JGG

[Hair Face]

Anyone else out there yesterday?

Biggest ride I've ever done in both mileage and elevation at 125 miles and 10,700ft.

Unfortunately the segment aspect of this event was screwed up and there was no longer going to be any placing so we were all kind of out for one big group ride.

Hung with the front group until just before the mile 65 aid. I had already been letting them go on the climbs and making the catch on the descents because they were hitting the climbs harder than I knew I should be given the amount of time I was going to be on the bike. Caught back up to them at the aid but didn't bother to rush through and roll with them. Probably a good call. I rode the second half solo and felt much better doing the climbs at my pace.

The route was pretty damn good and had a little bit of everything, rocks, singletrack, gravel roads, roads.

 

[Cole]

Anyone else out there yesterday?

Biggest ride I've ever done in both mileage and elevation at 125 miles and 10,700ft.

Unfortunately the segment aspect of this event was screwed up and there was no longer going to be any placing so we were all kind of out for one big group ride.

Hung with the front group until just before the mile 65 aid. I had already been letting them go on the climbs and making the catch on the descents because they were hitting the climbs harder than I knew I should be given the amount of time I was going to be on the bike. Caught back up to them at the aid but didn't bother to rush through and roll with them. Probably a good call. I rode the second half solo and felt much better doing the climbs at my pace.

The route was pretty damn good and had a little bit of everything, rocks, singletrack, gravel roads, roads. View attachment 280958

When I saw your Strava, I thought "maybe next year"... Probably a 2% chance I will attempt something like that though. Maybe the 150k... I do think that I will have a hard time paying over $100 to ride roads I already ride though...

 

[Hair Face]

When I saw your Strava, I thought "maybe next year"... Probably a 2% chance I will attempt something like that though. Maybe the 150k... I do think that I will have a hard time paying over $100 to ride roads I already ride though...

Yeah it's a good route but the aid stations are definitely no comparison to mkf. You could definitely go do the ride on your own with a little bit of planning for refuel stops along the way.

 

[Cole]

Yeah it's a good route but the aid stations are definitely no comparison to mkf. You could definitely go do the ride on your own with a little bit of planning for refuel stops along the way.

good to know, however, even if I thought I could make it, I am not sure I would put myself through that torture if it wasn't an event.

 

[Red Mosquito]

good to know, however, even if I thought I could make it, I am not sure I would put myself through that torture if it wasn't an event.

Pay your map guy to draw up a route with appropriate stops, then it's technically an event.

 

[Cassinonorth]

I do think that I will have a hard time paying over $100 to ride roads I already ride though...

This is where I land every time I consider this race.

 

[Cole]

This is where I land every time I consider this race.

With all that said, I may be interested in doing the September one if anyone is interested.

 

[iman29]

Same here 90% of these routes are local-ish and I ride the roads pretty often. MKF is a pretty high standard for any event to match in terms of overall event, plus the challenge of riding the terrain.

I did this event in 2022 and even tho I said one and done, I think the struggle I had with it was more due to undertraining (fighting cramps from mile 55 to the end). But the event was very well done on the level with MKF. They even had unofficial surprise rest stop where the locals set up a stop making pancakes, bacon and "adult beverages".

I’d consider going back to it maybe next year if I can train properly as I did for MFK this year.

2026 Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo V14 Online Registration

www.bikereg.com

 

[Carson]

Same here 90% of these routes are local-ish and I ride the roads pretty often. MKF is a pretty high standard for any event to match in terms of overall event, plus the challenge of riding the terrain.

I did this event in 2022 and even tho I said one and done, I think the struggle I had with it was more due to undertraining (fighting cramps from mile 55 to the end). But the event was very well done on the level with MKF. They even had unofficial surprise rest stop where the locals set up a stop making pancakes, bacon and "adult beverages".

I’d consider going back to it maybe next year if I can train properly as I did for MFK this year.

2026 Lu Lacka Wyco Hundo V14 Online Registration

www.bikereg.com

View attachment 280976

Tour de Meth.

 

[Cole]

Tour de Meth.

Maybe that's what helped him make it the last 50m.... Something wrong with that?

 

[iman29]

Maybe that's what helped him make it the last 50m.... Something wrong with that?

Trust me if that was an option at the rest stops I probably would have taken some

 

[Jeremy]

For what that costs, you may as well go the NJ fondo. You’re going to get 4 stocked aid stations and a bunch of other support.

Highlands Gran Fondo 2026 — Gran Fondo National Series

www.granfondonationalseries.com

 

[Steve Vai]

Pay your map guy to draw up a route with appropriate stops, then it's technically an event.

In this case, just steal one my Strava Routes and turn it into an event 🤷

 

[Hair Face]

I'd be curious to hear what you locals think of the route.....does it appear to cover a lot of the "good stuff" in the area? I liked the mix of terrain. Not sure if you'll be able to see RWGPS because it's a members only view... JGG Mega XL

 

[Cole]

I'd be curious to hear what you locals think of the route.....does it appear to cover a lot of the "good stuff" in the area? I liked the mix of terrain. Not sure if you'll be able to see RWGPS because it's a members only view... JGG Mega XL

I was surprised to see that Palatine was only on the MegaXL (according to the signs) Boulder hill and Palatine are always fun

 

[Red Mosquito]

In this case, just steal one my Strava Routes and turn it into an event 🤷

Yore routes are definitely a source of info!

I'd be curious to hear what you locals think of the route.....does it appear to cover a lot of the "good stuff" in the area? I liked the mix of terrain. Not sure if you'll be able to see RWGPS because it's a members only view... JGG Mega XL

I'm not seeing much that was missed, aside from the road through trumps golf course, which is nothing special. It's also missing island road which is nice, but one end comes out to rt 22 so there's not really a good way to work it in especially for a ride like this.

This route goes through some painstaking looping to make sure just about everything else was hit.

 

[Patrick]

I was surprised to see that Palatine was only on the MegaXL (according to the signs) Boulder hill and Palatine are always fun

Palentine is a problem with the various routes because of direction.
The routes have attempted to be "stacked" loops, with one just an extension of the other - but it never quite worked out.

One year the route came down Middle Valley, the warning/caution signs were there - we had a rider go over a car as they didn't know the road.
Up middle valley to Zellers, or out to catch Hollow Brook.
There was another turn that was downhill then right and slightly blind, I can picture it but don't remember the road
- group had an accident when an outside rider turned in front of someone that didn't notice the sign(s)....
also had traffic coming up the hill to make a left onto the same road - yikes.

Hacklebarney is ok, along with Long, but that leads to Rt 206 - and I really dislike that crossing - or the one north of there.
The road that leaves Nassau Trails down by the ironworks is nice. along with the ride through the gorge.
paved but Petticote->bissel->still hollow->rockaway->......then take your pick through the area between Lamington & rt 22.
there is another in there, maybe taylor's mill?

Island->rt 22 was crazy putting 100 riders on a highway. Even with an officer sitting there for an hour or so with lights on.
but that loop is so good. island -> back on lamington to meadow. other than the 1 lane bridge....

The segments are very difficult to time - Strava does everything they can to prevent their data being used as a fondo results system.
And of course, riders can't follow instructions. Be a member of the RSG Group, have your ride set public, have your results posted to segments, if your name is different let us know etc.... even had a person that the participants could visit before the ride to confirm everything. Even then, we'd have people pre-ride the course and that ride would show up on the results!

One year "we" GPS tagged everyone ala adventure racing to do results - the segments in adventure racing are measured in hours.
The company set the sampling rate to 1 minute with random start (so all the sample didn't come in at once.)
Riders traveling together noticed a wide variation immediately since segments are only a few minutes long.
A timing company with bibs would have to put out receivers, which don't work well with packs of cyclists doing 20mph.

Thing is, there were plenty of prizes - and no way to do real-time results.
It would take me a couple days to get it straight after dealing with all the "corrections/inclusions"
Simple to fix, random drawing for prizes in each class to be picked-up when finished.
Gift certificates to future events (or a store) for the top riders on each route, and segment - with no duplicating spread the prizes.
I know Dave went this way for a bit - not sure now. I'm two or three seasons out of working these events.

 

[iman29]

This route goes through some painstaking looping to make sure just about everything else was hit

This is probably the best way to summarize the route planning.

As Pat said There’s a lot of connecting roads as you saw to get to some of good gravel sections but there’s also a lot of “dead ends “ of gravel if you will that are not conducive to riding for a large group based on where they exit onto certain roads.

 

[Red Mosquito]

Palentine is a problem with the various routes because of direction.
The routes have attempted to be "stacked" loops, with one just an extension of the other - but it never quite worked out.

One year the route came down Middle Valley, the warning/caution signs were there - we had a rider go over a car as they didn't know the road.
Up middle valley to Zellers, or out to catch Hollow Brook.
There was another turn that was downhill then right and slightly blind, I can picture it but don't remember the road
- group had an accident when an outside rider turned in front of someone that didn't notice the sign(s)....
also had traffic coming up the hill to make a left onto the same road - yikes.

Hacklebarney is ok, along with Long, but that leads to Rt 206 - and I really dislike that crossing - or the one north of there.
The road that leaves Nassau Trails down by the ironworks is nice. along with the ride through the gorge.
paved but Petticote->bissel->still hollow->rockaway->......then take your pick through the area between Lamington & rt 22.
there is another in there, maybe taylor's mill?

Island->rt 22 was crazy putting 100 riders on a highway. Even with an officer sitting there for an hour or so with lights on.
but that loop is so good. island -> back on lamington to meadow. other than the 1 lane bridge....

The segments are very difficult to time - Strava does everything they can to prevent their data being used as a fondo results system.
And of course, riders can't follow instructions. Be a member of the RSG Group, have your ride set public, have your results posted to segments, if your name is different let us know etc.... even had a person that the participants could visit before the ride to confirm everything. Even then, we'd have people pre-ride the course and that ride would show up on the results!

One year "we" GPS tagged everyone ala adventure racing to do results - the segments in adventure racing are measured in hours.
The company set the sampling rate to 1 minute with random start (so all the sample didn't come in at once.)
Riders traveling together noticed a wide variation immediately since segments are only a few minutes long.
A timing company with bibs would have to put out receivers, which don't work well with packs of cyclists doing 20mph.

Thing is, there were plenty of prizes - and no way to do real-time results.
It would take me a couple days to get it straight after dealing with all the "corrections/inclusions"
Simple to fix, random drawing for prizes in each class to be picked-up when finished.
Gift certificates to future events (or a store) for the top riders on each route, and segment - with no duplicating spread the prizes.
I know Dave went this way for a bit - not sure now. I'm two or three seasons out of working these events.

In short, a lot of these roads are not conducive to large group riding. Four or five buddies on the road are fine but more than that and it gets hairy

 

[Glenn Rides After 4 PM CST]

Are they still requiring mandatory stops at all rest area? To tell them your bib number and grab some scratch and potato chips ...