#2 300k brevet report

Reported by Martin: A second 189-mile brevet organized in Eldridge, Iowa by Michael Fox. I came in first, this time riding 9:59 + control stops with 11,000 feet of climbing , 10 minutes faster than in April. Consistency. Photo: Matt on left, Martin on right.

Six randonneurs showed up for this one. Three did the longer 300k option. I rode for a bit with Matt Levy, who had ridden with me, Jay and Ryan at the Iowa brevets last year, and finished PBP in 2015 with Jay and Ryan in about 68 hours. After a bit of chatting for 15 minutes on the bike, I went into RAAM mode: 112 beats per minute, 19 mph into the 7 mph north wind on the 'superbike,' now with superfork (that’s what Dimond, coincidentally an Iowa company, actually calls it). No one decided to stick to my wheel. It was a perfect day, with 95 miles of riding north to Peosta, then the wind helping out on the way back to Eldridge. Other interesting town names on the route: McCausland, Shaffton, Miles, Maquoketa (one of the time stations) and Grand Mound (I saw only a little mound). The obligatory 3-mile stretch of Iowa gravel caused no problems other than a temporary slowdown to 12 mph. I’m sure Aaron Higley feels for me – not.

Since I’m at RAAM during the 400k and recovering from RAAM during the 600k, this will be it for brevets this year. I hope I can convince some Wild Cards to go as a group next season! Nothing like time stations to put a little extra zip in the long group rides. Kelley?