Forth & Back 200... Anyone?

[mn_ultra_guy]

I noticed this one on ride424.com. Any takers? Ken, Issac?

http://www.forthandback200.blogspot.com/

[hockeynut]

I'm not sure about it, though it would be fun to try. I'm signed up to do the TCM this year, and I think that it happens in roughly the same time period.

From doing the Almanzo I will say that anyone who completes the gravel leg (or both legs) is a beast. That 100 miles was much harder I thought than the 140 that I did in Trans-Iowa. The combination of loose gravel, heat, and constant somewhat strong headwind made that one bear of a day. With a tailwind and even slightly firm gravel the course wouldn't be too bad. Maybe one or two climbs to contend with, and neither is that bad.

[mn_ultra_guy]

So any training tips and could you do on a randonneuring bike with say 700x35s?

[Lord Jaqueb]

Id say that if the gravel is anything like it was for the Almanzo 100, you should run some fat tires.

As far as traing goes, get on you bike and ride.... a lot!

If I'm around the area I might be up for this race.

[stoneage]

I'm thinking maybe. I'm thinking fixies. I'm thinking 14½ hours. I've got the gravel and XXXX* has the asphalt.

XXXX* to be determined.

[hockeynut]

So any training tips and could you do on a randonneuring bike with say 700x35s?

Like Jake said... ride a lot of long, slow gravel rides. Paved roads are NOTHING like gravel ones (unless you get incredibly lucky). I would even say that if you get unlucky with the surface, gravel roads can be much harder on your legs than singletrack (but easier on the body).

Hurl and the one geared finisher of the Almanzo 100 were both running 28s I think. Another fixie rider was also running some 28s or smaller and dropped out in Waseca. I personally don't know how they did it (even those that didn't finish). That gravel cried out for "fat" tires (29er with 1.8s or fast rolling 2.0s would have been the weapon of choice), though they even kinda sucked at times.

If I had the weekend open, I would probably up for leading a 40-50 mile gravel road ride some weekend day around Red Wing. Lots of climbing, maybe loose roads (haven't been on them in a while), sounds like fun to me... ugh. If you've got experience riding gravel a lot, you probably know enough. Just need to get the miles under you.

[hockeynut]

Checked out the website yesterday night and it looks like the race is cancelled for '07.

Sounds like the Almanzo is on for next May 17th or something, so you can set your sights on that one (or other similar races that may come up.....).

I'm actually craving a nice 5-6 hour long gravel road ride. Maybe next weekend if my mountain bikes aren't fixed yet.