Two Wheel Blogs

I met up for the local Tuesday night ride last night and knew something special was about to happen based on the attendees.

Ryan made it back from the training camp (he is on an Olympic training team and hopes to make the cut). He rolled in and suited up, along with several other guys that seemed anxious to have some fun and take on some pain.

The ride rolled out fairly uneventfully and we tooled around for 45 minutes prior to meeting up with another group. We met the other group and even more heavy hitters joined the group (some of the older club members).

We rolled on to one of the more interesting and pretty loops that we frequent and the fun began.

Everything from long intervals where one rider would set a hard pace that would eventually crack most others off the back, jumps on hills to see who could reach the top first, and sprints for city limit signs.

I am not sure that this sort of "training" is good for anything beyond racing in a group of jittery 5s, but it sure was fun and it really took its toll on all of us.

The last sprint of the night was a beautiful set up. The riders crest a roller and can clearly see the sprint sign in the distance (about one Km up the road). The descent is enough to put you into your top gear (if you are going for it) then the road turns flat all the way to the target. I was ready, but the pace slowed and I was over-geared. For a moment I thought that the sprint was off, and everyone was too spent from the previous efforts. I rolled up along side Ryan as a check and saw him glaring out the corner of his eye...Oops, it is on!

Ryan is really big and really strong (MUCH more so than when we used to sprint together in the past). He was in the same gear I was in (FWIW). When I saw his glance I knew he was leaving the saddle, so I responded. In a matter of three strokes he was on top of his gear and spinning it. It was a real sight to see that sort of power. I need not say that I lost the sprint...by several lengths.

It was a great ride. I find it easy to enjoy a group of diverse cyclists that are anxious to show their strengths AND put forth efforts in areas where they are NOT strong (i.e. little TTers/climbers going for sprints, and Big sprinters churning their guts out on climbs). Our weaknesses are what we should train, our strengths are what we should use to train others.

I think everyone had a good time last night. It is nice to find a group that is willing to get silly. I do not condone turning every club ride into a race, but I do feel that there should be something there for everyone...and last night there sure seemed to be.