G-flat

So here in Northern Minnesota...and North Dakota.....and Montana, the ground is flat, civilization is sparse, days are long, and the wind is not even close to being at our backs. To ensure a sane (and safe) arrival at our destination, we here at Bike and Build have devised a simple plan to prepare your mind, body, spirit, and bike for the road ahead.

All you need are a few things: anywhere from three to nine other people, a good road game, also a spare tube and Road Morph (the best compact tire pump in the world). Perhaps your bike, too. Now just follow these simple steps, and you're on your way to a fantastic 90 mile ride from Bemidji to Crookston, Minnesota!

1) Leave at 6:30AM, before the wind kicks up. And pray for no wind.

2) If the road is flat and you're in the middle of nowhere, don't ride alone. If the road is flat, you're in the middle of nowhere, AND there's a headwind (which is most often the case), stop your bike and wait for others to catch up. If no one is behind you, well then you're screwed.

3) In a small group of no more than eight...though ten is okay, but you're kinda stretching it....form what is called a double paceline. A paceline is a fancy term for a line of riders drafting off each other to minimize effort and maximize speed, the lead rider "pulling" all behind. Each rider lines up anywhere between 6 inches and 4 feet (the closer, the better) from the rider in front of her/him and maintains speed and distance for maximum drafting benefits. The "pulling" rider is responsible for calling out all road hazards, and notifying the riders behind of any change in speed that could cause tires to touch, and crashes to occur. These calls are passed back by each rider, and all react in a safe manner. If the shoulder is wide enough, and a game of Contact requires riders to be within earshot of all others, a double paceline should be ideal (a triple paceline is NEVER recommended). In a double paceline, half the line rides a safe distance next to the other half (more than a foot), and all are responsible for the safety of both lines.

3) A road game is also a nice distraction from the mundane world around you. As was mentioned before, play Contact.

4) Indeed it is flat here, but watch out for those flats! If the shoulder is filled with rocks and other debris, they often can creep up on you without warning. With rocks, the leaks are often slow and will not be realized for a while down the road. However, anything that could puncture your tire, like metal or glass, may require you to stop suddenly. Let your paceline know you are stopping before slamming on the breaks. Nobody likes crashing.

5) Take several short brakes. On a 90 mile day, it is important to keep your pace consistent (that means no napping), but not to burn the midnight oil at 11 o'clock in the morning. Eat many light meals: yogurt and cereal in the early morning, more yogurt and some egg bake after 35 miles, a peanut butter sandwich and banana at mile 70 or 75, and you will be well energized. And don't forget to hydrate, especially with Gatorade.

6) Make sure you've ridden 2,200 miles before attempting this.

Following this, while averaging 18.1 mph, should have you arriving at your destination around 12:40PM with a big smile on your face.

Best of luck.