Wizards 50th Birthday

Quote: Evenbob

I thought you were doing it ON the Bday to prove you aren't AARP material.

He did say repeatedly that he would meet the challenge before his birthday. Initially he may have been optimistic about the time, but it is not out of the question that he can finish in 6 to 7 hours. From what I am told, 6 hours is easier to recover from than 8 hours. The total time is more important than the cadence when it comes to recovery.

I think it took the Unigeezer about 7 years to do a century, so The Wizard can be pardoned for this little bit of enthusiasm.

Quote: Wizard

It won't take ten hours. I think between 6 and 7. Maybe it is easy to say this now, but I'd like to push beyond 50 miles past my birthday. Maybe get to 100 by the end of 2015.

Quote: Evenbob

I thought you were doing it ON the Bday
to prove you aren't AARP material. You'll
start getting mail from them almost
immediately, btw.

Say what you will about me, but I don't think anybody ever said I was a procrastinator. I might repeat it near my birthday but I think if I'm capable of doing it now, why wait?

Also, as a birthday present to myself I will be climbing Mount Hood and Mount Saints Helens shortly after my birthday. I will want to get in proper mountain climbing shape for the event. Once I do the 50-mile challenge I'll switch gears and focus more effort on running and climbing.


Mount Hood. Does the hotel look familiar? The exterior of it was seen in a famous movie.


Mount Saint Helens. The old timers on the forum may remember when it erupted in 1980. I still have a pickle jar full of ash from the eruption.

I'm thinking of attempting the 50-mile ride on Tuesday. Weather forecast: 77 degree with winds at 5MPH. Mostly sunny.

Quote: Wizard

I'm thinking of attempting the 50-moile ride on Tuesday. Weather forecast: 77 degree with winds at 5MPH. Mostly sunny.

Have a great ride Wizard!

Quote: Wizard

I'm thinking of attempting the 50-mile ride on Tuesday.

With 10 weeks left before your birthday you have time for a second shot if you don't finish in 8 hours.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Have a great ride Wizard!

Thanks!

Quote: Pacomartin

With 10 weeks left before your birthday you have time for a second shot if you don't finish in 8 hours.

Yup. If I'm successful I might try to do the River Mountain Loop for my birthday. Although 34 miles only, that link says it has 2,365 feet of elevation gain. I'm quite sure it would be harder than 50 flat miles. As far as I know, nobody has ever unicycled it before. I think I would have to walk the "three sisters," which is an especially steep part.

Quote: Wizard

Yup. If I'm successful

Your 40 miles ride was so positive, that it seems very unlikely that you won't finish. I think the open question is will it resemble your marathon finish. But since you weren't in any "lactose threshold pain" at the end of 40 miles we all hope you make it to 50 without anything worse.

I saw one section of the loop that had 5.6 degree grade. What is the highest you have done?

Quote: Pacomartin

I saw one section of the loop that had 5.6 degree grade. What is the highest you have done?

So, a 5.6 degree grade is equal to tan(5.6)=10.09% slope. I think the Three Sisters are much worse than that. In fact, http://rivermountainstrail.org/tag/three-sisters/ says "There average grade is around 15% up & down. "

I think the steepest I've ever done was a section of the Red Rock Loop at up to 8%. I've biked the River Mountains Loop several times and the Three Sisters seems worse than the worst of the Red Rock Loop, but not almost twice as bad. Maybe 50% steeper. Somehow I think not all these sources are accurate.

You can see my video of me doing the Three Sisters *ahem* over at WoV.



The Three Sisters section is from about 4:00 to 6:40.

BTW, did an untracked ride today about about 30 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain/loss.

I'm heading to Rome for about 10 days so I will miss the news of your big ride but I am confident you will do great. I hope you are safe and have fun too! God Bless and congratulations.

Quote: FrGamble

I'm heading to Rome for about 10 days so I will miss the news of your big ride but I am confident you will do great. I hope you are safe and have fun too! God Bless and congratulations.

Thanks. Have a good time in Rome. Remember to do as the Romans do.

Hint time!: A Vatican license plate would be the perfect gift for my 50th birthday.