We decided to tackle the DK100 again in 2017 shortly after returning home last June. I made motel reservations in July and got a really cheap rate. We continued riding through the summer and fall in the New Mexico mountains and around Lubbock. We were able to get in three rides at Southland (33 miles, 52 miles, and 40 miles), a gravel ride at home, and 2 MTB rides in the mountains in November. The weather in December was bad on weekends, and we didn't do a single outdoor ride. However, something life-changing had happened on November 22, so it didn't matter. We finally bought a Peloton bike.
 |
| November mountain biking in Cloudcroft is a bit chilly |
 |
| 33 mile ride at Southland on 11/5/16 |
 |
| 52 mile ride on 11/19/16 for Sandra's birthday at Southland |
 |
| 40 mile ride on 11/26/16 for Amy's birthday at Southland |
Amy, Vince, and Carol had been after us for a year to try it. They are expensive, and neither of us had ever ridden a spin bike or had a positive impression of spinning. Peloton is different. There are many different instructors--some are about what we expected, but some are road riders and racers who have regimented training programs. Neither of us was ever a morning exercise person, but it became apparent that we were going to be wanting to use the bike at the same time after work. I began getting up early 4 days a week and taking the live 6am classes. Rick would use it after work. We could see a difference almost immediately. If the weather was bad on the weekends, no problem. I would just string together 2-4 rides ranging from intense to more endurance-based and could recreate riding in hills, on flats, etc.
Registration for the 2017 DK100 was on January 14--we made it in (barely). Vince, Steve, and Sandra also made it. Randy didn't make it but got in the 50, and Amy registered for the 50. We were able to ride outdoors 3 times in January (January 1st on the North gravel ride, January 12th at Southland with Rick and Jill on a weekday, and on January 29th at Southland with a group on a Sunday), and the Peloton riding continued.
 |
| Me and all the guys on the January 1st gravel ride north of town |
 |
| 1/29/17 Sunday gravel ride |
We rode at Southland 3 times in February (35.7 miles on 2/5, 51 miles on 2/18, and 41 miles on 2/25). Rick was sick some in February and missed the long ride, but I was riding strong. Sandra crashed and was injured on one of these rides, so she and Randy ended up pulling out of the DK100.
 |
| February 5, Southland |
 |
| February 18, Southland (Rick was sick)--lots of mud! |
 |
| February 25, Southland (scouting out part of the Caprock Gravel Grind long course) |
We got to ride at Big Bend in early March. Last year was cancelled at the last minute when Rick's father passed away the morning we were leaving. Only 5 of us went, but we got in a lot of great riding and miles. I had 91+ miles for the three days with almost 9 1/2 hrs of riding time with some heat, hills, and lots of rough roads.
 |
| Short spin on the gravel bikes on Thursday afternoon near Boquillas Canyon |
 |
| Friday ride on River Road with Rick and Vince |
 |
| River Road on Friday--great DK100 training! |
 |
| River Road on Friday |
 |
| Saturday ride on Old Ore Road--another 31 miles and 3:28 of riding |
 |
| A stop at the Rio Grande Village store for ice cream after riding on Old Ore road |
 |
| No trip to Big Bend is complete without a trip to the hot springs after 2 long days of riding |
A couple of weeks later, we made our first trip back to Cloudcroft since November. Our trips in December, January, and February had been cancelled due to weather. The temperature was very mild for March, and we were able to do a 22 mile/3:01/2443' climbing MTB ride on Saturday and a 21 mile/1:55/2119' climbing MTB ride on Sunday.
 |
| Short sleeve jerseys in March at 8000' elevation! |
 |
| Unseasonably warm riding weather in mid-March |
 |
| 8 mile road: 2 QOMs on 2nd day of riding, and I beat the guys! |
A week later, we rode the Rails to Trails at Quitaque on my birthday. It was very cold and windy to start, and we had a race at Castell the next weekend, so we only rode about 41 miles/3:09/642' climbing.
 |
| The tunnel |
 |
| inside look at the tunnel |
 |
| The group pic |
We did the Castell Grind (100K) on April 1 in the Hill Country. Last year I had done the 75K and had won 4th place, but most of the stronger riders do the 100K, so I knew I wouldn't be on the podium. My goals were just to ride strong and not get hurt. I rode alone for a majority of the race. I finished with 62.8 miles/4:48/1518' of climbing/my avg speed=13.1mph. Rick and Vince were faster than me, but I don't know what their times were. We were pleased with our efforts.
 |
| Before and after pics at Castell Grind 100K 2017 |
It was now 2 months until the DK100, so we had to start doing the longer rides on the weekends. The Peloton training continued on all other days (except Friday usually). The next weekend after Castell, we rode 70.4 miles/5:42/2184' climbing on the Caprock Gravel Grind 100K route plus some extra with 90 degrees+ heat and a terrible headwind. My average speed was 12.4 mph.
 |
| Bridge in Garza or Crosby County |
 |
| After the ride |
The next week we rode another 61 miles/4:58/1713' climbing/my avg speed was 12.2mph on the 100K Caprock Gravel Grind course. The ground was very soft and often muddy during the ride, and it was windy.
 |
| Nice view looking east on the 100K CGG course |
 |
| headed back to the west on McDonald Road near White River Lake |
The next weekend we were back in the mountains. Rick & I rode 29 miles/2:29/2221' climbing/my avg speed=11.6 mph on Rio Penasco & Russia Canyon roads on Friday--I had 5 QOMs. On Saturday, we rode on 8 mile road with JD & Jill: 23 miles/2:05/2474' climbing/my avg speed=11 mph--3 QOMs.
 |
| Selfie on Russia Canyon Road |
The next weekend was the Caprock Gravel Grind. I was the promoter, so I didn't get to ride. I did long rides on the Peloton on Friday and on Sunday. Rick & Vince did the 100K race and rode fairly well.
It was now May and we were 4 weeks out. On May 6th, Rickey, Vince and I rode at Southland again--one 100K lap plus 1 small lap: 84.1 miles/6:46/2485' climbing/my avg speed=12.4. It was hot and windy again. The speed was slower than I liked, but I was riding well and finished strong.
 |
| Randy came out on the course to check on us and brought much needed water |
 |
| Finished! |
The next weekend we were back in Cloudcroft. It was just Rick and me this time. We rode 8 mile road on Friday: 22.6 miles/2:05/2429' climbing/my avg speed=10.9 mph and on Russia Canyon Road/Rio Penasco Road/Benson Ridge on Saturday: 40.2 miles/3:35/2909' climbing/my avg speed=11.2 mph. We rode faster segments than we had 3 weeks before and felt strong. Rick was having some difficulties with the longer distances.
 |
| Pics from our Saturday ride |
It was now just 2 weeks before the DK100, so we needed another long & difficult ride. Unfortunately, I was getting sick! A big group showed up at Southland on 5/20 for the 3rd Saturday Southland. I probably shouldn't have ridden or should have done just a short ride, but I couldn't stand the thought of missing my training on the last real training weekend before the DK100. We did the long loop and I really focused on not overdoing it, watching my heart rate and keeping it in zone 2. We did a long loop, and they decided I shouldn't do the second loop. I decided to just backtrack and see how I felt. They ended up with probably 84 miles again, and I got 80.2 miles/6:16/2146' climbing/my avg speed=12.8 mph. Most importantly, I didn't get any sicker and felt fine within a day or two, and I got some confidence that I could ride well and ride strong even while sick. Sometimes stuff like that goes a long way when you are suffering on a long, hard ride like the DK100.
 |
| on the 100K course |
 |
| Another 80+ mile ride |
So we were now one week out from the DK100! Rickey, Vince, and I did 2 short laps on 5/27 for a total of 54.2 miles/4:02/2215' climbing/my avg speed=13.4 mph. It was a dress rehearsal for the next weekend. Rick had put new tires, brakes/shifters (my bike only), derailleurs, and chains on our bikes, and we had purchased some frame bags to take some of the weight off our backs. We were definitely riding strong and fast and had been able to do a lot more long rides this year and to ride in heat. I had re-read the post from last year several times, and we had been following all of the suggestions for improvement from last year. The weather forecast for Emporia looked terrible for the weekend and race day, but we didn't get too excited about it. We were well-prepared and ready to conquer the DK100 this time!
 |
| Final dress rehearsal: new tires/derailleurs/shifters/brakes/chain/frame bags |
 |
| Just finished the final training ride |
 |
| Group selfie after the final training ride |
