February 13, 2005

  • Sunday and it's time for another blog entry.  Well let me say
    right now that I am Spent.  True I have been more spent but, for
    an early season ride I am tired.  That means I will keep this
    report brief.. or better yet do it tomorrow........

    So  I decided to do the CPT training ride and a bunch of folks
    showed up.  Steve Owens shows up at exactly 10:30 and with a bit
    of banter we choose our route.  I guess I wasn't paying attention
    when it was said and I figured we we gonna do Carter Lake.  Guess
    I should mention that Bob G, Shannon, Ilka and myself were the only BC
    boyz & girlz that showed for this one.

    Life is good and the warmup pace sweet as we work our way to the 1st
    hogback   There is a slight wind. as we make our way up the
    climb.  Everyone is in formation 2x2 except Ilka who decide to go
    off the front.  I must say that if the group were less displined
    this could have ignited a firefight, but everyone held there positions
    and we all summited as 2x2.

    On to the next hogback and the pace is easy, at least sitting in
    anyhow.  I see Bob and Ilka on the front then off the front on the
    2nd hogback as the CPT posse held the 2x2 formation.

    Now it's on to the last hogback and once again Ilka is to the
    front.  This time the boyz hold her wheel and this pace is a bit
    much for some.  Rubin  "I think" is helping the young 19 year
    old woman to hold the pace and there are some that have fallen back a
    bit.  Somewhere after this point I never saw Shannon again. 
    Not sure where he turned back.

    Now we are heading towards Masonville and Rubin heads back for some
    "Heroics" to bring a fallen cammerad back into the fold.  Steve O,
    stops to relieve some pressure and gives me instructions to make sure
    the pace doesn't "hot up" while he and others are off the back.  I
    take this to mean go to the front and let the stongmen know, and they
    ease the pace a bit until our fearless leader has returned, which was
    in quick order.

    Now did I mention how tired my legs were when I began this ride. 
    Seems that last weeks MTB ride took the surface charge off of them and
    to be honest I thought about tuning around before I got to Mugs, but
    the 14 mph ride over, made them feel better, and with the group
    contagen, I was more or less ready.... but I digress.

    Anyhow I am looking forward to the turn towards Carter Lake but to my
    shock and Horror discover that we are gonna do Stove Prarie!    
    I know that James B's legs are also a bit tired too, so I may have some
    company...so I guess this is gonna be bad if the pace hots up.

    In any case I mentally prepare for the worse, but little did I expect
    the wind to be so fierce.  Our 2x2 looked like a Peloton with the
    weaklings "And that would include me" looking for shelter.  
    To some this looked like Chaos but for those who have raced, it's
    business as usual even though we were taking up most of the road.

    As expected the group broke up on the 1st climb with Rubin I believe
    being the strongman.  All of this after doing the Oval the day
    before, with what sounded like relative ease!  Yes folks, there
    are mutants amogst us!    
    I didn't get the names of the other strong men but there were alot of
    folks in the CPT colors up front looking strong. As for the rest of us,
    we were there but not with the hills and the wind there was no rest for
    the weary.

    So, I am trying to conserver as much energy as possible and am
    pleasantly surprised that my legs are doing as well as they were. 
    I resisted standing as much as possible but there were times that I
    just had to stand just to give the back and quads a little change of
    position, guess I need to do more core work.... but I digress.

    The 1st climb out of Masonville was a killer,  I was pretty much
    in the company with James B, Bob, Ilka, John.  Ilka had ridden the
    day before, so I know she is gonna be tough when the BC boyz do the KOM
    thing come spring.  Bob Gil.(Guess this could be confused with Bob
    Green)  is riding much better than I am an all of those hours on
    the trainer have really paid off.  Looks like I got some work to
    do to keep hin check, but I am not concerned this early in the
    season.... but I digress again.  I should note that Steve does
    this really sweet wheelie up some of the hill while waiting!  boyz
    got some skills

    So the group waits at the top of this one to regroup and then we are
    off again.  The wind is strong and the group is splintered
    again.  I find myself alone with James, John and Ilka just out of
    reach, but I am able to join them evetually but the cost was
    high.   James takes to the front and has a pretty strong
    acceleration which I under normal strength could hold, but I must say
    No Mas.  Ilka, stays with me and I takeher wheel.

    We  finally make it to the Wall and it;s abrutal climb. 
    Finally at the top the group is there again. we wait for everyone and
    then we are off again.  Did I mention the brutal wind. 
    Once again I am too weak to hold the wheels of the strong and take my
    own pace.  I see Bob Gil is in  No-mans-land up the road a
    good bit ahead of me.  John, Ilka, James and I are more or less
    together  when we reach Stove Prarrie to the waiting Strongmen.

    We wait until the last 2 are in sight and too my horror find out that we are gonna do Rist! .
    Oh well its the shortest way back and I just sit and take it easy up
    this one. I am near the back of the group  when I reach the summit.

    The descent is a bit Chilly, but I have the right clothing so life is
    good.  There is lots of sand in the  road and I am
    cautious.  I catch Ilka on the descent who has cold hands and is
    taking it slower than myself.   Near the bottom I am caught
    by one the the Passe and he goes blowing by me without apparent concern
    for the conditions.  These guys are good!

    Finally back to Bellvue where everyone is waiting.  We depart when
    Ilka reaches us and head over to do Bighamhill road.  By this time
    we have done 4200 feet of climbing so whats another 100 or so. 
    This time I am sorta witht the leaders, but when they sprint for the
    summit, I do not engage. Not cause I didn't want to, but because I
    couldn't.  Also my bike needs a bigger gear. those 650's need a 56
    to be equal to a 700c with a 53 so I would have spun out anyway.....

    So now we are onto Overland Trail.  The pace is good but I am
    tired so I disengage. Bob, beckons me to continue, but I am tired and
    just want to take it easy.  About a mile up the road everyone
    pretty much exits stage left and right so Bob waits for me and we take
    it easy with the strong tail wind.

    Looks like about 55 miles for me. I am tired.  Hopefully I will
    recover this week and be ready for next week, but if the Breakfast Club
    boyz want an easier ride, then that's cool with me.  In any case a
    good time was had by all.  Too bad Peter and Ron weren't there,
    cause I know they would have enjoyed the climbing!