Subject: Ride Report: PPTC 200 km brevet
Date:     Sat, 18 Apr 1998 22:22:28 -0400
From:    Alan Felsen <felsen@erols.com>
To:         WHIRL <whirl@cycling.org>
 

        On 4/18 I completed the Potomac Peddlers 200 km brevet.  For those not familiar with randonneuring, the brevets are a series of qualifying rides for the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km ride and the Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200 km ride.  The series consists of 200 km, 300 km, 400 km, and 600 km rides.
        I was surprised at the ride start to see that I was the only recumbent in the group of 50 or 60 riders.  I was even more surprised when more than one other rider commented "Wow, you're doing this on a recumbent?" There are obviously some misconceptions still out there about recumbents.  I explained that, other than the fact that my particular bike was a few pounds heavier than the racing bikes most other riders were on, it was more comfortable and more aerodynamic and superior everywhere but in climbing (due to the weight).  In fact I found that I had a distinct advantage in the flats and on descents over riders who averaged the same overall pace I did.
        As for the vital statistics of the ride, it was a 125 mile loop from Warrenton, VA with almost 7000 feet of climbing.  Due to two mistakes, I rode a few extra miles.  It was the longest ride I've ever done and was a very challenging course.  The cue sheet was the best I've ever seen as far as accuracy.  Every cue for 125 miles was at exactly the stated mileage.  I was never even 1/10th of a mile off.

        Four weeks to go until the 300 km ride.

Distance: 134.9 miles
Avg. Speed: 13.5 mph (rolling avg.)
Max Speed: 40.2 mph
Time on bike: 9 hours 58 minutes
Total time: 12 hours 30 minutes
Fuel:  3 Clif Shots, 1 Clif Bar, one 72 oz. camelback of water, 2 sports drinks, country fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, baked apples, one glass of Pepsi, two glasses of water, one bag of potato chips.

Alan