WOW

I had a feeling today would be one of those rides. I got to the parking lot about 8:45 and found SS Dan waiting. Todd, Kieth, slick Rick, and Dan the man, were already out, they got an early start at 8:00. Soon Matty T and Mike K showed up and we had a great group. The weather was perfect and the trails were blazing fast. Todd lead us out and we went straight to the Skills Trail and then to Shock and Awe, we were cruising along nicely. Matty T wasn't feeling it today, he was still a little sick so he bailed out. We headed for the boundary trail where SS Dan had to change a flat. We chatted about, what else, Bikes. Mike told the story about his Dean, and for some reason we all started saying "wow" it turned into the theme of the day. Wow the trails are awesome, Wow Dan and Rick haven't come out of the big ring, Wow Keith is back and as fast as ever. We were having a good time then we had to climb the boundary trail. I went and tried to set a steady pace, the scary part is I am starting to like this climb. We got to the top and regrouped. Todd led us down and then decided he had enough. We headed for the cruised the rest of the loop and started making our way back to the top and then we lost Mike K, who was sporting his new Turner bike. Our group of 8 was down to 5. We headed for Middle Run. I was now leading us around and feeling a lot better after a day off. I tried to keep the pace up knowing the magnitude of riders that were following me. A little way into Middle Run Keith and Dan decided to head back, so now we were down to 3. We made our way to the Judge, and picked up Mike k again along the way. He bailed on us so we were 3 again. I was starting to fade a little, but the Judge was so dry and so fast I just kept pushing. We also suffered a little guilt trip as we went through a couple of work parties out improving the trails. But that didn't last long. On our way back from the Judge we ran into Craig, Lyn and Karen who were enjoying the beautiful day and dry trails. It was time to start heading back to the parking lot. Rick was looking for another hour and so was I. It didn't take us that long. I don't know what it was but it seemed like the pace never really slowed down. We got back and Rick and Dan ended with about 3:30 hours, Dan also said he had 36 miles with a 10.5 average. No wonder this ride hurt. It was, well it was WOW.

Well I now get two days off. Which is OK because the weather is supposed to be bad anyway.

Keith and the 29 er
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"At least it's not my chainring bolts"
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Keith back in the 26 wheel days
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"Everybody Hurts Sometimes"

I haven't been felling that great on the bike this week. I tried to ride wed. and felt like shit. I usually do a work out on Thursday but decided it skip it yesterday. Instead I was going to do the group ride at Rittenhouse and Iron Hill. Keith G had called the night before to make sure someone was going to show up. I love riding with Keith and decided it would be good to wait until late afternoon to ride. I later found out Alan (the cleaner) Turns and Fuzzy were meeting at 5 to ride rittenhouse then meet everybody else at 6. I decided to meet them at 5. Rittenhouse was dry, with the exception of a couple of mud holes. I couldn't believe it, I haven't seen it like this in a very long time. It was really cool riding Rittenhouse with Alan again. It used to be an every Thursday thing, but times they are a changing, It was fast and fun. On the way back we picked up a dog. We saw him and his owner in the way out. Coming back the dog decided to follow us. Fuzzy and Alan led him back and I went on to meet Keith. I looked at the time and saw it was 5:38, I figured I could get back to the pavilion easily. I was cruising at a pretty fast pace, when I noticed it was 5:56 and I had just reached the pool. I can remember doing the whole trail in under 20 minutes, while riding easier that I was now. I took off through the roots, that section is one of my favorite trails anywhere, I was going as hard as I could. I got to the pavilion at 6:00 and Keith was coming down the road.
We headed back into Rittenhouse to meet the other guys and found them quickly. Alan was done, so the three of us went on, I was happy to ride Rittenhouse again. I was in front and just tried to keep the pace steady. We got to Elkton Road and Fuzzy was having back problems so he turned around. Keith and I went on, I was not having my best day technically. I was dabbing and fumbling along. Keith seemed to be floating over everything, he has really taken to the whole 29er thing. If your are not on your toes the whole time Rittenhouse will eat you alive. I wasn't feeling very strong today and after one of my many bobbles Keith jumped to the front. Man that guy is fun to watch ride, and he set a nice pace, fast but not brutal. When we got back to the parking lot, I noticed I had 2 hours in. Keith suggested Iron Hill. How could I say no, we went for it. Getting there was a little interesting because the bridge over I 95 is closed and torn up. It just took getting off the bike a couple of times but it wasn't too bad. We went into Iron Hill and started climbing. I was really hurting but the trails were good and I was having fun so we did a quick lap. Keith wanted to put his Curtlo 29er to the test so we went down "Fuzzy's" trail. It was all I could do to keep him in sight. The 29er past the test and we started making our way back. It was a great ride, I am not sure how many miles I had but I ended up with 3 hours. Not too bad for a Thursday night.

AHHH! The Good Old Days

Yesterday was tough day but a fun day. It started with me doing an interval workout in the morning. I had to do what Marc calls MK intervals. They really suck, I don't like doing them but they make you faster so I do them anyway. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to do one set or two, so I would see how I felt after the first and take it from there. Let me explain what an MK is, you warm up for 20-30 minutes then you go as hard as you can for 2 minutes then rest for 2 minutes, then go as hard as you can for 1:45 than rest for 1:45, and you keep this up counting down in 15 second intervals until you hit 15 seconds. If you don't think that sounds that hard try it. I got through my first set, then recovered for 5 minutes and started the second, but my legs would have none of it. Not to mention I felt like I was going to puke. So I headed fro home trying to ride tempo, HR at 160 for 30 minutes. I was a little disappointed in myself for not doing two sets, but I was going to ride my mountain bike later in the day, so I will hit them harder next time.

The best part of the day was still to come. We were doing a group ride at middle run in the evening, I couldn't wait. I got there early, then everybody started showing up. It was a great group, SS (no chainring can hold me) Dan, Marc V, Matty T, Todd, Fuzzy, Keith(I know more one ball jokes than you) G, and later we picked up Slick Rick. We started with a loop around the judge. It was a blistering pace, until I flatted, the group went on and Keith stayed back while I fixed the flat. Keith and I took off again and as I was hammering up a small hill my chain flew off. Until then I didn't think it was possible to do a flip while going up hill but I do now. When we got back to the lot all were waiting. I tightened my chain and we were off. The trails were awesome, they were even dusty in some places. Matt was setting a nice pace, and we were having a blast and then I flitted again. Thanks to all the guys who took care of me the second time, Matt with the tube, Rick with the quick stick, and Marc with the co2. Once again we were off. It was a great ride, and it was cool to hang out and have a beer afterwards. This has to be one of the fastest group of mountain bikers around. Marc is getting faster everyday, Keith just had a cancerous testicle removed and he was flying. I love riding with the caliber of riders we have around here. Not only are they all fast but they are a great bunch of people. I can't wait for the next big ride.

The Recovery Ride From Hell

Today was supposed to be a nice easy, flat ride. We got the flat part right but that was it. The ride was from the shop and I was hoping for 3 hours. It was a nice little group: Mike K, Dennis, Ted, and a cameo by Marc V. We rolled out at 9:00 and everything was pleasant enough. I was hurting form yesterday but it wasn't too bad, plus this was going to be a flat easy ride. We turned left off of Barksdale onto Appleton and this is where Marc headed off. After all he did 5.5 hours yesterday, but it was nice to see him and ride with him for a little while. We continued on headed for Locust Point. We were enjoying a nice tailwind most of the time, with an occasional crosswind but overall it was a good pace. I even said to Mike," it's nice to be able to have a conversation while we're riding.

Next thing I know we were rolling along taking turns at the front and pushing a nice 20-24 mph. This didn't last long enough because we made a turn and then it seemed we were into a stiff headwind the rest of the ride. We went from being in cruise control, to struggling to maintain 16 mph. It was ok for a while because everybody shared the load. We all took turns at the front. We were making our way to De. City and spotted another group ride in front of us. That was it Ted put the hammer down. I guess it's like dangling a carrot in front of him. Turns out it was the White Clay Bicycle club. and catching them wasn't even sport.

That little outburst seemed to something out of all of us. As we headed for home Dennis and I were trying to figure out the easiest and least windy way back. After we figured it out we were off. Once again everybody worked together, short pull then sit in. I was starting to really hurt, I did not bring anything to eat and I was on the verge of bonking. I kind of skipped a pull and just that little extra was enough. We hit Otts Chapel road, which normally is a little rolly but I wouldn,t consider it hilly. But after 3 hours and riding into a headwind it was brutal. I just put my head down, grit my teeth and tried to get over the last bridge. I heard a horn honk and looked over to Keith G, I think he was coming form Fair Hill because a minute later Todd was beeping at us.
As it turned out my recovery ride was fucking hard. We ended up with 3:20 and 58 miles, of which 35 was into a headwind. Not a bad week.
Well I am off to the parents for Dinner so Later.