Trans Iowa part 3, April 27-28th 2013

     Riding through the night became tougher and tougher. We wondered why we had arrived at checkpoint two and then rode 10 miles to caseys and then were back on the bike at 10:40pm. Where had all that time gone. I think we were tired and just did not want to leave the comfort of the gas station. Leaving town and getting back into the dark, lonely roads was a bit difficult. I had some music pumping and i focused on Special K's neverending flashing light. One O'clock arrived, then 2, then 3 and we continued to ride. We stopped more often and found it difficult to get motivated. I had a real hard time staying awake. I was swerving and going delirious. I saw weird things as I rode. I looked up at the stars and they were all moving in all directions. 
     Special K was getting tired too but he kept it together. My left IT band was so freakin' tight I thought it would snap. I coughed up gummy chunks of phlegm out of my lungs. MY rear end had gone completely raw. I continued on since I knew nothing else was and alternative. 
     Around 5 am, while it was still very dark we rode through and area were there were about 5 or 6 houses. I believe we were around H ave. We made a right turn and I became very cold and shivered all over. I was wearing my leg warmers, wool baselayer, wool jersey, craft vest, gamex jacket, balaclava, long gloves, wool buff. I also had the DBD approved man diaper. I was frozen through and I knew at that point I was hypothermic, delirious and hallucinating. I was also getting a panic attack as I thought that continuing into what seemed wilderness would leave me out there and I would freeze. 
     I was not able to pull it together. My mind had left and I was out of control. Suddenly I told Special K I could not go on. He was in desbelief. I made a U-turn and headed for the houses. I had the idea of seeking help. I needed to warm up. I regretted not bringing my survival blanket and my lighter. I thought I could have started a fire, warmed up and waited until the sun came up. I stupidly knocked on an empty house. 
     Then I came to my senses and started to walk up and down the road to warm up. Special K called our support and Gumby and Bonk King showed up. They told me the sun was coming out and I should continue on. I said Fuck it and continued on. 5 miles down the road my legs seized up and I knew I was done. My whole body hurt. 
     Special K continued on since we still had time to finish. I waited for the ride back and was super-happy to see Bonk-King and Gumby. I was destroyed and had pushed myself more than ever before. I rode 260 miles with 60 to go. I returned to the hotel, passed out inmediately. Special K rode another 20 miles and then called in. In the meantime Cookie had finished on his singlespeed to maintain the Slender Fungus pride. Giggles had mastered checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 2 with about 175 miles completed. We all had a great ride. I was glad to ride with so many people. I was glad to share the road with the Llama. 
     One week later and the IT band is still irritated. I have been stretching and rolling it out. I have a lot to comment about this ride and I might have to put in another part. But this is how my ride ended. I needed more fitness. I needed more mental fortitude. I needed more water. More stretching and conditioning. 
best, 
Ari 

My riding partner for most of the day: Special K. 

We arrived at checkpoint 2 with 1 hours and 45 minutes to spare. 

the Caseys that secretly ate our time. 

Trans Iowa V9, April 27th-28th, 2013 Part 2

     We left checkpoint one at about 8:30 and we had until 9:45pm to cover another 120 miles. This was a long stretch and I think the most fun since we were in plain daylight and the sun was beaming. I put on some sunscreen and kept my light wool baselayer on. I felt like I could have taken more clothes off but I was afraid to get my chest cold on the downhills and trigger my asthma. We hammered a lot of the hills and we did some good rollin when we had a tailwind or encountered the "concrete" gravel. The tires would buzz at over 20mph on this surface and that worked wonders for our average speed. 

     We took a break at a gas station and Chad had found some frozen Burritos in a box in the cooler. we nuked them and they were heavenly. Giggles caught up with us and we saw Jeremy Kershaw riding solo, already heading out while we were going on our break. We talked to the other racers and encountered some friendly Iowa riders on their sunday cruize in the country. 

     We rode and rode and eventually Giggles fell behind. We pressed on to make the second checkpoint on time. We arrived again at 8 but this time pm to the check point with 1 hour 45 minutes to spare. I was really happy with our riding and felt great to have found somebody to pace with. Special K did a great job at navigation and he really kept us going strong. Whenever he would go in front and start gapping me I would whistle and he would ease up a bit.  I took some long pulls on any flat section and made sure he was behind. 

     We rode on and off with other riders and it sucked that we could not stay together. 10 miles out of checkpoint 2 we were to find a Casey's. We got distracted with our support picking up other riders and missed our turn. We burned time touring the town looking for the Caseys. It had gotten dark. So we had put our leg warmers, jackets, balaclavas, anything we had. 

     We finally found the Caseys and hammered some Pizza, choc milk, reeses, coke, chocolate, pringles. All the junk you can imagaine. We also ran into Paul Jacobsen. He greeted us and wished us well. We left the gas station and we were full to the gills with food. The gravel roads got dark and cold and we entered the dark part of the ride. It would take me a while to warm up and by now  some aches and pains were showing. 

     The afternoon heat cramps had gone away and now just turned to aches and pains. Special K was instrumental in keeping the moral up while I started to get tired and sleepy. We stopped and jammed a bunch of chocolate covered espresso beans. The moon and a billion stars were out in force. I saw an enourmous falling star and made a wish. WE rode some gnarly downhills in the dark. There was a lot, lot of fresh gravel. After a very long time came 1 am and we had another 5 hours until sunrise. The fog was coming out again and I felt the dampness on my hydration pack when we stopped. I felt my clothing damp and wet. I was happy to have my balaclava, my wool buff and my DBD approved man diaper. That thing was tucked under my baselayer and it was keeping my chest warm and toasty. 

more, 

Ari 

Trans Iowa V9, April 27-28th, 2013 Part 1

The days had counted down and all of a sudden there was no more time to get ready. The winter had baffled any poor cyclist trying to get ready for a monumental ride at the end of April, when most riders just start to dust off their bikes. The Slender Fungus had stayed in touch and we each gave words of encouragement. The longer rides that we had hoped for never really materialized. On my behalf I had done a 120 mile ride on my Prototype. Otherwise I did a lot of commuting and some longer rides here and there. 

     Moving back to IL from NY had us scrambling to get settled. I had started a second job at a French Bistro and that would bring me home late on Saturdays making the early morning Sundays even harder. We did the best we could and finally we gathered out in my old place in Sycamore to drive into Grinnell, Iowa. Giggles and Special K had driven all the way from Syracuse. Bonk King was there from Huntley and Cookie had driven from Woodstock. 

     My dear wife drove me to the meeting point and I loaded my bike and off we were on the 3+ hour drive. We finally had a chance to catch up with Cookie since we both are Bike Shop guys and work a ton. Cookie was ready and confident about his coming ride. I knew I was not physically ready but was willing to leave it all out there. Mentally I was stoked and I was hoping the legs would follow. 

     We arrived in Grinnell, unpacked and laid down to get some feeling in the legs again. It was good to watch the weather channel for a long time. Our tired brains started to recuperate. We also hosted fellow DBD'er Jeremy. Special K was excited and anxious. He was worried that his rice cooker had decided not to work. He had planned on taking rice balls for nutrition. I thought that was an awesome idea. 

     We ended up at the Grinnell Steakhouse and signed and greeted everyone. It was good to catch up with friends. I was amazed at the amount of Rookies. Half the room was buzzing with new faces. The dinosaurs were mixed in between and you could tell by the calmness who was who. We enjoyed the meeting, grabbed our bags and headed to WallyFart for our last minute things. Cookie bought a coffee cake and we loaded up on Some canned coffe. 

     We hit the sack by 10 pm and I really did not sleep well. I kept waking up thinking I was snoring and keeping everyone awake. I kept thinking how the werewolf had kept cookie awake and how we had found cookie sleeping in bathroom under the vanity counter. 2 am came quickly and we slipped into our clothes. It wasn't raining so we donned less clothes. 

     The start was a happy place since the weather was so nice. Everyone was joking and having a blast. The horned sounded at exactly 4 am and off we were. We rolled thru the streets of Grinnell and soon we were on Gravel.The lead group blasted off the front like they were on a sprint. I settled in and let me legs warm up. Cookie was gone. I met and chatted with lots of riders. I saw Giggles, I rode with Special K. We switched up, passed some riders,stretched the legs on the hills. 

     The riding was awesome, the bike felt right, I was dressed perfect. we rolled and rolled and knew we make the 1st checkpoint without a doubt. Special K picked up a nail and flatted. We quickly remedied that. Also his brake pad came loose and we tightened it . 

Checkpoint 1 in Ira came quickly and we arrived at 8 am with 1 hour and 45 minutes to spare. We lubed chains, ate, drank and were back on the bikes. I was feeling awesome. At this point I was settled in and knowing that I would spend the rest of the ride with Special K. 

     He understood the importance of pacing and keeping the average speed. We were averaging around 12.9 mph and this was perfect. Some people would pass us and then we would catch them. Then they would pass us again and then get tired. I wondered why they didn't chill and just ride "steady freddy" with us and make better more efficient progress. 

More, 

Ari 

Heading West to the Big Dance with big ol' grins on the face.

HEllow everyone!!
WE have finally arrived to this lonnnnng waited day.The Slender Fungus is meeting up at undisclosed location this morning and heading out to Grinnell, Iowa for the 9th edition of Trans Iowa. 
I wish all the riders, specially the rookies, a great ride. Be safe, take care, and stick together. It will be warm and sunny. Drink plenty of liquids and stay cool. I hope you all have fun and enjoy the greatest one day classic in North America. 
Ari 
Slender Fungus Cycling Association. 

Counting down the hours

The battlefields have been frozen, snowed on and morphed by the endless winds of the winter. It has been complete craziness in the midwest as far as weather goes. I have never seen it like this and it nearly took me out a couple of times. But,..........according to the Weather witch doctors the skies will open, the sun will come out and it will be warm and bright. Will we be able to cope with that?? What will we wear. Does anybody own any warm weather clothing anymore? Do you mean I cannot wear my Lake Boots that have  become part of my lower extremities? Will my body thaw like a bag of ground Chuck? 
I have completely changed my outlook and outfit for the coming weekend. I think you should bring some sunscreen to protect that skin that hasn't seen sun in 6 months. I think you should bring more water or at least more containers to get water.  
This is a radical, sudden change to riding conditions. The only person that I know that has any experience in the kind of  weather is Lance Andre, since he lives in Fl. 
Anyway, I hope you sit down and make yourself a listy of things you might need or not. 

My Homie ZG in front and Snake will cover for me while I am gone. 

Some of the things on my mind and list. I write it all down so I don't forget. Analogue

repair stuff. The lighter in case I have to build a fire and wait for help. I will start the fire with the lube.







So, if you have any ideas this is the time to talk about it. I will be leaving early morning and getting dropped off at Gumby's house, also known as the Slender Fungus Headquarters, then he and I will head out to the magestic state of Iowa. I might make one more post tomorrow before leaving, 


Ari 

Don't let the photo trick you.

As you will see the taller lad has grown up and changed his appearance a bit. Something to do with all the gravel dust that has been hitting his face has induced some kind of chemical reaction and all this weird facial hair has erupted. I told him to cut and shave it all off in order to be more AERO-dynamic and perhaps have a crack at a sub 24 hour T.I.
He insists that it gives him strength like a greek God. I won't argue with that since my ancestors are of that origin. These two guys in the photo will be my team mates. I wish them the best and if you see me in the ditch being attacked by a badger please put me out of my misery. Please don't harm the badger since it would not be his fault that I invaded his privacy.
I also think that we might see sun this Trans Iowa. Be prepared to bring your shades, sunscreen and if you are a male your speedo.
Things will be simpler this year and loads lighter. May the win carry you all to where you want to arrive. Read the cues carefully, watch for cars coming at you. BE POLITE and wave to the people you see. Talk to riders you don't know and encourage them. It will be grand.
There is one person that will be sorely missed and we will be thinking of you the whole way. Specially if we get lost.
best,
Ari

Less than a week to go and here we come ready or not!!!

TIV7

Got a good, good long ride in last Sunday and I feel that is all I have to offer. Feb, March and April were a bust here in the midwest. We had the most wacked out weather I have ever seen. So, no complaining here since we have no control over the situation. I rode as much as I could. I fought off little colds, sore throats and body aches related to the cold weather. My knee got aches that I never had before. 
I just plain think that I need to warm up a bit. I did find comfort in using the Tiger Balm. I loved wearing my Hincapie merino base layer. I loved wearing my Cashmere sweater and the Windstopper jacket I got from Billabong. 
I have 3 bikes ready to go. My prototype is looking ready, my BMC is also ready. My Chili con Cross is in  Singlespeed mode in case the weather goes to pot. 
I will be taking a lot less this year. Less lights, less gear, smaller and less bags. I will rely more on stores and suffer with less. I have been checking the weather and it has varied all over the place. Rain and 50's, Sunny and 60's. It changes and I keep preparing for it. 
I hope it stays nice for a change and that we finally get a break from this. 
best, 
Ari