Another Adventurous WERAD...and a Schedule Change

Well, that was one WERAD for the books! Big group even with a few of the notables missing. The pace was blistering and the antics nonstop! Except for an ill timed flat, (is there ever a good time for one of those?), I haven't had that much fun since Aero Jim was trying out his pistons of power (POP) on Fort Pickens Road. (I just love this kind of stuff!) However, having flatted within the last 3 kilometers, I get the same time as the peloton. Since not having been there for the final antics along Maygarden, the Left Lane will give his color commentary. But first, a word from our sponsor...oops, I mean, a bit of housekeeping, i.e. a Schedule Change...route only!

Tomorrow we will have a schedule change. Time and start location will remain the same, only the route will change. We will be attempting a brand new route. The Northwest Passage Loop. (NPL) Not to be confused with NPR...uh, never mind. (Having been raised in the DC area, this acronym thing is really a curse.) This daunting 45 miler has everything to intimidate even the most seasoned of riders, yet it is as harmless as a kitten...if not playful. (Here kitty kitty) Great roads with a few medium hills and lots of long flat stretches to rev up the pistons. We will have one scheduled rest stop to fill the bottles and tell stories. The pace will be moderate as the shorter and longer groups will stay together for this new addition to the massive route digest which is the Firestone and Summit Arsenal of Routes. (FASAOR) Sorry, I can't help myself.

We pick up our commentary already in progress:

The view from the Left Lane, (scary thought)

Great WERAD yesterday, should have been there!!! Good turnout with the Vortex, Bugno, Semper Cy, Bad Mayonaisse, Danger Sharp, The Count of Fishbone (We’re Not Worthy!!!), Chuck (without his MUCH better half Sandy) Nathan, Mark Brill, Woody & Carol Ann, we picked up Nate around the Airport, yours truly The Left Lane, a new guy who asked if we did not mind if we picked him up as a straggler (Straggler… for sure…young skinny guy around 35 with shaved legs) and maybe a couple others. Cut me some slack if I forgot someone as I slip into senility!!!

Pace was fairly quick from the start with the Vortex and Fishbone carrying on an extended conversation (it was like they were on a date or something!!) at the front of the double pace line until we got within a few blocks of our turn onto Langley for the first time. This first trip up Langley was mainly into the wind so the usual hammerfest did not materialize and the group stayed together as we went up Spanish and then to the Crit Loop through the neighborhood which started out at a reasonable pace until The Vortex went to the front and bumped the pace up above 25 as we neared the turn on Scenic Highway. We slammed it hard up to our turn back into the neighborhood and all the way through the Crit Loop. The Left Lane held on to the leaders on his new Cervelo and when everyone was sitting up just near the end I slammed it down trying to be first to Spanish Trail for the first time on the Crit Loop. Of course the Vortex and Fishbone would have none of that and nipped me just as we reached Spanish Trail. Oh well…one day!!

We regrouped and Nate did most of the pull up the first long straight after crossing 9^th avenue and then the hammerfests began in earnest on Burgess as The Vortex went to the front and kicked the pace up close to 30mph. That’s what I call softening up the peloton!! Everyone regrouped as we came up to 9^th Avenue and the Langley Maygarden Loop.

On Langley a small group of around 4 riders got ahead including I believe Nathan, Nate, Fishbone, Mark & Danger Sharp with the second group with Gianni Bugno pulling hard at around 25 and reeling in the lead group which was around 30 yards ahead. As we were gaining Vortex came to the front of the Chase Group to pull back the leaders but immediately pulled up with a tire going down. Bugno pulled up as well to help Vortex and Semper Cy started looking back over his left shoulder and almost pinched The Left Lane off the road to the right as I was shouting at him and he corrected just in time. Bugno & Vortex were out and Semper Cy got it back in gear pulling me and Chuck and others toward the lead group whose lead had grown with the slow down caused by Vortex & Bugno pulling out. Semper Cy chased them down by the light pulling the rest of us back up to the group. But as we were taking the turn those of us who had just caught up had to wait for some right turning cars and the lead group gapped us again as we turned onto Spanish Trail. Chuck and I had used up a little too much getting back up to the lead group the first time and could not quite close the gap this second time as we turned onto Maygarden. Chuck put it down hard and almost got us back up to the lead group of around 5 or 6 riders but as we neared the air terminal our chase was futile and we watched the leaders move off ahead. Chuck kept chasing hard and Danger and I were back a ways as our gas tanks neared empty. Did not see the finish but I am sure it was exciting. Will have to get the details of the finish from someone who “was there”!!

Mark "The Thrill" Brill pulled off his first ever F&S win! Congrats to The Thrill. As they approached the last 200 meters he jumped the rest of the survivors who were overheard singing, "The Thrill is gone, the Thrill is gone away..."

Great WERAD! What a Thrill-ing finish! (I'm going to have fun with that nickname.) If you missed it, don't fret yourself...it's less than twenty four hours until the next show begins...with the cast of unusual characters know as the F&S peloton. Come on out for the new route inauguration; The Northwest Passage Loop! (NPL) Sorry, it's not actually my fault...o never mind.

Hope to see everyone there in the morning! But until then, I'll...

See you out on the road,
Bob