Packing and Prepping

Friday....and it feels so good.  We are going to hit the road tomorrow and start our travels heading west.  The plan is to leave at leisure on Saturday morning and drive somewhere into Idaho/Eastern Washington/Eastern Oregon and camp for the evening...then drive a little further on Sunday and do the same somewhere in Eastern Oregon with the intent of arriving in Bend on Monday.  We will stay in Bend Monday through Friday and then leave for Oakridge on Friday to scope out a good camp site, etc for the race.  There is no hotel availability for the Cascade Cream Puff...
As for the race...

From what I have been able to figure out, the long climb in the beginning is mostly on forest road...am anticipating that the crux will be getting through that 4,000ft wall on the 2nd lap, as well as the next 2,000ft climb.  They still are going to add some mileage to the course to meet the 100 mile mark and it probably means it will add something to the already existing 16,000 ft of climbing for the day.

My bike currently has a 33 x 18 gear ratio and I will probably gear up to a 33 x 19 (will need to find a 19 tooth cog in Bend) in order to give myself a little extra wiggle room on that second lap as the legs get tired.  There does not appear to be much in terms of flat terrain so there is no concern for being spun out on the singlespeed.  I am shooting to finish it and if I get across the finish line, am hoping for a 13 hr day in the saddle...but who knows how the legs will respond

I have a little maintenance yet to do on the bike...will probably clean it up a little more and swap out the handlebars and grips with a carbon bar and the comfy Ergon grips that will reduce pressure on the ulnar nerve...

The race website does not yet have the course profile up but fortunately there are people who have ridden this year's course and have GPS'd it.  The course will be 2 laps on a roughly 50 mile course.

Some of the riding in the area looks really amazing and I am hoping the suffering will be less noticeable because of how inspiring the terrain is.
Puff - Winberry Trail
Puff - Alpine Trail
Puff -SaddleBlanket Trail

Now off to watch Brazil-Netherlands World Cup game...mmmm....coffee on a Friday watching the Cup!