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Tuesday Night Sizzler at Canal

6/10/2009

7 Comments

 

Hot evening in the temperature department and on the roads, mixed in with high humidity, new riders and hills caused Rick Holt to observe, "You'll have a lot of material to write about tonight."  Large turnout, around 50 with two cars full of bikes showing up at the last minute,  Three cyclists making their first appearance of the year from Jeni's and two guys from a B1 Bianchi team hopped out. To that mix of perceived heavy hitters was Mitch Tallen, a Savage Hill rider, Walker guy, Boss, Group Killer and the normal host of regulars. Sicko Ryan had devised a mountainous route that was sure to create a scattering of riders, early. Note to self.  Remember to suggest to Ryan that he who devises such a monstrous route is obligated to ride it.
We headed out to Waterloo and that long, slightly uphill stretch to Slough. The pace was fast but not killer as no one wanted to ride too hard at the front and not have enough for the Slough hill.  The large group was already breaking up a little.  George was yakking in 3-4 versions of the "how surprised he was that I was hanging on." After the rollers, we reached the foot of the Slough hill and I thought I was too far from the front, therefore susceptible to getting caught behind a gap or two so I rode around some people and slid in at at the #5 or 6 slot.  Jamie accelerated and I of course drifted back a little but still got to the top at #6 or 7, with a core group of 5 together and coasting down the hill.  They turned right on Amanda Northern, soon I did too and they relaxed a little and I caught back on, up to the first stop sign and then on to the two hills.  I dropped back quickly and noted my legs felt really tired.  Steve O passed, showing whatever mental and physical maladies have afflicted him he is at least regaining his form.   Then a Bianchi guy passed, ok, young kid passing the old guy.  Then the Savage Hill guy passed, then Jeff S steamed by but I jumped on his wheel and I think there were 4 of us reaching the top of Amanda Northern before turning on to Benson.  Steve, Jeff, and two others put in a good effort on that mostly downhill, rolling section but I had nothing left and began to despair, a little.  Turned onto Pickerington and those hills.  Steve was maintaining a good pace and was only a small gap from Jamie, Boss, Mitch and two Jeni guys.  I stayed with Jeff, a Savage Hill dude and someone else. 

We were riding up one of the foothills when in the distance I saw a cyclist coming towards us. Quickly the riders form took shape and I thought, "What's this!" as Jamie rode by.  At the time I
thought the heat must have gotten to him (more later).  What a grind it was with the heat and humidity, finally reaching the final summit, where I was totally spent and breathing way too hard.  A second rider had given up and he too was coasting back to the parking lot. We coasted down to Coonpath, turning left but my legs were ded and furthermore, DEAD! I was full of self pity and panicky, running through the last several days and wondering if I had been over training, over eating, maybe the poison ivy I pulled from the woods had given me weak cyclist poison????  We all fight these demons at every level I am sure, at some time.  I was not, nor could not ride hard on Coonpath.  The third Jeni rider passed me and motioned for me to join but I could not.  We rode apart for awhile then he sat up, looked back and said, "Let's wait for these other two guys and form a group."  Immediately, a cloud of dread swept me and I began having an anxiety attack with anxiety sweat adding to exertion sweat as I sensed what this meant. I slowly turned my head and, EGADS, it was George. Humiliation complete. He had pulled Kevin with him and we now had a merry group of one yakker and three sufferers.  At the end of Coonpath, a Bianchi B! guy had just made a right but I thoiught the route went left to Mt. Zion so there we went, off route.  I did a quick map check and noted we would be back on the route by staying straight to Crumley.  We rode together but upon reaching Crumley, instead of turning left to stay on the route, I packed it in and turned right. 

This gave me the opportunity to see who was in front and in the distance 4 riders approached, Boss at the front, Mitch and two Jeni riders.  Not too long after, Steve rode by, going strong and maybe able to reach the lead 4.  Then came another, than Jeff and that was it.  A little later I passed Mitch but it appeared everyone else had quit the 44 mile route or were so far behind that by the time I headed west, off the outbound route, I just missed them.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS.  I suck.  Other than that, I called Jamie and he said he felt fine, having led up Slough and up Pickerington but at the top of Pickerington he sat up and decided he didn't want to ride anymore.  Further, he noted he has been riding hard every time out, he's burned out and he is giving it up to focus on running, until the fall.  NOW, at the front, my sources tell me, The Boss continued to set a scintillating pace and the Jeni guys dropped off, leaving Craig and Mitch to battle it out with Mitch drafting into Canal, behind our man Craig.  ALSO, Randy, Pastor Mark, Cindy, Susan Haas and Mike Smith rode 78 miles from Newark to Somerset and back.  With the big ride to Pittsburg coming on Monday, I was told Randy appears to have overtrained and needs to take a few days off.  It was also noted in the Canal parking lot that for all the riding they have done, it does not appear to have lowered their weight.  I defended them by saying that frequently the Across the US cyclists look like Clydesdales because they have to consume so many calories to fuel their rides.  At least, I thought that was defending them, maybe not.  IMPORTANT FINAL REPORT:  Roy made an appearance and looks like he has lost a bunch of weight while battling illness.  Was unable to talk to him but will find out.

7 Comments
GK
6/10/2009 01:40:41 am

I felt fine as in my heart rate was at 95% max heart rate at the top of Pickerington Road!

At any rate, as I've told some people in the past, to always ride hard you have to be mentally tough and into the ride so that when the going gets hot, you can push through the initial thought that things are too hard. Then when it gets really tough (when someone attacks), you have to be mentally there to go deep and ask your body for just a little bit more.

Unfortunately, knowing that my cycling was all but ended due to running (my choice), plus some other things in life, I just wasn't mentally in the game even before we left. I gave it a try anyway and 8 miles in realized it wasn't any fun, and at that point you're doomed when riding with a fast group, so I decided to leave while I could instead of risking getting dropped 25 miles out and being lost. I'm going to wash the bike tonight and hang it up. Have fun!

Reply
Pack Fodder
6/10/2009 02:00:03 am

GK, Noooo think of who you'll miss. No way the sissy runner crowd produces the characters that cycling does, although there are a lot of real hot mamas roaming the bike paths. Is that why you're doing it, to pick up soccer moms? What other reason could there be?
Pack Fodder

Reply
Cindy
6/10/2009 04:09:56 am

GK, good luck with the running; life does have a way of changing your direction. I do tend to agree with Pack Fodder, runners can't be as much fun as cyclists, but we'll let you decide. Hope you are still doing Mt Mama? No pressure there but to finish.

Reply
Route Maker
6/10/2009 10:06:19 pm

I wish I could tell you that my wife went into labor and I had to turn back, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

I got dropped on Slough... not the hilly part, but the flat part, as soon as we turned left. I was suspicious of my energy level at that point. Riding up Slough hill removed all suspicion, I had 0 energy. I hung in there and made it to the top of Pickerington, utilizing my easiest gear (30x26). I was done. I turned left on Coonpath, then hung a left on Kaufman and headed back to Canal.

Was it the heat? Have I not been eating right? Stress of a new baby on the way? I have no idea, all I know is I sucked way more than usual.

On a side note, I heard 2 people vomited on the ride. How awesome is that!?

Reply
Vomit Spewer
6/10/2009 11:38:01 pm

Route Maker,
You are evil. I had to wash my bike after vomiting and kept wondering why someone would produce such a route under such hot and humid conditions. I want a new route maker who will cater to normal fatty patty's like me. I vote for Cindy Berard (I think they call her Tuna for some reason but think Whale Bait would be better) or some slow rider like that. I hate you.

Reply
Admin
6/11/2009 02:06:05 am

Vomit Spewer--please do not post hateful comments. Ryan is a disturbed young man but he means well. As for Cindy, well, I disagree about her being a good route maker, can't find much to disagree about your other comments. Anyway, go away.

Reply
Route Maker
6/14/2009 10:28:05 pm

Hey Vomit Spewer, be sure to attend this Tuesday's ride... I think you will find the route to be much more "Pleasant."

As a side note, I rode last week's infamous Tuesday night route in its entirety on Saturday. I don't know what you all are complaining about, it wasn't *that* difficult.

Reply



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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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