Garrett County Gran Fondo

Elliehmltn

Cycling distances from 25 to 125 miles..... including the epic Diabolical Double, a double metric century with 16,559 (yes, 16,559) feet of climbing. You can expect some hills at every distance.... this is western Maryland! Share your questions, training, and experiences here.

http://www.winthefight.org/granfondo/diabolical_double.htm

Elliehmltn

The Diabolical Double (June 22 this year) has been on my bucket list for probably 4 years. I registered for it 2 years ago but then, a month out, was pretty certain I wasn't trained enough, and downgraded to the Savage Century (which took me nearly 11 hours.) This year I'm signed up for it again. I'll have enough distance training (80 miles last week, and a century coming up May 4) but I'm really missing out on hills. All winter in the flatlands I've simulated hills by riding hard gears into headwinds. Back to western Maryland in a couple weeks..... we'll see how the real hills go!

trijoe

WOW!, you're so far out of my league. However, I sure do enjoy watching you kick those hills' butts.

I wish you well with your diabolical double. I know few riders who I believe could pull it off, and you're one of them.

Elliehmltn

Well, it's day after tomorrow, and there's no more I can do to get ready. We've been home, out of the flatlands into "my" mountains, for about 6 weeks. I haven't trained as much as I'd fantasized about, but I know my way up a hill, and I'm ready to go.

125 miles, 16,500 feet of climbing. One of the hardest bike rides in the world. And one of the most beautiful. I'm going to look at every daisy, every cloud, every distant mountain; moo at every cow; wave to every person I see in their yard.

Here's my list of supplies. Sounds like I'd need an Appalachian Trail backpack, but it all goes in my seat pack, bento box (that little pack that goes on your top tube) and in my jersey pockets (I don't like to put a lot of stuff in my pockets, just my cell phone and a couple of flat items.)


In pack under seat -- repair stuff:

2 tubes
3 CO2 cannisters
The little nozzle thingie to screw the cannisters onto
Patch kit (in case I go through both tubes)
Tire lever
Multi-tool with hex wrenches and screwdrivers
Duct tape (fixes everything and can patch a cut tire from inside)
Extra handlebar end
Extra shoe cleat
Few lengths of toilet paper in a baggie
An individual wet wipe
A lens-cleaning wipe
On back of seat pack, red blinking light


In "bento box" on top tube:

Little container of Bag Balm (I'll need to re-coat a couple times)
Little tube of sunscreen (might also be available at aid stations)
Chapstick
Salt tablets (they'll also have these on course)
Pain reliever (I use Excedrin, has a little hit of caffeine)
Stomach acid reliever (Pepcid)
Diarrhea pills (Imodium)
Benadryl (for bee sting)
Epi-Pen (sometimes react badly to bee sting)
Extra contact lens
Little bottle of lens re-wetting solution (also to put on new lens)
Reading glasses
Still room in there for a Hammer Gel or two


On handlebars/aerobars:

Little card telling me what time I have to leave each aid station to stay on schedule
Water bottle
Headlight that strobes


In jersey pockets:

Couple lengths of toilet paper in a baggie
Lens cleaning wipe
Individual wet wipe
Pocket knife (blade, file with screwdriver end, scissors, tweezers, toothpick... I never leave home without this knife!)
Cell phone in baggie
Little card telling what time to leave aid stations if my pace is slower than I planned (flat tire etc.)
Arm warmers (probably won't need but 20% chance of showers)



On bike frame:
2 water bottles



On me:

Jersey with above stuff in pockets
Sport bra
Bike shorts
Bag Balm (best stuff I've tried for saddle-area lube)
ID tag on neck chain
Sunglasses
Helmet
Bike gloves
Socks
Bike shoes

I'm not carrying food, except for an emergency packet of Hammer Gel. There's food on the course every 20 miles or so. No point loading myself down with food when we'll be well provided for.

So there it is. I think I have everything.

trijoe

I'm very very excited for you!

It's going to be a great day.

By tomorrow night, though sore, you'll be wondering why you ever doubted yourself so much. I believe this. I truly do.

TriJoe.