December 7, 2008

  • Gales + Estes + December + Pros!

    With the trails not being suitable to ride I figured I would go and join Gales ride for a base mile ride.  I am hesitant to do this ride cause many times it turns into a hammerfest and for me, unless I can back it up with training,  "What's the point!" 

    I arrive at Gales and there are bunch of folks there,   Gale, Todd, Scott, Bruce, Bill, Ron, Peter.   Lots of talk etc. and we are off and running.    Bruce IMHO is setting a brisk tempo, which for me is more than I would like.  I've only riding twice a week for the past 3 months or so, mostly on the MTB, so this is a  shock to the system.

    We pick up Dave M along the way and we are off again.   Scott, Bruce, Peter are setting a hot tempo and they separate from the group early.  We regroup and all of that it's like there are 2 groups.   Ron is not pushing the pace so much today, but perhaps he knows he can't do the whole ride and figured it would be poor etiquette to hot up the pace and then run....

    So,  We end up getting a bunch of flats on the way up 2 drake.  Todd had 2 and Peter had 2 or so.   We are still sorta riding like  "B" riders and are not together....     I decide to go up and see what the pace is like with  Peter,  Dave, Scott and Bruce.   This was a mistake on my part, but needless to say, these guys are way fast for this time of year and I got shelled pretty quickly.  I would pay for this later.

    We regroup in  Drake and head up the Hill.  Todd,  Bill and I were bringing up the rear and chatting about Karts, cars etc.  Peter and Dave turn back early and the rest of us head to  Estes.    We see a ton of  Elk along the way and I think we spooked them and they ran away from the road.  I am sure this probably upset the photographers, but what can we say.

    So we are sitting in the coffee shop and eating when some other riders arrive.  Bill sees the Rabobank kit and thinks this is a "Real Pro".  More riders come in and they get a table next to ours.   One of the Rabobank guys chats with us and it becomes clear that it's  TJ Vanderharten!    Well  then I am standing in front of a  Rock Racing guy and it's Tyler Hamilton!.     He introduces himself to us.   There were more riders of note, Including  Tom Danelsion etc.   We get a picture with them and you can check Gales blog to see it when she gets around to posting it.  She's got the full list of deity's on her blog.  So we chat for a bit and these guys were really friendly and approachable.

    Now it's time to head down the Mountain.   Scott and Bill make it across 34 and the rest of us are caught back.   Bruce is able to quickly join them, but Scott Gale and I are caught back.    Now we spend massive amounts of energy trying to bring them back.  Todd makes the final Herculean effort and we are in contact.  

    We fly down the mountain and  Scott gets a double pinch flat at ~30 mph but keeps in up.  We hammer down and after the Dam Store we get split up again and once again Gale, Todd and I spend massive amounts of energy bringing them back.  As soon as we catch on Bruce goes to the front and I must sat "No Mas" and let them go.

    I take it easy and I rejoin  Todd and  Gale who were kind enough to wait for me. We tool in together and have a nice cool down.

    So, I have to has myself,  "Did I enjoy the ride?".   To be honest,  Yes and No.  I liked the camaraderie and meeting the pros and riding.    The part I didn't like was really the lack of cooperation on the ride.   By that I mean, folks would sit at the front for a spell and others would accelerate to get around them and bring the pace up.  This makes the pace line not very smooth. Yes, there were times when folks did the right thing, but unless everyone is on the same page then it won't work.   Everyone had probably read my writings on this so I won't repeat myself again.   I  remember a long time ago I mentioned this stuff on a ride an someone said,  "It is what it is".  Well,I should have replied to that,  "It is what we make it".  I am as guilty as the next guy for going along with the program, "When in Rome".    I think this kinda perpetuates some bad habits and makes them acceptable and worse yet, sets an example for some of those who take this to be "How things are supposed to be...  Nuff said...