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Solvang Spring Double Century
Related: Death Valley, double century, exercise, gear, hard core, Lightweight, Moots, ultra endurance exercise
As rigorous pre-flighting of the 2012 Everest Challenge (29,000' — September 28/29, 2012) which I aim to win in M45-54 Master category.
The Solvang Spring Double is Saturday March 24.
The weather is not looking so promising— while the rain might hold off until Sunday, I don’t rule out getting some unpleasant temperature and wind and a little precipitation, so I’ll be sure to take my new Endura Helium jacket, a wool cycling cap under my helmet to keep sweat out of my eyes and to add warmth, and perhaps mid-weight tights, depending on how the temperature looks in the morning.
Although I would normally wear the Outset base layer, for a double century I will wear a short-sleeve summer jersey under a long-sleeve jersey so that I have some extra pockets to stash food, phone, tools, sunglasses, etc.
Which bike?
Unlike the Death Valley Double where I rode my Moots Vamoots Psychlo X RSL cyclocross bike with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 700 X 28C tires, this time I’ll be riding my Moots Vamoots RSL road racing bike with my Lightweight Obermayer wheels, though if wind is in the forecast, I will probably ride the Lightweight VR8 instead, as it is less susceptible to side-gusts.
Double training
As for the effort level, I am thinking of aiming for about 220 watts steady for the ride, roughly the same average as for the Death Valley Double.
The only problem is I’ve gotten about 6 hours of sleep for several nights, and I’m not rested and definitely not feeling all that vigorous. I need to rest, but there’s little time left (about 36 hours), so I backed way off on riding for 3 days prior. For the Death Valley Double, I was well rested prior, with plenty of sleep.
