The View From The Left Lane

Although I have been unable to attend the TERAD lately because of work getting in the way, (thus the comment by Left Lane regarding the Mother Clucking Vortex.) we have a most capable "Pinch Blogulator" in none other than the Left Lane himself. Here is his uh, view:

Note: The views and opinions expressed by the Pinch Blogulator are not necessarily those of the Blogulator. However, some maybe the same...you decide which ones.

Due to the absence of the Mother Clucking Vortex, The Left Lane has once again been called on to add fodder to the  blog site.  It’s kind of hard to write from the back of the Peloton (can’t see what’s happening at the front) but The LL is finally getting his legs back (such as they are) from the Knee set back earlier in the year.  So instead of being a ½ mile behind at the finish I’m only around 1/5 of a mile back or so and can sometimes see the finish!!

Well the weather was great except for the matter of around a 15 mph wind which was with me riding out Scenic Highway.  It was blowing so hard that I got to Maygarden & Summit around 10 minutes early.  Of course this meant that the final sprint up Maygarden at the end of the ride would be into the teeth of the wind.

Riding were many of the usual suspects:  Big Motor, Bad Mayo, Retro Dave, LawnChair Fast Eddie, Scott Hurt Locker Burt, Nestordamus, Jason, Jason, Coolio (sporting some new patent plastic blue shoes (no high heels) that Dorothy or Imelda Marcos would have been proud of)…you won’t see these out on a rainy day!!  Also Harlan rode up as we were about to leave already having around 15 miles on his odometer..this guys is addicted to mileage and calls it a rest week if he doesn’t go over 225 miles a week.   After riding around 75 miles in the Tour De Cure Saturday I took Sunday and Monday off because the wind was blowing around 22mph each day…but Harlan of course rode both days.  We also picked up Johnny Bugno on the first time up Langley Avenue.

Nestordamus showed up at M&S early as well and regaled me with tales of The Cheehah Challenge which he rode with Danimal (who seems to be above coming out for a TERAD with the boys!!,,probably building a new Hotel or something) & Bryan.  Nestor said it was really tough especially having to finish up riding back into the wind.  But he was able to take it off his bucket list.  Of course someone then brought up that he would have to do 6Gap next!!

Anyway we got started and immediately the pace was quick and it looked like we were in for a Hammerfest.   We hit it pretty  hard down Summit and up 12  with half of the group getting caught at the light at Airport which slowed us down up to Langley.  We had the wind going up Langley though and we hammered it all the way down to Spanish Trail.  Johnny Bugno & Left Lane did the pull up Spanish and to the Crit Loop.  As we got into the Crit Loop we separated into three groups (some of us avoiding the speed bumps on the original course) on different routes and all coming back together as we headed to Scenic Highway.  Everyone was back together and we Hammered through the rest of the Crit Loop with Harlan leading the way. Just then a blue azure glow fell over the peloton and I turned to see Coolio with a Cheshire Cat grin on his face and my attention immediately being directed to the blue glow...His Shoes!

The pace continued to be quick through the hood and up to 9^th avenue.  As we crossed 9^th Avenue, Hurt Locker Burt went to the front and put down the pace “softening up the Peloton”.  Scott stayed at the Nose of the Peloton all the way up to Creighton putting down a 23mph pace into the wind the whole way.  The boy had Fresh Legs after not riding since the past Wednesday and bailing on his Cheehah ride because of the anticipated Rain which never happened and taking it out on the Peloton.  We cruised through the hood and bounce out onto Burgess where Fast Eddie slammed it up to the 30mph range as the wind became favorable.  Boy my legs were aching by this time but Keith and I were in front as we neared 9^th Avenue and around 100 yard ahead of the rest.  Believe it or not the light at 9nth was green and we pushed it to get through thinking about doing a 2 man breakaway and giving the boys something to chase.  But 3 other riders made it through so we waited on the other side of 12^th and  regrouped.  Hurt Locker bellyached about all that Peloton softening was for naught!!

After regrouping we immediately put it into overdrive, hitting around 24mph past the runway and up to the Optimist Park and then Fast Eddie going to the front and slamming it up into the 30 mph range the rest of the way down Langley.  Did I mention HAMMMERFEST??  I think I did!!

The pace slowed a little as we turned onto Spanish Trail as we headed into the wind.  We turned onto Maygarden and the pace was in the lower 20s with the wind in our face with Big Motor Keith doing the Big Bull Pull as usual.  Eventually Fast Eddie blasted off the front taking Retro & Coolio with him and the rest of us falling behind.  Around the S curve Scott Blasted through taking Nestordamus on his wheel with Left Lane as usual not quite able to grab the wheel of this second chase group and Big Motor falling back after doing all the work.  Scott slammed it down and reeled in quite a bit of the lead group’s edge but could not bridge the gap with he and Nestor rolling in 4^th & 5^th. 

At the finish it wasn’t clear who took the victory and the week’s braggin rites of the three front runners.  Fast Eddie said Retro Dave nipped him but Dave was magnanimous in crediting Fast Eddie with the win.  Maybe it was a tie.  Dorothy  Coolio in his Blue Glass Slippers admitting that he was just holding on was a close third.  Yours truly, the Left Lane dragged in a respectable 6^th.

Great ride as usual.  As we got ready to head down Scenic Highway for the ride home I ribbed Keith that maybe today after such a Hammerfest we could Noodle down Scenic Highway.  He said Sure Mate(or something like that) but as usual once we got out onto Scenic we slammed it all the way home running around 23mph into the wind the whole way!!  I need a drink….Jameson on the rocks please!!

From the Left Lane….That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Great post there Left Lane! And if you, like me, missed the antics, that's okay there's more to come this Saturday! So you, like me, can join in the fun then. When and where you ask? It all starts at 7am at Maygarden and Summit. Come on out for the Twisted Hammock Loop. There will be a long route group of about 55 miles and a short route group doing about 45 miles. See you then and as always...

See you out on the road,

Bob