The Ontario Ride to Conquer Cancer

Angel One · Member

Looking for a small team to ride the 200M together.

tmartins · Member

Johnny,

I'd love to join you because this is my first ride but I am doing the 200 k ride.

oldbutcool · Member

Angel One, I did the 200M last year with a 45 lb bike, and i believe i made it to the finish as the second last on both days. I have acquired a new bike that is half the weight and i intend to be able to do the 200M at a faster pace. In the past month, i averaged about 22.5kph with wind going in one directoin, and i hope that i can build up the pace up to 24ish in the next 6 weeks. I believe i can run at 25kph consistently if there is no wind. If you dont mind a slower rider to go along with you, i would be more than happy to team up with you. The only reason why i could finish the full double century was because there were a few guys who were kind enough to wait for me from the 120k on till we hit the finish line on the first day. Therefore, i have learned that it is important that one rides with a small group. You can contact me at aintnomachoman@hotmail.com. I am from Toronto.

MysteryBee · Senior Member

Our team has 3 people in the 200k and 5 people doing the 200m. We're not going to be setting any speed records but we should have a decent size pack for anyone who wants to latch on. Of course, the hard part on day 1 is FINDING people since everyone's wearing the same jersey. On day 2 we'll be easy to spot.

Angel One · Member

Hey Mystery Bee, I'd like to know where you guys typically train so that I might join in and see if I can handle your pace. I know that on the day of the ride, it shouldn't be too hard to find other lone riders to hook up with, but a little practice can't hurt. Good Luck either way.

MysteryBee · Senior Member

Hey Angel, because the weather has been unpredictable we haven't worked out a team routine yet, but I like to start my training rides at Victoria Square at Elgin Mills and 404. There are a LOT of riders in the area on the weekends and the terrain is very similar to what you'll face on day 1 of the ride. I went for a 55k ride Friday and a 46k ride today. I'll be out there again next weekend, weather permitting.

Right now my pace is in around 23-25 kph but that will pick up before the event. I'll probably be riding around 27-29 kph in the actual ride.... depending on how fast my team wants to go.

Angel One · Member

No kidding. I live at Woodbine and Major Mack, and I've done 2 rides this weekend. 70km on Friday and another 62 km this morning. I averaged 26.5 km/h on both rides, and considering the weather, I'd say I'm in decent shape. Let me know when you might be up in the area, and I'll try to hook up. My email is johnnyangelone@yahoo.com where you can reach me directly. Hope to see you out here soon, assuming we haven't crossed paths already.

MysteryBee · Senior Member

27 kph over 70 k? Yeah, I think you lapped me a few times. :)

If you're still just getting warmed up then I suspect you're out of my league, but if you want to watch a 40 yr old guy hyperventilate we can set something up.

Cheers!

Angel One · Member

42 in July. Let's get together soemtime in the next couple of weekends. Riding alone is getting to be a drag.

twobrokenarms · Senior Member

I'm a newbie doing the 200km ride. I'm pretty slow. If you don't mind going with a youngun (trailing a 3 year old), I'm up to go for a ride with you.

Email be at j31_murp@hotmail.com

adiamond · Senior Member

Mysterybee, can you give directions for one of your favourite rides from Victoria. Thanks

MysteryBee · Senior Member

Hi adiamond.... actually, my favorite ride is one that most people find pretty boring, but I really enjoy it. I simply go east on Elgin Mills to Warden and then a straight shot up to the end of Warden at Base Line Road. Make a quick left and a quick right and then follow Civic Centre Road down to the shoreline. Turn right and a few km along the shore you'll come to a little convenience store where you can restock water and there's a port-a-potty set up in the summer. Then turn around and head straight back. It's almost exactly 100km even.

Warden is a nice ride with rolling hills and several golf courses to see as you pass... and, of course, it's wonderful to feel the breeze off Simcoe halfway through. I know people prefer circular routes over straight out-and-backs, but I used that Warden run as my main training route last year and I never grew tired of it.

I posted it on MapMyRide:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32569282

Angel One · Member

I know the warden route, I've come back from simcoe that way. I rode straight up woodbine a couple of times, then back down warden and once down mccowan. Do you think you can get out for a ride this saturday? I've got a busy day planned, but I'd like to get out for a few hours from about 7am. Starting point, the baseball diamond parking lot in Victoria Square. We'll keep the forecast updated on this post. Looks good so far.

tom · Newbie

Hi Johnny

I did the 200 mile distance last year and it hurt! especially on the second day in the rain and cold, so this year I signed up for the 200km distance and i have been regretting it ever since. Training has been non-existent to date so i really do need to get myself in shape but i'm thinking of asking my ride guide if they will let me switch...if they let me I would be honored to ride next to a survivor such as yourself.

Angel One · Member

Hey Tom, I'm pretty sure swtching up won't be a problem. They don't let you switch down to the 200k, I know this from experience in 2010. I know what you mean about last years 200M. I'm surprised I finished it at all. Looking forward to meeting you and the others who've been replying in this discussion. Hope you can make it up to Markham for a nice ride.

slalom_ · Veteran Member

Though you aren't able to "officially" switch....I was on the 200m course both days, and saw several "k" riders who took on the challenge. I also know that many "m" riders dropped down to "k".

The bottom line is that although I don't think you can officially switch, there is nothing to prevent you from choosing the challenge appropriate to conditions and how you feel on ride day.

adiamond · Senior Member

Also as I have mentioned elsewhere this year there will be a "short cut" on day two of the 100 mile course so you don't have to make the choice right out of the start. You can start the 100 mile on day two and then if you are not feeling up to it cut over. Although, last year for about the last 70 k of the 100 mile on day two I had pain in my knee and think I might have been tempted by a short cut and then would have regretted it.

It will be interesting to see (a) how many 100 milers take the short cut and (b) whether this will encourage people who are feeling good after a 100 k on Saturday to try the 100 miles on Sunday realizing that Sunday is a flat ride and the ycan bail if need be.

MysteryBee · Senior Member

If you take the short cut on day 2 of the 200m then you miss the nicest part of the ride: the section along Lake Erie.

adiamond · Senior Member

I checked with the ride people who say the short cut will bring one to the lunch stop of the 100 k course and the ride will be just over 100 k so there should be no reason for anyone to not start the 100 m ride as you will have about 40 plus k to decide whether to turn.

Now for the Thatcher quote:

Also the ride told me that the 100 mile course is "a little more popular this year than last though they do not have exact figures" so figure 1000 as we has 800 start last year.

I thought the most interesting part of day two on the 100 mile course last year was riding through that triathalon (faster than some of those riders).

-- Edited by adiamond on Tuesday 26th of April 2011 05:03:25 PM

MysteryBee · Senior Member

Those tri guys were wimps. I was keeping up with them despite being weighed down by the chocolate bars and twinkies in my jersey pockets. They probably didn't even have any beer at their finish line.

Once again, I'll offer the same encouragement: DO NOT take the short cut! If it's a nice day and you're on the m route on day 2, then stay on it and enjoy the beautiful ride along Lake Erie for the last hour or two.

slalom_ · Veteran Member

....find a tri-rider to draft behind

adiamond · Senior Member

Mysterybee I expect to see you standing at the turnoff to the short cut chearing people on to not turn.