have heard you Bill, because Jan seems.to be leading the SS rider now: Aaron Anzen. 

Eli

In Albuquerque 

[William Lindsay]

My powers are strong. I can influence the influencer!

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito Ca

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/650b/de500a9c-8d2c-4515-a603-f8677adb2528n%40googlegroups.com.

[etorg...@yahoo.com]

Hi Paul.

Jan's tires are 26 x 2.3, and although that might suggest 58mm plus width, they come out to be between 52 and 54mm depending on the rim width and the casing.  

They are a fair bit cushier than 48mm tires, but perhaps a long way from a 60mm width volume.  I recall Jan coming around to thinking that a true MTB was better suited to some courses than an All Roads bike, but this course may be something he has researched to be good for the rig he is running.  

Eli

In Albuquerque 

[ericni...@gmail.com]

1.5 days into the race, Jan has an astonishing 60-mile lead over his nearest competitor. He has covered 411 miles and  is set to finish the 486-mile event in the next few hours. 

Eric in NH

[Steve Palincsar]

And now, won -- having actually increased that lead.  He finished just after 6 am.  Congratulations, well done!

I really don't understand the average speed recording.  Some of the numbers make no sense at all.  After maintaining a 10.x mph average for the whole of yesterday, at the finish Jan ends up with a 21.47 mph average, while the first finisher of the Ouachita Triple Crown had a 43.67mph average?  How do you do that other than by being airlifted out?

-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[randal...@gmail.com]

Follow My Challenge has an error where all racers have their average speed calculated as if their finishing time was for the longest course.

Jan did 487 Miles in 47h06m - divide 1014.8 by that time and you get 21.xmph

[Paul Clifton]

Congrats to Jan! That was a heck of a ride!

Photos haven't made it to instagram yet, but there are some of Jan at the finish in the race photographer's gallery - at the bottom: https://kaicaddy.passgallery.com/-2022arkansashighcountryrace/gallery

Thanks for the details on the tires Eli. I guess that means there's no reason to get the brake posts on my Boulder moved to run 26" tires just for the chunky stuff around here. On the worst roads here, the rocks are fist sized and loose when things get washed out. But they're scattered around enough that it's really only a problem going downhill. I can let a bike running 650bx60mm just roll down most hills, but 650bx50 I have to ride the brakes more and pick my line more carefully. On my 29x3.0 Jones I barely even feel the bumps. I would like to put together a 26" bike just to see how the different size rolls over stuff.

Jan definitely knew what he was getting into. I don't know the roads in the south at all, but I suspect, being in the river valley, closer to Little Rock, and not as much in the national forest, that the rocks are smaller and there are less of them. I do think a mountain bike is overkill for most of the roads around here.

Bill, the SS rider is absolutely a beast. He is the current FKT holder for the northwest loop. But FWIW - he rode the flat part of the course first and still has a lot of climbing to do before he finishes.

The southwest loop is significantly flatter than the NW loop; the Ouchitas are somewhat smaller the the Ozarks. Here are the elevation profiles for the Southwest loop and the full 1000 mile race. The courses are the same from about mile 0 to 300 and mile 880 to the finish. So all that climbing between mile 300 and 900 on the 1000 mile loop is massive, and mostly yet to come for the long race. You can also see that the hills here barely ever top 3000 feet of elevation. I think they technically don't even qualify as mountains. Geologically, the Ozarks split off of the Appalachians and migrated west, so they're old and kinda mellow. I suspect people used to riding in the Rockies and Cascades probably don't find these hills as challenging as I do.

Ernie Lechuga, who currently leads the full course, is also a really strong rider. His wife, Scottie, won the ARHC last year and held the overall FKT for a while. They run a cycling training center together in Bentonville. He had some real bad luck last year and DNF'd so I'm stoked to see him having such a good ride this year. Last year the weather was really raining and it was below freezing a lot. It was brutal. This year it's totally dry and low's are in the mid 40s.

If any of y'all want to come ride here, drop me line!! I even know some routes that are shorter than 500 miles.

Paul

[etorg...@yahoo.com]

Thanks for all that info, Paul.  

Jan looks tired, but with the exception of one picture, not as beat as I would have expected.  He is a beast.  I love seeing how little he carried. He did not break open his emergency blanket, which was mentioned in his bike and gear writeup. All I can see amiss is a possible decaleuer issue in which the GB bag is askew, and some twine and zip ties seem to be bolstering support to the handlebars. 

I am sure Jan will tell us what hear worked and did not work. 

Congrats Jan. 

Eli

In Albuquerque 

[Steve Palincsar]

On 10/10/22 10:43 AM, 'etorg...@yahoo.com' via 650b wrote:

Thanks for all that info, Paul.  

Jan looks tired, but with the exception of one picture, not as beat as I would have expected.  He is a beast.  I love seeing how little he carried. He did not break open his emergency blanket, which was mentioned in his bike and gear writeup. All I can see amiss is a possible decaleuer issue in which the GB bag is askew, and some twine and zip ties seem to be bolstering support to the handlebars.

Yes, I'd say there's no doubt something went amiss, leading to that improvised repair.  He'd never have started out set up that way.  It is a good reminder to put some zip ties into your emergency kit.  I don't know about the twine.

I am sure Jan will tell us what hear worked and did not work. 

Congrats Jan. 

Eli

In Albuquerque 

[randal...@gmail.com]

Oh man decaleur failure

[mackenzy...@gmail.com]

aaaaiiiggghttt. frickit. I'm gonna put baby speed fenders on all my bikes now. 

[etorg...@yahoo.com]

It appears that Jan's decaleuer issue started early.  Here is a pic from 10/8 using twine at a reat stop. 

[Steve Palincsar]

Perhaps that explains the hour stop mentioned previously?

On 10/10/22 5:49 PM, 'etorg...@yahoo.com' via 650b wrote:

It appears that Jan's decaleuer issue started early.  Here is a pic from 10/8 using twine at a reat stop.  --

[randal...@gmail.com]

Every race is it's own race, but comparing his result at the ARHCR to his Unbound XL result is interesting. I suspect despite his praise; his brakes, slick tires, and possibly fender set-up were less than ideal once the rains started in Kansas. The stress of riding slicks, especially balloon slicks, in muddy conditions can't be overstated. It sucks!

Compared to the dry AR race, even if a more technical course, where the slicks would be no detriment. I hope Jan continues to race (and win) mass start gravel events, right now they draw more attention to his ideas than FKTs and regular RUSA riding.

[ViveLemond]

The guy is just an animal! Way to go Jan!