Most of the time when you read someones cycling blog it's about the ride they are on or just finished, perhaps a project they did on their bike or a group event. No matter what, the blogs are normally about the writers experience. So it is here, I did not make something, I did not prepare for a ride, and I did not ride. Here instead I was a supporting player in a bigger picture.
Friday afternoon I drove down to Chistiansburg Virginia, it would be here that I manned the overnight control at the Econolodge. Several riders had already been through the control and Matt Settle (the RBA) was there with Pat in the room. Riders were loading up, taking a brief rest and then pushing on, well, maybe.
This is pretty typical of how the room looked during busy times. Riders would show up and have their brevet cards stamped and signed while the date and time was also recorded on a control sheet. Most of the riders would spend about 30 minutes to an hour at this control, after all, on the way out this was the half way mark. Riders at this point had covered 615K. Knowing that they had less than half to go was a good tool used to encourage riders to push on.
Did I mention it was HOT! The afternoon temps were 95/95. 95 degrees and 95 percent humidity. Very tough and those typical nasty mountain climbs were not making it easy for anyone. Colorful metaphors were often used by riders to describe the route. "This has been some of the most beautiful terrain I have ever seen, but do we always have to scale mountains." was one of my favorite quotes of course $#%$#% hill was also used to describe Jameson road.
Out in front of the control room family and friends awaited randonneurs and randonneuses.
If you have ever read the RUSA handbook there is mention of discouraging personal support. While it is against the rules to have personal support on the road, you can have it at controls. The problem is that the car sitting there with family and friends is often too inviting and makes for any easy way home. The mountains and heat make that 70 mile per hour air conditioned transport very attractive. I know I was glad to be in my car for the trip down and back.
Most of the time at the control is spent waiting but when riders are there it is a hive of activity. Most everyone in this picture is about to hit the road for evening. It's around 7:00PM and those pushing on from here want to take advantage of the cooler night temperatures. That will mean the upper 70's and low 80's and compared to the daytime temps, that's a lot cooler.
Every now and then you take a picture that no word could ever describe.
Here is a randonneur that has covered 615 kilometers of mountains and heat.
As the night passed on and the control closed for the outbound leg at 9:50 I was able to clean up the room a bit, order some dinner and watch a little TV. The last two riders to come through were from Texas and spent the heat of the day sleeping. A pretty good plan, they looked fresh and would make up lost time over night as they were not so tired.
Around 10:00PM I got a call from Matt, I gave him the update and DNF list. We were looking at a 38% and maybe a 50% DNF rate! That's a huge number. Last, he updated me and I would expect the first two riders on the return leg by midnight.
Here a rider heads out for the evening after fueling up at the control.
The two fast riders out front were back on the road around 12:30AM or so. It would not be until 3:45AM that the next rider rolled in, from there a rider or a small group would pass by ever hour.
About 10:30AM and most riders had returned from Hillsboro and Fancy Gap. Matt and Pat returned to finish manning the control until 2:38PM when it closed. I loaded up my car with the drop bags from Fancy Gap and was able to fit a bike and one of the DNF riders in too.
11:00AM and I pull out of Christiansburg. On the way up the road I get to have a great conversation and learn a lot from my passenger. He has completed PBP, the Cascade and other 1200's. The heat and constant hills took their toll here.
I hate to bring back the RUSA handbook again but it does suggest working a control on a big one as part of your brevet training and it's a spot on idea. I did learn a lot. It was also nice to give back and help out other riders.
After a few hours we arrived in Leesburg, here I dropped of the bags and my passenger and drove the short hour home.
What a great experience, I plan on working some other events too. I love riding but helping out has it's own rewards too!
Friday afternoon I drove down to Chistiansburg Virginia, it would be here that I manned the overnight control at the Econolodge. Several riders had already been through the control and Matt Settle (the RBA) was there with Pat in the room. Riders were loading up, taking a brief rest and then pushing on, well, maybe.
This is pretty typical of how the room looked during busy times. Riders would show up and have their brevet cards stamped and signed while the date and time was also recorded on a control sheet. Most of the riders would spend about 30 minutes to an hour at this control, after all, on the way out this was the half way mark. Riders at this point had covered 615K. Knowing that they had less than half to go was a good tool used to encourage riders to push on.
Did I mention it was HOT! The afternoon temps were 95/95. 95 degrees and 95 percent humidity. Very tough and those typical nasty mountain climbs were not making it easy for anyone. Colorful metaphors were often used by riders to describe the route. "This has been some of the most beautiful terrain I have ever seen, but do we always have to scale mountains." was one of my favorite quotes of course $#%$#% hill was also used to describe Jameson road.
Out in front of the control room family and friends awaited randonneurs and randonneuses.
If you have ever read the RUSA handbook there is mention of discouraging personal support. While it is against the rules to have personal support on the road, you can have it at controls. The problem is that the car sitting there with family and friends is often too inviting and makes for any easy way home. The mountains and heat make that 70 mile per hour air conditioned transport very attractive. I know I was glad to be in my car for the trip down and back.
Most of the time at the control is spent waiting but when riders are there it is a hive of activity. Most everyone in this picture is about to hit the road for evening. It's around 7:00PM and those pushing on from here want to take advantage of the cooler night temperatures. That will mean the upper 70's and low 80's and compared to the daytime temps, that's a lot cooler.
Every now and then you take a picture that no word could ever describe.
Here is a randonneur that has covered 615 kilometers of mountains and heat.
As the night passed on and the control closed for the outbound leg at 9:50 I was able to clean up the room a bit, order some dinner and watch a little TV. The last two riders to come through were from Texas and spent the heat of the day sleeping. A pretty good plan, they looked fresh and would make up lost time over night as they were not so tired.
Around 10:00PM I got a call from Matt, I gave him the update and DNF list. We were looking at a 38% and maybe a 50% DNF rate! That's a huge number. Last, he updated me and I would expect the first two riders on the return leg by midnight.
Here a rider heads out for the evening after fueling up at the control.
The two fast riders out front were back on the road around 12:30AM or so. It would not be until 3:45AM that the next rider rolled in, from there a rider or a small group would pass by ever hour.
About 10:30AM and most riders had returned from Hillsboro and Fancy Gap. Matt and Pat returned to finish manning the control until 2:38PM when it closed. I loaded up my car with the drop bags from Fancy Gap and was able to fit a bike and one of the DNF riders in too.
11:00AM and I pull out of Christiansburg. On the way up the road I get to have a great conversation and learn a lot from my passenger. He has completed PBP, the Cascade and other 1200's. The heat and constant hills took their toll here.
I hate to bring back the RUSA handbook again but it does suggest working a control on a big one as part of your brevet training and it's a spot on idea. I did learn a lot. It was also nice to give back and help out other riders.
After a few hours we arrived in Leesburg, here I dropped of the bags and my passenger and drove the short hour home.
What a great experience, I plan on working some other events too. I love riding but helping out has it's own rewards too!