Michigan Mountain Mayhem

[Doc_d]

Is anyone else doing it this weekend? So far, knock on wood, the weather forecast is looking great.

My fitness level is the best it's been in a few years as I've been doing some road racing and a lot of club riding. But I don't have any long distance rides in yet this year. I'm probably averaging 180 - 200 miles per week, but all my rides are 45 miles and under. So I think for me the biggest challenge is just going to be staying comfortable on the bike for 6+ hours. I might at least try to get a 60 mile ride in this week sometime.

It should be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.

[Paul Brown]

In, but if I'm in trouble I'll not make the last turn onto the 200K loop , I think the 200K ending up being a little longer (128 miles). Not sure I have that in my legs with the hilly terrian, gonna find out though.

[risnewski]

A buddy and I will be there for the 160K. This will be my first road hundy and it will be on a CX bike. Should be interesting and fun.

[Doc_d]

A buddy and I will be there for the 160K. This will be my first road hundy and it will be on a CX bike. Should be interesting and fun.

I haven't done the MMM before, but I did do the RAT century a few years ago which is in the same area and also has a lot of climbing. It's hard to be prepared for that level of climbing riding down here in S.E. Michigan. You definitely won't regret having the CX gearing (assuming you have a compact double and something like a 28 tooth cassette). You're a brave man doing the MMM as your first century. What's the longest road ride you've done this year?

I run a standard double (53/39) with a 12-25 cassette. I broke down and bought a 12-27 cassette for this ride and seriously contemplated getting a compact crank set. I'm too cheap to invest in a compact crank set that I'll use a couple times a year, so I'm going to try to suffer through with the standard double.

I snuck out after work tonight and did a 62 mile ride. I was hoping to get in 70+ miles but ran out of light. I felt pretty good, but then again I wasn't grinding up 15+% grades.

[risnewski]

I'm compact up front but for this ride would like a better granny in the rear.

Longest (mostly dirt) road ride probably about 60. Did 100 at the 12 hours of Stony and was pretty beat, but could have done another lap. Not nearly the climbing I expect up north, but different conditions all together.

One of my problems on the road is I'm not real comfortable at high speed descents, which is funny because that's one thing I'm pretty comfortable with on the mountain bike. I think I need to expand my comfort level on that one for MMM cuz I suck at climbing. Of course that's part of why I'll be there this weekend--I'm dumb enought to like the challenge.

[sally_2000]

I'm in , riding with Wolverines Sport Club. there will be all levels & mileage. I did 100K last year with a 53/39 12-27. I had no problems. About 10 miles from the finish there is a tough climb (I hear 20% ?!) So save some energy for that . Have fun & be safe ! And the food in the tent at the finish is really good..not to mention the beer too

[Paul Brown]

I'm running my downstate set up 53-39 23-11 I suppose I'm screwed but nothing a few post ride beers can't fix.

[sally_2000]

I'm running my downstate set up 53-39 23-11 I suppose I'm screwed but nothing a few post ride beers can't fix.

yur screwed

[Paul Brown]

I'm running my downstate set up 53-39 23-11 I suppose I'm screwed but nothing a few post ride beers can't fix.

yur screwed

What's the worse that can happen, won't be the first time I bonked.

[gearswhatgears]

I have fam in the area, and I am pretty sure the additional miliage for the 200K is the part of the RAT ride if you do the hundo... From what I remember, that section is REALLY hilly..

As for the hill by the end, "the wall" its tough, gradual for a while then pitches up to close to 20 percent.. Its rideable though.

I hear the shanty creek cart path (i think it is) pitches to 29%... Optional

Think I am just gonna roll the hundo with LJ the week after..

[Doc_d]

The ride started out a little wet, but it turned into a great day. I can't believe how many people flatted. I ended up getting 2 flats myself. Luckily I carried 2 tubes so I was all set. Neither were pinch flats. I found a tiny sharp rock which stuck in the tire. I wonder if something about the geology in the area causes those sharp little rocks and that's the cause of so many flats.

We had a lot of flying rhinos there of different ability levels. I ended up riding with one club member that I've been racing with this year. We went out a little too hard. We dialed it back after about 30 or 40 miles. All in all it was a great ride.

[ypsi_N8]

First time at MMM this year. Epic. Will do it again next year for sure.
Did anyone hear how the lady was doing who crashed at the first aid station?

[Paul Brown]

My first time as well. Very well run ride. Course was pretty tough IMO, lots of climbing , pretty hot as well. Heard they sagged out around 50 riders, a couple of them straight to hospital. Great feed stations and plenty of them. I heard the lady had some staples to close the head wound and she is find, but that is of course unoffical. Kudos to the promoter, did a great job from my perspective.

[sally_2000]

My first time as well. Very well run ride. Course was pretty tough IMO, lots of climbing , pretty hot as well. Heard they sagged out around 50 riders, a couple of them straight to hospital. Great feed stations and plenty of them. I heard the lady had some staples to close the head wound and she is find, but that is of course unoffical. Kudos to the promoter, did a great job from my perspective.

How did yur 53/39 23-11 work out ? You gotta be rugged

[risnewski]

That was one of the best run events I've seen. The registration was easy and the aid stations had everything you need, including lots of friendly helpful volunteers. I saw the SAG wagons go by numerous times. Route markings were very well done for the most part. The band at the end was really, really good. And it was cool that you could change routes and self report for timing purposes. I almost showed them my Garmin--i wanted full credit for every pedal turn.

I decided to do the 200K once I reached the turn off and spent a few minutes resting under an Oak tree. Glad I did it, but it's the toughest (and longest) ride I've done, even with lots of breaks to cool down. I make a good portion of the Super Hill and now it's a challenge for next year. However, by the time I got to the Wall near the end of the ride I had absolutely nothing left and had to walk it once it got steep. That's an interesting climb. I measured 1.5 miles until it suddenly went straight up. A bit different from Wayne County...

Wet pavement at the beginnin did nothing for my comfort level with fast descents. First one I actually developed quite a wobble that was definitely not the bike's fault. Got better as time went by and things dried up, but I did use the brakes before going into a lot of those turns.

Strava gave me 129.3 miles with the Super Hill and 10,800 feet or so of climbing. The Garmin Edge was around 10,300 feet of climbing. Interesting that Strava doesn't just report the Garmin results. I wonder what the actual number is.