Wishing tailwinds to you too, Liz ..

[yvonne]

Wow! a quad! yikes!

Have a wonderful time, and keep the positive vibes in front of your wheel to inspire you and keep you fresh throughout!

Y.

[megale3]

Liz

May your seat fit like it has never fit before. May the carbon in your tubes erase the chip seal benith your tires. May Cal II give you lots of great stories.
Ride safe
Meg

[RaffCycles]

May your road feel like one down hill ride!!!

Have a great time!!!

[BFSpin]

Ride with all your might, Liz - have a great time and fill us in on your adventures with Cal II when you return!

Oh yeah, and may the wind be all at your back, too :)

Beth

[SpinBob]

Here's wishing nice strong quads (and hammys and glutes, etc.) on your Quad.

[lizardbiker]

I'm back!

I don't think there's a muscle in my body that isn't totally spent! It was a most excellent ride, in spite of headwinds most of the time, even though we did a huge loop, and rain through the entire night and 1/3 of the daylight. Changed shorts, socks & gloves twice, but they just got wet again. The climbs were probably the most gruelling combination I've ever done, but the views of the Finger Lakes was breathtaking. Some of the descents were breathtaking too! got up over 50 mph several times.

Hooked up with 2 strong riders from Ohio early in the ride that have done multiple BMB & PBP 1200km brevets, and we had a common finishing time goal, so we stuck together through it all until the last 25 miles when we got to the last control point before the control point was set up - already did one major climb after the food & water were gone and looking up at another killer climb, I stopped at a store to get some water for the last leg. Almost caught back up with my two new friends - they got me by 5 minutes. Only three other people came in before us, and they were big time ultra riders who were all drafting, while I was doing the ride without drafting. My official time for the 401.45 mile, 27,000' + climb ride was 33 hours 25 minutes. Other than the one control point at the end that wasn't set up yet, the rest of the control points were awesome! They had a first rate support group with hot food at several points - pasta, sandwiches, burgers and lots of Hammer Nutrition products.

Wildlife was great - saw lots of deer, bunnies, racoons (no squirrels!) and had a red tailed fox jump out if front of us on a descent - it was about as surprised as we were.

We got to the 280 mile control point at a motel in Auburn around 2:30am - it was supposed to be a rest stop with rooms & hot food. Had 3 pancakes and a plate of lasagna, took a 15 minute nap, and we were back on the road within an hour of when we checked in. At the finish I had some pizza, took and hour nap in the car, then drove 4 1/2 hours back home.

I have never had more fun inflicting so much pain and pushing myself so hard as I did on this ride. I am so looking forward to the next Quadzilla! But first I have to recover, clean up Cal II and get ready for next weekend's MS150!

Thanks all for the well wishes - I'm almost glad that I didn't have fair weather and following winds, or it wouldn't have made it as much of an epic ride!

[RaffCycles]

Way to go Liz!!!

OK, now I'm jealous!!!

[lizardbiker]

Way to go Liz!!!

OK, now I'm jealous!!!
Plus I got a cool Quadzilla 2007 watch, messenger bag and tee shirt!! Now THAT'S the reason I ride!! :D

[RaffCycles]

Plus I got a cool Quadzilla 2007 watch, messenger bag and tee shirt!! Now THAT'S the reason I ride!! :D

My tee shirt drawer is filled with event shirts. This year, I signed up too late to get one from my July 4 race so I didn't have to keep the promise to my wife of getting rid of one of the old ones.

[megale3]

Plus I got a cool Quadzilla 2007 watch, messenger bag and tee shirt!! Now THAT'S the reason I ride!! :D
Schwagg baby! You know you can never have too many event shirts Raff. Hey Liz come to Portland in two years I will be doing the STP in one day again and I am gonna need your help besides we have lots of shwagg!
Nice job on the briefing !
Mike

[lizardbiker]

Schwagg baby! You know you can never have too many event shirts Raff. Hey Liz come to Portland in two years I will be doing the STP in one day again and I am gonna need your help besides we have lots of shwagg!
Nice job on the briefing !
Mike
Two years might be enough time to put together a convincing reason for heading out there for some serious training. If you could feed me some more details and some good training rides around there, maybe I can convince DW it's time to do some west coast vacations & training in 2009! Rumor has it that you have some good climbs out there...

[Pink]

I'm back!

I don't think there's a muscle in my body that isn't totally spent! It was a most excellent ride, in spite of headwinds most of the time, even though we did a huge loop, and rain through the entire night and 1/3 of the daylight. Changed shorts, socks & gloves twice, but they just got wet again. The climbs were probably the most gruelling combination I've ever done, but the views of the Finger Lakes was breathtaking. Some of the descents were breathtaking too! got up over 50 mph several times.

Hooked up with 2 strong riders from Ohio early in the ride that have done multiple BMB & PBP 1200km brevets, and we had a common finishing time goal, so we stuck together through it all until the last 25 miles when we got to the last control point before the control point was set up - already did one major climb after the food & water were gone and looking up at another killer climb, I stopped at a store to get some water for the last leg. Almost caught back up with my two new friends - they got me by 5 minutes. Only three other people came in before us, and they were big time ultra riders who were all drafting, while I was doing the ride without drafting. My official time for the 401.45 mile, 27,000' + climb ride was 33 hours 25 minutes. Other than the one control point at the end that wasn't set up yet, the rest of the control points were awesome! They had a first rate support group with hot food at several points - pasta, sandwiches, burgers and lots of Hammer Nutrition products.

Wildlife was great - saw lots of deer, bunnies, racoons (no squirrels!) and had a red tailed fox jump out if front of us on a descent - it was about as surprised as we were.

We got to the 280 mile control point at a motel in Auburn around 2:30am - it was supposed to be a rest stop with rooms & hot food. Had 3 pancakes and a plate of lasagna, took a 15 minute nap, and we were back on the road within an hour of when we checked in. At the finish I had some pizza, took and hour nap in the car, then drove 4 1/2 hours back home.

I have never had more fun inflicting so much pain and pushing myself so hard as I did on this ride. I am so looking forward to the next Quadzilla! But first I have to recover, clean up Cal II and get ready for next weekend's MS150!

Thanks all for the well wishes - I'm almost glad that I didn't have fair weather and following winds, or it wouldn't have made it as much of an epic ride!

I'm not even worthy enough to *read* this. May I tell everyone I know you, Liz?

[lizardbiker]

I'm not even worthy enough to *read* this. May I tell everyone I know you, Liz?
You might not want to admit knowing me....if anyone in uniform comes asking about me, you haven't seen me, ok? :)

[SpinBob]

Liz, sounds like a great ride, I'm in total awe.
Wildlife was great - saw lots of deer, bunnies, racoons (no squirrels!) and had a red tailed fox jump out if front of us on a descent - it was about as surprised as we were.Did you see an happy cows?

[lizardbiker]

Liz, sounds like a great ride, I'm in total awe.
Did you see an happy cows?
Why, not that you mention it, I did happen to see some happy cows! They were hanging out with a huge pig that looked like it was in a pretty good mood too!

[SpinBob]

Maybe it was all the ice cream they were eating, that always makes me happy.

[lizardbiker]

Maybe it was all the ice cream they were eating, that always makes me happy.
WOW! That was fast :o

[SpinBob]

Bis dat qui cito dat

[lizardbiker]

Bis dat qui cito dat
ditto dat!

[megale3]

You guys coming up with your own pig latin style :)
M

[BFSpin]

I'm not worthy!!

Liz, awesome ride perfectly described. Thanks for putting us there with you.

I'm doing the MS ride (Millersville) this weekend, too - riding for the Capital Blue Cross team. It would be criminal not to find a way to meet 'n greet! I'm going down Friday evening, checking in, having dinner with one of two groups, rolling out at 6:30/6:45 Sat. a.m. to do the 100. Sunday I'm hoping to do 75 - depends on the heat/humidity and what legs I have left.

What's your plan?

Beth

[lizardbiker]

I'm not worthy!!

Liz, awesome ride perfectly described. Thanks for putting us there with you.

I'm doing the MS ride (Millersville) this weekend, too - riding for the Capital Blue Cross team. It would be criminal not to find a way to meet 'n greet! I'm going down Friday evening, checking in, having dinner with one of two groups, rolling out at 6:30/6:45 Sat. a.m. to do the 100. Sunday I'm hoping to do 75 - depends on the heat/humidity and what legs I have left.

What's your plan?

Beth
DW & I will be leaving the house and getting there Saturday morning - she's shooting for 75, as she's been doing more running than riding. I'll be doing the 100. Then she'll be heading home after the Saturday night festivities to watch our puppy, then she'll pick me back up Sunday. I'll be riding for Team Giant. If not Saturday maybe we'll get some road time together on Sunday!

[megale3]

I'll be riding for Team Giant.
Hey I thought you were a Cannondale man!

[lizardbiker]

Hey I thought you were a Cannondale man!
1000% Cannondale - Giant is a PA (Dutch owned) grocery chain that is very supportive of the MS150 and Tour de Cure - sign up on their team and get a free jersey - I'll do just about anything for a tee shirt - even more for a jersey! (DW rides a Specialized Alez, but she got it in her pre-lizard life, so I don't hold it against her :) )

[megale3]

1000% Cannondale - Giant is a PA (Dutch owned) grocery chain that is very supportive of the MS150 and Tour de Cure - sign up on their team and get a free jersey - I'll do just about anything for a tee shirt - even more for a jersey! (DW rides a Specialized Alez, but she got it in her pre-lizard life, so I don't hold it against her :) )
Liz buy her a new bike that will solve everything! and you will score points too :D

[BFSpin]

DW & I will be leaving the house and getting there Saturday morning - she's shooting for 75, as she's been doing more running than riding. I'll be doing the 100. Then she'll be heading home after the Saturday night festivities to watch our puppy, then she'll pick me back up Sunday. I'll be riding for Team Giant. If not Saturday maybe we'll get some road time together on Sunday!

Dinner Friday night is either with a group from Team Giant or some of the Blue Cross people. Saturday I haven't decided . . . ride with Blue Cross folks, or my weekend riding pals who are riding for Team Giant (Rabbit, Lou)? In any event, I'll be in a sleeveless Cap. Blue Cross jersey (free, of course:D) on my red/gold/black C'dale 800 - usually with a bandana sticking out of my waistband. No identifying tattos. . . but I'll keep my eyes open for that lizard!

Would love to meet up with you and Mrs. Lizard - always fun to put a face with people out here in internet land. I'll pm my cell . . .

Beth

[lizardbiker]

Dinner Friday night is either with a group from Team Giant or some of the Blue Cross people. Saturday I haven't decided . . . ride with Blue Cross folks, or my weekend riding pals who are riding for Team Giant (Rabbit, Lou)? In any event, I'll be in a sleeveless Cap. Blue Cross jersey (free, of course:D) on my red/gold/black C'dale 800 - usually with a bandana sticking out of my waistband. No identifying tattos. . . but I'll keep my eyes open for that lizard!

Would love to meet up with you and Mrs. Lizard - always fun to put a face with people out here in internet land. I'll pm my cell . . .

Beth
Cool! I'll keep an eye out for you! I'll be on Cal II with my Team Giant jersey & lizard tat & DW drafting behind. If we don't meet up on the road on Saturday, we'll be around for the festivities Saturday evening.
Just spent a couple hours cleaning Cal II up from the Quadzilla ride, so we're all ready to go now. Now just keep the fingers crossed for some decent weather!

[SpinBob]

You guys coming up with your own pig latin style :)
MNo Meg, it's real Latin. Honest. :cool:

[BFSpin]

Cool! I'll keep an eye out for you! I'll be on Cal II with my Team Giant jersey & lizard tat & DW drafting behind. If we don't meet up on the road on Saturday, we'll be around for the festivities Saturday evening.
Just spent a couple hours cleaning Cal II up from the Quadzilla ride, so we're all ready to go now. Now just keep the fingers crossed for some decent weather!

Great - I'll look for you as well :)

From Weather.com:
Jul 20 Friday (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxdetail/17036?dayNum=3)Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s.
Jul 21 Saturday (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxdetail/17036?dayNum=4)More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s.
Jul 22 Sunday (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxdetail/17036?dayNum=5)Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 60s.

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lizardbiker]

After this past weekend's ride, this definitely is good riding weather!!

[lizardbiker]

BTW - here's the elevation profile and map for the Quadzilla. Finally got it converted to something I can post.

I was thinking of making a class profile out of the ride, but after the ride the only thing I could think of was to have everyone max out their resistance knob and pedal as hard as they can as I alternate between dumping buckets of water on them then shining a heat lamp on them while an industrial fan blows in their faces. Somehow I don't think they'd appreciate that too much...

[lizardbiker]

The official results of the 2007 Quadzilla were finally posted - I'm pretty happy with my time, which was the 3rd fastest (but I completed the ride without drafting).

There was a group of four cyclists that rode together to break the record at 30:45. Two of the four cyclists were prior RAAM cyclists and a third held the previous Quadzilla record. Quite an elite paceline.
The second fastest time was 33:20 done by two guys from Ohio that were preparing for the Paris-Brest-Paris brevet, and I was five minutes behind them at 33:25. I rode with the two guys from Ohio for most of the ride, but stayed out of their slipstream.

Even more impressive - there was a 22 yr old guy that did the entire 400 mile 27,000+ ft ride on a fixed gear bike (44x17 gear ratio) and finished within the 40 hour time limit (39:31 to be exact).
There were a total of 29 registered, 2 DNS, 4 DNF and 2 opted for the 350 mile route.

[BFSpin]

A heartfelt "Atta Boy!" to you, Liz!

You are an animal :D

Beth

[lizardbiker]

Just gotta keep the momentum going until the ADK540 on Sep14th - if I keep the pace I had at the Quadzilla, I may have a RAAM qualified plaque hanging on the wall for Christmas :) It's another 144 miles longer, but the climbs aren't nearly as intense.

[megale3]

What kind of saddle do you use Liz :)

[lizardbiker]

Selle Italia SLK on both bikes. Love it.

[SpinBob]

Hey Liz,
Congrats on the Quad results, that must make your mood ring a happy blue.

[megale3]

Selle Italia SLK on both bikes. Love it.
I bet after that much time in the saddle its asking other saddles what type of humans do they wear. :D
Meg

[lizardbiker]

I bet after that much time in the saddle its asking other saddles what type of humans do they wear. :D
Meg
LOL - there is definitely a lot of "bonding" going on during those rides!

[lizardbiker]

Hey Liz,
Congrats on the Quad results, that must make your mood ring a happy blue.
Indeed it did! Cal II's mood ring was even showing a special glow 8)