October 23, 24, 25, 2009
John Foltz
I've lost count of how many Hilly Hundreds I've done so far. Maybe ten? This year's weekend was very late in October; the latest I can remember it; which could have meant cold, nasty weather. As it turned out, the biggest problem wasn't cold, but rain. We got a ton.
This year I rode my 'new' bike: an M5 Carbon Highracer. I'd put maybe 1500 miles on it since getting it, and had decided it was the best hill climber of all my recumbents; so what better bike to take to Hilly Hundred? The bike I took last year, my NoCom, was plenty fast on the flats, but not very maneuverable at the speeds at which I do 20% grades. Chris who does a lot of these rides with me, had no problem with his NoCom last year; so he brought it again this year, along with his trike for riding around camp.
Friday 10/23/2009
Driving down from Michigan to Elletsville, we went through continual storms. Every time we thought we were in the clear, another cloud bank would appear to our south, promising a fresh deluge. I was starting to worry, because I didn't want to set up camp in the rain. However, by the time we arrived, it had actually stopped raining. This didn't mean good conditions, though. All the fields were soaked, with standing water virtually everywhere. I pitched my tent on a slope, but there was still an inch of standing water, which the grass was preventing from running off.
Registration was uneventful. I partook of the cider, cookies, and munchies, then hung out around the headquarters (Elletsville HS.)
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Drawing charicatures in the refreshement area behind the registration pit. |
My M5, parked outside registration |
Saturday 10/24/2009
49.4 miles, 4372 vertical feet
Saturday dawned threateningly. It just looked like rain, and it was cool enough that my windbreaker by itself wasn't going to be enough. Sure enough, after eating breakfast, it started sprinkling. Cold rain and I don't get along; so I did what any reasonable cyclist would do - I climbed back into my sleeping bag and went back to sleep! Chris, on the other hand, decided he didn't want to get his good bike dirty, so he'd ride his trike. After all, it wasn't raining that hard!
Shortly before 10:00, I woke back up and decided it looked much nicer out. The sky was a lighter gray, it was warmer, and the roads were mostly dry. Looking around, I saw that I was far from being alone; there were probably as many cyclists still in camp as there were out on the road. So I got my stuff together and took off at about 10:20. I left the campus along with a small group of strong riders. They were faster on the steep climbs, but I always caught up afterward - until we got to a large back-up caused by a truck tipping over into a ditch. Bikes were stopped as the wrecker crew tried to get the truck back on the road, but the group I'd been following filtered to the front then squeezed around the excitement. I never saw them again.
The first rest stop was just over the next hill from the accident. I waded to the pavilion to get a double chocolate muffin and some cider. The Hilly people had spread straw, but the field was still a muddy, gloppy mess that squished with every step! As usual, the rest stop featured a live band for entertainment. I didn't stick around too long for fear of getting soaked feet. Then it was back on the road.
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Muffins, bagels, and Crispy Cremes |
The Naptown Strutters playing at first rest stop |
The M5 climbed well, but a few uprights managed to squirt past me on every major climb. Their riders might not be impressed with my climbing, but I was passing people, too, even where my disadvantage was greatest; so I really didn't do too badly. And truth to tell, probably no worse than if I'd been on an upright. I've just never been much of a hill-climbing monster. The M5 sure let me cruise in style everywhere else, though!
By the lunch stop I was more than ready for some fried chicken! Along with chicken, the fare was cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots with ranch sauce, potato chips, pretzels, pasta salad, some kind of bean salad, and cookies, washed down with cider. Based on past experience, I went easy on the pasta salad, which was extremely oily. The chicken, they say, is the one item they get the most compliments on - and also the most complaints. Count me among those who like it. I'm not too sure about the cider though - I think they cut it with Kool Aid(tm). Or maybe it was Kool Aid. Again, the field was a gloppy mess, which made it a challenge to find a good spot to sit and eat. A truck had evidently gone off the driveway and left foot-deep ruts in the mud, indicating just how bad things really were. A band was playing in the distance, but I wasn't ready to walk through the slop to take their picture. I got rid of my full-finger gloves at lunch, but kept the windbreaker on.
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One more hill |
The lunch tent on the left, with Craig and the Crawdads playing to the right |
By the third rest stop, it was starting to get downright pleasant out. The day had warmed considerably and the sun was trying to come out., so I got stashed the windbreaker, too. Things were still pretty wet, though. This stop was just cookies and the questionable cider; which was OK because I was still full of lunch. I didn't spend too long before taking off again. The last 12 miles had a few climbs, culminating in Water Tower Hill. Water Tower Hill is 1.6 miles with a max grade of 14%. After the last big climb there is a couple of roller coaster hills, followed by a long grade back up to the school campus. Anyone who managed to pass me on Watertower got re-passed along the last stretch; the M5 took the grade effortlessly at a 22-23 mph pace.
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Bike parking at the third rest stop |
Bikes on the right, kybos to the left behind the trees | |
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Island Breeze plays a Carribean beat at the third rest stop |
What? another hill??? | |
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Chris' lowracer gets several admirers while Chris, in the black hood, talks with a few other riders |
The sales tent, a fixture at Hilly |
Back at camp, I got a snack then rode over to the vendor tent. It's a big circus tent containing dozens of vendor booths. Sure enough, Chris was right where I expected him to be: lazing in the sun, listening to the Sidewalk Stompers clown band, and visiting with anyone who wanted to stop and talk about the day's ride. I grabbed a frozen yogurt bar and joined in. Then I wandered the tent and found a pair of shoes for a great price. Then I had another frozen yogurt bar... you get the idea. What a great way to wind down after a ride!
Dinner was in Bloomington. Over the years, we've found a couple of small places that we like. They sure beat the spaghetti at the high school! We didn't get back in time for the evening show. I'd recommend the show to any new riders; but it doesn't change much from year to year, so I've pretty much seen it all. There's a slide show, with pictures taken on the day's ride, a mime routine, and a group-involvement story/play.
Sunday 10/25/2009
50.4 miles, 4156 vertical feet
Things looked a lot better this morning. It was cool, but dry. And, there was less mud in camp! Breakfast was the same as yesterday: cafeteria pancakes and truly horrible little american cheese omelets, sausage, fruit, and dry cereal. For six bucks, it's not very appetizing; but it's all there is unless I bring stuff from home.
By the time we had eaten, it was light out and we could take off. Chris rode his NoCom today. The coast down to the main drag in town was easy, riding the brakes at 20+ mph. The trip out the other side was when the pace started picking up. A few years ago, Chris dropped me in this area, and went on to shoot videos of eating up the pavement. This year it was my turn. He hung with me for a while, but 25 mph on the flats was just not enough to keep up, and he dropped a minute or two behind me by the first rest stop. More muffins and cider. Today, I converted my windbreaker to a vest at the first stop.
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Rest stop 1 on Sunday, looking back up toward the road |
There goes Chris on Beanblossom Hill. This is at the top of the first rise. | |
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I sure hope I don't have to pass any bikes while I'm chasing Chris! NOT!!! An excuse to hammer? ... woo-hoo! |
Recumbent speed zone! I take the lead... |
We regrouped and started out together again. But that didn't last, either. This time, we got separated on Bean Blossom Hill. I waited for Chris and took his pic as he rolled past, then had to ride like crazy to catch him again! The stretch along Main Forest Road is always awesome, and this year was no exception. It's just enough downhill to allow some impressive sustained speeds without acutally appearing to be downhill. After a sustained stretch of 30 mph, I finally caught up with him, and we rolled into lunch together.
We had the same menu for lunch today as we had yesterday. In spite of the complaints about it, it's been more popular than the sandwiches they used to serve. So until they discover something better, that's what we get! The fields were still wet, but not as bad as yesterday. Entertainment was provided by the Not That Bad Bluegrass Band.
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View across the field at lunch. It's past peak color, but still plenty to be seen. |
Riders coming up Tabor Hill. This is just about where it goes to 20+% grade. |
After lunch, the gloves came off but the vest stayed put. We left together, but as before, we got separated on the hills - this time, Mt Tabor. Chris had worn himself out riding the trike yesterday, and didn't have the legs for it. At least we rolled into the last rest stop, in Stinesville, together, too.
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Blackberry Jam plays for us at the rest stop in Stinesville. |
Aw, man! I shouldn't have let the legs cool down! |
The route out of Stinesville was straight up. Or so it seemed. I immediately rode off the front. I kept meaning to stop and regroup, but somehow it never happened. There was always one more bike in front of me, and so I never could ease off from the fun! Chris was able to keep me in sight, until the reprise of Water Tower Hill. A couple of strong-looking riders passed me; but not to worry - I got one back on the next hill and the other one on the final grade up to the school campus. When I got back to the campus, I rode all the way to my tent, then decided to ride back to the start/finish line to wait for Chris. He arrived moments after I found a comfortable place to sit.
Since the number of cycling opportunities for us decline drastically after October, I'd call this a great ending to another year's riding!
