Ride Report: Autumn Equinox Night Ride

A week ago we went out to ride in the night.  No broken spokes!  Yippee!

I have a particular fondness for this route.  For the most part it’s quiet and almost traffic-free.  Yes, there are a couple of spots that require close attention, but something like 35 miles of this fall into that “almost-no-cars” category.

It was a bit cool at ride time, with a prediction of fairly rapid cooling to come.  Most folks had heeded the warning to dress for a cooler ride.

We pulled out right on time, and after just a wee bit of fumbling at the start, got ourselves sorted out and proceeded in good order.

It got dark right on schedule, but a rising half moon and a crystal clear night added charm.  I didn’t see anyone with inadequate lighting.  Folks handled traffic and road conditions very well.  I was pleased with the mutual courtesy and good humor exhibited by all.

We did take the unusual step of stopping about mid-way through to allow for “clothing adjustment.”  (It was getting kinda cool out.)

Other than that one fumbling incident at the beginning, it was a smooth and nearly flawless ride.  I’ve mentioned that twice, and I know enquiring minds will want to know.  It was no big thing.  There was a bit of miscommunication when one rider decided to withdraw early.  Easily fixed and not a major incident at all.

The cooler temps added a bit of spice to the whole evening.  We kept up a 15+ mph rolling average, which is not at all bad for a night ride.

I particularly enjoyed this one, as it was a blend.  I saw several old friends who haven’t been around for a while, and there were several new one too.

Present for the trip were (In no particular order) Chris, Judy, Bob, Jim, Scott, Dan, Van, Travis, Mike, Courtenay, Phil, Theresa, Amanda, and your correspondent.

I can just about wait for the next one.  It’s the Samhain Mid-Fall edition, sort of a “Sleepy Hollow” ride, and very seasonally appropriate.  (A caution, this one will have a few short miles of dirt road in it.)  The Samhain Mid-Fall Celebration Night Ride goes on 5 November, and will leave from the Hollonville Opry House.  Be there!

Seasonal Lights Ride ~ Preparations

It’s tonight!

There will be no dirt on this one!  At least no dirt roads.

This is one of my favorite rides to do in this area.  It’s mostly calm, semi-rural, and low on traffic.

What you need:  Good lights.  A good strong tail light.  Reflective ankle bands.  Reflective vest or sash.  Helmet.  A good sound bicycle.  The will to ride a bit more than 40 miles at a moderate pace.  A store of happiness and smiles for your friends

Where to meet:  The Frederick Brown Amphitheater, in Peachtree City, GA.

Ride Start Time:  7:30 P.M.  (promptly!)

Additional Details:  Dress for the weather.  There will be no store stops or such, as there are no convenient stores along this route.  But…  Do dress for the weather!  We are expecting a temp of about 69 degrees at ride time.  The sun will set.  The temp will drop.  It always feels cooler when the sun is down.  Temps will likely drop to the very low 60s before we are done.  Dress accordingly.  I will plan to make a very short en route stop to allow clothing adjustment, likely about half way through.  If you wish, bring a light jacket and pull it on then.

This should be an ideal night for our ride, there is a waxing moon rising.  It will be a clear night, and the crisp temperatures are near ideal.

Hope to see a lot of you out there!

Your First Three Years ~ Part 9:

Riding in groups 102:  What should I look for in a Group Ride?

A Guide for Beginner (and Experienced!) Cyclists, to the Art and Practice of Cycling.  Becoming Proficient, Fit, and Happy on your bike.

Let’s take this up a notch or two.  To be frank, there are only a few reasons for riding in a group.

1. Safety in number
2. Social Activity
3. Follow the leader and don’t get lost
4. Training”

Certainly there are some other reasons, but these are the most common ones.

Let’s just take a moment to examine those.

Safety in number?

Sure it always feels like one is safer in a large group of like-minded, similar individuals.  But is this in fact true?  (When I was in the Army, we were encouraged to “Spread out!  Just one grenade would take you all out!”  May we softly suggest that one moving SUV embodies just about the same energy as a grenade?

Every year we read or hear of two or three tragic incidents where one automotive vehicle plowed into a group of riders, usually injuring several and frequently killing one or two.

Let us remember the “Gadarene Swine Law”:  Just because the group is in together and in formation, it does not follow that the group is heading in the right direction.

Corollary:  Just because an individual has left the formation, it does not follow that he is lost.

A large group of cyclists presents problems to motorists.  Seen from behind, the group can look like a very difficult obstacle.  More, individual members of the group may choose to interpret the following motorist’s reluctance to pass the group as a “permit” for them to ride out in the road, further complicating the situation.

Add to that the “diffused guilt effect,” or “mob mentality.  You do know what we’re talking about!  It starts with the statement,  “Well, everyone else was doing it…”

This is what causes groups of riders to blow through traffic signals, or commit other violations of the law, and practices of safety, as a group.

Add one more complicating factor.  When we are riding in a group, we also have to consider the skill and predictability of the members of the group.  Often, when riding in a group of cyclists, one is in greater danger from group members than from the motoring road users.

In short, if you are riding with a group, and it starts to feel scary, there is no shame, and a lot of good to dropping out of the group and “going solo.”

Social Activity?

A “social ride” can be just that.  (Sadly, it is often the case that “social rides” turn into “races without rules”)  Social rides come in just two categories, small and HUGE.  It can be a real delight to get out on the road with a group of like-minded individuals, for no purpose other than to share the enjoyment of a day’s riding.  But one does still need to remember that one is sharing the road with other users, and that the skill and attention of other cyclists is often not up to the task.

There is good companionship and good cheer to be had riding with others.  But caution needs be taken.  We must face the fact, it is devilishly hard, almost impossible to hold a conversation unless we are side-by-side.  If we are riding in that formation (and yes we are permitted to ride two abreast), we must be ever mindful of traffic.  Two cyclists abreast are harder to pass than two in a row.  It is simply good manners to yield the road to the faster vehicle.  Let most of the socializing take place at stops, and way out, on virtually deserted rural roads.  (In the future we’ll discuss strategies for riding as teams, to control the road safely in traffic.)

Follow the leader and don’t get lost?

This is a good strategy.  If one is new to an area, or riding in an unfamiliar locale, it is always good to have a guide.  Of course several important factors should be considered.

• Does the guide know that you are dependent on guidance?
• Has the guide agreed to ride at a pace that does not leave you behind?
• Is the route marked?
• Is there a cue sheet?
• Is this route downloadable from one of the online services?

All of these are good and valid things.  GPS devices can only tell one so much about a route.  Often a local and regular rider knows things that no map or electronic gadget can.  Which turns are particularly tricky?  Just where is the big, hungry dog?  Why should you brake hard at the bottom of this hill, just before you cross onto that bridge?  Just what does one do if CSX has left a train parked at this particular grade crossing?  Are there times of the day, or week, when one should not ride on these particular roads.  This kind of information is invaluable, and often just about impossible to obtain except from locals who ride these roads regularly.

“Training”?

We’ve said this many times before, but it bears repeating here and now.  If you are training, do not frequently do group rides.  Why?

If one is involved in a training program, one should have objectives for each and every ride.  On any given group ride, especially ones labeled as training rides, someone else always has an agenda.  It is absolutely certain that that agenda is contrary to what you should be doing that day.

Beware!  Group rides that are labeled as “Training Rides” almost always fall into the “race without rules” category.  They will be fast.  They will not wait up for you.  Often extremely dangerous practices will occur.

Under the right circumstances, this type of ride can be a lot of fun.  But if one is new, and especially if one is not particularly interested in racing, these rides should be avoided.

Next Week: Shifting (again!)

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This series began with the post on Tuesday, 19 June 2012.  It is intended to continue for three years.  Each week, we will discuss exercises, skills, practices, and activities designed to bring the new (or “experienced”) rider a high level of cycling competence.  We’ll address common problems, and (always) stress safe practice.

~//~

A Note on Timing:  This series uses Mid-June as the starting point of the “Cyclists Year.”  We do this because this is the time that most folks decide to start riding.  If you are following this guide, you can “adjust” the timing to fit your personal “first three years.”  Do note that some of the posts will concern weather and seasonal changes.  When that starts to happen, just swap the “months” around to fit your personal timeline.

Notes: “Gaps” Ride and Riding Here

First things First:  For some reason the “Original 3 Gap Ride” seems to keep disappearing from the Southside Cycling Club’s web Calendar.  I don’t know why this is.  Doesn’t really matter.  THE RIDE IS ON!!!  I see no reason why I would cancel it at this late date.  If a cancellation was necessary, I’d be putting out an email to all on my distribution list, posting the news here, and I would us the cancellation function on the club’s site to mark the ride as “cancelled.”  I would not just take it down.

While on that topic…  There is some good NEWS…  We have a volunteer to drive a SAG vehicle.  So my truck will be out there, with a driver, following the route.  There will be a generous supply of emergency water aboard, and Kelvin will be able to “make pickup” if someone is really in over their heads.  (Thank you Kelvin!)

~//~

About Riding and Training in the Atlanta Area:

I’ll say it again: 

“Riders who ride and train in our area are prepared to ride anywhere!”

I say that because our area is blessed with a wide variety of terrain.  We have the privilege and blessing of having lots and lots of hills.  If we look around we can find some good long flats to practice “motoring.”  We have a fairly mild climate, with four distinct seasons.  Anyone can manage to ride for three of the four seasons, and it doesn’t take a lot to stay on the bike all year round.

Let’s go back to the hill part again.  It’s good that we have plenty of hills, but…  there are some hidden traps built into our terrain.  Here, in the area south of Atlanta, we don’t have a lot of really long, or especially steep hills to work on.  We get plenty of hill work, but it’s rare that we face a climb of more than 100 feet gain.  It’s a mixed blessing.  On the one hand, we do get to train up our climbing muscles.  On the other, our hills are short enough to tempt us into some bad habits.

We who ride, and train, in this area can be tempted to get into the habit of “muscling the hills.”  That is, we know that it’s short, and so we know we can afford to go anaerobic.  We tend to get into the habit of attacking the hills, going anaerobic, and letting ourselves recover on the top, or on the next descent.

That’s not so bad, really, but it doesn’t translate well for sustained climbing.  In sustained climbs, two factors work against us.  First off, the hill (mountain) keeps on going!  Second, we don’t experience the effects of increased altitude.

Let’s take that first one.  The initial difference between our local hills and a mountain, is that the mountain keeps on going.  If we hit it hard at the beginning, we go anaerobic waaay  too soon.  Then we have to recover while climbing.  When we go to places where there are long and/or steep climbs we have a tendency to over-reach.  We do have the background to do these climbs, but we haven’t done the correct rehearsal.

What’s the solution?  Refer to the last two words in the previous paragraph.  Correct rehearsal.  We need to spend a goodly amount of time climbing with intention, climbing in a deliberate and fully aerobic fashion.  We can do that on any hill we happen to have available.  As for the sustained part of “sustained” or “prolonged” climbs, our best strategy is to do slow hill repeats.  Climb a good hill, focusing on staying aerobic, then, at the top, turn around, descend, and repeat.  Do this for 45 minutes to an hour, on at least a twice monthly basis, and you have a pretty good preparation routine for long climbs.

As for the altitude change, the air just gets thinner.  The effect isn’t too bad below 2500 feet.  But it is good to remember that half the atmosphere is below 5,000 feet.  Around 2500 feet we begin to feel some of the effects of the thinner air, and the reduced amount of oxygen.  At 4,000 feet the effect really kicks in.  The solution?  As the air thins, slow down until heart rate settled and equalizes.

In the long run, it’s more about habit and focus.  On long climbs we have to think our way around our habits and focus on steady, measured, consistent technique

Good Weekend Past & Upcoming Ride Plans

What a spectacular day it was!  I hope you all managed to get out and enjoy some part of yesterday on a bike.  You lived through it too.  You know, mid-August days do not come any better.

I know there were a lot of events and races going on, here and there, but I saw very few cyclists out.  For that matter, once the usual church dismissal flurry was past, there wasn’t much traffic out either.  Perhaps they were all at the mall?  School starts today, and this weekend past was one of those tax holiday things.

A note on School starting:  Be advised!  Traffic patterns have just changed, and done so dramatically.  Leave a little earlier, and do be extra alert.  There will be a lot more drivers on the road, and many of them will be quite distracted.

Tonight’s the Night!  Yup, it’s time to go out and ride at night again.  Sure, we’re celebrating Mid-Summer just a wee bit late, but that couldn’t be helped.

It will be a moonless night, so make sure your lights are in good order and well charged.

We’ll start riding at 7:30 P.M.  Local sunset is 8:26 P.M., and civil twilight ends at 8:52.  We expect to be out a bit more than three hours, so it will get dark.

Gaps Ride:

Seems like every time I do one of these, I get some of the same anxiety driven questions.  They all boil down to about two cogent ones.

Can I do this?

And…

Should I do this?

It’s reasonable.  Mountains are BIG and intimidating.  But if your fitness is up to it, they are quite do-able.  It takes time, patience, and the willingness to learn a bit on the way up and down.

I’ve often said it, and I will repeat it here and now:  “Riders who ride and train in our area are prepared to ride anywhere!” 

We do not have the sustained climbs one encounters in the mountains, but we do have plenty of climbing.  The difference is that on a sustained climb, you just take it easier from the start, and it goes on longer.

Montain descending is a bit different, but mostly it boils down to this:

Do NOT “ride” the brakes!  Let your speed build, and then “pulse brake” briskly before turns.

It’s okay to go down slower than the experts.

Food for thought ~ If you have done one of our Audax 200K rides, then you have, in one day, ridden 125 miles, and climbed 2546 feet.  The Original Triple Gap Route does about twice the climbing, but is only 2/5 the distance.  If you’ve done the one, you most certainly can do the other.  Put another way, distance is harder that elevation.  (Honest, it is!)

Another way to look at it is by actual climbing distance.  There isn’t much up in that part of the world that is flat.  So it’s not a 53 mile climb.  It’s really about 26 miles of climbing, interspersed with 26 miles of descending.  That’s a good deal!

Partied Out & Looking Ahead

“Organized bike rides are a bit like entertaining; If you want to go to parties, you have to put on a couple a year.”

I came to the above realization quite a long time ago.  Since then I’ve worked on a lot of rides.  Believe me, the word “work” is appropriate.  It takes a lot of work to put an organized ride together.  The list of things that have to be done is long, and a lot of those things require a great deal of time, or a lot of effort, or both.

This past Saturday’s Pedal for Pets ride, put on by SouthSide Cycling Club was a lot of work.  Inaugural rides are generally more demanding than ones that have some history.  I had the privilege of working with a great bunch of people on this.  I had another privilege, that of seeing the riders out there, enjoying the day.

I’m in no position to comment on the quality of the ride.  I was one of the producers.  It sure looked like folks were having a good time and enjoying the day, and the majority of the feedback has been positive.

I’m glad and relieved that all went well, and…  I’m really glad it’s over!!!

Now, on with Life!  (And hopefully, more consistent posting.)

Stuff that’s Coming:

Annual Mid-Summer (Lughnasad) Celebration Night Ride

DATE CHANGE!!

On Monday, 13 August, we’ll go out and celebrate the Mid-Summer.  It’s a week late, but the change of date has been forced on me by elements out of my control.  I apologize for any inconvenience and confusion.

Last year we had a bit of a kerfuffle on this one, but we’ll try it again.

I think this is a fun route.  There is a dirt road section, but it’s not long and is very navigable on a road bike.  This section is only about 2.5 miles long.  (NOTE:  I will scout this to be certain the unpaved section is entirely “do-able.”  If the road surface has deteriorated, or if it has recently been covered in deep rough gravel, I’ll route around it.  Results will appear here soon.)

The entire route is approximately 40 miles long.  It’s low traffic, mostly rural riding.  More, the timing is such that we will be jut finishing the unpaved section as we lose the light for the evening.  That means the “in the dark with lights” work will all be on pavement.

The ride will go rain or shine, and the usual requirements are in place.  I.E.  Helmets, good strong lights (both headlight and tail light), reflective gear (Including vest or sash, and reflective ankle bands)

ORIGINAL TRIPE GAP RIDE!

It’s time for a trip to the mountains.  We’ll be going up to ride the famous “South Triple Gap Loop.”  We’ll be using the “original” route, with the start and finish points in the center of Dahlonega.  53 miles, over 5,000 feet of gain.  I’m locking this one in for Thursday, 23 August. 

Details:

Start Time:  8:00 A.M. Sharp!  (Cell phone time)

Location:  Dahlonega Visitor’s Center (East corner of the Square, at Park St & Main)

Distance:  Approx 53 miles

Elevation Gain:  5,000+ feet

Pace:  We’ll get it done.  We can re-group, or ride together, either is fine by me.  We won’t leave anyone behind.

Ride Conditions:  Rain or shine

Requirements:  Be there.  Be positive.  Bring your bike.  Wear your helmet.

Discussion:

Start Time:  Yes I know it’s an early start.  We would prefer not to be doing heavy climbing in the hottest part of the day.  Further, if we start early, we can avoid the afternoon traffic insanity on the homeward drive.

Parking:  There is a free municipal parking lot very close to the ride start point.  If you are coming into town on US-19, make no turns as you enter Dahlonega.  Go straight at the light, and the street becomes S Chestatee St.  This will take you to the south-west corner of the square.  Go around the square (to your right) and continue out of the square (after two each 90 degree turns) onto N Park St.  Go one short block and turn left onto Warwick St.  The parking lot will be on your right very shortly.

Ride Start point:  After you park, get on your bike and ride (carefully and legally) back to the square.  There is a Visitors Center on the west side of the square.  The center has a paved off street area so we can get out of traffic while we wait to assemble.  There is a sheltered area there too.  Also there are (usually!) open restrooms at the center.

On Restrooms:  I’d recommend making a brief relief stop before going into Dahlonega.  This can be done where you turn off of GA-400, and onto US-19.  (There are stores there!)  If the Vistors Center does not have the restrooms open, and/or you really really gotta go, please inform me at the start, and we’ll find you a “convenience” on the way out of town.  (NOTE:  There is a reliable store at the top of Neels Gap.  That’s about 22 miles into the route.)

Next Week:  Route Descriptions and instructions to the Starts

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post.  It’s the next in new three year long series on developing as a cyclist.

Life’s Ironies

When one is working to put on an organized ride, one doesn’t get to ride much!

Yup, that describes me.  I’ve been doing a lot of work toward making the upcoming Pedal for Pets ride happen.  Takes a lot of time away from my bike, and from most of the rest of my life.  I’m looking forward to the ride this coming Saturday.  I’m also looking forward to a time when I will be able to be more consistent with this blog, and with my riding.  That time will come, starting on Sunday, 15 July!

STILL AHEAD:

Pedal for Pets

Yes!  Southside Cycling Club is putting on their first annual organized ride.  The venue will be in Senoia, GA, and it will go on 14 July.  There will be three distance options, 35 miles, 65 miles, and 100 miles.

I’m particularly excited about this one.  I’ve been working hard to develop the courses, and I must say these are some of the nicest, sweetest roads I’ve been on.

For more info, and to register, click Here

Gaps Ride!

Trip to the mountains.  We’ll be going up to ride the famous “South Triple Gap Loop.”  We’ll be using the “original” route, with the start and finish points in the center of Dahlonega.  53 miles, over 5,000 feet of gain.  I’m tentatively scheduling this for Thursday, 23 August.  More details soon.  Who’s in?

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s post.  It’s the next in new three year long series on developing as a cyclist.

Audax Ride Final Preparations

Sunday is the day!  And the question is,  “What should I be doing to get ready now?”

Here’s the list:

1)  If you haven’t already, STOP TRAINING IMMEDIATELY!!!

Really.  There is nothing that training can do in the last week prior to a long ride.  Well, there is one thing.  It can ruin the ride.  The body simply cannot incorporate training loads and adjustments in less than two weeks time.  So use this week to rest and prepare for the trip in other, more relaxed ways.  Seriously, it is important to rest up before going.

It’s okay to do enough riding to stay loose and comfortable, but any riding should be at a very low effort level.  (I would definitely recommend doing the Ride of Silence on Wednesday evening!)

2)  If you haven’t done so yet, contact me immediately and let me know that you are going.  Confirm this commitment by getting money to me.  That’s check or cash in the amount of $28.00.  The money covers your lunch, a generous post ride snack, and water along the way.

3)  Clean your bike up.  Lubricate it.  Go over it carefully.  Check your tires minutely.  This is your last chance to get any necessary work done.  Do it NOW!

4)  Make sure you have your gear all lined up.  Pack a spare tube or two that will fit your bike.  Select your clothing.  (More on that in a moment.)  You won’t need tools or a pump.  (We have that covered.)

Clothing and gear considerations:

As of this writing, the forecast for Sunday is quite good.  (We all know that can change!)  It should be sunny, and warm.  So be sure you have good clean water bottles, plenty of sunscreen, good shorts, comfortable cool jersey, shorts lubricant, a rain jacket, sunglasses, gloves, and cheerful expectations.  If you have a good, small, light camera, by all means, bring it!  (We’ve never had enough pictures from these things.)

About the Weather:

This ride will go!  Rain or shine.  No rain dates.  We ride!  Keep an eye on the forecast, and be ready to alter your equipment and gear as indicated.

Are you ready to ride 125 miles?  Are you pumped up for this? This is a superb way to end up “Bike Week,” and what a great way to kick off your “Riding Season”! 

Wednesday, we’ll do just a bit of visualization.  It’s going to be a great ride.

Mixed Monday Bag

Hello and welcome!  Today we do have a mixture of things to present.

• Plans for the Upcoming Audax 200K
• Information about the changes to the Bicycles Unlimited Novice Road Ride
• A wee bit of Seasonal Whining

THE AUDAX 200K:

This is going to take place on Sunday 21 May.  The start/finish point will be at Bicycles Unlimited.

There will be a small fee for this ride, to cover lunch, a post ride snack, and water at stops along the way.  (I’ll have more info on the amount later this week.)

I will need to know who is actually planning to attend.  I need to know in order to make reservations.  The sincerest form of commitment is a check or cash for the food.  But please do let me know if you plan to come along.

~~//~~

CONCERNING THE NOVICE ROAD RIDE:

Bicycles Unlimited Novice Road Ride starts this coming Thursday!!  (April 26, 2011)  But…

As many of you know, there is some serious construction, taking place on Bernhard Rd.  This interferes with our usual routing for the ride.  It’s just not possible to use the old return route, and there is no good alternate.  Further, at this time, we have no clear information regarding the time length of this project.

I’ve been looking for alternate routing for these rides.

Please bear in mind, the primary purpose of these rides is to encourage and train new road riders.

To that end, I see a couple of possible solutions.

For the more experienced riders:  Please feel free to come out for the ride.  As usual, I’ll start you off at 6:00 P.M. promptly.  I would suggest that you follow the plan that Pat Burton developed for the Erin’s Fight rides.  This is, essentially, an out-and-back, based on the traditional Novice Road Ride Route.  You can find a map and cuing by following this LINK.

For New Riders:  I’ve been looking at several different options.  I’m not yet clear on which one will be the final choice, so I’m going to try all of them.  (For that reason, I haven’t painted any route yet.

My first choice (the one I’ll start out with this coming Thursday) will be a bit hillier than the traditional route, but it will also be shorter.  Likely the route will be between 15 and 17 miles.

Attention New Riders!  Since the route is new, and unpainted, you will need to stay with me.  We’ll keep the pace slow, and NO DROP policy will be in effect.  BUT if you decide to ride off ahead, you are on your own!

The usual procedure will be in effect.  I’ll launch the more experienced riders promptly at 6:00 P.M. and will ask that new riders, and those who wish to have more support stay back with me.  We will leave 2 to 3 minutes later, and follow my revised routing.

PLEASE NOTE:  I’m testing several different routes!  If you come out and do the ride on any given week, there is no guarantee that the route will be the same on the following week.

Do come to the ride, and please come early enough to attend the pre-ride briefing.  Things may change at the last minute.

I do apologize for the inconvenience and uncertainty here.  Please bear with us.  We’re doing the best we can with a situation we did not create.

~~//~~

THE SEASON!

It is truly Spring.  And despite the fact that all the flowers have pretty much done their blooming thing, and then departed, there is plenty of pollen or something in the air.  One would think that the heavy rain of Saturday night would have washed the stuff away.  Perhaps it did.  On the other hand, maybe the conditions were right for something to let go.  I expect the high winds may have had a bit to do with it too.

In short, Sunday’s riding left me half wrecked.  The whatever it was went after me with a vengeance.  Eyes burning, throat closing up, nasal congestion, you name it.  I’m not ordinarily bothered much by attacks like this, but there was certainly something out there with my name on it.

That said, wasn’t Sunday one glorious day to ride?  Yes it was windy, but I like windy days.  I find the gusty conditions invigorating and thrilling.  The air was crisp, the sky clear, and that amazing deep blue, and the riding was simply excellent.

I hope you all managed to get out and enjoy some of the weekend’s good weather.

Friday Follies ~~ The First “Big Group Ride”

I’d been a part time worker in a couple of shops.  I had started doing that again, partially to supplement my (meager) income, and to take advantage of employee purchasing for a new road bike.  This new shop was a bit different from the more casually oriented ones I’d been associated with.  This shop had a clientele of “roadies.”

I was young.  I’d always been into athletics, but was just discovering athleticism on the bike.  A lot of folks were encouraging me to come out and join their group rides, and to try racing.  It sounded good and fun, and a bit scary.  Attractive.

Of course, I had no idea how to do any of that stuff, and that was a bit intimidating.  I was concerned that I would look like an idiot.  In fact I did look like an idiot, and my youth and inexperience, coupled with my vain attempts to appear worldly exaggerated the effect.

I wanted to wait until I could purchase my new bike.  I was urged to come on out and do it anyway.  So I did.  I agreed to show up for the early Saturday morning shop ride.

I got up in the dark, and got dressed.  I slung my pack, full of work clothing and supplied, and mounted up.  When I got to the shop I had that sinking feeling.  All these guys were kitted out in the highest form of roadie-fashion.  I was the only guy there in brogans, cut-off jeans, and a tee-shirt.  Their bikes looked like racing road bikes.  Mine looked like a tall pile of rust and junk.

I pitched my backpack inside the shop and saddled up, waiting to see what would happen.  At some signal (unseen by me) the group started to move out of the parking lot.  I was caught by surprise, looking and facing the wrong way.  I got turned around and started working to catch up.

I was gaining on the group, and working pretty good.  After about a mile I caught up with the back of the pack.  “Hey!”  I thought,  “This isn’t so bad.  Sure, I’m working kinda hard, but I’m in it.”

I applied a bit more effort and began working my way up through the group.  I was breathing deep and hard.  Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I was noticing that there was a bit of casual conversation going on around me.  I didn’t take notice of that, as I was busy.  I was sliding up through the group, and getting my rhythm, breathing deeply.  I had nothing extra for chit-chat.

I was near the front of the pack when we made a turn and started to climb a hill.  It wasn’t a really big hill, but a hill nonetheless.  I dug deep and gunned up it with the four or five leaders.  I knew the road.  Things would flatten at the top, and we would be out in the country, with more room.

I all but exploded going up that hill, but I passed several more riders, and when we both reached the top, I was with the very front man.  I was gasping for breath and struggling to keep up, but I was there!

That leader looked over at me, grinned, and said,  “You probably just want to sit in for your first ride.  This one is pretty fast.”

“Pretty fast?  You’re not kidding,”  I thought.  I just managed to gasp out the word,  “Right.”  Having no idea what he meant.

We continued roaring down the road at a wicked fast pace, but I was getting some of my breath back.  At the same time, other riders were grouping around us.

“Okay!”  the leader called out.  “Intervals out to Port Republic.  Everyone good?”

There were some affirmatives called back.  We turned onto Port Republic Road, a long straight one with about five miles of big rollers, and…

Suddenly the group… accelerated…  (?) and (!!)

All of the other riders surged smoothly forward, passing me on both sides.  They took off and left me.  I could not stay with them.  I couldn’t even manage to keep them in sight.  For a while I tried, reasoning that no human could keep up that pace for long, and I would eventually catch them.  Didn’t happen.  I rolled into the tiny town of Port Republic with no other rider in sight, and no clear idea of where they had gone.

I looked at my watch and realized that I needed to turn and head back, or I would be late for work.  From that place, my shortest and fastest route was back the way I had come.  So I did.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw a them.  They were coming in from the other direction, laughing and joking with each other.  “Hey Steve!”  one called out to me,  “Where’d you go, man?”

I had a lot to learn.  But I had just learned my first lesson in “roadie riding.”  I’d been dropped.  Dropped hard.  I had been racing (or thought I had been) during the warm up.

The Next Audax Tune Up ~~

AND BEYOND…

It’s coming!  This coming Sunday, 11 March, is the second of the Audax Tune Up Rides.  It will again be a 45 mile route.  Exactly the same as the one we did last week.  These are fun rides in their own right, but they are exceptionally good practice for the coming Audax 200K.

At this time the forecast if for a high in the upper 60s, and the possibility of some scattered showers.

Oops!  There.  I said it.  It might, just possibly, get a bit wet.  That is usually the “kiss of death.”  I have long held the belief that cyclists in this area are made out of brown sugar.  I can think of no other reason for the adamant steadfast avoidance of even the slightest chance of a rain ride.

Come on in!  The water is fine.  Honest, you won’t melt!

I would recommend giving some thought to wardrobe.  Perhaps a rain jacket and a helmet cover might be a good idea.  Get them out now.  Have them ready.

Bear this always in mind:  The hardest part of riding in the rain is swinging your leg over the bike at the very start.  After that, it’s a bike ride.  Often, and most surprisingly, usually a very good one.

Think of it as training.  So please do plan to be there.

Beyond:

After this Sunday we turn the wick up a little bit.  On Sunday, 1 April we’ll do the first of the two 65 mile tune ups.  It’s been a while since I’ve been on this particular route.  I’m really looking forward to it.  It’s a fun route to ride, and a grand opportunity for a great time.

More, this is where you newer riders will begin to gain some confidence in your ability to “go long.”

As we’ve stated previously, there will be two of these 65 mile Tune Up Rides.  If you are new to this kind of riding, I would strongly suggest you do at least one of these, and both would be better.

Hey!  Come on!  A day in the saddle!  A long ride with friends!  No body gets left behind!  What could be better?

Ride Report: Dirt Roads

After watching the forecast all week, and declaring that I would go out on this ride regardless of the weather…  Woke up yesterday to find a somewhat inauspicious day dawning.  Wet, uck, and not very warm.

But there is this about committing to a ride.  If you do it, you just have to go!  So there was no decision to be made here.  I would saddle up and do the ride on the RD2R2-1.  (That’s Road Dragon Dirt Road Route -1)

My tourist is still down for “Big Maintenance.”  I have several other bikes that would work for this ride, but only one with fenders and some carrying capacity.  Given the day and weather, fenders and racks sounded good.  I knew I’d like to have some room for extra gear, and the fenders seemed to be a must.  That decided me.  The new commuter it would be.  It’s a heavy beast, but my purpose for this ride was in no way involved with going fast.

I spent the morning wondering who (if anyone) would show up for this thing.  Saw several other rides cancel because of weather.  I’m pleased to announce that I’m not the only nut in the barrel.  Bill and Chris showed up, and off we went.

For starters, it was drizzling, but the temperature was somewhere in the mid-fifties.  Not all bad.  By the time we got to the first dirt section on Davis Road, the rain had abated.  If it was raining, we didn’t notice it.  Concentrating on picking good lines through wet and tricky surfaces, avoiding potholes, grinding up long slippery climbs, and traversing sketchy descents will do wonders to keep you from noticing little things like light rain.

After a bit the rain really did stop, and the sun even came out for a bit.  We wandered around the southern part of the county, zipping along on the pavement, and then playing on the muddy unpaved sections.

Weather conditons did slow us a bit, so I cut the route short.  We were out there long enough, and it was getting late.  In short, we’d had just about enough fun for one day.

Bill just may have made the best statement about the whole thing.  “You know,” he said,  “this stuff adds a whole new dimension to riding.  I mean you can’t just sit there and pedal circles.  You have to pay attention!”

I don’t know when I’ll do this again, but it’s certain that I will.  Next time in better weather, and on a somewhat lighter bike.  Stay tuned.