February 1, 2009

  • Coyote Ridge

    Another Coyote ridge ride and it promises to have a few more folks to ride with.  Ron and Kent have committed and Kent mentioned that 2 of his buddies will be riding there and that we could hookup with them.    We see Chris Elmer and Buddy in the lot too, but they have their Single speeds and figured that we shouldn't wait for them. 

    Looks like I am the 1st to arrive for once.  The weather was much more pleasant than I had expected so the commute over was faster than usual.    This would give me a chance to work on the camera mount that I affixed to the seat post of the bike.   Not sure that it would work well on a MTB because of all of the jarring but, what the heck, I'll give it a go and see what happens.

    So while I am out for a little pre-test of the camera,  Ron shows up to get in a few extra miles.   Good , then he can be the 1st test subject for the cam test.  Well, turns out he would be the only one captured as the camera got the blue screen of death, complaining about some sorta data error.  Oh well.  Turns out I need some sort of better mount with some dampening, which I will have to think about....  anyway... 

    So  Kent,  Dave and Eric? arrive and we get going pretty much straight away.   Eric and Dave are setting a good pace with Ron up there too.   I am feeling pretty good today, but I just watch for a while to see what kinda pace is  going to be the norm without any influence from me.    Ron stops at the trail head for some relief and I wait while the other continue to the top of the ridge.

    Ron and I set a  good pace and easily reel in Kent and Set our sights on Dave and Eric.  We are flying and I am surprised that Ron was content to sit behind me for a while during the chase.   I let Ron by when I had to check on the camera, but  I was able to pull in everyone else before the summit.     I probably expended too much doing this, but maybe not.  I have been taking it pretty easy on my solo rides, and maybe I need to change this and get in some more intensity....

    Kent joins us shortly and it's time to rock and roll, after Kent's banana of course.     I take the lead, in order to get some pics, but  the camera didn't take any more pics due to some kind of data error.  Oh, well.  So I have to stop as the camera fell of the mount anyway....   Takes me some time to get going, but I am to catch up.    Gotta love those descents.     I must say I am getting better at some of the switchbacks too which helps with the flow here.
     
    On to the Indian Summer climb and Ron sets a blistering pace.   I am able to stay with him for the 1st 1/3 but he start to walk away after a bit.  I am able to keep him in sight, but I can not match his constant efforts here.  Everyone else is a bit back.  Whew! that was tough!  It costs plenty to make the 575 climb but it moves OK considering it's compliment of  quite ordinary heavy components...    Everyone else joins us shortly.    Kent has had enough and needs to get back.  Eric has been under the weather and decides to join Kent....

    Ron, Dave and I head over to Devils.      The pace is brisk with Ron up front of course, but I take it easy to the summit.    I was still going harder than normal and was too winded to clean some of the switches...

    We turn back and I get to follow Dave for a bit.   It's good to have someone up front other than me a times, which will keep me from pushing too much.   Nice that descending with the boyz is comfy and gives me a chance to recover a bit.    We decide to skip the Indian summer climb due to time constraints. 

    The flow over to Blue Sky was nice.  The climb up towards Coyote was another matter.  Ron of course make quick work of  it while Dave and I brought up the rear.  Dave is really a strong climber, especially for a big guy.  I am sure that were we on road bikes,  I would have been the "Whipping Boy" in the trio.

    At the Cross roads of Blue Sky and Coyote,  Dave heads back to Coyote and Ron and I take Blue Sky.  Ron has time commitments and has to hammer it pretty good, not that the time commits really changed anything.   I tried to keep him in check but he kept gaining ground.    I pushed pretty hard up the risers,  standing when In needed too.   I was able to stay close enough that I was able to bring him in when we came to the descending sections.  Ron let me lead on this stuff but I couldn't get away from him.   I would make ground and then loose it on the small climbs...  

    Finally to the road and Ron is on fire.   On the 1st hogback he dropped me and chased down some roadie...  After that he set a blistering pace and I got dropped again!   I was pretty spent by the time we dropped down the last hog back.   Ron headed for home and I took it easy down the bike path back to home.

    A good time was had by all.