05.11.2010 | 11:29 am
Just thought I’d give you the race report from the Cypress, TX 100 (or less) Miles of Nowhere. Our race got off to a late start due to a morning trip to the Houston Zoo that lasted much longer than had been planned. So the race start time wasn’t until sometime around 4:30pm.
Attendees at the race were Momma, Georgia (age 5) and Sam (age 7).
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Georgia and Sam took turns because Daddy only made 1 stand for the kids’ bikes. The race took a brief intermission after viewing of Ride the Divide was complete – the racers were famished and a Tex Mex break was required.
After refueling, the younger racers were sent to bed and Momma toiled on until her knees told her they could take no more, having gone much further than they’ve ever gone on a bike before. Momma managed to make it 30 miles, and based on how fast the kids managed to get the rear tire on Georgia’s bike to spin they probably went at least 10 miles each. So we’ll call it 50 Miles of Nowhere, right?
Although the kids’ rig is still set up in the bedroom and they continue to jump on it and add a few more miles every day, so in another week or two we might finally complete the 100 miles.
Next year, Momma will do a bit more training and will make it at least 31 miles before calling it quits. And maybe Daddy will make another stand so that the kids can bike at the same time. And maybe we’ll figure out a way to play Rock Band while riding our bikes. That would be the ultimate!
– Tracy W, Cypress, TX
Comments (7)
05.11.2010 | 11:18 am
I know everyone is used to Fatty’s constant comments on how he lives in the best place in the world for bicycling. I’d like to offer some….”competing” evidence. When I first found out that the 100 Miles to Nowhere was the same weekend as my planned trip to Yosemite National Park, I was a bit dismayed. And then I realized, why not do it on the small bicycle loop on the valley floor? And won’t everyone in basements be jealous? :) And when I mean jealous, look at this!
How can you not plan your next vacation here (and bring your bike) with evidence like this! You’re pedaling along, frantically scrambling away from people attempting to drive rental motorhomes, and you spot this through the trees.
Waterfalls around every turn.
Unfortunately, it’s a pretty small loop… so, these waterfalls are stalking me!
Unfortunately, it was a spectacularly unsuccessful 100 Miles to Nowhere. I made it a whopping 18 miles. I might not have (this is me being very generous to my abilities) finished anyway, but considering all the pedestrians I needed to dodge, and the 113 photos I took, those 18 miles took over 3 hours. The loop is a very popular footpath in the summer. Average pedaling speed was 6 mph. If I tried to do a full 100 on it, I’d probably still be out there.
And bringing trainer/rollers to a national park is just criminal!
– Judy from San Jose
Comments (4)
05.11.2010 | 10:59 am
This year’s 3rd Annual 100 MIles of Nowhere was the 2nd Annual and final Lusail, Qatar edition. I will be moving back to Canada at the beginning of July and waving goodbye to the heat, dust and wind that is the Persian Gulf.
I packed the cooler after the alarm went off at 1:00 am. I ate some quick oatmeal, loaded the car and headed to the Lusail International Speedway for some well-lit and low-traveled access roads.
I got there and found that this Friday night was teenage race night and I was going to have some problems. I planned on starting at 2:00 am and I was right on track.
Unfortunately, about 35 Toyota Lancruisers and other assorted trucks were ripping up and down my race course at about 120 mph.
But I needed to get started, so I suited up and started riding laps around the parking lot hoping things would settle down soon. After 45 minutes of tight loops and the sounds of unmuffled exhaust and backfiring, the locals started to dissipate and the road seemed less life-threatening to head out on.
My course was a straight line, out and back with roundabouts on either end. Total distance of one lap was 2 miles.
I worked by myself until the 2-hour mark, stopped to refill and give the butt a rest. Got back on for a half hour and at 4:30 a friend came out to put in some laps with me. Ryder showing up gave me the boost I needed just as I was starting to think too much about my saddle, legs and back. He pulled me through some of the headwinds and took my mind off of the monotony. 30 miles later, he peeled out and I was back to the podcasts to occupy my mind.
Another hour and my wife and another friend made it out to cheer me in. I limped through the last few laps (amazing how that headwind has a cumulative effect and that tiny bump starts to feel like a real hill) and finished with a smile on my face. The temperature was great this year, only 95 degrees at my 8:30am finish time!
I’m super grateful to friends and family who have donated over $1000 to my Livestrong page in only the last three days. After a hard year of my mother-in-law yet again battling cancer and undergoing chemo and radiation, I’m thankful for Fatty putting on the event again and giving me a chance to feel like I’m doing something to help her fight and THE fight from so far away.
Can’t wait to see everyone again in Philly for the next 100!
– Aaron Peterson
Comments (6)
05.11.2010 | 10:31 am
First, can I just say that I’m so stoked to have been a part of this? I have to confess that I have only just gotten into riding over the past year. I have been eyeing the sport for several years, but only just started about 10 months ago. I LOVE IT.
Second, I’m the type of person that probably would jump off some sort of bridge is someone else did and asked me to. I’m not saying it’s smart, but I do have a hard time backing off a challenge. I knew the second you started talking about 100MoN this year I would starting throwing my money at the opportunity to officially participate. I also figured training would happen. I’m a planner. I like to train for things. But sometimes, life gets in the way. But that doesn’t mean I’m smart enough to reschedule or not show up. This spring, life got in the way. My longest ride EVER was 40 miles. 100 miles of nowhere? Sure, why not…
But…Ouch.
I met fellow Fatty supporter and 100MoN’er, Chris on a recumbent, through the blog.
We decided to loop Hains Point (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3714132), a 3.2 mile loop, roughly 34 times. It tends to be windy down there on the water, but it’s usually quite nice so we decided to go for it.
It was a whole lot windier than this weekend than we had banked on. The Virginia side of the point was so windy that there were huge white caps on the waves (that’s right, there were WAVES in the Potomac River) and riding speed was almost half the speed as the DC side.
The DC side was GORGEOUS. So beautiful. Calm waters, very little wind, sun shining. Fabulous.
So, that sort of sets the scene for an awesome/horrifying 100 miles. 1.5 gruesome, windy, soul stabbingly painful miles and 1.5 gorgeous, butterflies and rainbows happy miles. On the DC side, you forgot about death awaiting you in the VA side and on the VA side, I swore that as soon as I was back at my car, I would unclip, pack up and get the frack OUT of there.
The first half was great. The wind was not horrible and I had a few pals meeting me for lunch. They said they were going to cheer for me, but then they fell asleep.
Understandable, I suppose. Riding in circles might only be fun for those doing it. I don’t know. But, eventually they did wake up and cheered me on for a few laps. And my main squeeze eventually rode around with me a few times on his cruiser.
With a marathon left, my friends bid me adieu. The wind got stronger and I losing steam. Of course quitting was not an option. It was not an option because I absolutely LOVE the shirt and I have a thing about wearing race shirts I didn’t earn. And I had already worn it pretty much exclusively since it arrived so I was committed to finish.
At last, victory was mine. I finished 100 miles, huge grin plastered on my mug and beer in my sights. It was really hard but I learned a ton and most importantly, I can now wear my ridiculously awesome shirt.
I can also say that I am 100% totally and completely addicted to the sport. Like crack addicted (not that I would know). Oh, I also got some sweet bike shorts tan lines going on. They ROCK.
– Anne P, Washington DC
Comments (17)
05.11.2010 | 10:06 am
I have officially finished my 100 Miles of Knowhere.
I am a student at George Fox University finishing up my MBA degree and wouldnt ya know it, I have class tomorrow. So I took a day off work and did it early.
This is the first time I have done a century ride and the first time I have really gone over 30 miles in a sitting (I have been commuting to work for a year now and do about 100 miles per week…so I figured I would give it a shot and do ALL of it in one day…on top of the 70 I have already ridden this week).
I started at 8 and finished at 3:53. My daughter (Mechanic) was up most of the time playing in the front yard with my wife (Executive Chef) and she clapped or waved every time I passed. I couldnt stop grinning!
I rode a .4 mile loop around the block my house is on and confused many neighbors and Waste Management Trash Collectors.
Thanks Again For the Fun!
–Kit Wagner Portland,OR
Comments (3)
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