Spent yesterday morning and early afternoon working at
the shop with
Guitar Ted, I have concluded that he is the one that keeps me sane and in control. Ted has been giving me pointers on wheel-building techniques and the elements that make the build a success. Yesterday Ted helped me understand proper wheel tension and the tensions that are used to build a strong wheel. I like to have a fairly thorough understanding of how and why things work before I attempt building them and Ted has definitely helped me with all of that. Thanks Buddy!
Last night was the group road ride and probably one of the last ones for me due to working at the shop during the evenings effective today. Since I probably won’t be out again, my goal last night was to not get shelled and be one of the guys doing the shelling. The group started out with ten riders including: Kisch, J.Fry, Krueger, Eilderts, Robondo, B. Allen, Boller, Houlihan,
Kerkove, and me. Let’s see…that translates to…
3 Specializeds
2 Waterfords
1 Trek
1 Giordana
1 Giant
1 Cannondale
1 Salsa
Hmmm…interesting
Anyway, Allen and I led out of town and although we were only rolling at around 20mph, the two of us ended up with a very large gap before we were even out of town. We picked the pace up a bit to make everyone work a little and the next thing you know the group was in shambles. The paceline was cruising up Union Rd. in the high 20’s with most everyone taking good pulls. Krueger had just ran a marathon this last weekend so he sat in quite bit, but he had a god excuse. We had a couple of close ones when a construction truck and trailer went by without giving us any room and a little while late a large pickup passed us while we were cresting a hill and there was another cyclist coming the other way. Yea…that could have been ugly. No major attacks in the first section and but only eight riders made it to Finchford where Kisch flatted and the group decided to wait for him to change it. After the flat was fixed we proceeded on and the attacks began almost right away. I told myself in the beginning that I was not going for sprints but I was going to try an attack or too. Coming up on the first sprint sign, I was on the front pulling at around 26mph and upped the pace to about 29mph when Eilderts came around and went for the sign. He took it uncontested to my surprise. We made the right hander and then Kerkove, J. Fry, and Kisch went for the second sign. It looked pretty close to me but I do believe that Kisch took it at the line. His timing is impeccable and I do not recall ever beating him myself.
Cruised through town at a slightly lower speed to let everyone regroup and then the second half really picks up. The first part is about a four or five mile stretch of small rollers with a sprint at the end. The pace started out pretty calm at around 23 mph and stayed like that until the halfway point where it climbed up to the high 20’s. Kerkove &
Kisch launched a small attack to see how others reacted but everyone stayed on. The sprint was contested by Kisch, J.Fry, and Kerkove I believe…not totally sure…but I am sure that Kisch took it as usual. We made the turn to head south along Joplin Dr./Wagner Rd. which is usually the section that I get shelled on during the nights when I have been shelled. Although, I have been staying on all the way to Waterloo for the last few weeks so I must be getting a little faster by riding with these guys. There are sprint signs at the halfway point and end of this road and the road is around eight miles long I think. I did my fair share of pulls to the first sign, let everyone else fight out the sign, and then proceeded up the largest hill of the road which is where I usually fall off. I followed Kerkove to the top making sure that I stayed with him and reserved some energy. At the top I launched my own attack and was able to stay off of the front for the next two hills before the group caught me on the downside. Shortly after I was caught, J. Fry launched his own attack and the group paced themselves to catch him shortly before the last sprint sign. We caught him a bit early and then Kisch, Krueger, J. Fry, and Eilderts fought for the last sprint of the night. It was too close for me to call but I would put my money on Kisch.
It was a great ride and I was totally stoked to do as much of the pace making as I did. Most of these guys at the group ride are Cat. 2 and 3 roadies and over this summer I have worked my way in to being able to hang with them. Even if I am not contesting signs it is still comforting to know that these rides have been helping me get faster. Right now I am fast but without the 's'. If I do not get out again this year I will definitely be looking for a way to guarantee my participation next summer…hopefully with one of
these or
these. Must find a way...
There was a small package in the mail yesterday at the shop yesterday that contained these.
A pair of green ones for Rush #1 and a pair of black ones for Rush #2.
Ergon grips are one of the most comfortable things I have ever used on any of my mountain bikes. They are simply amazing. Be sure you check out G-Ted's review of them
here. Should be able to give them a test run on Sunday and get them dialed in for the climbing at the
24 Hours of Afton on the 25th. Happy hands, happy hands, happy hands!!!
I am off for a recovery spin and then to
the shop at 3pm to work with my buddy A. Lo.