I didn’t realize that Cycling Spoken Here in Cary had changed the start time for the “A Ride” from 9:30am to 8:30am, but it’s just as well because I’m not ready for that level of pummeling quite yet. We had about 15 of us turn out for the “B Ride” which included a few others like myself that didn’t read the website to get the new start time. The advertised pace was 17-18 mph. Nice, relaxed ride to test my legs, I figure, and maybe a few chances to hit it a little on a few hills and Big Woods.
Which is pretty much how it turned out. I was on the front a LOT. Not on purpose, really, but I just kind of ended up there and held a nice pace. That was until hammerlegs on my left at the front of the double paceline kept halfwheeling me until we were flying pretty good. I was not setting that pace thank you very much.
We made our way to the 2 mile Jack Bennett climb. I wondered if the anemia would cause a blow up if I picked up the pace a little. Knowing the hill starts gradual and picks up half way then doesn’t ever seem to stop after that, I started easy in the pack, on the outside line so I don’t get boxed in. The climb started to tell it’s tale as gaps form. I move around and bridge up to San Diego (he recently moved here from there). Hmm. I still feel OK. I keep going a steady, somewhat harder pace with a train of riders behind me. Or there was a couple, not sure exactly. I was certain they would come around near the top and take all the KOM points, but they didn’t so I got to be Queen for the day. It was good that my climbing legs are coming around, although I’m not there yet.
I also did well on the obligatory Big Woods rotating paceline hammerama. We had some newer guys that were still learning the ropes of the technique and some others that struggled a little to stay attached. Someone suggested that I was too strong for the others and generated some angst. Since I took well more than my share of pulls at the front, I feel like it was a fair trade.
Then I flatted on the Hwy 64 bridge over the lake by running over a rock. I’m proud to say I did most of the tube change myself but did get help. Nothing like trying to fix a flat with 4 guys looking over you watching your every move. They helped primarily to speed me along, I’m sure of it. My GPS says I was stopped for 10 minutes. Some guy was bragging earlier that it takes him about 3 minutes. “Not me,” I replied, “it takes me much longer.” Now I’ve got the data to prove the veracity of that claim. Yay me.
Those few efforts (not the flat fixing) took their toll on me– more than they usually would. Also, my legs were feeling tired after 60-some miles, about 20 miles sooner than usual. Bummer about that, but good to see progress and start to feel a little more like myself again.
I always get a kick out of the “roadies”, don’t get me wrong I love riding with them and have learned tons from better riders but they all seem to have that same thing about them – I think it starts with an “E” can’t quite remember the word – hmmmm oh well maybe it will come to me.
By the way I cannot change a flat any faster than you did either, must be a TRI thing!
I absolutely LOVE riding with the roadies and have no problems with any egos except for one case earlier this year when I was riding solo on my tri bike. I find that if you can hang, do your share of work, and make an effort to learn the rules of engagement, you earn your spot and some respect too. Also, I’ve found that the very strongest guys (and gals) are great to ride with and may provide some instruction but have never been ugly. Those folks really know what they’re doing and even if I do something “not perfect”, they have no problem accomodating and most likely see it coming before it even happens. It’s some of the fellows that might be Cat 4 or new Cat 3′s that might get a bit audibly frustrated a little too easy or have some close-minded ideas about people on triathlon bikes. Most importantly, I don’t want to overstate the conflict on the ride Saturday. It was minimal and fleeting. There was a mix of pack riding skills, experience and also horsepower. Some fellows had more horsepower than experience, and some were the other way around. You can imagine being pushed to your limit in a paceline and not having everyone work smoothly together and making it even more difficult can be frustrating. Throw into the mix a female that is one of the strongest in the group that you’ve never seen before and you might vocalize your frustration. That’s all it was. No biggie.