{Pops, Stang, Bull, Bones}

Another hot, humid day had me hoping for a casual ride but that sure didn’t happen.  Bull & Bones throughout the whole ride gave strong & long pulls.  Stang’s 8 cylinder 302 seemed to be running on only 7 today so that gave me a short break when he was in front.  We did the Berko route and had a 20.5 average at the turn.  

Coming back was better with the tailwind but Bull & Bones still made me suffer when they were on the front.  Stang gave a strong pull up nursery hill and then Bull took over and stayed in front the rest of the way at 31 mph.  Everyone kept looking at each other for an attack but no one went so we just coasted over the line with no sprint.                                                                                                                                     

{HH-Pops, Bull, Kong, Napa;      AB-MJ, ML, DW, JR}

We had a suprise showing by the AB team today and the HH team was caught shorthanded without any of our top guns.  The ride on the way out was at a conversational pace (21-22) with a double pace line.  I asked if they were interested in hills or flats and got a whatever you want to do response.  Once we got out to 950W and headed south the pace picked up a bit and Kong & Napa dropped back to finish on their own.

Heading back east on 200S I was up front with the John Ryan Express and he really started pushing the pace.  I finally dropped back and Bull took my spot as we approached 800W and the decision point of hills or flats.  Bull indicated to go left but the message was misunderstood as all the AB team went straight with me chasing after them after I had slowed to turn.  So Bull was on his own and I was soon to be too as I couldn’t close the gap and decided to head back north to CL road at 675W.  I was thinking maybe once I got back on the flats I could pick up some ground on the AB team in the hills.  As I approached the egg plant I saw Bull go by and yelled but he didn’t hear me so I ended up chasing him all the way back.  As I crossed the intersection at 400W I looked right and saw the AB team coming so I hit it hard up nursery hill and then checked behind me again as I got over the last rise.  I saw one of the AB team coming at me hard and he (it was JR) almost got to me before the finish.  Thanks to the AB team for coming out…maybe next time we’ll have some riders that can hang with you.         

{Pops, Stang, Bull, Bones, Diva, Napa, Kong}

One might have thought that after the State Road Race yesterday some of the riders would have tired legs but it was hard to tell that on today’s ride.  Stang started off by pulling 3 straight miles out CL road.  Then Diva pulled a mile+ before I finished the CL road stretch.  We headed south on 800W with Bones doing a strong pull into the wind.  After turning west on 200S Bull & Diva charged ahead while the rest of us waited to reform the pack which had split up.  

Heading north on 950W with a 21.6 average we started cutting the gap to the two in front.  After turning on 25S they slowed down and we were altogether again.  After a mile of sitting up and chatting we picked the pace back up into the cross headwind.  After another strong pull by Bones Bull charged ahead with Diva, Kong, & myself following.  Meanwhile Stang & Bones tried to pace Napa back up to us.  Bull hit it hard up to 400W and then up nursery hill before dropping back and sending Diva off the front.  I got on his wheel for a bit but soon he took it up another notch and I got gapped.  I looked back and saw Stang coming up very quickly and gave a half hearted effort to get on his wheel as he went by.  He blew right by me, gobbled up the gap to Diva and just kept on going to take the win uncontested.  The rest of us came in one at a time as the group shattered over the last mile.        

{Pops, Stang, Bull, Bones, Diva, Geek}

Geek’s back in town this weekend so he decided to ride with us and dish out some pain.  He did not disappoint…he hasn’t lost anything since moving to Wisconsin as he took off uphill into the gale force winds at 22 mph.  I cracked first fallling off before we got to the top of the first rise.  After the group turned south on 400W Bones decided he wanted an easier day and came back to ride with me.  I wasn’t giving up the chase yet and we kept them within a quarter mile of us as we turned on 200S.  Up the first hill we picked up another of Geek’s casualties – Diva who had fallen off the torrid pace.  So now it was 3 chasing 3.  I was hoping the front group would go out to 950W so we could shortcut on 900W and rejoin them but they headed north on 800W and we were still a 1/4 mile back.

After a hard mile of chasing we decided it wasn’t worth the effort anymore as now they had the tailwind and there was no way of bringing them back.   A few miles from the finish Bull dropped off and Stang was the only one left hanging with Geek.  After Stang charged hard up nursery hill Geek did his typical lead out at over 30+.  Stang pulled around him at the end to take the win.  The rest of us rode in casually at a 20 mph pace.

{Pops, Bull, Diva, Napa}

Bull & Diva rode in the morning & I rode last night so none of us are in the mood for hammering.  We decided on the Dutchman and once we got on the flats we maintained a steady 22-23 mph pace.  A bit slower heading down 800W and 100S gave us a 21.5 mph average at the turn.

Coming in was a little slower with the cross headwind but still managed a 20-21 pace.  After we got over nursery hill we lined up to lead Napa out for the sprint.  She did a great job increasing her speed as each of us dropped off and took it home for the win. 

{Pops, Stang, Diva, Napa, Kong, Sgt}

No one seemed to be in much of a hurry today going out and that was fine with me as I didn’t want to expend to much energy before Wed Night Worlds.  We headed down to the hills and kept everyone together for the most part with a few jumps off the front to stretch the legs.  Sgt wanted to do the Berko but Napa headed up 800W and left us boys on our own.  The average at the 950W turn was a pedestrian 17.5 mph.

Going north was still a casual pace but once we started heading back east with some tailwind the speed gradually picked up.  Sgt gave a long pull past the egg plant and half way across the flats and then Stang took over.  He pulled up to 400W and then hard up nursery hill to discourage any attacks.  I was thinking he’s got to be getting tired and planned on a sneak attack after we got past the last rise.  But Diva beat me to the punch and went off the front right after nursery hill.  I waited for Sgt to respond but he wasn’t interested and neither was Kong.  I didn’t want to go because I knew Stang would get on my wheel and recover and bury me in the sprint.  So Stang finally took off after him we me chasing.  Diva had a big gap but had a long way to go.  I caught Stang after we had closed half the gap and then kept right on going figuring he’d give up.  I got to Diva before the cut in the road and wanted to sit there a couple seconds to catch my breath but I looked back and here comes Stang…Yikes…I zipped around Diva digging for the line hoping I had enough left to hold Stang off (how’d he do that after that long pull).  I did but man did it hurt. 

(Dog, Bones, Sgt, CD, Stang, Kong)  

After all that smack.  Bull was no were to be found.  Mrs. Pella, from Wendy’s, said where is he?  Where is the Beef?  Everyone was all pumped up ready to chant, “Fight, fight, fight.”  But the bull/calf was no were to be found.  We started at a brisk adrenaline pumped 23 mph into that 9 mph wind.  Then a moped passed us at 30 mph and Dog somehow chased him down at 35 mph into the wind!  As soon as the DUI Harley saw him in his rearview mirror he must have thought that big red dog was a pink elephant after him again?  Dog was trying to sit in on his wheel but Dui, (pronounced duey), started to swerve frantically all over the road trying to shake him.  He kept looking at his speedometer as if he was thinking, “How fast am I going if a bike wants’ to pass me?  It looked like a TDF sprint were the leader tries to take up both lanes of the road to avoid giving off a draft.  Then Dog turned off on 400W so Dui wouldn’t run himself into a phone pole thus dog let Dui go to his next party alone.  I was gasping for air anyway chasing at 30 mph then the sight of this comical scene made me laugh wasting what little air I had in my lungs.  We regrouped on 400W and managed to average 21.1 mph all the way to the turnaround. 

Then coming home with the tail wind we made good time and elevated the pace to get a 22.8 mph average for the whole ride.  At this speed it was Bones, Dog and Sgt pulling up front.  No Bull to be found?  He must have dropped?  Nearing the sprint Sgt pulled last and got the lead up to 32 mph.  With that speed for the last ½ mile when Dog came around for the win there were no serious challengers.  I think maybe Bull could use one of those there mopeds?

Where is the Beef?????

Where is the Bull?????

{Pops, Bones, Bull}

I’m really getting tired of the hot humid weather as it seems to suck all the strength out of me.  I led out the small group of three riders today at a slow 18-19 until Bull took over.  Once we got on the flats on CL road we rotated about avery 1/2 mile and tried to keep the pace around 22 into the wind.  Since the other two rode in the morning we decided to do the flat Berko route and stay out of the hills.  We got out to the half way point with a 21.5 mph average.

I thought we had a shot at a 23 average with the tailwind but comng back on CL road Bones seemed to get stronger with his pulls while Bull & I got weaker (maybe we should have left Bones in front the rest of the way in?).  After Bones pulled us up to the 400W intersection I took over going up nursery hill and then Bull pulled through over the last rise.  Bones started the lead out but knowing I couldn’t win the sprint I went around him and stayed close to the centerline to give them optimal draft position.  A couple cars blew by close to me as I ramped it up to 30 and this scared off Bones & Bull who shut it down (which I didn’t know at the time).  I kept my head down and sped along at 30 the rest of the way in expecting them to charge by me any second.  After I crossed the line I looked back and wondered why are they so far back.  What a waste of energy that was.  

(Sgt)

I went out and commenced to sweating just sitting waiting for bikes to show.  But nobody did.  So I went out to the Berko and laid out my max effort TT.  I picked the wrong direction CW when the wind was ESE4 mph and it hurt me a little coming home on CL.  I finished with a 21.2 mph run.  But it wasn’t a strong wind so it was probably a minimal impact.

Effort was about perfect for me averaging 100 rpm & 167 BPM heart rate (92% of max) and hitting my max hr 181 BPM in the sprint.

 I ended dehydrated and my after ride weigh in soaking wet was 2.5 lbs less than yesterday.

(Dog, Bones, Sgt, Diva, Pops, Kong, Bull, Napa)

Perfect 77F.  We went out fast at 21.5 mph into the wind to the turnaround.  The group broke into 2 at 800W as one group went on the regular route and one went on the Berko.  Bones was leading Diva, Sgt and Dog out to the Berko. 

Our return average was 24.2 mph.  The last 7 miles were at almost 25 mph and it was hard to catch your breath.  Luck put me in a good draft coming into the sprint.  Diva jumped off the front and I knew better than to chase early.  But then we neared the end and I was afraid of not catching him in time so I went for it and hammered up to 34.5 mph.  It seemed like I just barely caught him in time, but Dog was on my wheel and Bones on Dog’s.  Dog came around me just in time for the win and Bones was a second too late to get around the Dog.  Dog’s win. Avg 22.8 mph.