the Utah Randonneur: Recent Comments

Comment on Desperado Dual Century

2009-08-30T04:03:26Z

Paul,

Glad you had a good ride, I did as well. I would cut the organizers a little slack for their first year as they are still figuring it out. You can tell them what you liked and what you didnt like however. I guess they didn't keep times this year. Now, I know it's not a race but almost everybody wants to have a time if only for their own reference. Oh well, it's not my event anymore!

Comment on Desperado Dual Century

2009-08-29T23:28:20Z

Hi Lonni Glad to hear you got to enjoy this years event. This was my 4th Dual and I must thank you for all the hard work you put in in the past. I had a good time this year but it did not have the same feel as past years Your organizing skills and hard work were missed Thanks for all you have done to build a great event Hope to see you next year

Comment on Tour de St. George, March 28, 2009

2009-03-29T04:44:09Z

Actually it was better than the fall of 07 when I rode it last. One of the stops that year had only water and Oreo cookies with no sports drinks, sandwiches etc. But they had plenty of sub sandwiches. This year, the sandwiches at the end were VERY small (about a 4" sub) and everyone was only allowed one each. They also were NOT in a cooler---something I'd worry about on such a warm day. Additionally, I was also surprised that with all the sponsors there was no swag or goodie bag.

Comment on My PBP make up ride

2008-03-28T03:04:49Z

I look forward to reading your blog when you ride PBP2. It will certainly be a different experience for you. But if you miss sleeping under a table in the gym while everyone else is clomping around in their bike shoes and changing into wet clothes because your bags have been left out in the rain - well, you'll just have to wait for the official PBP to experience that.

Comment on Death Valley Double Century, March 1, 2008

2008-03-07T23:57:48Z

Dear Epic,

Far be it from me to give you advice; you have as much or more experience than I do. But I'll share with you what I'm working on now in my cycling life -

It's the journey, not the destination that counts.

Your goal to do a double century in a certain time is just that - your goal, a beacon to guide you. Without these beacons, we could be wandering aimless and making no progress. Heading for a beacon is our way to get focused and make progress.

If more mountain climbers had the sense that you had in that sand storm, there would be fewer deaths on the mountain. Once they see the summit, they'll continue on even if the weather turns for the worst and they're blown off the mountain.

I would urge you not to take responsibility for events outside your control. The most you can do with weather is be prepared for hot, cold and wet. If a wind storm comes up, there's little you can do. If you were with other riders, perhaps an echelon would help, but since you were alone that wasn't an option. A beacon is just a beacon. It doesn't matter if you get to the actual beacon itself, it's just a guide.

I'm grateful that the storm came up when you were not far from the finish line. If you were far from anything when the storm hit, you could be wrapped up in a space blanket in a ditch waiting for the storm to blow over. Or, if you were stubborn enough and insisted on going on, you could fall over and break a bone and wait for hours until help came.

Perhaps the best tack to take is to come to acceptance as quickly as possible. As humans we want to make all the decisions and control every thing. We decide how far we want to go and are disappointed when our plans are twarted. Better to come to acceptance about what is possible and prudent than to attempt to defy Mother Nature.

Think about those mountain climbers that train for years and then go to Mt Everest. They wait at base camp for the weather to clear but it never does and they go home without taking a step. That's disappointment, for sure, but it's not the same as a personal failure.

As I said, it's something I haven't mastered but I'm working on it.

Comment on Las Vegas Century

2008-02-08T21:39:47Z

That was my experience in 2005. Will never do the LV Century again. Las Vegas and surrounding area is a terrible city to naviage via bicycle. As you mentioned, high traffic and debris on the shoulders is the rule. My son lived in Henderson for a short while. The drivers are aggressive, traffic is fast, stop lights are frequent. However, one exception is riding in the Northwest area on Sunday morning, go around Red Rock. But forget it any other time....

Comment on Franklin "Clair" Jensen

2008-01-07T16:11:55Z

Lonnie, thank you for sharing with us. I can only wish I could have spent more years and rides with Clair, but I am thankful for the one's we DID share. You are in my prayers.

Comment on Franklin "Clair" Jensen

2008-01-06T14:40:47Z

Lonnie, thanks for this. May I use some for RUSA's newsletter? Thanks, Mike

Comment on Zion Canyon 200 km Brevet 2007

2007-12-09T18:27:58Z

Congratulations on doing the Zion 200. As soon as I saw the rain report later that day I was sorry about
canceling the trip from San Francisco. Hope to ride to Zion in the Spring.

Comment on Zion Canyon 200 km Brevet 2007

2007-12-03T18:38:32Z

Lonnie, that was a quick post of results and blog! Thanks for sponsoring this classic ride.
Remind me again, what was the cumulative vertical gain (& loss) on this ride?