Sunday, July 12, 2015

Personal Reflections on RAIN

By Allan Edmonds

The 2015 Ride Across Indiana (RAIN) is now history. Over 1500 riders registered for the event, and we’ll soon hear the more-or-less official numbers of starters and finishers and their times.

It’s a big event and each person experiences it somewhat differently.

Who would ride a bicycle for up to 14 hours? Most people cannot even imagine it. But even if you can imagine it, there are many things to worry about. What if it rains? What if it’s sweltering hot? What if the wind blows all day in your face? What if you have a flat or break a cable? Can you surmount those obstacles?

Everyone who does this endurance ride has his or her own reasons and goals for the day. Many people are doing it for the first time and just hoping to finish. Others are trying to beat their previous times, although we’re at pains to emphasize that this is not a race. Yet others are helping friends and acquaintances do it, either on the ride itself or by driving a support vehicle. Most people would appear to be part of a small group doing it together. In fact working in a group, whether formal or informal, is absolutely necessary for the best times (both in the clock sense and in the camaraderie sense). But a surprisingly large number do it on their own. In any case the road is pretty crowded with bicyclists and a successful rider must be alert and courteous to others.

One of the most inspiring riders we observed along the way was a woman pulling her brother with physical disabilities in a trailer. We learned learned that she did that between two successive rest stops, before moving our on her own to finish the ride.

Perhaps the most interesting “vehicle” we saw was an Elliptigo, basically an elliptical trainer mounted on wheels. We saw one, although we have heard there were three and at least two of them finished. Whew! I had heard of such things but had never seen one and never would have imagined someone riding it across the state. But that’s what RAIN brings out in people!

More about the above riders can be gleaned from the RAIN Facebook page.

In my own case we rode in a group of 7 most of the day, all members of the BBC, including in addition to myself, CE Taylor, Kathy Cummins, Gail Morell, Thom Simmons, Tim Gehres, and Steve Galvin. (Up to the first rest stop we also rode with Robin Bruegmann, who was in the lead and just kept heading down the road when the rest of us turned into the first rest stop.)

Last year our group was a bit over 11 hours and some of us (or at least I) hoped to improve just a little and finish before 6pm. It wasn’t to be. In fact we were all over 12 hours this year. How did that happen? The conditions were good to excellent and I actually had more training miles than ever. Our lead group finished at 7:04. We can point to several places where we lost a little time: We were about 2 minutes back in the mass start. We lost another couple minutes when a freight train blocked our route in Terre Haute. (It was certainly a very large group that stopped for the train; but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the lead pack beat the train.) We were almost involved in a pile up when another rider dropped a wheel off the edge of the road and fell. We stopped for around 5 minutes or so to be sure the two people most involved (including Robin who was penned in and had to ride over the down rider’s rear wheel before finally going down himself) were okay. We were part of a traffic jam on Southport Road that had little to do with RAIN. Again a lot of riders experienced that, maybe even worse than we did. The mild breeze occasionally took the form of a headwind. Some of our group wanted to go a little slower, perhaps for reasons of previous training or just not feeling great. I think we did hold our rest stops down a little from last, with 1:15 in stops, including almost 30 minutes at lunch. We had absolutely no mechanical issues or flat tires that might have delayed us. 

After our last rest stop in Dunreith we informally split into two groups for the final stretch into Richmond. Four of us found ourselves hammering along, thinking whether it was just possible to make it before 7. We couldn’t quite do it, but we did ride that last 28 miles at about 17.6 more than 2 mph above our moving average for the first 133 miles. When we got to Earlham Gail, Thom, and I rode into the finish chute. But Steve turned around and went back to where CE, Kathy, and Tim were, 3-4 miles back and accompanied them to the finish about 15 or 20 minutes later. I’m glad our smaller group, who still had some energy left, took the opportunity to see what we could do over that last segment of open road.

Special Kudos to Steve for pulling us when we needed it, looking out for everyone, and in going back to finish with the other riders (That’s how got 168 miles when the rest of us had 163.); Special Kudos to CE for always looking out for everyone—we all benefitted from his famous “packing list”; Kathy  completed the ride in fine fashioneven though she had substantially fewer training miles than the rest of us; Gail put on a good show pulling our group along at crucial points. Thom pulled me along when I flagged a bit in our push at the end. And Tim was usual steady self.

After talking to friends and getting cleaned up, a few of us gathered at the finish line to cheer Rachel Caswell in. For the second year she had pulled her sister Sara along for around 80 miles before Sara’s knee announced that she was done, and then Rachel did those final 80 miles the hard way, on her on. This again seemed like RAIN at its best: helping another rider do her best and then showing the grit and determination to complete the ride on ones own.


I can’t end without mentioning all the BBC volunteers who have made the RAIN Ride a resounding success. All those volunteers at registration and the start line, at the rest stops and the lunch stops, and at the finish line. And then a core of really dedicated volunteers who manage the RAIN over the year: planning, design, web sites, merchandise, registration, contracts for rest stops and start and finish and for lunch, planning the route, making maps, painting the route, dealing with last minute road closures! This includes John Connell (chair), Jen Miers (co-chair), Tammy Berger (merchandise), Keith Bobay (registration), Mark Villanova (rest stops), John Bassett (route), Klaus Rothe (web site), Kathy Cummins (secretary), and Ron Brown (finish line recording). It’s a big job, especially for a small club and an event that takes place over such a distance and at such long way from our home base. RAIN is better for the club the more people are involved. As most club members know, RAIN funds our important local grants program as well as a few social activities over the year. Congratulations to all for a job well done.

Friday, March 6, 2015

The Hill of Some Concern

Recently Jim Schroeder was moved to reminisce a bit about biking trips to the Asheville area, where in 2004 he first encountered "The Hill of Some Concern"  [THOSC].

On one of our spring training trips, my friend Paul said he had his brother-in-law's getaway place to stay in North Carolina southeast of Asheville for three days.  Well, we arrived in Asheville and ate at a Denny's buffet (not recommended) and then travelled to "the place".  It was quite dark by this time, and in the Subaru we were going every direction: E, N, W, S and especially down.  I was ready to see fire and all, as I was sure we had travelled to hell!

We all bedded down, and didn't think till morning that we had to climb THOSC to get to breakfast.  Not just once but a total of three mornings in a row! 

At the top of THOSC

Switchbacks

I've taken a contingent of BBC members down there on three different occasions in May.  I was thinking of doing it again this year at the first May weekend, but Bloomington racers are having crits on Saturday and road race on Sunday, and they're asking BBC to volunteer and co-sponsor the weekend.  Maybe next year.  On Saturday we would ride a 90 mile loop that rides to Marion and then follow the Assault on Mt Mitchell route up to Mt Mitchell and then Craggy Gardens back to Asheville suburbs.  On Sunday we would ride a 60 mile loop from Chimney Rock to THOSC and Saluda.  That is a beautiful ride, too.

What a view!


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Banquet and Annual Meeting

For at least the third year the club met for its annual winter off-season meeting and banquet at the Monroe County Convention center. During informal time starting at 6 PM there was conversation, a slide show of 2014 events (prepared by John Bassett), and fresh fruit and vegetable hors d'oeuvres.

About 6:15 President Jim Schroeder called the business meeting to order. The first order of businesswas the election of officers as proposed by the nominating committee. Three offices needed to be filled. Warren Smith (vice president) and Stan Ellis (at large) were elected continue in the offices they had previously filled. John Kalill was elected treasurer to replace outgoing treasurer Jerry Arveson. All will serve two-year terms. Kathy Cummins (secretary) and Jim Schroeder (president) will be completing their two-year terms in the coming year.

Following the election Jim introduced ongoing committee chairs, including John Bassett (ride director), Andrew Dingman (education), Ron Brown (advocacy), Tammy Berger (membership), Brett Nelson (grants), and Yusuf Nur (marketing). Then he presented the recipients of BBC grants for this cycle: Bloomington Catholic Workers Charity, Bloomington Bike Project, Bloomington Parks and Rec, Boys and Girls Club, DeCycles, Hoosier Mountain Biking Association (HMBA), and IU Bloomington Health Live Well Campaign. Amounts ranged from $600 to $5000, averaging about $2000. We had a smaller pool of applicants this year and a couple of the awards went beyond the usual maximum of $1500 because of solid proposals and the availability of funds since fewer than usual grants were awarded.

Finally outgoing treasurer Jerry Arveson presented his annual report. Finance are solid, with RAIN providing by far our largest source of income and expenses. Ridership and income from RAIN were a little off in 2014 but expenses were controlled, leaving us still with a good net. We have maintained a healthy savings account and a CD over the last three years, with the expectation of possibly awarding a major grant that would have substantial impact on local bicycling infrastructure.


Following the business meeting we shared a very nice catered buffet dinner that included salad, green beans, mixed vegetables, eggplant parmesan or chicken cacciatore as entrée, rolls, and dessert of baked apple (a favorite) or pie. A big thanks to Tammy Berger who handle all arrangements!

After dinner we had a report from RAIN chair John Connell about plans and volunteer opportunities for this year's event. Key people on the committee include Jennifer Miers (assistant chair), Keith Bobay (registration), John Bassett (Route and Start), Mark Villanova (Rest Stops), Ron Brown and John Connell (Finish Line), Tammy Berger (Merchandise), Yusuf Nur (Marketing), and Klaus Rothe (Web Design). Lots of volunteers are needed; travel expenses are reimbursed. Important needs include help with marking the route and site coordinators for rest stops in Plainfield and Franklin. There will be places for lots of folks stuffing packets, helping with registration and merchandise sales, traffic control at the start, and helping with several rest stops, as well as the finish line.

Then we had a presentation from Paul Arlinghaus, president of HMBA, discussed the history of the organization and gave an overview of past, current, and future trail development activities in Brown County State Park, Yellowood State Forest, and National Forest lands.

Finally Geoffrey McKim, BBC member and member of the Monroe County Council presented a report on "The Bicycling State of Monroe County".  He gave an overview of bicycling and multiuse trails and marked bike lanes in the county, existing, coming soon, and being planned.

Thanks to Mike Finger for the photos.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Hoosiers Out On Tandems (HOOTs)

News from Hoosiers Out On Tandems (HOOTs)
From John Calhoun

HOOTs has been Indiana’s tandem club for nearly 20 years.  Membership in the Bloomington Bicycle Club entitles you to membership in HOOTs.  We’re hoping to present more rides that are attractive to teams from around the state.  Last year we hosted the Midwest Tandem Rally; the largest tandem event in the United States.  We also hosted a three-day spring rally in Batesville.

For 2015, the spring rally will be in Madison, IN on the weekend after Memorial Day.  We also plan to host two rides with the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

To learn more about HOOTs, go to www.tandemhoots.ning.com/

Batesville Rally - photo by Don Kirk

Indiana School for the Blind – photo by Nathan Dinges