Wizards 50th Birthday

Quote: Wizard

Maybe the shorter crank size will just take a little more getting used to. I do think I'll have to move them back when doing anything hilly.

Edit: The previous time I did this ride it was 15.9 miles, a half mile less. The reason for the extra half mile is I rode past a friend who was walking the other way so I stopped, turned off Strava, and walked back half a mile to chat. So a half mile extra and a minute less is good news.

I think on the flat you will see a big improvement. It's good to know that you didn't have any problems with your balance. That means you can confidently start out your ride on the beach with them, even if you have limited training time in hilly Vegas.

I did a 23.4 mile ride today, including 900 feet of sustained elevation gain. When I got to the steep part by Lone Mountain I took out my wrench and switched to the 125mm crank arm position and kept it there the rest of the ride. This is the first time I went up the Western Beltway hill from Cheyenne to Lake Mead Blvd.. I even passed a bicyclist doing so.

Quote: Pacomartin

I think on the flat you will see a big improvement. It's good to know that you didn't have any problems with your balance. That means you can confidently start out your ride on the beach with them, even if you have limited training time in hilly Vegas.

Yes, I like the 110mm position much better and will only stray from it on steep routes, such as the above. It may not be much faster but is less fatiguing.

Quote: Wizard

Yes, I like the 110mm position much better and will only stray from it on steep routes, such as the above. It may not be much faster but is less fatiguing.

You must be pretty pleased with your progress. It looks good for the eight hours as it looks like you would have made 25 miles in 3:40 . Does it take you 5 minutes to change the cranks?

Quote: Pacomartin

You must be pretty pleased with your progress. It looks good for the eight hours as it looks like you would have made 25 miles in 3:40 . Does it take you 5 minutes to change the cranks?

Yes, I'm pleased how easily I got to the 25 mile point. However, I'm concerned about hitting a wall, like I did with running at about 20 miles.

I think I can change the cranks, and adjust the seat, in about five minutes. The shorter the crank length the higher the seat. You might think the 1.5 centimeter difference in distance from the low point on the pedals to the seat wouldn't make much difference, but it does. The key is to have your leg straight when fully extended.

Quote: Wizard

I'm concerned about hitting a wall, like I did with running at about 20 miles.

Well of course! But if you don't have to change cranks at the beach, your fatigue will be lower and you may hit halfway point at 3.5 hours or better. That gives you about an extra hour on the second half to recover.

All I know is what Ace used to tell me. He must have run dozens of marathons before doing his first 50 mile race at age 50. He said the pain is much worse than hitting the wall in marathons. For somebody who went through SERE training and was basically a paramilitary operator for two tours in Vietnam, you notice when he says something is painful.

Just for the record, I see that on the steepest part of the ride today I gained 300 vertical feet in one mile, for a slope of 5.7%, or 3.25 degrees. That wasn't just a fluke little hill but a sustained climb for a mile, preceded by climbing almost as steep.

The Unigeezer(age 59) did a century for charity earlier this month. He was riding a 36" with 114mm cranks to get those speeds. He strongly recommends electrolytes. He also uses an armrest.

Keep in mind with the smaller wheel you will be doing 35,000 revolutions.

Quote: Pacomartin

The Unigeezer(age 59) did a century for charity earlier this month. ...

Thanks. I've seen a lot of the Unigeezer's videos but not that one. I didn't want to emphasize them in this thread because he makes my challenge look too easy.

That advice about the electrolytes I'll follow up on. I couldn't see what brand he was holding but will ask about them at the bike shop.

Still, I have tons of respect for Terry and hope to meet him someday.

Quote: Wizard

I didn't want to emphasize them in this thread because he makes my challenge look too easy.

But he began in his late 40's, and he practically spent the last decade riding or filming unicycles. He also spends a fortune on gear. Although he did 56,000 rotations in one day you are doing 35,000 . That was almost certainly above his capability at the age of 50 from what I read.

I was curious as to what he used for this ride (crank settings and fuel intake).

Are you going to use your GoPro and film?

Big 27.4 mile ride today. I think this sets records for both distance and elevation gain, which was about 1200' net and 1500' gross.

I used the 125mm crank position due to the hills.

Quote: Pacomartin

But he began in his late 40's, and he practically spent the last decade riding or filming unicycles. He also spends a fortune on gear. Although he did 56,000 rotations in one day you are doing 35,000 . That was almost certainly above his capability at the age of 50 from what I read.

I was curious as to what he used for this ride (crank settings and fuel intake).

Are you going to use your GoPro and film?

Who knows, maybe I'll beat one of his records someday. I thought he said he used 110mm crank arms in the video. My guess is he didn't eat at all except those electrolyte things.

About the GoPro, I haven't decided yet.