did a short coast hugger, just to keep my legs busy. There was a
strong breeze blowing from the north, so I kept alternating between
slogs and zips, as the shore zig-zags north and south. Then, of course
there is the alternating ups and downs of the terrain. Didn't see
any other riders on the road. Managed to get back before pitch black.
Totaled 50 miles.
____________________
This morning I met the 8:00 T-group. A mild version, kind of easy. The
strongest guys and gals weren't there.
At some point, while waiting at a red light, someone commented on how
well my orange tires matched my jersey, saying "he must be from
Italy." I answered back "I AM from Italy. It's all about style." Good
starts chatting with me in Italian. I think the name was Francesco.
He's from Sicily, has lived here for the last 25 years and used to
race "mountain bike." Now he has a bad back and only rides road once
each weekend with this group. Guess I'll be seeing him again. At the
wall he turned back and went short.
The group just kept on Woodbury and turned left at Stillwell. Usually
I turn myself inside-out to keep up with the leaders at the top of the
climb, but as the top of the climb approached today it wasn't much of a
struggle. I simply cranked up the juice and passed most of them. I
think I could have caught the one guy up ahead, had I not let him get
quite that far away on the climb. He was riding a gorgeous brand new
Madone, black, yellow and white, with deep rim carbon wheels, painted
to match the frame. It looked blazing fast standing still.
As we rode Wheatley back toward the LIE I was thinking that this might
me my opportunity to actually win the sprint finish in Little Neck,
since I kept finding myself in the front, pulling the whole group, or
even way off the front, just by getting down to work. I figured I just
needed play it smart and not burn myself out during the last segment.
On the westbound LIE it was more of the same and I kept having to
remind myself not to burn myself out. After we crossed Lakeville and
worked our way up and over the next rise in the road, one of them
urged "ataque, ataque." The handful of riders I kept in front of me
quickened their pace. It seemed like a prelude to a sprint. I bolted
and gave it all I had.
As I approached the finish I looked back and there was no one behind
me. It's not that I blew everyone away. They just weren't interested
in a sprint finish race. How disappointing. This is no way to win a
sprint finish.
Only 40 miles at 17.5 average.
____________________
It doesn't sound like any other Renegade is coming out to play
tomorrow. Either out of town, for one reason or another, or busy doing
some other fun stuff. Perhaps I'll test myself with the 8:30 group.
Now that's a challenge!
Beast
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