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Thursday New Albany Ride Report

4/24/2013

4 Comments

 
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Probably this image says everything that needs said about the conditions of tonight's ride.  The ride leader is wearing a "hoodie" and for good reason, it was cold, windy and spitting rain.  Plus, the poor guy had to be lectured by Grand Poobah about making a left turn out of the parking lot rather than a right turn to avoid the two traffic lights.  After getting on Waltons Parkway, we can hang a right on Kitzmiller or Beech to get over to the 161 dragstrip..

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Soon, Shannon was joined by a more agreeable fellow, Doug McConaha.  Note this is about 5:45 and the background is bereft of cyclists because who wants to ride in the wind and cold again???? For me, it was a nastalgic time.  I remember this route well from last year.  I hung with the lead A group up Alward and beyond, well beyond my usual dumping off point so I felt good about my prospects for tonight.  You have to understand, with so few cycling accomplishments, people like me hang on to memories like that.
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Doug is joined by Chris G, Dave Chesrown and Pete C. I keep seeing Pete's name high on the finishers list at the Cat 3 events.  Wonder what it is like to have memories of actual accomplishments in cycling?  A few more cars roll in and the numbers begin....
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.....to build.  Mick on the right, my riding companion from last week.  And then....
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....at the last minute, a tsunami of cyclists, almost excluisvely of the A variety. In fact, of the 26 A's who showed up last week, just about all were back with the addition of Ron Budzik, Tym and Lisa Tyler, Terry Griffith, Gus Cook (I think he was here last week), have not seen Billy Campbell make an appearance yet.  I run into Rob Rhodes around Granville but he hasn't made it out yet, Mitch Tallen, no sight of him yet, Danny Alarcon was here for the first time, Alison from Team 614 along with Maya (spl?) were out for the first time.  The parking lot was swarming with talent and there I was in jeans and jacket, not riding.  I felt kind of stupid.  Hey, how about those black kits with light blue accent?  That is one of the better racing kits I have see
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So, when Shannon called them together, there were 39 cyclists.  Geesh, even Marty S in the black and white with back turned, a well known avoider of crummy weather, was here to ride.  Shannon sent out the A group, the few that remained, looked at each other and they rolled out with the A group too.
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I could not resist shadowing the group for a few miles.  I figured with the tail wind, rather than a cutting cross wind, a larger then usual group would hang together but by the time they hit the Alward climb, the group was very strung out and then mostly shattered on the climb.  Shannon and Pete C reached the top first followed closely by Marty and a few others.  Went home and pulled weeds.  Now that's fun and wow, heck of a calorie burn yanking on those dandelions.
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Holy Mackeral.  We go from 40 miles last week to 45 miles for this week's A route.  At this rate, we'll do a century route in July or at least 70 miles.  Thanks to Shannon for coming up with another good route.  Also, there was some talk last week about Shannon's training camp out of Helen, GA.  It was in early April and 23 people attended, including Tri-Andrew, Katherine and Christian.  Yes, it's a tri camp but the emphasis is on cycling.  Helen, GA is a kind of neat place, as if someone uprooted a Danish village and dropped it in GA.  The surrounding area has fantastic roads for bike riding and includes, the climb up Brasstown Bald.  Ahhh, the memories I have of riding one of those 100 mile, 10,000' routes that finished with a climb up Brasstown.  So steep and then rounding a corner there is what the locals call "The Wall" and where I unclipped and pushed my bike.  True, I have unclipped many times but that was an epic unclipping.  The Wall at mile 97, can't beat that.  Anyway, this link takes you to details about the tri camp and no doubt Shannon will have info later this year for the one in 2014. http://www.hfpracing.com/teamhfp/training.htm.
4 Comments
The rule maker
4/25/2013 02:22:11 am

Many group rides have an informal rule, it is common bike etiquette. If someone (no one in particular) is dropped along the route. And they short cut the route and want to rejoin the lead riders in that group, it is good biking etiquette not to participate in the sprint. We are an inclusive friendly group of riders, everyone is invited to join in and encouraged to join any group, even if they may not be able to stay with the group the whole route. If you get dropped along the way and later find the group on the way back, join in and enjoy the ride. If you feel that you have some extra energy and can safely take a pull or two then you can ride toward the front of the group. But be respectful of those riders who worked really hard to stay with the lead group the entire route and let them enjoy their sprint.

Reply
Mark
4/25/2013 12:23:04 pm

Oh, I'd love to have witnessed the event that caused this comment. I can guess but choose not to and to your point, you make an excellent point. What are your thoughts on someone who takes a pull while dropped in their aero bars?

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Can't Come Up With a Witty Name Guy
4/28/2013 09:41:18 am

I can see the point The rule maker is making and I agree, etiquette says, if you take a short cut, don't sprint...Instead, maybe lead out everyone else for the sprint.

My opinion on aero bars...they have no place in group rides. There are some riding aero bars who are excellent bike handlers (The Ride Leader is included in the excellent handler category) but for safety sake, save the areo bars for the TT, not a 60 rider group ride.

I also think it is good etiquette for the group to stop (or at least slow) when there is a crash. There was a fall, in the A group, going up Alward on Thursday night. For the most part, only those slowed by the fall checked to be sure everyone was OK. I will cut he group a bit of slack because those at the very front probably didn't even know it happened.

Reply
HFP Man link
4/28/2013 11:00:12 am

Thanks for the nice comment that I can handle my bike even with aero bars. For someone that has ridden a tri bike for more than 2 decades I feel much more comfortable on my tri bike than my road bike...even in a large fast moving pack. However, I would consider myself I bit out of the norm for most tri geeks and I would agree most folks should steer clear of the tri bike when group riding. Just for kicks n giggles you may see me on my road bike this Thursday if I can get it dialed in ;)

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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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