We had a nice turnout today at base camp, with Locomotive, Gus, Dubya, Beast and rookie Jae, who is fast feeling better after having recently broken a rib (he took a spill on the trail the day after I recruited him). The air was brisk but clear and it made for some great riding.
We did our usual LIE/West Hills, Huntington route. We started about 5 minutes behind the 8:00 T-group, but we got right up to them on Woodbury Road, just before turning onto Sunnyside. Not bad, considering we weren't really pushing.
We skipped the climb of Lawrence Road, but went onto Snake. Gus was getting dropped on most climbs, since he hasn't been riding much lately, and told us not to wait for him, so before we reached Huntington he was on his own. The remaining 4 of us rode very well together.
We took a short break at the Syosset 7-11 and finished off with the usual campus loop. There's something about those rollers that invariably compels us to start racing each other. Dubya just took off and in no time he was out of sight. Jae and I were more or less even and he needed to be shown where the exit was, so we stuck together. Loco was slightly behind, but suddenly blew past me on the finish stretch to the gate (he has a way of sneaking up on you, like midlife crisis).
We finished off back at base camp after 60 miles at about 17 average and feeling great.
Same time and place tomorrow: 8:00 at Bob's. As far as I know Big A and Loco are in. Anyone else?
Let me put it this way. Why ride with the Honey Bees when you can ride with us instead?
Beast
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
This Lone Renegade
I took advantage of the bettering weather on Thursday afternoon and
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
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
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Re: Chain Drop
That's waaaaaaay too much double-entendre even for this forum... OK,
maybe not for this forum.
Ori
maybe not for this forum.
Ori
Re: Chain Drop
Once upon a time, when I was rescuing a damsel in distress on Cleft, who was in a sad state of chain drop, I lifted up her rear and spun her crank after shifting her gears. All told I did not get my hands dirty. She was very appreciative.
Isaac
Isaac
Re: Chain Drop
What's the big deal? You just need to pull a quick 180 without
unclipping... oh, right... I forgot, not your forte... never mind.
Ori
unclipping... oh, right... I forgot, not your forte... never mind.
Ori
RE: Chain Drop
Only problem is you will probably come to a dead stop on a steep hill with a
dropped chain. It's still better than getting your hands dirty.
Bob
dropped chain. It's still better than getting your hands dirty.
Bob
Re: Chain Drop
Very good suggestion, just in case your chain drops while you're
already up the steep. Turn around, ride your brakes on the down and
perform the operation using gravity instead of momentum.
Thanks, Anita. Even after all these years, there's still something new
to learn.
Ori
already up the steep. Turn around, ride your brakes on the down and
perform the operation using gravity instead of momentum.
Thanks, Anita. Even after all these years, there's still something new
to learn.
Ori
Re: Chain Drop
I seldom comment but I like keeping my hands clean. If you're not caged in, you can circle back and pick up your chain on the downhill. Just don't cut off a good climber coming from behind!
Anita
Anita
Re: sub-renegade triple crown
Sounds like I would have definitely enjoyed this one too, though, knowing me, I would have tried to hang with the fast group, just to get dropped a few miles in. I hope next year it won't conflict with any other long ride.
So some of those guys ride faster on the roads with their trail bikes, upright seating and knobby tires then we do on our high end road bikes, eh? Was it 28 on the flats or the downs?
Were you able to get anyone's Garmin upload?
BTW, there's nothing "sub" about you (certainly not your size). You just need to ride more. Once a Renegade, always a Renegade (in other words, you'll be on this email list until hell freezes over).
Ori
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