The Best Biking Buddy I Never Met

Note: I started writing this post shortly after completing the Boothby 300K Challenge in 2014, but sadly I never finished it. Maybe I'll get motived to complete it one of these days. -- Keith, 2017/11/20

It started innocently enough on January 10, 2014, when Narayan Krishnamoorthy posted the following message to the Seattle Randonneurs (SIR) Google Group:

Hi all,

In 2011, Don envisioned riding a 300k every month for 12 straight months to accomplish an R-12!

I've been wanting to do this for some time now, just never worked up the courage to actually embark on it. I figured this would be a good way to keep the motivation for the next R-12. This is not RUSA or SIR sanctioned, but it'd be fun to get a bunch of folks who knew Don (or want to know about Don) and who'd want to, to do this with me (or at least meet me at the start line).

Hugh Kimball expressed an interest in this, but I was wondering if others may want to join in...

One condition: riders must consume at least one donut or slice of pie on the ride! :) I am thinking of starting not this weekend, but the weekend after that. We'd pick a really flat 300!

Cheers!

Narayan

PS: Mimi is ok with the idea!

The "Don" and "Mimi" mentioned are SIR members Don Boothby (lover of pie, pastries, and long-distance riding), and his lovely and talented wife Mimi Boothby (lover of art, cats, and long-distance riding).

Several thoughts entered my head after reading Narayan's message:

• 300K per month? Is he crazy?
• Ooh, donuts and pie... sounds like my type of ride.
• 300K? Each month? Is he insane?
• I've never completed a "normal" R-12.
• 300K? I've ridden that distance exactly twice in my life.
• This would really build an awesome aerobic base.
• 300K PER MONTH? REALLY?
• Who is this "Don" person, and why would he suggest something so ridiculous?
• Three. Hundred. K. It hurts to even think about it.

Well, I guess it's finally official...

...I'm a K-Hound:

MOORE, Keith | Seattle International Randonneurs | 947018

Cert No.	Type	Km	Date	Region	Route	Time	Medal
2014	ACP SR, annual total=10081 km
78674	ACPB	600	2014/09/06	WA: Seattle	Chili Feed with Extra Lumps	37:11	Y
US-2014-077	ACPF	min 360 actual 360	2014/05/02	WA: Seattle	?	24:00
RUSA-T38418	RUSAT	104	2014/01/16		WA: Woodinville Trails	05:40
RUSA-P09456	RUSAP	100	2014/11/01	OR: Portland	Snoozeville/Verboort	04:36
416523	ACPB	200	2014/03/22	WA: Seattle	SIR Spring 2014 Bellingham 200k	11:41	Y
RUSA-T46746	RUSAT	205	2014/11/10		WA: Flat Snohomish Edison	09:34
RUSA-T45737	RUSAT	104	2014/10/19		WA: 5 Cities, 3 Rivers Populaire	06:03
73717	ACPB	600	2014/05/31	WA: Seattle	Tsunami 600	36:30	Y
147637	ACPB	300	2014/03/29	WA: Seattle	SiR Spring 2014 300k	16:47	Y
104242	ACPB	400	2014/08/23	WA: Seattle	SIR Summer 2014 400k	24:05	Y
RUSA-T45374	RUSAT	104	2014/10/02		WA: Woodinville Trails	05:11
RUSA-T43605	RUSAT	205	2014/08/06		WA: Flat Snohomish Edison	08:38
RUSA-T45727	RUSAT	205	2014/10/18		WA: Richland-Pendleton-Richland	12:56
RUSA-T39337	RUSAT	300	2014/02/15		WA: MI-3	16:18
RUSA-T40726	RUSAT	202	2014/04/26		WA: The Alps	11:47
154566	ACPB	300	2014/08/02	WA: Seattle	SIR Summer 2014 300k Crystal Blue Persuasion	14:54
9733	ACPB	1000	2014/08/14	WA: Seattle	Seattle-Oregon Coast-Crater Lake-Klamath Falls	68:55	Y
RUSA-T46755	RUSAT	104	2014/11/12		WA: Maltby - Granite Falls	05:18
98365	ACPB	400	2014/05/17	WA: Seattle	SIR Spring 2014 400K	20:05	Y
RUSA-T46758	RUSAT	300	2014/11/15		WA: Seattle-Rainier-Elma-Bremerton	17:26
RUSA-T45872	RUSAT	106	2014/10/24		WA: Centennial Trail Run	05:15
RUSA-T40085	RUSAT	104	2014/04/01		WA: Maltby - Granite Falls	05:08
RUSA-T43012	RUSAT	105	2014/07/25		WA: Redmond to UW via Issaquah	05:45
RUSA-T45698	RUSAT	300	2014/10/11		WA: MI-3	16:01
RUSA-T46205	RUSAT	206	2014/10/25		WA: MI-Redmond-Orting-MI	12:17
RUSA-T45694	RUSAT	100	2014/10/05		WA: Lake Wenatchee 100k	04:32
153422	ACPB	300	2014/04/05	WA: Seattle	SiR Spring 2014 Olympia 300k	15:13	Y
RUSA-T41596	RUSAT	102	2014/05/23		WA: Club Car Populaire	05:20
RUSA-T42482	RUSAT	303	2014/06/15		WA: Snohomish-Mt. Vernon-Issaquah	14:57
RUSA-T43095	RUSAT	303	2014/07/27		WA: Snohomish-Mt. Vernon-Issaquah	17:35
US-7657	RM	1240	2014/06/21	WA: Seattle	2014 Cascade 1200	91:29
RUSA-T38701	RUSAT	303	2014/01/25		WA: Snohomish-Mt. Vernon-Issaquah	17:02
RUSA-T40693	RUSAT	105	2014/04/29		WA: Redmond to UW via Issaquah	04:53
RUSA-T45373	RUSAT	106	2014/10/01		WA: Centennial Trail Run	04:08
410314	ACPB	200	2014/03/15	WA: Seattle	SIR Spring 2013 Seattle 200K	09:58	Y
RUSA-T41149	RUSAT	105	2014/05/13		WA: Redmond to UW via Issaquah	04:31

Coffeeneuring 2014 Summary

The 2014 Coffeeneuring Challenge is complete.

This has been a rather difficult Coffeeneuring year for me. I've ridden A LOT this year -- double the mileage I rode in 2013 (which was itself a personal best for total miles ridden). With all of the randonneuring rides I've attempted, there hasn't been much time for Coffeeneuring.

That said, I managed to (barely) squeeze in seven Coffeeneuring trips during the allowed time period.

Coffeeneuring #7: Belle Pastry in Redmond, WA

I just managed to squeak in my final Coffeeneuring ride on the last possible day.

It was an easy, flat 13.2 mile ride from downtown Woodinville to Belle Pastry in Redmond, WA. I was honestly surprised I had 13.2 miles left in me after the previous day's ride.

On Saturday, a few of us stupid brave souls (Theo, Bill, Geoff, and myself) attempted a 300K ride from Bremerton to Seattle. The ride started at about 7:15am in Bremerton, which required taking a 6:00am ferry from Seattle. The morning started dark, cold, and too damn early.

The temperatures were in the mid 20's when we started, and climbed through the day into the low 40's. As soon as the sun went down, the temperatures plummeted. By the time we reached our penultimate control (near Sumner) the temperature was below 32, and our water bottles began to freeze. Theo and I rolled into Seattle about 00:40, with Bill rolling in about 02:20. Geoff, perhaps the wisest of the three, bailed out in Rainier (~114 miles in) and got a ride home from his wife.

The next day my legs were stiff and achy. I didn't think I could ride at all, but several cups of coffee at home (and a healthy cup of HTFU) got me on the bike and, more importantly, carried me to MORE COFFEE.

Coffeeneuring #5 and #6: Something old, something new

I had no plans to go Coffeeneuring on Saturday. Instead, I planned to take part in group 300K ride from Bremerton to Seattle. The ride started at 7:00am in Bremerton, which required taking the 6:00am ferry from Seattle. I arrived in Seattle about 5:15am with (I thought) plenty of time to park, prepare the bike, and board.

Street parking is limited to 2 or 4 hours Monday-Saturday. The surface lots I checked had automated ticket machines, each with a 10 hour limit (I needed closer to 20 hours). The garages I checked were all closed.

30 minutes later, still unable to find long-term parking, I gave up and went home.

Since I didn't spend 15 hours riding a 300K, I had plenty of time for some coffeeneuring.

Coffeeneuring #4: Coava Coffee Roasters in Portland, OR

On our last day in Portland it seemed perfectly reasonable (maybe even required) to coffeeneur to one of my favorite coffee destinations: Coava Coffee Roasters. A number of friends old & new agreed to join me there at 10:30. What a wonderful way to start a lazy Sunday.

Kasia and I checked out of our favorite B&B about 9:30 and drove to the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Kasia has wanted to visit these gardens for a long time, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. While she toured the gardens, I could go coffeeneuring!

Opportunistic Coffeeneuring at the Verboort Sausage Festival

Coffeeneurs vary wildly on the snacks that accompany their beverage of choice. Some folks focus solely on the coffee, while others include a pastry, cookie, chocolate, or other sweet. It's all good.

But how about... sausages?

Coffeeneuring 2014, #2

Coffeeneuring means different things to different people. Sometimes it's a well-earned coffee after an epic ride; sometimes it's much simpler.

Today was one of those simpler days. Sometimes you just need an easy ride and a good cup of coffee (and, in this case, a piece of cake.)

Coffeeneuring 2014, #1

Coffeeneuring season is upon us! It actually started two weeks ago (10/04), but I've been too busy with other rides to take time for coffee. Oh, the horror!

I finally managed to squeeze in a coffeeneuring ride during a recent trip to Eastern Washington. Jason and I drove to Richland, WA to ride with the Desert River Randonneur crowd. Five of us (Norm and Gary from DRR, Susan from Oregon, and Jason & I from SIR) met to ride the Richland-Pendleton-Richland 200K permanent on Saturday.

Susan, Jason, and I, being out-of-towners, stayed in a hotel near the ride start. Coincidentally, the ride started at a Starbuck's. Even more coincidentally, the bike ride from the hotel to the start was 2.3 miles -- perfect coffeeneuring distance!

The Rando Fun Equation and The Best DNF Ever

Among the randonneuring crowd there is a recurring joke about the three types of fun:

• Type 1: You know it's fun while you're doing it.
• Type 2: Doesn't seem like fun at the time, but when you look back you realize it was indeed fun.
• Type 3: Not fun

Using the different types of fun, one can attempt to quantify the success of a given ride or other activity. For a successful ride, the following relation holds true:

(Type_1_Fun + Type_2_Fun) > Type_3_Fun

I recently completed The Big Guns 1016K permanent from Portland, OR to Whitefish, MT with two women (Asta and Susan) from Oregon Randonneurs and two guys (Doug and Paul) from Desert River Randonneurs. Doug had to bail out in Kellogg, ID due to excruciating IT band pain. The remaining four of us finished the ride "hors delai" (we exceeded the specified time limits). I can't speak for Doug, but for the rest of us the above relation definitely holds true.

Fun and Games with Google Maps and GPX Files, Revisited

Introduction

Four years ago I posted an article on a helpful trick for display GPS tracks directly in Google Maps. There have been a few changes in this area, so it seemed worth the time to revisit.

tl;dr for the impatient

• In Google Maps Classic, enter the URL of a publicly-accessible GPX or KML file into the edit field normally used for search terms. When you click the search button (or press enter), the track[s] appear on the map. 

•  A Ride With GPS route (of the form http://ridewithgps.com/routes/NNN) can be directly retrieved as a GPX stream by simply appending ".gpx" to the URL.

Details for everyone else

Before diving into the details, two prerequisites must be covered.