Sep-12:
PUE: MtOlivetChRd-GrayRockRd-EatonRd, etc.-Stem; 62.8 m.; est 3100 ft ---> effort = 93; 3hrs, 54min; 16.1 mph.
1st Qt. tot: 20 rides; 755.3 m.; 47 hrs, 31 min; 15.9 mph.
2nd Qt. tot: 43 rides; 2124.3 m.; 134 hrs, 59 min; 15.7 mph.
Jul tot: 16 rides; 732.2 m.; 45 hrs, 3 min; 16.2 mph.
Aug tot: 11 rides; 709.7 m.; 45 hrs, 0 min; 15.8 mph.
Sep tot: 5 rides; 267.0 m.; 16hrs, 41 min; 16.0 mph.
YTD: 95 rides; 4588.5 m.; 289 hrs, 17 min; 15.9 mph.
Rolling 12-mos.: 121 rides; 5857.2 m.; 366 hrs, 45 min; 16.0 mph.
Did I truly ride "with" anyone today?
Iva for quite a bit on New Light / Bruce Garner -- thanks, Iva -- I don't think the others ever understood that we stopped to fix your saddle bag -- the peloton "piled up" behind us does not count as riding with -- one or more of those stronger riders should have come to the front to set a pace that we ALL would benefit from.
Lt. Dave for some on Mt. Olivet Ch and Green Hill roads.
Snapper on Bryans Hill Rd and most of Belltown Rd -- thanks, Snaps, I really needed the company through there.
Other than that, I was basically dropped, repeatedly. With little to no "waiting". And "waiting" until just before someone gets to the corner where the faster climbers have been waiting for 30 seconds, a minute, maybe more, is NOT waiting -- that is "rubbing it in one's nose". That slower rider or climber probably needs a 30 second "blow" more than the faster riders.
If the slower rider / climber comes up to the corner where everyone is waiting, and the slower rider just slides by without stopping, that is acceptable. But the faster riders leaving 20 to 50 yards before the slower rider actually gets to the corner -- that is an indication that the fast set doesn't want that slower rider riding with them.
Well, if that is the case, don't ride with me.
Was I riding too slow? My avg pace when I stopped for Wave's cut tire was 16.5 mph. That is about as good as I am going to get, so I don't think I was all that slow.
Do I think my pace was impacted by yesterday's 25-miler? Given my avg pace through 52.3 miles, i.e., Wave's cut tire, I don't think so.
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Other riders that left PUE at the same time I did today, were:
Snapper, Wave, NT, BobH, Lt. Dave, Iva.
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If you have read this, and think I was a bit ticked off today, you have read correctly.
If you are thinking that I probably should wait a day until writing the "story" for today's ride: maybe.
If you are wondering if I need a short break from riding -- that is something I am also wondering. I note, however, that quite a few people, both within the "irregulars" and outside, seem to think that I ride "every day". In response to that notion, I point you to this blog: every ride since Feb-1 is noted -- and other than an occassional walk, there are no other "workouts" that I am doing. Note also the totals for the "rolling-12-months": 121 rides in 365 days works out to 1 ride every three days, or roughly 3 per week. Am I riding every day?
If you are thinking that I am too slow for the "body" of the "irregulars" -- that is what I am thinking, too.
I know the easy way to solve that: just don't send out any more invites and go back to riding truly solo. It is a lot more fun to ride solo when one is intending to ride solo as compared to being repeatedly dropped and no "waiting" and riding most of the ride as if I were alone. I don't ever recall feeling "alone" when I've ridden solo; but I have certainly felt "alone" off the back of the "irregulars" peloton.
On the other hand, I have noticed that with 80 (+) mile rides, I don't get dropped so much. My pace for 80 is no slower than my pace for 63.
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I need to stop writing now so that I can go find my rose-colored glasses.
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Should I post this? Maybe not.
Am I going to post this? Yes.
Martin, we love you man! Maybe you did a little too much 'spin' on Friday the 11th? 17.3. Or, maybe, everyone else needs to decide if they want to be a part of YOUR group? If not, they can ride by themselves. I for one am ooking forward to our next Irregular Adventure (please, no more flat tires or wacked out wheels!). Chin up young man. Snapper
ReplyDeleteAh, evidence that some actually read this thing.
ReplyDelete