WHEN I COME BACK FROM TRANS IOWA I CAN SAY “BEEN THERE DONE THAT AND I GOT A T-SHIRT TO PROVE IT!”

A word on Trans Iowa Radio….

Trans Iowa Radio: The annual commentary by your’s truly will be posted on my blog “Guitar Ted Productions” for all to hear starting Friday evening. (There is a course condition report up now there to check it out)

While many of you find the commentary useful and entertaining, I must add that it is not a professional news report. Keep in mind that I am doing these audio posts while trying to keep tabs on an event that sometimes requires my full attention, (see T.I.V4) or finds me in a half dazed stupor wandering around in the middle of the night after being up for 30 plus hours. Sometimes both at the same time!

Anyway, these reports are what they are. If I don’t mention your significant others name, it isn’t because I didn’t see him, or that he is missing in a pig lot somewhere in the boonies. I probably (a) don’t know his where abouts at that particular moment, (b) forgot to mention his name, or (c) just plain spaced off giving a rider report.

So, please do not think that I am such a great reporter that I wouldn’t…..nay- couldn’t- possibly not see your man out there. No, no! I am just a bike mechanic hopped up on a large quantity Red Bull and beef jerkey having fun with an audio-blog service.

That said, I will do what I can to impart the feel and progress of the event to listeners and I will try to be diligent about names and DNF’s and what not. I just wanted to put that disclaimer out there for all the wives, girlfriends, partners, lap dogs, and any distant relatives that might be listening for word on their favorite racer.
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Riden’ an Smilin’
Guitar Ted

THIS IS A B-ROAD — A DRY B ROAD– I WONDER WHAT 5 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE DONE TO THIS B-ROAD

FROM TRANS IOWA WEBSITE.

START TIME IS 4AM

04/27/09: Time Cut Offs: Checkpoint#1 @ Mile 40- 8:00am. Checkpoint #2 @ Mile 151- 7:00pm, Checkpoint #3 @ Mile 217.3- 2:00am Sunday morning, and the Finishline by 2:00pm Sunday.

Course Condition Report: After a weekend where rain totals of over 5 inches were reported over different sections of the course, things have changed dramatically. Gravel in the area local to me is very soft and wet. B Roads are, of course, totally mud now.

If you have the time like you are laid off or something here is a thread on MTBR

From Guitar Ted’s Blog one of the organizers.

April 27, 2009 by Guitar Ted.

Anybody Got A Boat? I think it rained harder for longer yesterday than I can remember in a long time. Maybe since 1993 when we had the big floods here. I am seeing that we received well in excess of 4 inches of rain in less than a 24 hour period from Sunday morning till now. (And it hasn’t been raining for several hours!) That’s a month’s worth of rain in a day. Yeah…..go figure that out! Needless to say, I didn’t get in a window of dryness to ride my bike in. Oh well……..

Yes…..You knew I couldn’t end without talking about this! The weather and Trans Iowa. Like peanut butter and jelly, these two go hand in hand. The weather is always a big player in the outcome of this event. Now we have had upwards of five inches or more of rain in two days over parts of the course and you know that some of that will be making for slower going in some places, even without more rain. Trouble is, there are scattered thunderstorms predicted for Iowa on Wednesday and Thursday now. So far, the weekend forecast has flip flopped several times, but is looking to be cool, overcast to partly cloudy, windy……….and dry!

From Guitar Ted MTBR post.

Oh, and just to tag on to the last post, Trans Iowa Radio, the audioblog I put up live during the event, is a great source of information as to where your riders are at any given time. I don’t usually give specifics, (I don’t list out every indivial rider in the event),but I often call out DNF’s and the leaders position on course.

If you have access to cable, it is a great way to find out what is going on, and I will be trying to do more consistent reporting this year to fill your need to know what is going down.
__________________
Riden’ an Smilin’
Guitar Ted

As I go into this event I have realized that so few people of heard of this mountain bike race. I thought I might share some of the warnings, cautions and disclaimers on their site. You might get the idea from these excerpts that maybe this is an extreme event ya think?

In short it is A 320 MILE NON STOP UNSUPPORTED MOUNTAIN BIKE ULTRA DISTANCE RACE THROUGH THE GRAVEL, DIRT AND B ROADS OF RURAL IOWA.

“The Golden Rule. The sponsors, organizers, and anyone having anything to do with this race are NOT responsible for your safety. Think of this race as a 300+ mile hard training ride with prizes. We can’t say this enough…..YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!”

“Trans Iowa V5: Here’s a reminder of what Trans Iowa is………We are informing you all that are in the event that if you don’t agree that you are on your own, that you are responsible for yourself, and that this is being undertaken of your own volition, then don’t take the start.”

“The event takes place rain or shine, as most of you know. Again: No support, no aid stations, no drop bags- you are on your own, responsible for procuring your own necessities along the way. The course passes by convenience stores, or through towns with services on average about every 40 miles. Remember- if you leave the course to get something you must re-enter the course at that point where you left it.”

“The Trans-Iowa Mountain Bike Race is a non-stop, self-supported, solo competition along the gravel roads of rural Iowa. Competitors must carry with them ALL necessary equipment.”

“Each rider is considered to be on a private excursion and remains solely responsible for any accidents in which he or she may be involved. No responsibility can be accepted for riders becoming lost or stranded.”

“Prearranged outside support is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to assistance with navigation, delivery of supplies, lighting, or lodging.”

This time next week I will be on an airplane flying to Des Moines, Iowa for my Trans Iowa Epic Adventure. I’m excited to meet new people and in particular my host. My fitness is where I would like it to be in April. I missed my November December months of winter base building due to a fractured thumb but I feel good nonetheless. I don’t want to feel too good yet since we have such a long season here in Southern California.

My goal event for the year is in October, the Furnace Creek 508. The key to a successful season here in SoCal is to not burn-out in the early season and either over-train or loose focus for late season events.

Now even though my fitness is good I woke up on Tuesday with a sore throat. I wrecked my body last week with lack of sleep leading into the weekend, then Big Bear ride on the Fixed Gear on Saturday, and followed by 200km on Sunday. I also haven’t been sleeping soundly. The combination of all of that has made me susceptible to whatever virus/bacteria I was already harboring. So I have to rest rest and more rest and try to kick this thing in the next week.

Stay tuned…