The idea of undertaking a cross-state record came from my good friend and fellow ultra cyclist Larry Ide.  The prime motivation was to acquire points for the Ultracycling Cup.  For one reason or another we had both missed a number of ultracup events and with the season winding down we were looking for opportunities to secure more points. 

The cross-Illinois record was very appealing for several reasons.  First, it was close to home for both of us making the logistics easier.  Second, the route looked largely flat and, as long as the winds didn’t kick in, had the potential for a fast crossing.  Third, as Larry and I are in different age groups, albeit by just a few months, we could both independently set records and score points.  Also with no records established for either of our age groups (the exception was an existing W – E record in my 40 – 49 age division) the field was open to score some good ultracup points.  Knowing we were in different age groups meant we could compete without ‘competing.’  For several years now Larry and I have been pushing each other at ultra races and I know this led to marked improvements in my riding.  We both log our miles on the Big-Dogs website (www.ultramidwest.net) and have a friendly competition going to see who can ride the most miles.  

We set August 15th and August 16th for our respective crossings and Larry secured the services of his in-laws, Dick and Joyce Bowman, to serve as crew.  Larry rode on the 15th with me as the official and I took off on the 16th with Larry officiating.  We all met up in Terre Haute and over dinner worked out the final details of how we would handle the crossing and made sure we were familiar with all the rules and regulations.  We never had the opportunity to survey the route ahead of time but had secured detailed information on the route from Drew Clark who rode the route and set the W – E crossing in his age division in 2007.  Going second I did get to see the route before riding although this didn’t afford me any significant advantage as the route was very direct—essentially US 40 to mid-state and then Rte 140 to Alton—with just one minor road repair underway.  Much of the route followed one of the old RAAM routes as well as part of this year’s course from Alton to Effingham.  Seeing the RAAM markings on the road I tried to visualize myself riding RAAM which I hope to do in the near future.

I awoke at 2 AM and proceeded to get ready for the record attempt.  I had done much of the preparation the night before after returning to the hotel from Larry’s successful and fast crossing.  No more or less sleep than usual though!  We made it out to the start on the Illinois/Indiana border where Illiana Drive intersects State Line Road.  This also marks the start of the Ride Across Indiana which I had ridden in 2004.  We decided to go from E – W and back since, as the prevailing winds are out of the west, we would get a good push on the return crossing.  As the winds are typically light in the morning we felt this would make the E – W crossing easier especially if we got an early start.  Under a full moon, calm conditions, clear skies with the temperature in the low 60s, I started the crossing at 3.02 AM riding my carbon Felt F4C the bike that had gotten me through the Race Across the West in good order.  I felt in good shape and was buoyed by a personal best time in the Metamora 4X50 race the weekend before.

The first three-hours of the crossing were done in the dark although the full moon lit the road very well and provided an atmospheric backdrop.  There was virtually no other road traffic and this part of the ride was uneventful aside from the appearance of two deer on the road which we managed to pass without incident.  The first part of the ride was hillier than I had expected although the rises weren’t long or steep.  As the morning progressed the temperature started to rise, but it never got particularly hot or humid, especially given typical Illinois August weather, at any point during the day.  The wind started to pick up, but was light as it often is early in the day.  Unfortunately, counter to what we had hoped, it was out of the northeast, so much for the prevailing wind theory.  This meant very little push to Alton and the prospect of a headwind all the way back which Larry had experienced the previous day.  The roads were good and traffic light through Vandalia and on through Greenville and I maintained a steady pace of around 20 mph.  On the outskirts of Alton the traffic got heavier especially on the multilane highway into town and then on the town roads.  Eventually the Mississippi River and bridge came in view and on the bridge we were treated to some great views.  I reached the Illinois/Missouri border sign on the bridge at 10.40 AM for a crossing time of 7:38 for an average speed of 20.33 mph for the 155.2 miles.  I had set the E – W mark for my age group!

The bridge at Alton, although it had a wide bike lane, did not feel very safe as the road was a four-lane highway with a 55 mph posted speed limit.  There was no way to traverse to the other side of the road to start the return crossing so we loaded me and my bike into the van and proceeded over into Missouri to the first turnaround.  It was then back up onto the bridge to unload my bike and start the return.  Given the traffic I was keen to get going as quickly as possible.  Despite this, I lost 14 minutes on the turnaround departing the Illinois/Missouri border at 10:54 AM.   What with the wind, we both now wished we had done the crossing W – E – W!

Traffic was still heavy through Alton and the crew did a great job of protecting me, as they did throughout the ride, as well as keeping me fed and hydrated.  I was drinking one bottle of Perpetuem in a 2 scoop/24 oz bottle mix and one 24 oz bottle of Gatorade about every two hours.  Later in the ride this intake increased and I took a leaf out of Larry’s book and downed a few cokes!  The ride through to Smithboro passed quickly and I was still holding a 20+ mph pace.  The wind from the NE was getting stronger and at times it was a problem making it difficult to hold my pace.  Other times the wind seemed to shift and I couldn’t feel any head or cross wind.  Once through Vandalia the headwind became more significant and the stretch from Vandalia to Effingham seemed to be endless and always slightly uphill with the wind making it difficult to hold a 17 mph pace.  Beyond Effingham conditions improved although the wind seemed to keep shifting making riding at times hard and at other times easy.  I reached the Illinois/Indiana border at 7:20 PM for a crossing time of 8:26 for an average speed of 18.4 mph for the 155 miles.  I hadn’t beaten the existing mark but always knew that was a long shot and given the wind out of the northeast not on the cards for this attempt.  For the double crossing my total time was 16:18 for an average speed of 19.03 mph for the 310.2 miles.  I had set the mark for the E – W – E for my age group.

My sincere thanks to Dick and Joyce Bowman for crewing and making this ride possible.  Without their support and encouragement I would not have been able to set the records I did.  They did a fantastic job of following me, keeping me fed and hydrated and keeping me safe.  My sincere thanks to Larry for being my official and for his friendship and support during this ride and the many others we have completed.  While we weren’t on the road at the same time, the friendly competition we have with each other helped push me to the times I set.  I was very pleased and satisfied with the marks I achieved and although I did the record attempt for ultracup points, setting a cross-state record was a very different experience than other ultrarides I have done and something I’d consider doing again in the future.    

Official Record:         Illinois E – W, 155.2 miles, 7:38, 20.33 mph
Start:                           IL/IN State Line Road & Illiana Drive
Finish:                         IL/MO border on Alton Bridge Rte 67
Official:                      Larry Ide

Official Record:         Illinois E – W - E, 310.2 miles, 16:18, 19.03 mph
Start:                           IL/IN State Line Road & Illiana Drive
Turning Point:           IL/MO border on Alton Bridge Rte 67
Finish:                         IL/IN State Line Road & Illiana Drive
Official:                      Larry Ide