February 23, 2004
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Sunday has once again arrived. I arrive in the lot at ~
8:05 and find Paul and Glenn H. pedaling about. We chat for
a bit and are joined by Kent and Bruce! Bruce says he is thinking about
doing Gales ride and after some discussion we agree.Paul and I take the lead and it’s pretty apparent that Paul is feeling
good. Probably because he is already warmed up, but a good bit
has to do with all of the commuting that he has been doing.
The warm-up pace was a wee bit to fast or at least on the high end, but
it wasn’t unbearable. I could feel my legs complaining
after only a few miles. It was good that we went down
Timberline since it’s kinda down-hill and a good road to spin on.Heading up Trilby with Paul up front I decided to take it easy, and I
let Paul, Kent and Glenn get a good gap on one of those little
risers. Bruce kept me company as we caught them at the
intersection of 287. On to Shields and I am starting to Warm up a
bit more. We are moving pretty well and will reach Gales
soon. I make a right instead of a left and we need to make a U
turn. We find Logan street and find ourselves a Gales place.Gale greets us warmly and makes some introductions to the “Breakfast
Club Boyz”. At this point I feel kinda like “Robin Hood”
and his band of Merry Men. After all we do have at least
one thing in common, and that is that we are both perceived by some as
“Outlaws” by some. There are about 8 or so of Gales crew
including Glenn A. (This is the 1st time the Glenns have been in the
same place at the same time). After a the last “potty
call” Gale gives us the plan and we are off to pick up the
Peloton passe.We reach the Peloton and pick up a bunch of folks. We now number
20+ riders. This is a good size group and good practice for the
boyz. We take off and hit a few red lights. We get gapped
at one point and have to wait. Glenn and Bruce were caught,
so some of us waited for them. We easily caught up as there
were plenty of lights on 34.So we are on 34 for a while. I got a few thunbs up for the shark
helmet cover that I was wearing. I like the cover since it
reminds us that we are doing this for fun sorta ala Jaquelin
Pelan (sp?) of legend. The group is fairly well
mannerd and have a good time chatting. Kent is next to Pam, a
strong woman that he met at the Lee’s New Years day ride. I
am pretty much being quiet and talking things in. My legs are
still telling me that they aren’t up for any real hammering and I am
happy that the pace is pretty easy so far.It was about at this time that Glenn H and Bruce made a North
turn since Glenn needed to be back early and Bruce was just looking to
get in a few easy miles. I guess they could have been considered
on a “B” ride. With that thought in mind, anyone who wants
to show up and ride really should get out to the Sunday AM
ride. Staying at home isn’t gonna help you get any
stronger.As time goes on a rotating paceline forms. It was kinda ragged at
first but then began to smooth out. Now since a paceline is
really meant to make life easy I was happy to hear the 1st time
pacliner Kathy really enjoyed it!. This is a sure sign that
it was working. I have to admit it was nice to be in a large
group since it made cruising along at 20+ quite a pleasure.
Now, was everything perfect, no but there were enough
folks that new what the deal was, that it kept things in
order. There was only 1 real no-no and that was one guy
that would open a gap in the ascending line and then sprint to catch
the wheel in front of him. It wasn’t a real problem at
these non-competitive speeds but could be real annoying if he continued
to do that as the pace was “hotting up”, as Phil Liggett would
say. The other minor problems were from lack of
practice, and not worth a mention here.It’s time to get off of 34 but Gale makes a mistake and we take
the wrong exit, “My Bad” as she put it, but there is always
another road, and the course was adjusted. We finally make
a turn to the North and the pace is getting warmer. It feels good
to stretch and I am sure that Kent and Paul are thinking the same. Kent
does have a cold however, so Maybe not, but I would bet that he was.
Now the pace is into the mid 20’s and some are starting to fall
off the back. One young woman who went skiing or somesuch the day
before is begging to crack. I am kinda hungry so I am trying to
get some food and find myself in the back. Tis no mind, since I
don’t think that the group is going to Warp anytime soon and
since Gale will look out for her peeps, there are no worries.
We reach an intersection and Paul is in need of dropping a few
ounces. I figure that this is a good time to get the rest
of my Sobe bar ingested. Paul says that he will catch up, but I
hang back cause, one never knows how fast the boyz and girlz will go
and besides, a good chase is always fun. Seems like our
stop took a bit longer than we expected so we needed to “engage the
warp engines”. Paul takes the 1st pull and it’s pretty
long, I offer to pull but he says that he is alright. We
are making up good ground and it’s only a matter of time.Paul decides to give me a turn up front and l am happy to help
out. My legs are feeling that dull ache of fatigue, but it’s been
this way all day. We are taking turns and see 2 of the
Peloton Cyclits, we shatl call them Team Specialized up the
road. Seems like they either dropped something but in any case
they were a welcome sight. Now it’s the 4 of us chasing and life
is good. We weren’t very organized since Team Specialized guys
would jump to the front when the pace dropped. I am sitting in
since, if they are feeling strong, let them work. As we
get closer, I go with one of the Team S guyz and we get a Gap on Paul
and Team S #2. Oh well, I am sure that they will bridge,
sooner or later. I decide to jump around Team S #1 and I
bring us back into the fold. Yes! Gale give us congrats on
the well done chase. A few minutes later Paul is on board.As the pace is “hotting up” We drop a few riders and Gale and 1
or two others drop back to help them. I figure I’ll go back too,
since I have just go done chasing and well, even though I was having
fun, this is not always the case. Anyway we regroup soon
enough. I think we are in Windsor now and we stop at a Gas
Station for a break.There is some light Banter. Eddie (Guy dressed for summer) compliments
me on my bike frame. It’s is nice I have to
admit, and this is the 1st outing with my new carbon seatpost and
Klingon Head tube decal, but no-one noticed those. Kathy is
surprised to still be with us and all are feeling good. After a short
while the group decides what they want to do. Kent decides to
call it a day at this point.We head South again. I remember this road where I was dropped on
my 1st Oval ride. As we head up that same grade, my legs are
complaining again and I am too far back to participate in the little
friendly skirmishes up the road. I think Paul tried to get up
there, but we were too far back. The group comes together again
and we are feeling good.We see this rider up the road, and It’s like putting meat in front of a
hungry dog. This time Paul and I are up with the leaders and
having a bit of fun. We are holding our own as the attacks
come. Eddie makes a jump to go catch the lone rider and
after a bit I decide to go after him, against the suggestions of my
legs. To my surprise I am able to catch Eddie and the Lone rider,
who introduces himself to me as “Salvador”.The rest of the group catch up and pass us and looks like it’s go
time. Eddie once again attacks and I go with him. The 2 of
us have a decent gap on the group! My legs have no snap and
I am really surprised to be out front with Eddie. I make a
surge but Eddie is right there. I can hear Mr. Scott
hailign me. “We can’t keep this up or she’s gonna
blow”. I cry Uncle and Eddie takes it! Eddie comments
that he is impressed that I was in the small ring! Too be honest,
I didn’t have the legs for the Big ring! Otherwise I would have been
there! The spinning is good for me, “ I said” since my
inclination is to push big gears and wear myself out.Paul catches up and we chat. Seems like all of that chasing wore
him out and he was unable to “engage”. We decide that it’s
time to head for home and turn about to head North. It’s
down hill for a bit so we get in a good spin. We chat a bit and I
comment that he is not wearing his parachute that he worn last
weekend. Good to know that someone listens to what I
say.As we reach Ketcher, and prepare for the left turn, We see about 18 or
so Bogies turn north in front of us. It’s Jimmiy D and the Lee’s
boys. We decide to catch them. Jimmy D give me a warm
greeting and Invites us to join them as they are just starting
out. We much decline, but It would have been fun. I
chat with, I think “Rob” of Team Lee’s about Gale for a
bit. That road is really bumpy! Rob wants to see Gale
and congratulate her on her recent appointment to the Olympic Committee
or somesuch. We finally reach Harmony and Jimmy
D and the boyz head for Tinmath and we head for the HS. My legs
are really complaining now, while climbing that grade in front of HP.We make it back the the HS. About 60 miles for me avg speed
about 18.2. I decide to head down to stover for a bit of a longer
cool down, so Paul and I head that way. We part company at
Swallow and I have a leisurely spin home. Great ride, much
different than the hills, the constant effort is a different kind of
training that I need more of.
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