March 14, 2004

  • Another Sunday is here.  It was a good turnout  this fine
    almost spring morning.  The attendee’s were.  Geoff, Glenn,
    Kent, Peter, Dave and myself.  As we waited in the FC HS log a
    lone stranger “Dennis” rolled in.   He had decided that
    Geoff’s backpack and my Shark Helmet cover made us look like a fun
    group so he decided to checkout the group. Hmmm, wonder where
    Bob is, Paul too for that matter, oh well, maybe next week.

    So there was some banter about what to do today.  Peter had
    suggested that we do Pinewood.  I really didn’t think anyone would
    be up for that but to my surprise everyone seemed to think that it was
    a good idea.  This decision makes me question the sanity of the
    group but as long as they are riding it’s all good.   With
    the votes all counted we off to the foot hills.

    The stroll down Horsetooth was pleasant.  Nice warm-up, which gave
    me a chance to get acquainted with Dennis.  His bike was fitted
    with pannier racks and fenders which is change from what the boyz were
    sporting but like the old saying goes, “Never judge a book by it’s
    cover”.    Turns out that he is training for some
    loaded touring and of good course company is good thing to have. 
    I guess we the BC “Breakfast Club” could just as well be known as BC
    “Bad Company” after that  famous rock group and considering
    my  reputation with some in the cycling community might be a
    better name for the group, but I digress.....

    So we are off to the foot hills and Peter is at the front.. This is a
    bad sign since it means that the suffering will begin soon..  As
    we approach the  elbow on the hogback,  some of my fellow
    cyclists are beginning to suffer.   I find myself behind
    Peter and the pace is “hotting up”     Glenn is
    behind me and the others have fallen off the pace.  I suppose a
    man has to know his limits but I figured sometimes a foolish act can be
    fun as long as the price isn’t too high.   So it’s Peter and
    I and Glenn all together at the summit.  I must say that It was
    quite an effort with the HR monitor showing a max of 189,  and
    Glenn was 188.  We were quite pleased with ourselves for this one.
      I  still had some anerobic strength left and had
    thought to attack Peter near the summit, but why incur any more
    suffering on the group than is necessary so I decided
    better.    

    We regroup at the top and continue.  I am pleased to she that
    Geoff and Dennis are still here and not discouraged by that display of
    testosterone.    Anyway somehow Peter and Dennis and I
    were separated from the passe and had to chase back on.  
    Peter did most of the work, and I relieved him for the final catch.

    On to the next hill and Peter’s chain comes off.   Kent slows
    the group ala “Hamilton 2003 tour” while we wait for  Peter
    “Lance” Stackhouse.   With Peter back on board  Glenn
    had the lead and was going for some “King of the Hill” points. 
    This was not to be as Peter launched and attack and easily ran Glenn
    down.   I thought about going with Peter and decided later to
    see if I could catch Glenn.  I was a close 3rd but  too
    little to late.   Peter continues onm, no doubt so as not too
    loose any time on the descent, but we take a while to regroup and he is
    gone.

    Kent does his descent thing and all of the GC contenders are together
    as we reach the bottom of the last hogback.    I decided
    that I should try and keep Peter honest, and although I made up some
    ground and got 2nd on this one, it was probably a waste of energy and
    by the summit  my right Knee was throbbing.. Not like a
    muscle, but more like banged it into something and is was sore. 
    So we chat, and adjust clothing etc.  At this point Glenn needs to
    get back by 10:00 and Dennis decides to join him.   I get his
    email address “I hope” and we are off to Masonville.
     
    Geoff and Peter and I were a bit behind and ended up chasing Kent and
    Dave for a bit.  We finally did catch up in
    Masonville.    We settled into a pretty nice rhythm with
    everyone working well in the paceline.   Some times we do get
    kinda close to the edges in order to ride in the smooth shoulder, which
    makes me nervous at times since there is less room for error with all
    of the sand etc.   I  prefer to take the road especially
    at higher speeds since it’s a bit safer.  Anyway we make it out to
    34 and life is good. I was hoping that Eden’s valley was open but alas,
    they must be working on it still.

    Off to 34, and off again as we head towards Pinewood.  
    The  pace is strong and everyone is still together.  I am
    surprised how strong Geoff is riding since it’s been quite a while
    since he as ridden with us.   Looks like all of the indoor
    training as paid off, and it’s like he has been riding with us all
    winter.

    We make the right hander towards Pinewood and we are moving well. 
    About a mile up the road I suggest that we slow down and recover so we
    can do out little uphill time trial up Pinewood.   We slow it
    down and find a place to stop adjust clothing and begin the
    TT.   Since it’s up hill and drafting won’t matter the plan
    is to start together.   At this point Peter mentions that he
    did  Centennial  yesterday, up and back and did Stadium hill
    (At least once). 

    With our watches set, we are off.   I take the lead just to
    see how if fells.  Felt good for all 2.3 milliseconds as Peter
    went by me.   He got a good gap and then settled into his
    rhythm.   I was trying to pace him for a while but his pace
    was to hot and I settled in.   I kept looking at my MR
    monitor which was in the low 180’s.  My legs were a bit tired from
    earlier efforts and I was surprised that my knee wasn’t getting any
    worse so I pressed on.  I would catch glimpses of peter once in a
    while and I  thought that I might finish closer to him than I did
    last summer. NOT!   I would see  Kent pretty close to me
    so I hoped that I could hold on for a 2nd place here.  I was
    definitely feeling the earlier efforts and  found my self
    struggling for most of the hill.   I was happy when the
    grade lessened but I was in the little ring and the spinning for a few
    yards was refreshing.  Well, it’s the 1st one of these this year
    and I hope to make this a regular event, maybe monthly.

    I eventually summit with a time of 25:09.  Peter still beat me by
    4 minutes and I know he must have been fatigued a bit from the day
    before.   Kent arrives shortly followed by Dave and
    Geoff.   It should be noted that Dave beat me last time we
    did this one and was only a minute or so behind Peter.... things to
    look forward too! 

    So we recover and get some food and head back down.  Kent and Dave
    get a good gap on me and I am on the Chase.   I saw 47+ mph
    and figured I should keep my eye on the road.   I 
    caught and passed Dave on one of the corners and found Kent being held
    up by a truck.  Kent “ Rocket  Boy” decides to pass the truck
    “On the Left this time” although we were in a double yellow zone and
    already breakin the law.    I thought about going with
    him and in hind sight wish did since I ended up wasting some sweet
    ribbon.  Next time I may just pull over and wail for the traffic
    to dissipate since ya never know how these folks in trucks are gonna
    react. 

    Geoff comes blowing by me at the bottom and catches Kent.  Dave
    and I join up and Peter is back.  I decide to wait up a bit for
    Peter since he doesn’t need to suffer too much yet! This early in the
    season.

    The rest of the ride back was good. It was flat so what can I
    say,  Here is the summary....  Nice paceline with everyone
    riding strong.  Dave showed us this sweet short cut off 34 to keep
    us out of traffic.  We had some good fun with myself and Kent
    attacking a few times, just to keep things lively.   Dave was
    riding really strong near the end and I can tell that he will do well
    on our Estes park rides later in the season.    Kent was
    able to chase down a bogey on Trilby, when Dave, Geoff and I got
    separated on a hill sprint.   We then we our separated
    way,  Geoff, Kent bailed on Trilby and Peter, Dave and I went back
    to Horsetooth before we split.  Dave went on to get in at least 60
    miles for the day. A good time was had by all ~ 53 miles at 16+ mph.

    Oh ,I caught some of the AMA 125 motocross action, and a big congrats
    to James “Bubba” Stewart for winning the moto and clinching the 125
    East title!