March 7, 2004
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It’s Sunday and it’s supposed to be a really nice day. I arrive
at the FC HS at ~8:00 and to my surprise I see a yellow Jacket. Yep!
It's Dave. Turns out that he was able to get out for a ride and
decided to return the fold.
Shortly, we are joined
by Kent and Glenn. H. Hmmm, Not sure where Paul is today? Pehaps
he did the Lee's ride on Saturday for a little bit of "Secret
Training". Anyway, we chat for a bit and decide to do the
Centennial loop. Dave has found a way to avoid 287 and so we are
off. Well, almost, Dave found a Nalgeen bottle which he was
gonna stash in the bushes. Well, Dave must have a knack for finding
things, since there was a working Cell phone that had been dropped
there.So we are heading down Horsetooth. The pace is easy and we catch
up on what has been going on in the cycling community. Dave and I
are setting the pace as we make our way into the foothills. This
should be an easier ride since Dave, Kent haven’t been riding due to
feeling a bit under the weather and Glenn has been doing some
skiing. Well, Glenn did mention that has started to get out
in the mornings so I am sure that he will return to his spring fitness
soon.We reach the base of the 1st hogback and I have the lead. Figure
I might as well set a good pace and take some “king of the hill
pts” while Peter and Paul are absent. I was happy to
see that my HR was pretty low for that effort and I was able to
Summint 1st. Dave was close behind unti about 7/8’s
of the way up followed by Kent and Glenn.The wait is short and we go for the Centennial Hill.
Well I figure I will take this one too and assure myself the “title”
for this week, and besides, when all area at full strength these small
victories will be few and far between. I get a good gap on
the crew and figure I can cruise to the top. Well, Low and
behold, Kent comes up a ramming and a thumping with about 150
yards or so to go. Well, I engage the “Warp Engines” and he
is easily dispatched. Victory is mine, but I do note an
impressive effort by the ailing Kent.We continue on and Glenn stops to adjust some clothing. I wait
with him and Dave goes up the road to let Kent know what’s going
on. We are back on the road shortly and rejoin Kent and
Dave. One more Hill and I figure I should hold on to this one
too. Dave is riding better now and we aren’t too far
apart. Ya know it’s a lot easier to remember these details when
you aren’t in the lead.We make it to that final climb and Kent takes over for the
Descent. He hit 50 mph with lots of pedaling. I hit 49.2
just getting Aero! Glenn was happy just to keep
Kent in sight. I sometimes wonder, since Glenn jumps off
cliffs and stuff on his skis, that he isn’t a more aggressive
rider, but I guess everyone has their sport and strengths.It’s on to Binghamhill road and the the final Ascents. Well
to stamp some authority on this last ascent I take the lead. I
get a good gap, look back and it’s time to cruise. Well, I
am close to the summint when Glenn comes up with a wicked
sprint. Hmmm, (Mental note, he’s gonna be tough when his
legs return) and I am forced to answer with a sprint of my own.
He admits his HR was ~190 when he caught me so I was able to fend this
one off and assure myself of “King for a Day”.
There is one more little riser and Kent and Glenn have a
good gap on Dave and I. I see Kent and Glenn going
for the summit and I try to take some more glory for myself (It is the
Klingon way after all). Well too little to late and Kent
summits 1st, and I just nipped Glenn at the crest.With the hills all done it’s off to the flats. We make the left
onto Overland Trail and continue Northward. We are a well matched
group at this point and the paceline is working well. The
transitions are really smooth as we stroll down the country
roads. Our pulls are probably a bit longer than they should
be since I notice that the speed sometimes drop more than it
should. I know that everyone wants to do their turn at the front,
but when you have 4 fairly well matched individuals it’s better to get
off the front and share the load. Also as a matter of getting
faster, if that is one’s desire, it’s better to pulll harder and
shorter, as this will assure you that you get a good workout and will
help in preparation to join other faster groups. If you can pull
all day at 20 mph then step it up to 22 and take a shorter
pull. Nuff said about that……..We continue on for quite a while. We stop a bit north of the Bud
plant to get some food. We chat a bit more about training,
HR’ etc. After a few minutes a loan rider approaches.
He’s got his areobars etc. and some really expensive mount,
We exchange pleasantries.We take off again Southward and life is good. We see a “bogey” at
11:00 and he makes the turn South in front of us. Dave makes a
nice pull and we reel him in. It’s always nice to have someone to
chase, since it gives one some extra motivation, which on the
flats is always welcome. We continue, pedal pedal
Pedal and I am surprised how strong Glenn is riding. His pulls
are very strong and I note that my once a week Sunday ride isn’t going
to keep me in good enough shape for these rides to be comfortable as
the season progresses.We make it down to Rt 14 and then 257 and make the right turn towards
the wall. We chat for a while and Kent points out that on the
Hills today, that I did just what it took to take the summint. I
replied, well, from my “Drag Racing Days” One might not want to
let everyone know how much Horsepower you got! Till ya need
it. There is one last hill which I figure I should
take. I get a gap look back and Kent who was there is replaced by
Dave. A bit more effort assures me the top but in doing so I can
feel my legs begin to cramp. Guess I don’t do any sprint training
at all anymore since I don’t race and those little jumps really wear
one down. I figure it’s time to just spin as we head for
home.Kent departs the group and it’s Dave, Glenn and I. We are
heading North towards Ketcher and Dave has the lead and starts to ramp
it up. He gets a gap on the descent. I am able to bridge
and figure I will take up some of the pace making. I sit up
after a bit to check on Glenn and everyone is together. We make
the left onto Kechter and life is good, except my right Knee is
starting to bother me. After we cross 25 I figure it’s time for
my cool down. A nice 2 mile spin should be good. Dave
is up the road and head for home. I catch Glenn and
we take it easy. I think Glenn wanted to go faster, but I kept my
pace below 16 since my goal was to cool down and give my knee a break.
So the ride is over and a good time was had by all. ~ 50 miles at 16+ mph.
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