March 7, 2005

• An early March ride and a most excellent Turnout.  When I arrive
  there is Dave N., Shannon Ron, Jerry, Lewis and friend Jeff. Soon to
  arrive is Peter and then Kent, bearing gifts in the form of Breakfast
  Buritos.  Home made by Theresa!   Unbelievable that he
  had enough for all of us and they sure were welcome.   Perhaps more unbeliveable is the arrival of Bruce H. who has been threatening to come out for about a year or so!   Conspicuously absent are Ilka and Glenn, but I understand they had a hard day Skiing the day before.    (Note: the BC Jerseys on Jerry, Ron, Peter and myself)

  While we are waiting in the Lot,  Jerry gets a flat!.  We
  should note here that he is sporting new wheels!   Yep, the
  boyz are starting to bring out the hardware.  After short bit we
  get the flat changed and we are off.  We exit the rear of the HS
  for a change and head North on Timberline.  The pace is civil and
  we are not quite organized. The boyz up front are in the 2x2 formation
  while those in the rear are sorta in formation, kinda.... whatever.

  As we roll on folks getting more comfortable and life is good. Dave
  flats before reaching 287 and we take the time to eat more
  Buritos!  I
  am trying to conserve energy since it will be a long ride and I am not
  quite at 100%. Finally we reach 287. Lewis heads for home and Jeff decides to continue on.

   Now there is a split in the
  group.  Ron is driving this one with Jerry, Kent and Jeff in tow.
  Well like I always say, "A man's got to know his limits" so I decline
  to have my excess glycogen wasted before the real(tm) efforts are to
  being.   Looks like Peter got caught behind with the rest of
  us and launches from the rear in order to bridge the sizable gap by
  himself!    It's not like he
  is chasing one of us!, but it's Ron up there and I figured that he
  would have towed the rest of us up there at least to give him some
  respite, but he finds himself in no-mans land!  My Posse picks up
  the effort a bit nearer to Ted's place and I fall off the back. Not
  cause I couldn't keep up, but because I wanted to conserve myself.

  So we regroup at Ted's.  Some take a bio break and buy food or
  whatever.  I think Peter called his wife and had a rather long
  conversation, and the train left the station without him and
  Jeff.  We realize this after a bit and slow the pace so they can
  bridge.  There was some thought to keep the pace high and make
  them chase, since Peter often likes the challenge, but we figured that
  it wasn't time to begin the suffering just yet. 

  Now we are all together and the march is about to begin!.  Ron is
  setting a fairly hot pace of about 21-13 mph and I am thinking that I
  ain't gonna be able to do this the whole way up!  Jerry takes over
  the pace making and the mph goes up to between 23-25.  Now I am
  praying that this is gonna end soon.  I take over and try and
  maintain my effort, only to see that Shannon did not follow my
  wheel.  Ah good!  The voice of reason and I am happy to bring
  the pace down to a civil level.

  Mile after Mile pass and it's sorta windy at points.  Everyone is
  pretty much holding there own with some doing longer pulls than others,
  but the pace is surprisingly civil. Guess all those ride reports
  speaking about smoothness have really paid off.  I must say that
  the BC boyz are really much smoother than many of the racer boyz that I have
  ridden with!   ... but I
  digress.   Anyway at one point Jeff makes it to the front and
  stays out there a long time.  I see the speeds slowly start to
  decline as the effort takes its toll.  I decided to go to the
  front and suggest that he share the pacemaking, lest he cook
  himself!  He agrees and falls back.
  
  Life is good and at some point Jerry takes to the front and he is
  riding quite strong.  I watch as whoever was on his wheel, either
  couldn't or choose not to increase the effort to keep it.  Jerry
  walks off the front of the group and although I think he looked back
  decided to stay 50 yards or so in front of the posse. Well, I must say
  that I question the expenditure of energy cause the real efforts have
  not begun.... but I digress.   The posse continues to keep a
  guarded pace since some are starting to fall off the back and there is
  no need to chase Jerry at this point.   I figured, and I
  guess the rest of the folks did too that  chasing was not on the
  menu.  Maybe it's because, the "Big Men" Ron, Peter etc. were not
  interested in chasing non GC or KOM contenters.... but for whatever
  reason there was no chase.  At  some point I guess Jerry had
  enough fun and fell back to take some shelter.

  I should mention some of the rude "Fracking: (Yes, I have been
  watching Battlestar) motorist came by us on our little jaunt. 
  Some car with it's horn blaring the entire time he was passing us and
  the most annoying  guys was this idiot on a sportbike that buzzed
  us!   What a Fraking fool.  I was ashamed to be a sport
  bike owner with  the way that guy behaved.  One of our crew
  gave him a salute, but I doubt he saw it...... enough about that.....

  So finally we make it to the corner of CR 28? and take a small
  break.  I am tired and  I know Jeff is a bit weary. 
  Jeff was pushing some big gears up til now and that will take it;s toll
  quickly. I am sure that once he is in shape he's gonna be really
  strong, and even stronger if he would learn to spin a little bit.....

  So time for the major KOM points. Dave and a few other trickle up the
  hill while Ron, Peter, Jeff and myself begin last.  Jeff is
  quickly dispatch as we make our way.   I am shortly shelled
  as Ron and Peter walk away from me.  I check the HR monitor and I
  wasn't working that hard, but the legs were spent from all of the
  riding the previous week. Oh well, so I just settle into a rhythm and
  find myself a distant 3rd on the climb!  This is a long effort and
  I can't wait until it's over.  I check my 6 and I see Bruce coming
  upon me and I am caught.  We ride the same pace for a while al the
  way to the faux summit.

  The descent is a bit sandy and I am able to get a gap on Bruce.  I
  noticed that Kent was about to catch Bruce and  I knew that if
  Kent were too close on the descent I would be chased down!  
  Good thing there was a tail wind and a bit of distance between us, but
  Kent was closing it down slowly but surely. I am able to hold him
  off  and get 3rd on this one.  Ron and Peter were waiting and
  it looks like Ron got the KOM points for the day.  Seems that he
  too was able to get a gap on Peter on the descent!   Peter
  was definitely tapped out and I think he was close to being ill after
  that effort!  Well,  Peter needed a good challenge and Ron
  was happy to provide it.   Every year he BC seems to pick up
  someone stronger and I am not looking forward to Ron's successor! anytime soon. but if folks keep getting much stronger then we might as well just form a racing team.

  So the rest of the crew come up the Hill.  I don't remember the
  order, but it was something like Kent, Bruce, Jerry, Dave,
  Shannon,  Jeff,. but  it's not important.

  Now I am spent! and so are a few of us and I need to get home
  ASAP.  So the group splits with half doing Masonville (Ron,
  Shannon, Bruce ) and us (Kent, Dave, Jerry, Peter, Jeff) doing Rist.

  The grind up Rist is painful.  Kent is way up front with Peter
  Chasing followed by me, Dave, Jerry and Jeff.  I am really looking
  forward to the descent and I am weary of all this climbing.. 
  After we all reach the summit, it's party time as we fly down the hors
  category climb!   Hitting speeds in the mid 40's is routine
  and it's a chance for me to suck down some more liquid and to try and
  recover.  I can tell my legs are really spent cause last time I
  did this climb I went and did Centennial afterwards, but today was not
  that day.  I can't wait til I am recovered, and in the immortal
  words or  Jack Nicholson as the Joker("What til they get a load of
  me") or something  like that.   Yeah, that's a little
  bragodocia, and I just hope I can back it up later.    I should note that Jerry lost 2 screws from one of his cleats and only had one screw holding on the cleat!  (I recommend 262 locktite for these things)

  So Kent is 1st to make the bottom of the hill and I really enjoyed how he went around that tow truck!   

  We regroup and head for home.   Jeff's pop up timer has long
  since expired and Dave just wants to spin it in so he keeps Jeff
  company.   Jerry, Peter, Kent and I are also pretty tired but
  we  have a brisk ride home and we are all grateful for the tail
  wind!  A good time was had by all. about 60 miles at 16.5 mph avg.
     (Special thanks to Jerry for the pics)

  • 10:26 pm
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