still a lot to learn

victory ride tonight

time: 2:@21:36
av: 17.5
dst: 41.57

even as the pack rolled up on us (reuther, scott g., myself) my hamstring (see previous post "bad test design") began to cramp. this, combined with the fact that the pack was already separated into a chase group and lead group, let me know this was going to be a hard ride. i was able to hang tough all the way up the hill past northbrook and almost to 82 before the pack dropped me. we were hauling at 27+ on a slight up grade in a serious paceline. unfortunately, this former mtb racer is not as fortunate as a former friend, who apparently was born knowing how to ride in a pack, and still have a lot to learn. at one point, after several of my faux pas pulls, this guy, Karl, gives me some pointers. don't try to accelerate so much at the front, don't pull so long. essentially, pull through and get off. i thought it was cool that he was willing to offer advice rather that just point and laugh behind my back. when we regrouped at Rita's water ice, i thanked him for his comments. He was cool. No roadie attitude. thanks, Karl.

*Interesting note: When riding you almost expect the rednecks to yell at you and give you a hard time. But tonight this well-dressed middle-aged woman driving a late model Volvo with her teen-age daughter in the passenger seat drives by with her window open and gives us the bird, yelling something like "You piss me off!" Go figure. Bob yelled, "Have a nice day!"

g.r. ride solo

dst: ~37 miles

computer stopped about halfway through ride. speed had dropped off on hilly sections, but recovered well and was aiming to bring av back up to 19+. but even riding 20+ the length of 162 and then enjoying the 40+ coast down 162, my av seemed stuck at 18.6mph. after a while I realized that the computer had stopped -- probably pilot error. oh well. decent ride and that's what counts.

self-control pays off

time: 2:02:07
av: 18.5
dst: 37.79

sat-in the whole way up past northbrook. then jumped in with a chase group to catch the leaders. good work. still have a long way to go. but generally pleased with fitness.

started the ride under overcast skies. by time we got to unionville, the sky had just opened up and was delivering not only copious amounts of rain, but also lightning and thunder. scary, especially after a local girl just got struck last week. also scary was racing down 162 at 40+ mph in a downpour with old Campy single-pivot brakes.

what's deceiving about the av on this ride, and probably always will be, is that it includes the time I spend looping around and around at the spot where I let the pack engulf me. still not a bad av, but not indicative of the quality or speed of this ride.

bad test design

ride date: 06.12.2004

time: 1:51:20
av: 19.8
dst: 36.81

did the greg r ride solo. usually we can hit about 19 mph. today I felt great, and hammered this hilly ride. but which of several changed variables made it possible?

• was it that I finally broke down and bought road shoes? really stiff carbon fiber shoes -- I did swear I could fear more power into every pedal stroke
• was it that I broke down and bought Accelerade?
• Was it the Ochsner -- which I finally got built up again but is about 5 pounds heavier that my Litespeed?
• Was my computer lying to me?

either way, I'm anxious to try it again soon. unfortunately, I may not be able to for a while. I think I may have pulled my hamstring in that previously blogged about softball game that was replayed tonight.

self-control

or lack thereof:

time: 2:08:48
av: 17.5
dst: 37.57
the victory brew pub ride. Lots of guys from bean's. Other dudes who just look fast. Did this ride two weeks ago, and blew up going up the hill to northbrook. Tonight decided just sit-in, sit tight, and let the pack pull you along. No shame in learning the tactics. Well, at the top of the hill, one guy goes off, and while feeling good, I exert the self-control to sit-in. Then Reuther goes off, again I sit-in. Then four others go off. Heck, we're at the top of the hill and there's four of them. I got four pulls before I've got to really exert. When my turn comes around, I pull too long. Then as the others and the chase group go by I can't hang on the back. I seem to do this everytime I peel off when we're really moving. I misjudge how long its going to take me to get back up to speed. Once that gap forms that you can't, you might as well kiss that pack good-bye. embarrassing.

new pre-ride regimen?

time: 1:36:55
av: 19.1
dst: 30.76

great ride today -- despite being up too late and enjoying a bit too much frosty good cheer with my neighborhood posse. we were supposed to have a neighborhood softball game last night, but it was rained out. the two captains decided instead that we should meet at a local watering hole and have an air hockey tournament. brews were enjoyed there. then the after-party was held at the home of a newer neighbor with a pool table and kegerator built into the bar -- I had to go. Regardless, I felt like I could fly. I was attacking hills in a way that I haven't in years. It was great. Even on a very hilly course, we were averaging 20.0 mph at 45 min, and 19.5 mph until we had to cut through town and all its requisite lights.