Tall Ride & Links

In my quest to become a faster rider a couple of weeks ago I publicly called out all offers for an ass-whipping. Last night the call was answered. 6:30pm at the gate at Gameline a group gathered for a quick loop of the park.

A group of about thirteen of us gathered for a loop of the park.

The ride was exactly what I was looking for - something punishing, something to strive to get faster for, some good folks with no attitude or egos to ride with and a fun time. I surprised myself by being able to stay near the front as we climbed Pinks. Every time I looked down we were averaging around 21km/hr. I thought for sure I'd be shot out the back, but by the time we got to the top I had hung on and not lost my position. I guess my fragile ego must have dug deep to find some great courage to dance on the pedals long enough to stay in the group (how's that for a Paul Sherwin commentary?!). However, as soon as it flattened out, the pace stayed high enough that I had a hard time staying on as I tried to recover. The group basically held together until the Fortune climb.

Felt like someone ripped off both my legs and beat me with them.

I must have blown my load in my effort up Pinks 'cause I had nothing on Fortune. By the gate to the Fortune Parkway near P10 I was off the back and basically rode to the top alone with the only goal in mind was to keep them within eye sight. I was almost successful. The guys were kind enough to wait at the top near Lac Fortune for me - seemed it took me so long that they were able to set up a card table and got through a game of Crazy 8's while waiting. The ride up to Champlain was good, as it's a gradual climb and the pace wasn't too bad.

Of all the places to fall off and totally lose contact was on a down. A small gap opened between me and the last guy and before long it was huge and I couldn't gap it. What I'm learning about riding in a group of roadies who know what they're doing is that you have to pay attention, stay on the wheel in front of you and anticipate any change in pace. If you don't, you're spit out the back. As difficult as it is trying to keep up to guys a calibre or two higher than I am, it was a lot of fun.

Speaking of the Tall Tree guys . . . .

The Tall Tree crew is planning a dam ride. Unfortunately I cannot make it. Dam it. It's going to be a dam good ride. Check it out.

Link Dumpage:

• My Eyes! They burn! Yesterday morning, while reading my morning blogs and trying to enjoy a bowl of granola and coffee, something disturbing made me I throw up a little. No, it wasn't because it was his fourth day in a row of reporting on the DSG race (is three laps really worthy of four days of blogging?) Click on over to Dicky's blog, cause he has given a whole new meaning to the word Fjear. I know that most of you continue to come to my blog in hopes of a new Naked Gear Review(can I help it if I'm eye candy? And, yes, I am working on a couple of reviews). After visiting Bad Idea Racing you won't want to go back. Leave taking off your clothing to the pro's Dicky.

• The Goat is Back My favourite person and riding buddy, formly from North Carolina, Jeremy is back in the blog-o-sphere with adventures from Colorado. Great to see him on his bike again. Clicky clicky.

• Giro - If you're like me, you hope that if you watch fast guys on bikes that somehow you'll be fast too. Interested in watching the Giro d'Italia and can't find it on TV? Rodd put me onto Universal Sports. Bagged from the beating I took at the ride last night, I fell asleep while I watched stage five last night.
  

• Cycling Tips - since I'm a roadie now (does doing one loop of the park with guys who road race make me a roadie? I'm still not going to shave my legs though) I can share with you the place where I get all my cycling tips that make me so fast.