We have various members on my cycling team - some 'crossers, crit specialists, TT guys, all rounders, etc. We have one crazy randonneur who is becoming one of the best in the world. Here is his report back to the team with his last event. He is usually more comical, especially after his last Paris-Brest-Paris.
The abridged: 935 miles in 67 hours and change for the win, beating the 2nd place guy by 16+ hours.
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Starting on September 23 I participated in the Natchez Trace 1500 kilometer Grand Randonnee out of Nashville, Tennessee. This event, similar to the famed Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee which is held every 4 years (again in 2015), is longer by 300 kilometers. This was the first time for this event. The total length was 940 miles and had 34,000 feet of climbing. This would make it the third longest "brevet style" event in the world. They are timed events where the rider is unsupported although you may have a "drop bag" transported to you out on the route. I did not use a drop bag. On the route there are checkpoints or "controles" that verify you passing that point. For longer events like this one you must qualify by doing shorter rides.
To spare you from a bout of narcolepsy I will make this brief. At 4 am on Tuesday 75 riders lined up in Nashville to ride the Natchez Trace Parkway down to Natchez, Mississippi and return. It was an international group of riders. I ended up riding by myself at about the 40 mile point. Yes, that means I rode by myself for 900 miles.
By the turnaround at Natchez I was far in front. I had ridden through the first night completely. The Trace has poor cell phone coverage but at towns I would turn on my cell and get texts from my family who was following action on the internet. It was my plan to sleep a few hours the second night (Wednesday). Apparently my kids didn't feel that a 6 hour lead was enough so they "suggested" I press the pace and shorten my sleep. So I slept 90 minutes and was on the road. But I must say felt good the entire ride. I had been training for this all year and it really had dominated my life. I was absolutely ready and it showed.
At the last checkpoint, 92 miles from the end, I had a huge lead. It was nearing nightfall. The internet talk had questions whether I could cover that 92 miles in 5 and a half hours and finish before midnight. It really made little difference. My time was already going to be fast but this would make it appear even faster. My family again suggested I press it and go fast. Off I went onto the darkening roads. I would yell on descents in an attempt to clear out the deer in my path. At 11:30 pm I turned onto the final ascent up a killer climb to the finish. I finished at 11:38 pm.
Here are the salient points: I rode 935 miles in 67 hours and 38 minutes. I rode by myself 900 miles or about 64 hours. There were 13 checkpoints. I slept for a total of 90 minutes. I won. By how much? The second place rider finished 16 hours and 44 minutes behind me.
Attached is a photo taken at the finish with my medal. Remember, I had been up for a little while at that point. Any questions?
Still nuts,
Todd Williams
____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD
The abridged: 935 miles in 67 hours and change for the win, beating the 2nd place guy by 16+ hours.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Starting on September 23 I participated in the Natchez Trace 1500 kilometer Grand Randonnee out of Nashville, Tennessee. This event, similar to the famed Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee which is held every 4 years (again in 2015), is longer by 300 kilometers. This was the first time for this event. The total length was 940 miles and had 34,000 feet of climbing. This would make it the third longest "brevet style" event in the world. They are timed events where the rider is unsupported although you may have a "drop bag" transported to you out on the route. I did not use a drop bag. On the route there are checkpoints or "controles" that verify you passing that point. For longer events like this one you must qualify by doing shorter rides.
To spare you from a bout of narcolepsy I will make this brief. At 4 am on Tuesday 75 riders lined up in Nashville to ride the Natchez Trace Parkway down to Natchez, Mississippi and return. It was an international group of riders. I ended up riding by myself at about the 40 mile point. Yes, that means I rode by myself for 900 miles.
By the turnaround at Natchez I was far in front. I had ridden through the first night completely. The Trace has poor cell phone coverage but at towns I would turn on my cell and get texts from my family who was following action on the internet. It was my plan to sleep a few hours the second night (Wednesday). Apparently my kids didn't feel that a 6 hour lead was enough so they "suggested" I press the pace and shorten my sleep. So I slept 90 minutes and was on the road. But I must say felt good the entire ride. I had been training for this all year and it really had dominated my life. I was absolutely ready and it showed.
At the last checkpoint, 92 miles from the end, I had a huge lead. It was nearing nightfall. The internet talk had questions whether I could cover that 92 miles in 5 and a half hours and finish before midnight. It really made little difference. My time was already going to be fast but this would make it appear even faster. My family again suggested I press it and go fast. Off I went onto the darkening roads. I would yell on descents in an attempt to clear out the deer in my path. At 11:30 pm I turned onto the final ascent up a killer climb to the finish. I finished at 11:38 pm.
Here are the salient points: I rode 935 miles in 67 hours and 38 minutes. I rode by myself 900 miles or about 64 hours. There were 13 checkpoints. I slept for a total of 90 minutes. I won. By how much? The second place rider finished 16 hours and 44 minutes behind me.
Attached is a photo taken at the finish with my medal. Remember, I had been up for a little while at that point. Any questions?
Still nuts,
Todd Williams
____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD