Sunday again. Today was the day for my “mini DK 200.” It was two weeks until the actual DK 200 and I wanted to push as hard as I could proving to myself I could finish the DK 200 and upping my fitness level another notch or two if possible. How far is a “mini DK 200?” I didn’t know. Where would I ride? I took no directions with me, just looked at some maps on mapmyride.com made by Jim Cummings, one of the DK 200 promotors. They were both 200 miles in length. I didn’t plan to ride 200 miles but I wanted to get 125 to 150 miles under my belt and I wanted to find a new route. I looked them over and figured getting lost wouldn’t be bad since I wanted to ride all day.
I take it easy and make sure to eat and drink well the day before a big ride, but it wasn’t in the cards for me this time. Melissa had a softball tournament in Hillsboro, Kansas on Saturday. I didn’t realize it, but I would be sitting outside in the wind and heat for 11 hours. Top that off with not eating well, drinking enough water and getting home really late, and I was headed for disaster.
The alarm went off on Sunday morning at 5 a.m. After a full day of sitting in hot wind and sunshine, eating hamburgers and snack food, not drinking enough water and getting to bed around 11:30 p.m., I was way too tired to wake up, so I hit the snooze. I finally got up, ate breakfast, packed up and was pedaling by just after 8 a.m. To be honest, I was tired, but was motivated to get in a great ride.
I also did something that I have never done before on a ride. I brought a point and shoot camera with me instead of the DSLR. I didn’t know how long I would be riding before I would see another town with a store, so I brought 100 oz. of water with me in the backpack. I wasn’t about to add the weight of the Nikon D300 in the pack on top of that, so I took my wife’s Canon PS SX 100 IS. Nothing too fancy about this camera at all. I was determined to focus on cycling and leave the camera on full Auto mode too. Would I get anything good? Well, this post proves that it’s not the camera that takes a good picture, it’s the operator (yeah so I guess there’s a few good ones, hopefully you agree). Framing the image (composition) is what’s important (after proper exposure of course).
A major difference between my D300 and a point and shoot is the huge sensor and ability to shoot in RAW mode. Notice in the images that the highlights are blown out and lacking detail compared to when I shoot with the Nikon. Shooting JPEGs is nice because they are compressed and therefore smaller files, but to be compressed the computer in the camera throws out the details in the highlights and deep shadows. That means they are gone. No amount of post processing can get the lost details back. They are gone for good. The smaller sensor also captures less resolution and is a lot noisier than a nice big sensor. That said, I felt a freedom I have never felt with my big camera. A lot of these shots were taken while pedaling. Many of these shots wouldn’t have been captured with the big camera that I have to stop and get out of the backpack or trunkbag to use. In a matter of seconds I had my shot versus a matter of minutes to get the big camera out of the bag.
Nothing can change the fact that I hate framing an image on a little LCD screen – Yuck. In fact, I didn’t think I was getting anything good. I am used to framing the image in the viewfinder.
I must say, I will be looking into a smaller camera for the bike after this experience. Now, back to the regular broadcast.
I left town and headed North. For about 20 miles I had a nice tailwind blowing me down the hilly roads. It was morning, I had cool temperatures and I was feeling great. Nothing much better than being pushed along by a tailwind.
I pulled out the camera and took this first shot while pedaling. I was hoping it wouldn't rain on my mini DK plans.
Sun rays peeking through. All things were great here - A strong tailwind, beautiful scenery, a fast bike, fresh legs and a point and shoot camera. Notice the lost highlights in the upper left.
Heading north with a strong tailwind about to hit some downhills and get some serious speed going.
I passed by Kahola Lake, headed west and then south for miles of riding into a fierce Kansas headwind. I was ready for it this time. I needed some hard miles to prepare for the Dirty Kanza.
After 20 miles of a sweet tailwind, I turned into the wind and was tortured for the remainder of the day.
Miles of hills and headwind on Victory Road (Road V)
Time to stop, stretch and take a picture of the Trek X01, a nice bike but not as photogenic as the Fargo
So yeah, I know the sprung seat looks a bit out of place on the Trek but it will save my butt on the DK200!
A little more bike porn. I love that carbon fork!
Another thing I was wanting to do is test out my tire choice. I was using the near slick Kenda Kwest on the rear and a Bontrager XR1 on the front, both with slime tubes. I was decided on going with the good sized XR1′s on the Fargo for the DK 200. Now that I am riding the Trek X01, that big tire won’t fit on the back. I needed a smaller tire. I was going to go with a Schwalbe Marathon, but my friend Matt at High Gear thought they would be pretty heavy for a 200 mile race, although they are very puncture resistant. Getting in on the conversation that day was Dustin Burgardt, a three time Dirty Kanza veteran. He has used the Kendas every time without a flat and said they are fast rolling too. Gravel is not like single track. It’s not like I need a lot of traction as much as I need to go fast for 200 miles. I am putting the bigger XR1 on the front for cushion and help in cornering.
All in all, I rode over some harsh roads, some mud and climbed many hills. I had no problem with traction and had no flats. I feel pretty good about my choice so far.
I hit a bit of slop which threw mud all over me. I was looking like a real cyclocross cyclist now.
I rode through Cottonwood Falls and then went west out of town on 8th street. Now I was into unknown territory for me. The wind was beating the crap out of me. I was heading west and south. The wind was relentless. The road seemed to never change and the gusts were torturous. My ears were deafened by the sound of jet engines as the wind blew by my ears. It became discouraging to put so much effort into pedaling and to look up and see the same scenery for so many miles.
Curve ahead on a road I haven't traveled before, I caught a bird in flight, but notice no details in the white sky.
Same curve, wider view. I made the sensor focus more on the sky to get some details in the sky in Auto mode.
Trying to get used to using a point and shoot. I hate using an LCD screen to frame the shot. Notice the look of disdain on my face. Little did I know the images would look as good as they did, well except for this one.
Looking back at the beautiful Flint Hills after I climbed my last hill against the blowing wind.
Focus on the sky, the ground is too dark. Focus on the ground and the sky detail is lost. Focusing on the road or horizon seemed to do the trick. This road actually goes forever when the wind is gusting 40mph in your face.
Same road? No, check the details. The fact is, I pedaled into the wind for miles and miles and the road seemed to never change. My sanity was hanging on by a thin thread.
Tree in the Flint Hills. I was looking for any reason to stop at this point.
Another fault of the point and shoot - too easy to take pictures of myself instead of pedal.
Different road again. This is what makes cycling in Kansas so difficult - unchanging scenery, heat and high winds.
There was one point where I had to just stop pedaling and stand. It was hard to take the beating of the wind. I stopped, took a swig of my Perpetuem paste, put my head down, tried to clear my mind and pedaled on.
Finally, a curve in the road, anything to make the miles go by.
There's my speedster, the Trek X01. After I have High Gear put on that carbon stem, I think I'll be good to go.
I was happy to finally be heading back east, but the crosswind wasn’t much better. The important thing to me at this time was that I was not giving up and continued to pedal on.
Excuse my French, but I just became a badass.
At this point I was headed East near the turnpike and was now fighting a nice crosswind.
Another hill.
And another hill. I was going for a tough ride to prove to myself I could finish the DK200.
Fenceposts
At this point, somewhere around 70 to 80 miles in, I was beat. I started to get a headache around 85 to 90 miles in and finally had to stop and pee for the first time. It (the pee) had the appearance of concentrated Gatorade and I knew I had better drink some more water. I was to the point that I didn’t want to drink anything and I felt a little queasy, so I forced myself to drink to hydrate myself. I didn’t realize how hot it had gotten outside until I would stop riding and feel the hot, humid air. I would immediately be drenched in sweat. I believe I was to the point where I had used up all my body had to use as energy. I was running on Perpetuem, Accelgel and nuun enhanced water. Suddenly I felt the need to eat real food. Pickles, chips and a sandwich is all I could think about. I was a little worried about myself physically at this point, but forcing the water down and taking sips of the Perpetuem kept me going. I will tell you the truth, this had become the hardest ride of my life. The messed up thing about it was, was that I was happy about it. I actually wanted to push myself to the limit and then go a little farther. If I could do this, I could do the DK 200 with good nutrition and less weight in the backpack. Since I had gone out by myself, I put everything in the backpack but the kitchen sink and the Nikon. That extra weight was harsh on my body.
Cows were freaking out all day as I rode by, but not this one
After taking a beating most of the day, I headed up this hill to fight the headwind some more.
I got off the bike to stretch my back out with some of Jen's Yoga poses.
One last shot of the Trek X01 before I headed up that hill.
Looking back at the ribbon of a road that I just pedaled into the fierce headwind
I'm hurting here, so much that I stopped to take another picture of myself.
Curves and cows.
These rocks brought to you by the Dirty Kanza 200!
The beauty of Spring in the Flint HIlls.
Riding on a high ridge with the wind blasting me from the side.
Green hills
I liked the sliver of a road peeking out from among the hills. Notice the bird flying too.
I loved the ribbon-like curvy road flowing by the tree.
Dreaming of real food, I finally see the Madison water tower in the distance. Yeah, that's what I thought too - it's still far away, but close enough to motivate me to pedal harder.
And pedal harder I did. I was amazed and actually proud of myself for keeping on going as hard as I was. Madison ended up being farther away than I wanted. But the downhill into town was worth it.
I made it - Casey's in Madison, KS. Time to get a sandwich!
As bad as I thought I wanted that sandwich, juice and candy bar, I was still tired when I got back on the bike. My body was sore, but I had a little ways to go to get home yet. Notice the bike computer above is right at 100 miles. I was going to find some gravel to add some more miles between Madison and Emporia and stay off the pavement. The roads around Madison are quite hilly. Even though I now had a tailwind, I was too tired to fully enjoy it, but I was still pedaling.
Leaving Madison and climbing more hills. I wanted to lay in the grass next to the bike.
Those tiny buildings and water tower in the distance is Emporia, yeah a little ways to go yet.
I was getting closer to home now. I pedaled hard as the roads smoothed out and the tailwind carried me along. I didn’t use any butt butter this time, and was regretting that choice as I tried to find a comfortable spot to sit. I didn’t get any actual saddle sores, but I was feeling pretty raw down there.
Finally back in Emporia. I loved the way the sun hit the building downtown.
I made it! It’s hard to describe to feeling of accomplishment I had after this ride. I was beat, near dehydrated, sore all over, and I felt great! I knew I could tackle the DK 200 in two weeks, I just knew it. All in all, I rode 131 miles and averaged 13.5 mph. My breaks were very short and I made good time considering almost killing myself from lack of day before nutrition and dehydration, not to mention the brutal Kansas winds.
Yes, I am still worried about finishing the DK 200 in two weeks, but now I feel my chances are better than ever. I hope to make it across the finish line in time for the awards ceremony at 9 or 9:30 p.m.
Feed Your Monkey!
Eric
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