July 8 - 9 Ride Recaps

Saturday July 8th MTB bike ride into Umstead.
Left later than planed. We left the house early afternoon and rode the outer loop with the additional out and back to the ranger station. Total mileage was 20. Those on the ride included Kevin, Theresa, Steve Sparano, Carolyn Sparano, and Mike Huckabee. Mike and Kevin set the pace early in the ride. The extra out and back they did allowed the others to pass them on the trail.

Kevin got a call from Steve Sparano who was with the others and wanted to know were Mike and Kevin where. We informed them we right behind them and ready to catch them on the ugly climes that lay ahead. At the time Kevin was already struggling with his disk brakes. The hydraulic fluid had bubbles in the line causing his rear brake to stay engaged. Kevin would stop periodically to wiggle the disk brake in an attempt to push the calipers back into position so his rear tire would spin. This only lasted temporarily as each time he used the brake it would seize up and stay engaged. Kevin tried to ride the rest of the route without using his rear brake. This still did not solve the problem. Kevin got a real work out and his rear disk brake grew tighter as the ride continued. By the end of the ride Kevin's rear wheel locked up solid and would not roll with him walking the bike. If he rode the bike there was enough weight and force to roll the wheel with great effort on the peddles.

Sunday July 9th Ride.
Early assemble and start for everyone. Those on the ride included Kevin, Theresa, Steve Sparano, Mike Huchabee, Steve Cope, Coach Dotson (back from a cruise), Eileen Campbell Fike, Andy and his wife Barb (?) (This was her first time with the group), and Jae.

Kevin, Steve S, and Mike rode to the start giving them a 5 mile warm-up, and 5 mile cool down at the end. The group arrived early enough to have bagels and coffee and discuss the idea of adding additional miles to each groups ride. The smell the roses group was to add an additional 8 miles giving them a total of 28 miles. The others planed an additional 8 miles as well giving them 36 miles. The riders were all off together and stayed together much longer than any other time. The groups did not splinter until UP CHUCK HILL. This is were the two groups parted ways with one group turning towards 751 and the smell the roses group kept on straight. The smell the roses group not only added additional miles they also clearly were riding at a much stronger pace.

I am attaching the two routes for you to see were we went. I did not map out the extra miles coach did.

Smell the roses route
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=246007

Others except coach who missed every turn.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=285508

Coach was pulling hard at the front of the draft line. He pulled so hard that he became a one biker break away. This lasted only until he missed a turn and had to double back to find the pack. On the first missed turn Steve Cope volunteered to chase coach down to let him know he had blown past the turn. Thank goodness coach actually took time to look back to see the lone figure of Steve working as hard as he could to close the gap. The truth is if coach would not have looked back he would have made it all the way to Highway 64 because Steve Cope had no chance of catching coach. Coach was trying a new training technique. In cycling there are big gear pusher, and there are spinners. Coach has been an excellent spinner. Spinners utilize the heart and lungs to do much of the work. Coach decided he needed to build bulk SO> He did the entire ride in his larger chain ring. This meant he had to stand up on the hills and grind it out on each climb. This did not slow him down, and in fact he was like a race horse in the starting gate the entire ride. Again once he and Steve Cope recognized the last stages of the ride they exploded for the finish line. The entire pack rode at a strong clip the entire day. We averaged just over 15 mph. Several folks took turns at the lead pulling for others. We did not drop anyone and never intend to. It is not about speed it is about safety and fun, (then speed). At one point on the ride Eileen was smelling the roses so much that she ran off the rode and into the weeds. Her biking skills allowed her to continue to stay upright and bring the bike back onto the rode. At the next opportunity to stop she then cleaned the shrubbery out of her rear derailleur. Once at the end we again shared stories about the ride, and said our goodbyes until next week. We were approached by another biker who was enjoying a bagel and coffee and asked if she could join us.
We Welcome her to join us this next week end.

Her name is Beverly Allen. Please make sure you introduce yourself to her if you see a new face in the crowd Sunday.

Next rides are
- Saturday July 15th MTB start at 10 am from the Smits house.
- Sunday ride July 16th: Early assemble between 7 am and 7:30am with the riders off at 7:30. Assemble at Corner of High house and Cary Parkway in the Bruegger Bagel parking lot.