Hammer Head Racing Blog

(Stang, Pops, Sgt, CD was out alone later)

It was a warmer yet at 53 degrees so I opted for shorts.  We went out at 22.5 mph onto the Berko 20.  Stang was the pulling star today keeping our pace high, but survivable.

We came home through the hills at 19.8 mph.  It seemed like Stang and I were putting some hurt on Pops.  We passed CD going out 200S as we were coming in.  As we turned onto CL rd I took the lead and spun hard with a low gear to climb Nursery hill at 21 mph, but I faded to 19 before the top and Stang passed me.  I let him work for a while then took off for the line with Pops chasing.  As we neared the line Pops was moving up so I shifted up and drilled it going anaerobic.  Pops grunted but then managed to get around just in time for the win.  Final average was 21 mph.

(Stang, Pops, Geek, Sgt)

It was a warm 52 degrees maybe almost warm enough for shorts, but we were in tights.  At least we shed the booties, jackets, and the hats.  It seemed like we had more wind as hard as the work was.  We went out on the Dutchman at 21.6.  Geek was putting in some awesome double pulls faster than anyone else.

We came home at 22.4.  Pops put in a great pull up 400 hill, then on the final climb Geek took over and threw down some serious acceleration.  Pops responded with gestures of thanks of course?  Geek and then Sgt pulled late, and then Pops and Stang went for the line.  Pops couldn’t get an up shift to take and ended up losing to Stang.  Final average was 22.3 mph from Pops computer.

{Pops, Stang, Kong, Geek}

Must be a sign of spring coming since we got to ride all 5 days this week with temps above freezing and sunshine every day.  Geek led us out at 22 mph right up the first rise and just about gave me cardiac arrest.  He backed off a little and then hit it hard up the next rise too.  I was so glad when he dropped back and put Kong out front.  Kong called for the hill route and I groaned as I didn’t think I’d be able to hang with them.  Surprisingly once I got warmed up my legs responded better today than yesterday.  We screamed through the hills causing Kong to shortcut at 675W and had a 21.3 mph average at the 800W turn.

Going north we lost a few tenths off the average due to the mild headwind.  I thought we’d be able to hold 23-24 coming back in but about the best anyone pulled was 22.  Close to the top of nursery hill Geek hit it hard with Stang and I scrambling to get back to him.  The rest of the way in Stang & Geek played tag, switching back and forth at the front while I hung on.  Stang stood up at the downslope and hammered all the way to the line.  The best I could do was hang just off his wheel.

Dog & Bull took the afternoon off to ride with a few others.  There’s also a group ride tomorrow starting at 1:00 PM…meeting at Dog’s Bldg. 21.

{Pops, Stang, Bull}

Dog let Stang ride his bike today since he couldn’t go today.  With Bull & Stang trying to outdo each other it was a painful ride for me.  We did the regular hill route and had a 20 mph average when we got to 800W. 

Stang pulled at 22 mph into the wind for about a mile before I took over and barely managed 20.  Back on CL road we did 21-25 mph with Stang’s pull’s being at the high end, Bull in the middle, and me at the low end (maybe I need a break after four staight days of riding?).  Stang took the pull up to 400W and Bull kept the hammer down going up nursery hill.  I started the leadout over the last rise but Bull came back to the front a short time later.  Stang waited until the old cut in the road to stand and attack and showed impressive acceleration on Dog bike as he gapped both of us for the win.  

{Pops, Stang, Bull, Kong, Dog, and guest starring Nik & Anne}

Dog promised a more relaxed ride today and he kept his word.  Nik & Anne showed up to boost our numbers and both looked to be in great form this early in the season.  We headed straight out CL road maintaining a steady 20-21 mph pace to 800W where we headed south for the reverse hill route.  We picked it up here with the tailwind and had a 20.5 average as we turned east on 200S.

The pack took a controlled pace through the hills with no one attacking off the front.  Going north on 400W was tough into the wind but we still all stayed together.  After climbing up nursery hill a few riders got antsy and started revving up their engines as we approached the finish.  Anne was the first to fall back followed by me, then Kong.  Dog led Bull, Stang, and Nik across the line as we finished with a 20.0 mph average.   

(Dog, Sgt, Bull, Geek, Kong, Pops)

It was a warm 34 degrees and we had 6 bikes for the Dutchman ride.  Bull started us out nice at 17 mph.  I’m good with that.   But then Pops attacked at 21 mph up hill.  What kind of world is this were Pops attacks early?  Well dog was going to make sure Pops paid for it and popped the speed up to 28 mph.  Shortly there after, Pops got dropped by the results of his own attack.  So sad.  For the next 4.2 miles we averaged 24 mph.  But that speed sounds easier than it was because Dog’s pulls were 26-28 mph sessions were you had to sit down(or  actually Stand up), shut up, and hang on for dear life.  We reached the turnaround with an average 23.4 mph and I was surprised that we all survived it, especially me.

It wasn’t much easier to go home into the wind at 20.8 mph.  Again the Dog was pulling us up to 23 mph.  Some where around the flats a Bull-Dog 1 – 2 punch gapped me with Kong on my wheel.  The pain was intense and I was starting to fold mentally.  But then Kong shouted to encourage me to go after them.  I laid it all out with a max 110% effort and managed to jump across and bridge the gap.  The trouble was that Kong couldn’t follow my bridge building burst.  But if I gave any less intensity I would not have survived either. 

Nearing the end Bull and Geek seemed to fade and Dog was conserving.  So I waited until the cut and jumped out front to go for it.  Dog followed and easily took the win from me.  Pretty impressive after all the pulling he did today!  Avg 22.0 mph

{Pops, Stang, Bull, Geek}

The sun was shining and the temp was above freezing.  With those conditions and the rider line-up I thought this would be a tough ride…the others did not disappoint me.  After starting pretty calm we turned south on 400W for the hill route.  The tailwind must have set the others off because all of a sudden it was every man for himself.  I was the collateral damage to all this and got left behind until they calmed down and let me catch up right before we turned on 200S.  The hills were punishing as they took turns trying to outdo each other on the climbs.  I hung on as best I could and we had a 20.4 average as we turned north on 800W.

The headwind kept everyone together for the next two miles and then things started getting crazy again as we passed the lake.  We had been doing 22-24 but Stang attacked at the egg plant and took the speed up to 28.  Geek counter-attacked up the rise to the flats and Bull said “Sayounara”.  The rest of the way in I just sat in back holding on as Stang and Geek duked it out.  Geek started the lead-out for the sprint and about half way across the last flat Stang went around him.  I used Geek to get me back to Stang but he was too strong and took the sprint easily.  Great way to start the month with a 21.5 mph average.

{Pops}

I could have used some help out there today…that was one ugly ride on the way out.  I thought about doing the hill route but after getting over the first two rises at a snails pace I went straight out CL road for the old 15 mile route.  Thought I’d never get to the turnaround but made it a 16.3 mph average.  Coming back in was very nice but didn’t have a lot of energy left to really crank it up.  Stayed in the 24-26 range most of the way back and ended up with a hard earned 18.7 mph average.

{Pops, Stang, Bull}

I was planning on staying in today due to the cold and wind but Bull talked Stang & I into joining him.  Stang said he worked out about 2 1/2 hours on the trainer last night so I didn’t think he’d have much left in him today.  On the way out on CL road Bull mentioned going around the lake so we did that and then went out to 800W down to 100S.  Thanks to Bull for pulling about the same distance into the wind as Stang & I combined.  Average going out was 18.5 mph.

We came back up 650W to CL road at the egg plant and then picked the speed up to 25-26 with the nice tailwind.  I pulled part of the way up nursery hill and Stang finished it off as well as the last rise.  Bull led us into the sprint but I went past him a short time later and got caught at the front.  When we hit the cut in the road I gave it everything I had but Stang somehow had enough left to pass me right before the line.  

{Pops, Stang, Dog}

A few of us wanted to get out today since the forecast is for more snow tomorrow.  We had quite the variety of conditions…small snowflakes, large snowflakes, sleet, sun, clouds, damp roads, dry roads, and of course the headwind going out.  The flat Dutchman route was chosen since Dog was on his MTB.  Stang and I switched back and forth at the front the whole ride while Dog hung on as best he could.  We averaged 18.5 mph going out.

Coming back in we kept the pace at 21-22.  Stang pulled up the rise to the 400W intersection and I took over going up nursery hill and the last rise.  Stang came back to the front and gradually increased the speed.  When we hit 30 Dog popped off the back.  Stang kept bumping it up and I was wondering if I’d have anything left to try and get around him.  We hit the downslope before the finish and I came around him as he started to die out…lucky for me…thanks Stang for the great pull to the line.