D2R2, What Do?

[Ed Braley]

http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/randonnee.html

 

I'm considering this year's Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee, and I've been thinking about the equipment and training for this event. I know that some of you have done this, so I'd apreciate your input. It might be a fun topic for all, as this seems like a real 650B pass hunting type of event.

 

There's plenty of time to plan and prepare, so I can probably make a decent effort if I start now. I can tweak one or more of my bikes, and train for long hilly rides on dirt roads. Even if I don't go to D2R2, this would be fun anyway. 

 

I've read a few blog entries and rider reviews online, so I have some idea what to expect. But I'm not sure which bike I'd ride. One guy even said whatever bike you bring will be the wrong bike ;-) It's probably "not about the bike", right? And what other stuff/gear should you bring?

 

So, D2R2, what do? 

[Steve Palincsar]

Maybe not, but I do recall reading Peter Weigle's comments one year about how many people he saw that had pinch-flatted on 32mm tires as he was riding by on Hetres enjoying the ride.

[Ed Braley]

Big tires, low gears, and lightweight seem to be the key machinery elements.

 

The rest is all about the motor ;-)

 

I just don't want the machine to be the limiting factor.

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[Peter Weigle]

Ed,

Most seem to do the event on cyclo cross bikes,, they have nobby tires, fairly low gears, are pretty rugged and almost everyone has one hanging in the garage. On a forum a few years back they were dubbed the "ideal" bike for D2R2 by some.... not a bad choice but there are other options.

The climbing doesn't end at D2R2 so low gears,, (the lower the better) as the constant climbing really takes it out of you. My first event I went with a 48-36 with a 13-30 rear and I thought I was good,, but I wasn't, and walked a few times,(hate to admit it,, but I did)...and felt hammered at the end.

Last year I put a triple up front and I used the granny a lot, but I had enough gears and had a great ride.

I've ridden Hetre's and Pari Moto's and both were great. Tire pressure has to be adjusted so the tires feel fast on the pavement, and supple enough on the gravel, especially on the FAST gravel descents...

Last year's tire check,, https://www.flickr.com/photos/49353569@N00/9570837782/in/photolist-fzK3Cw-n1rrEe-c4MXh5 

After the photo was taken I switched to PM's, and with this particular bike I felt a bit more "dialed in" so I rode them. I did have a rear puncture last year, a sharp thorn, nail, who knows? Could have happened regardless of what tire I was using.

The cross guys so seem to pinch flat a lot. Like any tire if they're too hard the ride is rough and dangerous in the bad sections. The tendency is to drop the pressure for the ride, but then you get pinch flats. 

With a full 38-42mm 650b, you can drop the pressure, but the volume helps prevent the pf's...

I always have wondered how many of the cross ya-hoo's would even start the event if it was raining that day? In a real cross race you ride roughly an hour and you're done, no worries if you get a little muddy.

 At Deerfield you may be out for 4-7 or so hours. How much grit do you want to eat that day? Just trying to drink out of a bottle that is covered in grit becomes difficult.

IMO, fenders are great regardless of the weather. Up there in the hills you never know when conditions will change. Fenders protect you, and you bikes drivetrain, brakes etc,,, they do no harm as long as theyre installed and ajusted properly. D2R2 is the ultimate fender durability test.

 And as long as we're talking about water,,,make sure your cages are really good and hold the bottles well. It is a common sight to see many, many bottles lining the sides of the fast and rough descents. My flimsy looking Nitto's have never let me down, never rattle, and always look stylish;~)  

My hints would be,,, 

Wider tires are better imo. Pressure is everything, tread not so important,,, there is quite a bit of pavement as well as the gravel.

Low gears,,, lower than you think you need,,, good to have a bail out gear or 3.

Practice climbing on very steep gravel sections to condition yourself, and to test gearing and derailleur function.

Bags and bottles need to be secure if you plan to descend at speed,,,

There is plenty of food at the check points, but I always have my own stash of energy food that agrees with me.

D2R2 is a very cool event. You'll see many different types of bikes from 23mm road bikes,(yikes,, ouch) to cross, to 650b rando, and some mountain bike thrown in as well. Ride what ever you are comfortable with. Some ride it fast, and many just ride along at a leisurely pace. There are several distances to choose from. I like the 100k, as one of my friends says,, the 100k feels like 100 miles by the time you're finished.

 

Just be sure and gear low, test ride the bike in similar conditions if at all possible, and start training.

Hope this helps, and hope to see you there!

ptr  

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From: Ed Braley <edbr...@maine.rr.com>
To: Steve Palincsar <pali...@his.com>; 65...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2014 8:52 AM

[Ed Braley]

Thanks Peter, that helps a lot. And you've confirmed what I'd read and thought about this event. It's not my usual 2-3 hour 650B daytime ride, that's for sure. 

 

I'm thinking the 650B disc brake Motobecane bike with some new 42mm Babyshoe Pass tires and a big cassette for the 30 speed STI triple setup would be the best choice from my stable. Especially if it might be wet and raining. It's got Berthoud fenders, too ;-). I'd say that's my 650B touring version of the "ideal" bike for D2R2. I don't have a front rack/bag on that bike, though, so I'll need to get something for the route sheet and some extra food. A bar mounted bag from Topeak might be enough for a day ride. If I keep it light it shouldn't effect the handling to much. Tools and such will go under the seat, as usual. I'll probably need a well calibrated cyclo-computer for the route, too, huh? I'll just have to try the whole setup to see how it all works.

 

The 100K seems like a good distance. I could probably finish that with a few months of conditioning, and a sorted machine. I have some places to train - challenging back roads and dirt climbs. I'm sure that I can make myself miserable enough by training right around here!

 

Yeah, I want to do D2R2, and I'd like to have fun doing it!

 

Ed.   

[WMdeR]

>I'm considering this year's Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee, and I've been thinking about the equipment and training for this event. I know that some of you have done this, >so I'd apreciate your input. It might be a fun topic for all, as this seems like a real 650B pass hunting type of event.

 

Dear Ed,

 

I'll second Peter Weigle's equipment recommendations:

 

      Wider tires (tread is unnecessary), and lower gears are strongly recommended for the 180K route compared to my local county road riding. The carriage roads are rocky, and steep in spots.

      I rode my Boulder Bicycle Road Sport last year with 29mm (tubular) tires at 45/50psi, 50/34 double, and 12-25 cassette, and didn't flat or have wheel trouble during the event. The pinch-flat brigade were all on clinchers and medium-width tires. The folks riding 23-25mm tires did fine, but tended toward being small, light folks with superior handling skills. So, if you're riding clinchers, go wide, or be exceptionally light on the bike.I was overgeared, or, rather, under-prepared to run with my bike. If I were doing it again, I'd throw a 13-29 on the back (or add running intervals back into my exercise routines).

      We had lovely summer weather last year, but the event would have an entirely different character if it were raining. The usual "I'm out all day on my bike" stuff is a good idea--rain jacket,ear band, gloves, arm and leg warmers, bonk rations. Secure bottle cages and frame pump are a safety feature. I didn't use fenders but brought a set of clip-ons in case the weather looked iffy at the start. I was also worried about sticks in this heavily-wooded area, but it wasn't an issue on the route, and I'd ride a bike with fenders next time. Bring a map/cue sheet holder. The route is convoluted. I rode without one, and it was inconvenient to navigate compared to riding with a map case on a randonneuring bike. A camera would be a good addition if you're so inclined.

     Training? 1. Find scenic, sustained, steep, unpaved climbs. 2. Ride them. 3. Passing kindergarten is a prerequisite--this is a big charity ride, with all the variation in skills that kind of ride brings. 4. Practice finding joy in effort, and in being surrounded by many others doing likewise. The 180K crowd was pretty friendly. 

 

Cheers,

 

Will

William M. deRosset

Fort Collins, CO

[somervillebikes]

Peter summed it up pretty well, not much to add.  The three times I've done it I've been lucky that the weather was cool and dry (the first year I did the event, it was the day Hurricane Irene struck, and the first drops fell just as we arrived at the finish).  But if it's raining, a smooth Hetre may not make it up some of the muddy climbs.  But in dry weather, I'd concur with Peter that tread is unimportant, and that wide tires at appropriately low psi are key.

And in my case, the engine was definitely the limiting factor, on all three times I've ridden it (I've only done the 100k and 115k versions, never had the guts to do the longer routes).  But I should note that the last time I did it I was on a purpose-built 650B bike with thinner tubing (first two times was on a heavy touring bike 650b conversion), and it seemed to make a big difference on my overall speed and ability to climb. So it is about the engine, but also to a smaller extent, the bike.  If I didn't have a 1:1 low gear, I'd have been walking a big chunk of it, for sure. That said, there were plenty of young racers out there who were blasting past me up the climbs in much higher gears.  But with fat Hetres, I blew past many of them on the descents.

A well-calibrated computer will help with following the cue sheets, but even without, there are usually enough riders that you're never too far ahead of, or behind, others.

Anton

[Steve Park]

Good for you!   I find a GPS unit very helpful at D2R2.

Bring climbing fitness, and everything else will follow.  I go to the biggest hill near my house and climb it over and over again for a couple hours...maybe a handful of days in the summer.

and yes, a well-tuned bike with fat soft tires and lowish gearing.

[Brad]

Are there route maps available?  I have ridden some of the roads in the area when I was much younger and it intrigues me. 

[Ed Braley]

I think a GPS would be great, and I could probably use it for other things too.

 

It's been fun thinking about D2R2. I'm coming up with all kinds of interesting training routes and ideas. I need to change up my usual riding routines anyway, so having this kind of goal puts a different perspective things.

 

As for the machine, I can see how a full rando machine in a really lightweight build could be advantageous. But I think that's overkill for me, given that I never need the lights and don't carry enough stuff to require the front bag and the front end geometry it favors. So, I'll just tweak the gearing on one or two of my bikes for climbing steep dirt roads, get some new 650x42B tires, and go with that. BTW, I haven't been to this specific area, but I've been out that way, so I know what the terrain looks like.

 

I rode my 650B Pacer over a very hilly route the other day. I tried to do as much of the climbing as I could staying seated. And I never used the granny gear, I just pushed the 39/26. It was all pavement, but it's still early in the season here in Maine. I've got a few dirt roads and pond access roads to add to the mix soon. It's all good.

 

I'm getting good advice from all contributors, so thank you all.

 

Ed

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[Steve Park]

You can search for D2R2 near Deerfield at http://ridewithgps.com/find