What a great ride last evening. I think there were 9 or 10 of us as we headed out under a beautiful clear sky. The pace was the usual Wednesday evening friskiness with several of the peloton taking beastly pulls. Not to mention a couple of chronic wheelsuckers at the back. (Ooops, just did...but I'm sure you could of guessed who anyway!) The second time down Langley the pace went from frisky to hammerfest. However, the action started in earnest as we rounded the turn onto Maygarden.
I was riding Big Dog, (that's my nickname for the last of my Cannondales in the stable. I think I have sold 3 or 4 and this last one is a bit heavy but I want to keep her), as we made the sweeping left hander on Maygarden itself. I decided to test out the Big Dog as she hasn't been ridden in awhile. "Oh baby, let the Big Dog eat!" She cranked it right up and we were rolling. I finished my pull and Keith "Big Motor" Irwin pulled through with none other than the man himself Bobby "Coolio" Cooley taking a turn at the front. As Coolio slid over, "Katie bar the door!", Tim "Crusher" Fox took over with about 1.5k to go and had the bit between the teeth!
Crusher had it pegged on 26/27mph as we topped out on the final hill. The big Clydesdale boy was pulling at 27 uphill into a headwind! Absolute Sultan of Speed status. (SOS) As we pass through the S curve Big Motor launches a vicious attack with 350 yards to go. Coolio, Left Lane, Mel "Mellow Yellow" Young and Chuck "e N Love" Norton gave chase. With 250 yards left the Big Dog wanted to run...
I tried to hold her back, knowing that she's been in the stable for so long watching with longing as each day I rode off on the Lynskey. I was a bit concerned that she might hurt herself. She would have none of it...the Big Dog wanted to eat and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. (Maybe she just wanted me to know she still has what it takes or wanted to show off for the Lynskey who had been getting all of the attention lately.) But before I knew it she was around the chasers and headed straight for Big Motor's wheel. She caught his draft and waited for just a second or so as if to catch her breath, then she was off, snorting and grunting her way to the finish line just barely ahead of Big Motor...amazing.
Makes me want to take her out more often.
Great ride! And speaking of great rides, we have one tonight at the beach! The Full Moon Ride is back for the last time this season. Come on out at 6pm at the Casino Beach Parking Lot for an easy to moderate paced 20 miles. Enjoy the beautiful sunset as we ride down to Fort Pickens and the moonlit Gulf as we head back under the Full Moon! Left Lane is even bringing some refreshments to celebrate after the last Full Moon Ride this year.
Please bring an extra $3 to get into the park. See you tonight and...
See you out on the road,
Bob
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