May 29, 2009

• Lyons ... Estes

  Another long ride ride planned and I am really not up for riding too hard.  I decide to drive down to Gales instead of riding cause I wasn't sure the legs would be good for the extra miles.

  There is a good turn out today with, Ron, Ilka, Gale, Scott, Bill, Ed. Martin and Chris etc.   I could see that many of the folks weren't carrying too much but with rain as a possibility, better a bit slower, than sorry.

  The pace on the way down was brisk, but  the "Big Men & Women" were more than happy to do all of the work.  I didn't see the front of the pace line at all on the way to Lyons.    Bill and Chris took some crazy long pulls which lasted for over 10 miles I am sure.   Chris was feigning that we would be weak considering his 100 miler the day before with  6000+ feet of  vertical, but I couldn't tell by the way he was riding.   I am wondering if Bill and Chris were doing the macho thing up front to see who would crack 1st?..

  So we make it to Lyons and get some food at the local store.  At this point I am really glad that I didn't ride over to Gales.  The legs were OK, but the were complaining when they shouldn't have been. 

  It's Go time and everyone is ready for the ascent.   The pace is brisk and life is good for the 1st mile or so and then it's time for the GC contenders to come to the front.  Now I am really suffering as Bill, Chris, Ron, Ed, Scott begin to work at the front.   My HR was pretty high, but not crazy, but I my legs were not fresh enough to hold the effort and I had to drop off the pace.    I  thought about trying to hold Gale's wheel but I would fry myself so I had to settle into a reasonable pace.   Ed was on the opposite end of the spectrum, and put the hurt on everyone!

  Miles passed and to my surprise a bunch of the folks had stopped to regroup.  This was a chance to get in some food.   Before long it's more of the same.   All was OK until it started to rain and rain hard.   I put on the rain gear and I was OK.  Ilka and Martin turned back at this point.   I was really really warm o on the way down  to Estes.  Even the descent was OK,  but I am sure others weren't as comfy.

  I meet the crew in Estes at the Notchtop Cafe.   I went to Micky D's cause I earned myself those fries. .

  The ride down the canyon was unusually not very fast.  Ron took some monster pulls, but one man can only do so much.  Ron got a flat on the way down, and then it was my turn.   Good thing I was with  Gale and Scott cause I realized that I left my pump at home!!

  Glad to be done.  About 90 miles total.   A good time was had by most.  Hopefully next weekend I'll be taking it easy on the MTB.    Just need to clean the road bike now.  Sorry no pics, but I am sure my camera is glad I left it in the car...

  • 9:06 pm
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