April 4, 2005

  • The big day of the 1st Epic ride for the Posse.  Yes, today is the
    Estes park ride.  Ok it's not really an Epic ride but it's close
    enough for our point of view....  
    So I arrive in the FCHS lot to find a bunch of people,  Dave, Bob, Kent,
    Jerry, Ron, Shannon, New rider Jason and Jay-Z. So we chat for a bit
    and introduce ourselves and we are off.

    A little bit down the road we pick up Geoff who was running a bit late.
    It's a pretty leisurely stroll as we make our way down
    Horsetooth.  While on route another rider, Kevin hooked up with us
    and so we are a good sized mass rolling down the road.

    As we passe Bruce H.'s house we  see he is up and about but not
    ready to ride.  Seems that he overslept!  Oh well next time.

    Now it's onto the 1st hogback and with all of the new folks I am sure
    it may take some time to establish the pecking order.  As expected
    Ron goes to the front and Bob and Jason take flight also.  I think
    Kevin may also have gone, but I must admit I am a bit weary and such
    details escape me for the moment.  In any case Ron takes the KOM
    points with Bob and Jason close behind.   As for me I am
    taking it easy on this one and pretty much everyone passed me......

    Well for once there is no regrouping at the top of this one as the big
    men continue on.   I wait while Dave adjusts some clothing
    and Geoff,(who did 100 miles yesterday which included Estes &
    lyons) and Shannon are still coming.  Once regrouped we take to
    the chase, well we are not really chasing at least I am not.  I
    take not that Geoff is doing a lot of work up front, and if I were him
    I would have been sitting in as no one would have thought any lesser of
    him...; but  I digress. Anyway our little paceline is working well
    and I can see the big men already on the 2nd  climb of the
    day.  I didn't get to see any of the Melee but I am told that Ron
    once again bearly beat Bob (Who did a solo 60 milers the day before at
    20.4 avg).

    This time we regroup with a bit of a wait for Geoff who had a
    mechanical with his chain. So of to the last hogback, and some where on
    the way, Ron also lost his chain! and is quite a bit back in the hunt
    for the KOM points.  On the way up the last hogback  Geoff
    drops his chain again and Kevin and I also run into him as he was
    pulling off the road.   In any case I didn't get to see who
    got those KOM  points. 

    Once again there is no regrouping at horsetooth!  I turn back to
    pick up Geoff and Shannon and we are off again.  Geoff is at front
    and gets a good gap on Dave, Kent, Shannon and I. Hmmm,  I would
    have stayed with the posse as it's much more efficient to stay with the
    group on fast descents, especially with big men Kent and Shannon
    there... Oh well, if one is feeling good why not, but me I know it's
    gonna be a long day and am always looking for efficiency.  In any
    case I am sure that the boyz will be waiting in Masonville and those
    few seconds saved are probably not worth the effort.  Now if we
    were racing it might be different, but not much unless you were trying
    to bridge to a break or may a break yourself.... but I digress.

    There is not stopping at this regrouping and we beckon those that are
    waiting to Allez!  Now we are all together again.   As
    we start moving, it's pretty apparent that we are not well
    organized.   I make some statement to that effect in hopes we
    can start some pacelining.  I don't know why some folks just like
    to sit out front all day when it's not necessary.  I had to call
    Dave on that one cause he was out front, and doing a nice pull but as
    the pace slowed a bit it would have been the polite thing to do is pull
    off so that the group can maintain a higher speed. (Sorry for picking
    on you Dave, but you made a good example
    )  If folks just keep doing this the pace goes up and down more
    than necessary and you really waste more energy than necessary
    especially when there are some big engines just ready willing and able
    to pull.   Nuff about that.......

    In any case we get a bit more organized as we go through Edens
    valley.  Life is good and then Jerry walks off the front for a
    bit!  The group does not chase, but there will be a day in a
    "drop-ride"  where this ignites a firefight, but  today is
    not that  day.  We make the nice descent and make the corners
    to the bridge to decide which way to go.  Dave wants to take the
    dirt, but Kent wants the pavement.  I must agree that if I had
    $800 wheels on my bike I wouldn't want to risk the chance to damage
    them, and since Bob had on his good racing wheels we decided to take
    the pavement and meet them at the Dam store.  Bob and Kevin peel
    off as they can't take the time to go to Estes.  Did anyone get
    Kevins email address as he would be a good addition to the group?

    So we meet at the Dam store and make our way up the pass.  We are
    pretty much together with pretty much everyone  taking turns at
    the fron setting tempo.  We got fractured a few times but this was
    to be expected with half the group being fresh and the others with some
    serious efforts in there legs from the previous dayz.   In
    any case I am in no big hurry and am happy to be one of the fresh ones
    although my legs were really no to the good that I wished for.... 
    So Geoff falls of the back and Ron and Jayz are at the
    front.   This is OK since we will regroup in Drake.

    While in Drake we get some food and make some clothing adjustments etc.
    while waiting for Geoff.  We got in some good photos I think of
    the boyz sporting their spakin new Breakfast Club Jerseys.  Geoff
    is along quickly enough and we are off to Glenn Haven.  The pace
    is good and there is a split in the group with Jay-Z, Ron and myself in
    the break.  Unfortunately I dropped my garage door opener and had
    to stop.    Then I just figured I would pick up Dave and
    Shannon and take it easy to Gleen Haven.   As we approach GH
    Jason heads back down and after a short regroup head for the suffering
    hills.

    Ron,  Jay-Z,  Kent and I are in the lead group.  Ron is
    setting tempo and it's getting a bit too hot for Kent and he is
    dispatched.  A bit later I am off  and it's Ron and Jay-Z
    together heading for the top.  Along the way Kent reels me and I
    must increase my effort if I am to stay with him!  Oh well, I
    guess I have to push a bit more.  My legs had not come good nor
    would they but I was at least able to force them to Kents pace which
    required an HR increase of 6 BPM.   It wasn't until the 2nd
    switch back that Kent was un able to hold my wheel! Yes!  
    I will gett 3rd on this one.   Kent is really starting to
    climb well, and I am sure when he transitions from the weight room,
    that I will have my hands full, but for now I enjoy my advantage.
    ....  So  Jay-Z nipped Ron at the top, but wasn't really
    trying!!  Oh my, I dread the day that  Ron, Jay-Z, Peter, Bob
    and Brent show up on the same day!  Can you say,
    suffer-o-rama!  Bring on the Pain Train...... Not!!! ... but I digress.  Note:  Shannon makes a good showing, besting Jerry and Geoff on this one!

    Once regrouped we head for town for some Fooooood.  Jay-Z can't
    hang out so he departs.   After the food we head down the MTN
    and are having a good old time.  Ron is taking some sweet monster
    pulls.  We passed 2 policemen on the way down while we were well
    in excess of the speed limit ~ 45 in 35, but we did not get pulled
    over!  .....  There were some hairy moments with trucks 
    in there somewhere.   So Ron, Kent Shannon and I got a bit
    ahead when Dave and Jerry let a truck come by.  At some point this
    truck came by that was too tempting for Kent to let go and so he is
    drafting this thing!  This is not for me so I disengage and slow
    up for Dave and Kent.   Kent is a mad man! but I have too
    much at stake to put my hands in that of a truck that might not
    appreciate an un-invited drafter..... nuff about that.

    So we finally make it to the bottom and the Party is over.  
    Kent heads for home via 34 and we take Daves, short cut behind the Dam
    Store.  The road wasn't too bad, but my 650Cs  hated parts
    of it.....

    Now onto the hogbacks..... to make a long story short...... We did
    them!  they weren't too bad.  Jerry was toast by the end and
    Shannon was riding surprising strong.  Dave was a bit weary from
    riding  50 & 60 miles the previous dayz.   I was
    OK, but my legs were just 80% all day.  As for Ron, well, it's Ron so need you ask but he was strong as usual.

    So A good time was had by all.  Maybe Jay-Z will bring his Bent
    next time! that would be a 1st for a BC ride.    Stats
    well about 88 miles 16+ mph    Man I am tired!