RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) Bike Ride Event 160 miles (Pics Included)
On Saturday July 17th Bill McArthur (Chewbaca picture here on O.H.) and I rode in the Ride Across Indiana (RAIN ride). It's a one day, one way, 160 mile bike ride across Indiana. It starts on the Indiana/Illinois state line and goes west on US-40 (The National Trail) with the stopping point at Earlham College in Richmond Indiana with a southernly detour of Indianapolis from Plainfield,on the west side of Indy to Greenfield on the east side of Indy. There were over 1,500 riders who paid entry fees. Bill made the drive up from Atlanta, Georgia to do the ride and take care of some business. It was great to meet him and hang out with him.
We got to the state line at about 5:45am and there were already some riders waiting for the start. It was already very humid. So humid in fact that our bikes were wet from the 5 to 7 mile drive from the hotel to the starting line. Everything was wet but it had not rained.
Everyone started at the same time, no waves or groups. We had a police escort through Terre Haute. On the eastern edge of Terre Haute there was a rider down at an intersection. She didn't look good. Come to find out she had been hit by a car. I don't know how she's doing now. It's unnerving to see something like that so early in an event of this size and length.
The first leg of the ride was what I think to be the hilliest. It's basically just some rollers. Nothing to steep or long. I don't remember getting out of my big ring to climb any of them. The first rest stop was at the 41 mile mark. Bill and I rode together for most of the first leg. I got caught behind some slower riders and Bill pulled away from me. I caught back up with him at rest stop 1.
The second leg was about the same as the first as far as hills goes. It was only 24 miles away from the first rest stop and 65 miles from the start. Bill had made it to the stop before our S.A.G. crew got there. They had stopped at the store to get some more G2 and Powerade Zero. Every rest stop was well supplied with food and drink. This was a very well run event. Kudos's to the Bloomington Bicycle Club for putting on such a great event. I had to take my shoes off at this point. My right foot was KILLING me. I removed the inserts that I had put in them and gave some time for my foot to feel better. I cooled myself down with some ice and cold water poured over me.
The third leg was where the detour south of Indianapolis started. I did not like the 3rd and 4th legs of this ride at all. The roads were all two lane and not smooth. There were many street or road crossings where you had to unclip. The length of the third leg was 27 miles. The lunch stop was at this point and 92 miles into the ride.
The fourth leg was much of the same. More traffic and rough roads. We just kind of stair stepped our way northeast back up to US40 and Greenfield. The wind had started to kick up on the 3rd and 4th legs. I was so happy to be back on the 4 lane highway of US 40. It was all US 40 from here. The distance from the lunch stop to rest stop #3 was 40 miles. Most riders made a stop at a Casey's General Store/Gas Station during this leg. I stopped to stretch out, get some shade, and use the restroom. I met a couple of guys that I know from my bicycle club so I rode with them to the next stop. One of the guys was having a bit of a hard time so we slowed our pace and gave him support and encouragement.
Rest stop #3 came 132 miles into the ride. I was not in good shape at this point. The heat and humidity had taken it's toll on me. Three different times on this leg I was chilling while I was on the bike. I was afraid that heat exhaustion/heat stroke was looming on my horizon. I was so happy to see my wife. When I got to the truck I took my shoes and jersey off. Doused myself with water and took in as much G2 as I could hold. I spent about thirty minutes at this rest stop. As I was getting my gear back on my two buddies from the club passed by so I hurried and caught back up with them.
Leg #5 was 28 miles to the finish line. I felt strong and was strong for this leg. The rest gave me my energy back and let me cool my core down. I was riding at a pace of 20mph to catch back up with the club guys that I know. I slowed my pace and rode with them for a long way again. About 10 miles from the finish is a long, fairly steep hill. I had heard about this hill many times during this ride. I don't know what happened to me at this point but I was unphased by this hill. I pulled away from my two club members. I started passing other riders. I started upshifting with a lot of hill yet to climb! At the top of that hill it was hammer time. I was averaging 28mph to the edge of Richmond. Stop lights brought me back to reality. I had to stop many times for the lights and about the last half mile was on some road that was under repair. In fact, we were riding on a road that cars were not allowed to ride on yet.
I made the right turn into the college, received some cheers by the crowd, and gave them the stub from my bib. It was so good to see my wife, our friend Linda who sagged with my wife, and Bill. I introduced my wife to some of the bike club members who were there volunteering. I felt badly for making Bill wait on me for so long. He'd finished a lot faster than I did.
It took me 9.75 hours to ride 160 miles. That does not count my breaks. That's only the actual time in the saddle. My average pace was 16.4mph. I did take a long time at the rest stops but I needed to do that. It was a long ride on a very hot, humid day. They emphasized that it was a ride and not a race and that's how I looked at it. I didn't want my ride stopped short from heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
For nutrition and hydration I used G2, GU, Roctane, Sport Beans, Cliff Bars, Sport Legs, and Endurolytes from Hammer. I ate a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at rest stop #2 and 3/4 of a ham and turkey sandwich at the lunch stop. Somewhere along the line I ate one or two bananas.
I kept the G2 in my Camel Bak and in my water bottles. I learned to keep at least one water bottle with jus****er so that I could pour it over me while I was on the bike. Tha****er on my head, neck, and upper torso really helped me.
People have asked me if I'm sore and I've answered no. My glutes were a little sore last night. On a scale of 1 to 10 they were maybe a 3. My calves were sore and ached on Saturday night but not so badly that I couldn't walk. I wanted to go for a run yesterday but I promised my wife that I would take it easy. It stormed off and on yesterday and was hot and humid again anyway.
Now to start getting ready for my next event...the Chicago Rock N Roll Half Marathon on August 1st. My wife Alisica will be doing this with me. It will be a good time.
I need to thank my wife (Alisica) and our friend Linda Davis for being our S.A.G. Crew. They helped out so much!!!! I can't thank them enough. Their hard work made my day so much easier.
Duane
Bill and I at the starting line. Bill is in white.
Me in action.
Bill McArthur in action.
Alisica and me at the start.
Me and Alisica at the finish.
Bill McArthur and me at the finish.
We got to the state line at about 5:45am and there were already some riders waiting for the start. It was already very humid. So humid in fact that our bikes were wet from the 5 to 7 mile drive from the hotel to the starting line. Everything was wet but it had not rained.
Everyone started at the same time, no waves or groups. We had a police escort through Terre Haute. On the eastern edge of Terre Haute there was a rider down at an intersection. She didn't look good. Come to find out she had been hit by a car. I don't know how she's doing now. It's unnerving to see something like that so early in an event of this size and length.
The first leg of the ride was what I think to be the hilliest. It's basically just some rollers. Nothing to steep or long. I don't remember getting out of my big ring to climb any of them. The first rest stop was at the 41 mile mark. Bill and I rode together for most of the first leg. I got caught behind some slower riders and Bill pulled away from me. I caught back up with him at rest stop 1.
The second leg was about the same as the first as far as hills goes. It was only 24 miles away from the first rest stop and 65 miles from the start. Bill had made it to the stop before our S.A.G. crew got there. They had stopped at the store to get some more G2 and Powerade Zero. Every rest stop was well supplied with food and drink. This was a very well run event. Kudos's to the Bloomington Bicycle Club for putting on such a great event. I had to take my shoes off at this point. My right foot was KILLING me. I removed the inserts that I had put in them and gave some time for my foot to feel better. I cooled myself down with some ice and cold water poured over me.
The third leg was where the detour south of Indianapolis started. I did not like the 3rd and 4th legs of this ride at all. The roads were all two lane and not smooth. There were many street or road crossings where you had to unclip. The length of the third leg was 27 miles. The lunch stop was at this point and 92 miles into the ride.
The fourth leg was much of the same. More traffic and rough roads. We just kind of stair stepped our way northeast back up to US40 and Greenfield. The wind had started to kick up on the 3rd and 4th legs. I was so happy to be back on the 4 lane highway of US 40. It was all US 40 from here. The distance from the lunch stop to rest stop #3 was 40 miles. Most riders made a stop at a Casey's General Store/Gas Station during this leg. I stopped to stretch out, get some shade, and use the restroom. I met a couple of guys that I know from my bicycle club so I rode with them to the next stop. One of the guys was having a bit of a hard time so we slowed our pace and gave him support and encouragement.
Rest stop #3 came 132 miles into the ride. I was not in good shape at this point. The heat and humidity had taken it's toll on me. Three different times on this leg I was chilling while I was on the bike. I was afraid that heat exhaustion/heat stroke was looming on my horizon. I was so happy to see my wife. When I got to the truck I took my shoes and jersey off. Doused myself with water and took in as much G2 as I could hold. I spent about thirty minutes at this rest stop. As I was getting my gear back on my two buddies from the club passed by so I hurried and caught back up with them.
Leg #5 was 28 miles to the finish line. I felt strong and was strong for this leg. The rest gave me my energy back and let me cool my core down. I was riding at a pace of 20mph to catch back up with the club guys that I know. I slowed my pace and rode with them for a long way again. About 10 miles from the finish is a long, fairly steep hill. I had heard about this hill many times during this ride. I don't know what happened to me at this point but I was unphased by this hill. I pulled away from my two club members. I started passing other riders. I started upshifting with a lot of hill yet to climb! At the top of that hill it was hammer time. I was averaging 28mph to the edge of Richmond. Stop lights brought me back to reality. I had to stop many times for the lights and about the last half mile was on some road that was under repair. In fact, we were riding on a road that cars were not allowed to ride on yet.
I made the right turn into the college, received some cheers by the crowd, and gave them the stub from my bib. It was so good to see my wife, our friend Linda who sagged with my wife, and Bill. I introduced my wife to some of the bike club members who were there volunteering. I felt badly for making Bill wait on me for so long. He'd finished a lot faster than I did.
It took me 9.75 hours to ride 160 miles. That does not count my breaks. That's only the actual time in the saddle. My average pace was 16.4mph. I did take a long time at the rest stops but I needed to do that. It was a long ride on a very hot, humid day. They emphasized that it was a ride and not a race and that's how I looked at it. I didn't want my ride stopped short from heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
For nutrition and hydration I used G2, GU, Roctane, Sport Beans, Cliff Bars, Sport Legs, and Endurolytes from Hammer. I ate a half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at rest stop #2 and 3/4 of a ham and turkey sandwich at the lunch stop. Somewhere along the line I ate one or two bananas.
I kept the G2 in my Camel Bak and in my water bottles. I learned to keep at least one water bottle with jus****er so that I could pour it over me while I was on the bike. Tha****er on my head, neck, and upper torso really helped me.
People have asked me if I'm sore and I've answered no. My glutes were a little sore last night. On a scale of 1 to 10 they were maybe a 3. My calves were sore and ached on Saturday night but not so badly that I couldn't walk. I wanted to go for a run yesterday but I promised my wife that I would take it easy. It stormed off and on yesterday and was hot and humid again anyway.
Now to start getting ready for my next event...the Chicago Rock N Roll Half Marathon on August 1st. My wife Alisica will be doing this with me. It will be a good time.
I need to thank my wife (Alisica) and our friend Linda Davis for being our S.A.G. Crew. They helped out so much!!!! I can't thank them enough. Their hard work made my day so much easier.
Duane
Bill and I at the starting line. Bill is in white.
Me in action.
Bill McArthur in action.
Alisica and me at the start.
Me and Alisica at the finish.
Bill McArthur and me at the finish.
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
I run for those who can't or won't. I run because I once was one of those people.
Thanks Rob. What a lot of the riders did was to have their SAG vehicle meet them somewhere between rest stops. That would have been a good plan for us too but seeing that this was our first time doing this we didn't know better. Riders without a SAG crew would still have had a tough time though. I wonder how many didn't finish due to dehydration?
Duane
Duane
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
I run for those who can't or won't. I run because I once was one of those people.
No, not really. The pacelines never lasted long and there were a lot of riders doing this ride (1,500) so it was pretty congested. I'd say that I drafted maybe 15% of the time.
Duane
Duane
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
I run for those who can't or won't. I run because I once was one of those people.
Dang, you guys were in my back yard! Should have figured out some way to know when you'd be there so I could have met you! Glad you had a good ride, congratulations!
Jenny
Jenny
Great job to both of you!
Amazing effort in the damn humidity!
Amazing effort in the damn humidity!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE I run because I can.
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
First 5K race October 4, 2009 (34.59) PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010 (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21) PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20
Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
Great race recap and nice ride to both of you.
How cool you guys getting together and doing such a awesome adventure. Now thats change of lifestyle. Great time and thx for including pics. You have really come along way. You and wife sure look happy! Glad you caught McArthur in action too. He looked like he was having the time of his life.
How cool you guys getting together and doing such a awesome adventure. Now thats change of lifestyle. Great time and thx for including pics. You have really come along way. You and wife sure look happy! Glad you caught McArthur in action too. He looked like he was having the time of his life.
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