Boston 300K Report
Kris Kjellquist
Boston 300K Report
May 27, 2006
After what seemed like endless rides in the cold and rain of 2005, the
weather this year has been stellar. I was up at 2am and after some
breakfast and coffee I headed out to my car to find a warm and muggy
morning. It’s such a welcome treat after last year.
I loaded up my fixed gear Rivendell Quickbeam and made the short drive
to the start. Upon arriving at the Hanscom Civil Air terminal I
reviewed the clothing and equipment I had chosen based on the current
temps and the forecast. Every forecast on the web called for clouds and
showers throughout the day. They were wrong. I went with no leg
warmers, wool base layer, wool jersey, and arm warmers. Once in a while
you get the clothing decision just right!
The eastern MA RBA, Tracey Ingle, sent the riders off at 4am in loosely
organized waves, with the quicker riders sent off the front. A medium
and steady pace was my plan so I waited a few minutes before heading out
to the dark morning. A row of red LED’s stretched out ahead of us as we
pedaled through Concord, Lincoln and other historic Massachusetts towns.
I linked up with Emily O’Brien and Jake Kassen, who were also riding
fixed gear bicycles. Riding a fixed gear machine tends to put you at a
slightly different pace than geared riders, so riding with other fixed
riders is nice. You climb faster, descend slower, and you end up
leapfrogging with geared riders. Emily and I are pretty close in
ability so we would ride much of the day together.
As we reached Framingham and Hopkinton, the sun was rising. I stopped
for a bathroom break, and removed some of my reflective gear. After the
very quick break I picked up my pace ever so slightly and caught up with
the group. We cruised through the morning with several other riders
keeping a steady 15-17mph pace and arrived at the first checkpoint
around 7:15. I am trying to keep my checkpoint stops shorter this year,
so after checking in, refilling my bottles, and downing some chocolate
milk we were off again after 10-15 minutes.
We left the Oxford control with a larger group and headed towards
Connecticut. So far this was the slowest pace I had maintained on a
brevet, but after 50+ miles my legs were very fresh and I was feeling
great. The bulk of this section is a 30 mile stretch down Rt 169 with
constant rolling hills. Riding fixed this year I found this stretch
much easier. At one point the group split up, with a mile or so gap
between. I found myself with the second group and feeling good, so I
put out a good 15-20 minute effort to bridge the gap.
At the end of rt.169 you take a left on rt.138 and after 9 miles you are
at the second control of the day. Once we got off the bike I realized
it was really starting to warm up. I made sure to drink a lot of
fluids, get some salt back in me via potato chips, and enjoyed a great
turkey sandwich. After the 200k I bagged my short lived idea of using
Perpetuem and limiting solid food. I have an iron stomach and can eat
pretty much anything on the bike, so I am taking advantage of the “free”
food at the controls. I don’t carry much food on me, and stock up with
bananas and peanut butter and jelly. I do carry a couple homemade
energy bars some homemade gel, but that’s about it these days.
At the second checkpoint we met up with Ray Coffey, who turned out to be
the 4th fixed gear rider of the day. Ray rides a late 60’s Raleigh
which just oozes character. It was by far my favorite bike of the day.
Ray left a few minutes ahead of us, but we would catch him later in
Rhode Island.
If memory serves four of us left the control together, but Emily and I
were quickly off the front and making our way out of Connecticut. After
some incredible views in Sterling and 11 miles later we were making the
turns to head back north through Rhode Island. There are some decent
climbs on this stretch, nothing too serious, we kept a good pace and
worked together well. We caught Ray after a while and it was nice, and
rare, to have 3 fixed gear machines together on a brevet. With the heat
blazing down we were all going through water quickly and stopped for
some refueling near Glocester, CT. I had a Coke, but I think Emily and
Ray’s ice cream would have been a better choice!
Jake caught up with us at the store and it was very cool to have the
whole fixed crew together. Oddly enough, I was the only one not on an
old Raleigh frame! Luckily Ray packed a camera and took a few pictures.
Jake elected to stay behind while the three of us headed out feeling
fresh.
Almost immediately we all noticed a large, isolated, very dark cloud
ahead. With temps well in the 80’s a thunderstorm sounded pretty good
and the 10 minutes of cool rain was very nice. Only 14 miles later we
were at the final checkpoint in Uxbridge, MA. After another chocolate
milk, some chips, and very tasty jerky we were off to knock out the
final stretch.
Our group had dwindled to Emily and me for the last stretch. The final
43 miles was fairly uneventful, but enjoyable. On this particular route
I always end up spending the last miles dreading Lincoln Hill, which
comes just a few miles from the finish. It’s short steep climb which is
the last real challenge of the day. Oddly, this hill I hated last year
wasn’t so bad on the fixie.
Overall, I found the 300K much easier and enjoyable this year. I think
there are many factors involved. I am riding smarter, pacing better,
eating right, and experience does play a significant factor. I am also
finding the fixed gear to be an advantage in keeping the pedals moving
and myself rolling down the road. It’s hard to understand unless you
ride fixed.
Emily and I actually sprinted the last ½ mile or so and finished in 13 ½
hrs. I didn’t break any speed records, but I felt good and I could have
continued. Longer rides are in store. After a couple more Cokes and a
call home I was off and really looking forward to the 400K in 3 weeks.
As always, big congrats to all the riders and bigger thanks to the
volunteers!!!
http://kjellquist.blogspot.com
Emily O'Brien
This has got me wondering: How common is it to see fixed gear riders on
brevets in other parts of the country? The Boston 200k had seven; the 300k
had four (and since there were somewhere between 40 and 50 riders, that's 8
or 10%!), and I know that barring any unforseen circumstances there will be
at least three for the 400k and 600k. At least two of us are planning on
riding fixed in BMB. I know that this many is rather anomalous, even in
the Boston area where fixed gears are kind of trendy these days. However,
I know that BMB has been done fixed, and there are a couple of other
riders around the country who do long distance events fixed, and there
have been five fixies in the Furnace Creek 508 since they added a fixie
category in 2004. Do brevets in less hilly areas than ours have more
fixed gears? Is it a trend? Is it a short-lived fad? Or is it just a
momentary fluke? Any thoughts? Emily O'Brien
-------Original Message-------
From: Kris Kjellquist <kjell...@comcast.net>
Subject: Boston 300K Report
Sent: 30 May '06 14:25
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Robert Redmond
We have a fair contingent out here in northern CA for the SRCC and former
Davis rides which tend to be fixie friendly. In prep for the inaugural 508
fixed Barley road the whole series. On the SRCC 600k the climb over Hopland
grade was particularly brutal, but then again he was glad for the heat
generated by pedaling downhill in the cold hour before sunrise. You’ll see
them on the some of the CTC double centuries too. I tend to see more during
the early part of the season, more for training than as their primary bike.
And Mojo is out here. Check out his adventure at:
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006/apr/PhilWoodCo.htm
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Kris Kjellquist
Hi Emily! I definitely see it as a trend/fad/etc but it seems to be
sticking. I know I am hooked after only a few months riding fixed. I
can see some of the hispter/messenger wannabes fading out a bit, but
most of the "serious" fixed riders I know are genuinely hooked.
FWIW I read an article (DirtRag?) the other day asking "Is touring the
new fixed gear?" I guess Surly Long Haul Truckers are getting snatched
up, etc.
here it is....http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/brainfart.php?ID=205