The sun was trying to peek out as a group of 8 assembled for a quick blast to Batavia. We had Mark, Mike Davis, Jeff, Carlos, Dan, Paul from 459, and Steve from DGBC joined us as well. As soon as got out of Downers, it started raining. Mark complained. It rained hard. Mark whined. The roads had puddles. We rode. Mark rode and questioned why we do this. After a few miles, it didn't matter because we couldn't really get any wetter. We were soaked. Besides it was a warm rain.
After the neutral zone, Dan and Jeff got on the front of the double line and put on an impressive display of power, and consistency. They kept the pace high enough that nobody seemed interested in coming around and pulling. The group got quiet trying to keep up. Even Mark was silent. We hit a lot of green lights and Dan and Jeff just kept us moving... around 23-24mph mostly. I was having one of those rides where I swear my brakes were rubbing. The point of the ride was for everyone to get on front on put in a good, hard pull... but the Dan n Jeff show is just too great to watch on their wheels. I finally sucked it up and headed for the front at 25-26mph. It took a bit, but the group took the bait and caught up with me. And, as expected, someone just had to come over the top... but to my surprise it was Jeff! He's been primarily on the front and he's the rider that comes over me and sets 29-30mph pace for a bit. When Jeff backs down to 27ish, the rest of the group pounces and the fun is ON! Next thing I know, I hanging on the back! Good stuff. By my clock it took just over an hour DG-Batavia. Great effort by the team (the Jeff and Dan team!)
After a rest/refuel at Dimples, we head back and I immediately get dropped on that little climb coming out of Batavia. We stopped toooo long and I wasn't warmed up. oops I forgot to the emphasize the warmup/neutral zone/Paul is a slug after a stop rule. Anyhow, I chase for a few miles until the group finally hits a red light. Once we got unto Bilter/Ferry/Warrenville heading east, we had a slight quartering headwind and an angry looking storm cloud over our left shoulder. The group settled into a single line... again with Dan and Jeff on the front a lot... but I noticed that everyone took a pull during the return trip. With a light rain, it was hard to tell if it was indeed raining or just spray from the wheels. Today was a day to be on the front and save a face full of spray. Mark whined that he didn't like riding with me. We kept the pace 21-22mph on the way back, keeping the storm cloud at bay except when it gained on us at the stop lights. Mark questioned our sanity whenever we stopped. Mike did a great job pacing us up the Warrenville hill, and then Mark the climber took over. The group formation got scattered a bit, but we mostly stayed together on the climb and reformed on the way down. Fortunately, we got back into DG before a tremendous downpour and some lightening hit. I pray every one got home safely.
Scott provided: http://www.strava.com/activities/78923210
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Aug 11th course ride
A cool, calm, overcast morning greeted us for 3 shortened laps on the course. 80 miles and I hoping we could work on our teamwork, and average close to 20mph. WOW! The team crushed all my goals. First, the team rode as a single, focused unit the entire ride. Everybody knew what to do and executed the double pull off smoothly and efficiently. We averaged 21mph every lap. Like a metronome.
We had most of the 459 express team today: Craig, Mark, Mike, Mike, Mike, Julie, Bobby D, Steve, Jeff, Scott, Me, and guest Jerry. There's almost nothing to say except each lap we did at 21mph, and everybody did their part and it was a total team effort. 80 miles, 2-6minutes (4:30 actually stopped), and the pace did not fade! The team is strong, rides as a unit is set for a great sub5 effort in September.
Craigs garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357281427 If you've seen one lap, you've seen them all!
Just two safety lessons.
1) During the right turn onto both Walker and Eisenhower roads we crossed the center line on the exit of the turn. We must slow down to 10-12mph and make absolutely sure we do not cross the center line. These are blind turns to what is coming down the road, and we don't want any one hurt.
2) Keep in mind on the 'graveled' portion of Melms road, it is hard to determine where the gravely road ends, and the gravel shoulder starts.
We had most of the 459 express team today: Craig, Mark, Mike, Mike, Mike, Julie, Bobby D, Steve, Jeff, Scott, Me, and guest Jerry. There's almost nothing to say except each lap we did at 21mph, and everybody did their part and it was a total team effort. 80 miles, 2-6minutes (4:30 actually stopped), and the pace did not fade! The team is strong, rides as a unit is set for a great sub5 effort in September.
Craigs garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357281427 If you've seen one lap, you've seen them all!
Just two safety lessons.
1) During the right turn onto both Walker and Eisenhower roads we crossed the center line on the exit of the turn. We must slow down to 10-12mph and make absolutely sure we do not cross the center line. These are blind turns to what is coming down the road, and we don't want any one hurt.
2) Keep in mind on the 'graveled' portion of Melms road, it is hard to determine where the gravely road ends, and the gravel shoulder starts.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Aug 3rd course ride
The sun was out, 72F, 6-8 NNE wind, low humidity... a dozen fit riders... yes! what a fine, fine day for 2 laps on the course. Most of the 459 Express was there and we had some guests: DG bike club Prez Gary, and Rene' and John from the Turin team. I had a blast and the team improved and learned a lot today! I'm stoked for the team... we have solid riders, a team mentality, and a good handle on the pacing plan to save energy.
The first lap we established a rotating pace line once we got on Allen road. The group was a bit loose with gaps appearing and some surging to close them. And the two lines were 3-4 feet apart. We stopped after we crossed Route 23 on Melms and we cleaned up the lines. We paced ourselves nicely up and over I90 smoothly bleeding down to 16-17mph. AND nobody broke any spokes in the chuckholes. All was reasonably well until we got to Riley and were heading into the quartering headwind. We changed our rotation to match the wind (keeping the slow line to the windward side, and fast line to leeward)... and the formation kinda fell apart. Gaps and accelerations in mid-line and decelerations/accelerations on the front during pull-throughs. Even these small changes in pace will wear on us on a 100 mile ride. Anyhow, we finished the lap averaging low 20mph average speed. We did a 10 minute stop, including a 4-5 minute talk and review of our pace line issues.
The start of the first lap we tried a double pace line (both riders on front pull off, and the group 'threads the needle'). That didn't last long because while we were 4 wide, the rider dropping back (Tim) got squeezed off the road when the shoulder narrowed... and not enough room was given by the group threading through. We decided to work on the single rotating pace line and the group a good groove going. The lines were tight and close together and keep the pace moving and smooth. I was loving it. We had some trouble with the right hand turn off of Melms unto Eisenhower (it's unmarked). Some of the group crossed the center line coming out of the turn and there was oncoming traffic. A bit scary, but all was well.
After Riley we had our counter clockwise rotation working well and many commented how the second lap felt easier, particularly on that part of the course we had struggled on the first lap. We were working better together as a team and saving energy. At one point we slowed because Mike lost track of the road under the piles of grass clippings in the road. He was in the right hand line, couldn't move left, kept his cool and rode over the grass... got a little too far right and realized he was off the road. He coasted and eased it back unto the pavement without further incident. Craig had a front row seat to that cyclo-cross excursion. Once we got the group together, I had us soft pedal a half mile or so for Mikes adrenaline surge to subside. After that, the group was solid again. We finished the 2nd lap ~20.5mph, maybe a little more and most everybody thought the 2nd lap was easier.
Craigs Garmin Stats. http://connect.garmin.com/player/352864680
(Note Craig suffered a cramp with 4-5 miles to go and soft pedaled those last few miles.)
A great practice ride! We improved our teamwork, learned some from our incidents, and kept the rubber side down. The team is coming together. Next course rides will be 3 shortened (~27mile) laps with shorter pit stops. These simulate event day efforts (big timber hill 3 times and 2 short stops) without doing the whole monty.
Key pointers we learned today:
1. Be aware when the road/shoulders narrow. Call it/point it out and move over well in advance.
2. When you're in the left line you need to keep an eye out for hazards for the right line and move over in advance so the right line has room to move left and avoid the hazard.
3. Do not cross the center line into the oncoming traffic.
4. Once the group is established on a downhill section, the front MUST keep pedaling normal effort. Otherwise the line will be ridding the brakes burning energy.
The first lap we established a rotating pace line once we got on Allen road. The group was a bit loose with gaps appearing and some surging to close them. And the two lines were 3-4 feet apart. We stopped after we crossed Route 23 on Melms and we cleaned up the lines. We paced ourselves nicely up and over I90 smoothly bleeding down to 16-17mph. AND nobody broke any spokes in the chuckholes. All was reasonably well until we got to Riley and were heading into the quartering headwind. We changed our rotation to match the wind (keeping the slow line to the windward side, and fast line to leeward)... and the formation kinda fell apart. Gaps and accelerations in mid-line and decelerations/accelerations on the front during pull-throughs. Even these small changes in pace will wear on us on a 100 mile ride. Anyhow, we finished the lap averaging low 20mph average speed. We did a 10 minute stop, including a 4-5 minute talk and review of our pace line issues.
The start of the first lap we tried a double pace line (both riders on front pull off, and the group 'threads the needle'). That didn't last long because while we were 4 wide, the rider dropping back (Tim) got squeezed off the road when the shoulder narrowed... and not enough room was given by the group threading through. We decided to work on the single rotating pace line and the group a good groove going. The lines were tight and close together and keep the pace moving and smooth. I was loving it. We had some trouble with the right hand turn off of Melms unto Eisenhower (it's unmarked). Some of the group crossed the center line coming out of the turn and there was oncoming traffic. A bit scary, but all was well.
After Riley we had our counter clockwise rotation working well and many commented how the second lap felt easier, particularly on that part of the course we had struggled on the first lap. We were working better together as a team and saving energy. At one point we slowed because Mike lost track of the road under the piles of grass clippings in the road. He was in the right hand line, couldn't move left, kept his cool and rode over the grass... got a little too far right and realized he was off the road. He coasted and eased it back unto the pavement without further incident. Craig had a front row seat to that cyclo-cross excursion. Once we got the group together, I had us soft pedal a half mile or so for Mikes adrenaline surge to subside. After that, the group was solid again. We finished the 2nd lap ~20.5mph, maybe a little more and most everybody thought the 2nd lap was easier.
Craigs Garmin Stats. http://connect.garmin.com/player/352864680
(Note Craig suffered a cramp with 4-5 miles to go and soft pedaled those last few miles.)
A great practice ride! We improved our teamwork, learned some from our incidents, and kept the rubber side down. The team is coming together. Next course rides will be 3 shortened (~27mile) laps with shorter pit stops. These simulate event day efforts (big timber hill 3 times and 2 short stops) without doing the whole monty.
Key pointers we learned today:
1. Be aware when the road/shoulders narrow. Call it/point it out and move over well in advance.
2. When you're in the left line you need to keep an eye out for hazards for the right line and move over in advance so the right line has room to move left and avoid the hazard.
3. Do not cross the center line into the oncoming traffic.
4. Once the group is established on a downhill section, the front MUST keep pedaling normal effort. Otherwise the line will be ridding the brakes burning energy.
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