Give one or both a go this weekend. At least your getting an advantage on the sidelined Crusher, Vortex and Circle K...all laid up with injuries awaiting healing. (Sheila back in the peloton yet?) We've had quite the Injured Reserve List this Fall. Hopefully the rest of the Winter and coming New Year will be much health to all...and to all a good night.
Anyway, for those who were unable to make the ride last Saturday, the ever loquacious Left Lane has been yet again gracious to offer his unique perspective from the, uh...Left Lane.
Here's his report:
Great weather other than being a little bit windy for one of the Group Favorite Loops - Hurst Hammock. Around 50 degrees at the start and getting up into the mid 60's as we completed our ride.
Riding were: Bugno, Danimal, Happy Harlan, Nestordamus, Retro Dave (showing no signs of the prior week wreck on a new rear wheel built up for him by the boys at Cycle Sports), David (The Bad Mayonnaise) Mayo, The Left lane, Doug, and returning after some absence were peloton favorites, Count Fishbone and Prenti The Older as well as Peter, and Don (who rode with the group for only a few miles).
As usual the Hammock Loop never disappoints. This ride has so many legs/turns, etc., it's hard to remember everything to put in the blogazoidal. Plus this commentator put in probably over 20 solo miles during the ride as the peloton is continually broken up and regrouped during the ride and as my legs turned to Mush somewhere on the Detroit Blvd homeward stint.
We had a great ride out through Beulah with most of the group staying together. We regrouped at the school at the turn off Mobile Highway and we headed for the Hammock. The 3.5mile ride into the Hammock is always fun especially if the wind is favorable. Happy led the peloton into the Hammock and then Doug taking over the pull. We were cruising in the mid 20's for the first couple of miles but as we were approaching the Sprint for the Hammock sign we were in a double paceline with the speed slowing down to the lower 20's and it just did not "feel" right to the Left Lane. So I jumped out and kicked the pace back up over 25 with around 3/4 mile (I think) left. I can never tell how far the end is on this ride and I remember my first ride into the Hammock when I asked The Vortex how far the end was and he told me "one more turn" so I put down the hammer only to find there were around 3 more turns...tricked by the Wylie Vortex as my legs gave up and the peloton went screaming by to the finish!!
I had no delusions of taking the sprint this day (too much horsepower in the peloton) but just felt like pushing it as hard as I could for as long as I could. Around 500 yards from the finish Bugno, Retro Dave, and Peter went around, with the other contenders blocked out by the double paceline, and the real sprint for the sign began. Bugno who like the Left Lane could not judge how far the end was, ran out of gas just before the finish with Retro Dave taking the Sprint and Peter on his wheel. "Braggin Rites" for the week go to the Retro man!!
Peloton broke up somewhat on the climb out of the Hammock with Dana & Harlan being the first to escape the Hammock alive!! The group filtered into the break upon which Left Lane got a phone call from Bugno about "someone broke his chain" on the way to the break. When I told the group that we had to wait up because Bugno called and that someone had broken his chain there was much confusion from Dave and Nestor wondering how "someone else" could have broken Bugno's chain. I had to explain that Bugno had said someone else had broken their chain!! Now I will cut Nestor a little slack seeing as to how English is his second language but Dave??? I think they were just pickin on the Left Lane. Shortly the stragglers rolled into the break with Peter having a crescent shaped (1/2 of his small chain ring) hunk of metal hanging from his bike bag. Apparently the screws were loose holding the chain rings together leading to total failure. He was able to continue though with just the large front chainring operational.
At this time the peloton broke into two groups, one going the long way and the other an appx 4 mile shorter course. I took the long route along with Danimal, Happy, Nestor, Bugno & Prenti who got a late start from the break but caught up later only to fall off again as the lead group hammered on. This adventurous group had an interesting ride as we chose to ignore a bridge out detour sign and continued on our normal route. As we headed down a hill toward the bridge over a small creek we braked abruptly as we saw that the bridge really was out. Well, we dismounted and considered portage. Portage was possible but we had to be careful as we meandered through the minefield of a broken bridge with several holes in it with a view straight down to the water and tangles of rebar trying to trip us up in our already difficult to walk in bike shoes. With gators nipping at our feet and Left Lane wanting to stop and catch the fish he saw down in the water the group made it safely across to continue the ride.
We hammered on with Nestor doing a mini breakaway and Dana, Bugno & Harlan doing pulls to reel him back in. Just when we caught up and I thought it was slow down time, Happy went to the front for more hammering and the Left Lane cracked off the back. Oh well, another 3 or 4 solo miles into the wind to our stop at Pine Forrest where we regrouped with the short ride group.
The group headed down Pine Forest to Detroit Blvd where we headed for home. By the time we crossed Highway 29 my legs were toast and I toyed with the idea of heading home solo on old Palafox to East Hill. Bad Mayo told me I was getting soft and convinced me to roll on with the group. We headed to Johnson with Danimal & Harlan breaking away and then the rest of us in a couple of groups. By the time we got to Cody Lane, I was done though and took the right to Olive Road as the group went left to Johnson on the longer route.
I passed the second group on Olive as they were coming out on SixPence. This group, including the DAVE's, headed home down 12 Avenue and were never seen again. I continued on and caught sight of the lead group (other than Dana who was long gone on breakaway with Harlan) of Nestor, Bugno, Prenti, et al as they turned onto Langley but could not catch up. As I rolled to a stop at Maygarden & Summit my man Johnny Bugno was just walking over to the Circle K for After Ride Adult Beverages.
Rumor has it that Danimal was first in with Nestor next, winning the group sprint going away. Way to go Dana & Nestor. Me, I was just happy to finish!! A couple of Yuenglings though, and I was good to go for the 4 miles home to East Hill. I rolled in from this grueling ride around 12:00 with around 62 miles total. Man I hope our next ride we have the wind with us on the way home!!
Worn out from the Saturday ride, and having many chores to do at home, I was not able to join the Sunday afternoon group ride (if there was one). If there was one, someone else will have to Blogazoidal to Bob.
Till Next Saturday....
The Left Lane
Thanks again Left Lane for your help with these blogifications until the regular blogifier is back on the Blogazoidal doing his own blogifying! But, until then he probably won't...
See you out on the road,
Bob
Left Lane missed his calling......maybe he should apply for Bobke or Phil's job at the TDF!! My bike is back from the shop and on the trainer......and until the weather warms a little that's where it will stay. Most of my wounds are now memories. Probably should have gotten the finger stitched......but I hope to see y'all out on the road soon!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are doing much better Sheila! We'll take you off the Injured Reserve List.
ReplyDeleteHowever, just a note on Circle K to all that may read this; he is scheduled for another back surgery this coming Tuesday at 11am. Please, if you think of him, pray for a successful operation and a speedy recovery. Chipper, (Circle K) is one of our strongest riders and a vital part of our group. He has been and will be missed in the peloton! Godspeed Chip!