Ride Report - Wednesday 7/23 Erik's Group Ride
As I mentioned in previous posts, I was planning on showing up for this ride and see what the diggity was up with it.
This was the route we finally rode. It was about 20 miles longer than what I was expecting. Besides that, I didn't really like that we took the trail, as trails are not a good place to ride at speed in a group with pedistrains, children, pets and roller bladers all trying to share the space. I imagine that a walking mom with a stroller, getting buzzed by 16 cyclists going 17 mph would be similar to a cyclist riding on a rural road and having 3 or 4 milk trucks blast by at 60 mph without moving into the left lane at all. But being the new guy on the group, I'm not really gonna voice my concern unless I really feel we are doing something that will endanger someone.
Once we got off the trail we round-about went to Oronoco. I'm guessing there was a town sign prime to be had, but I didn't go for it. I really wasn't sure when, where and even if the sign was coming up so when I saw a rider go up the road, I thought I'd let it go.
Plus it plays into my tactic of laying low and being invisible untill I want to be seen.
Once through Oronoco, we went east on 247 to 63 then headed south, then east again till we hooked up with 11 going north and east on 247. The small streatch on 247 included the Potsdam sign prime. Guess who took it? You got it. Your's truely. But in doing so missed the turn north on 11.
So once I saw that the pack made the turn, I had to chase to get back on. One rider (His name was Steve if I remember correctly, thanks man.) dropped back and helped me. Once on there was nice rotation till the downhill to Millvile. There, 4 or 5 of us were flying at mach 150 miles per hour. We were flying like an airplane. But there's a stopsign at the bottom of the hill where we intersected with 2.
Once through the stop, someone takes off for the Milleville sign, so I jump on and come around. So the prime count is now at 2. Sweet.
We roll through Milleville through to Hammond. The town sign for Hammond is at the top of a hill and some riders started to get into position on the approach. A rider with aerobars (I think his name is Todd) attacks to get an early start on the hill. I expected a rider or 2 to react to this, but it didn't seem to happen. So I waited a second or 2 more, then couldn't take it any longer and took off catching him right on the line.
After leaving Hammond and going towards 63 was a longer climb that, while I wanted to be with the lead riders, I couldn't take. Though maybe I could've dug a little deeper.
From there is was a fast rotation on 247 to Lake Zumbro. After climbing out of the lake bridge, there was another climb before going up to Oronoco. Here, an incident with another rider and myself took place. I wont elaborate on it here, as it's over and done with. But I consider the climb neutralized.
After that point I didn't bother contesting any sprints or climbs, but did continue taking turns at the front.
I ended the day with almost 80 miles (that includes the ride to and from Erik's), over 1,100 ft of climbing and a TrImp score of almost 350. A great workout, and I felt suprisingly strong after.
Anyway, I'm thinking that if I end up not doing States, maybe doing the group rides along with the time trial series will help to satisify the racing urge. For much less money.
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Monday 07/28/2008 | 11:26 am
Dr. Scientist on Thursday 07/31/2008 | 03:33 pm
Well now that sounds like it was a mission! It does sound cheaper to do the group rides.
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