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Saturday, May 08, 2010

Heat, Hills, Head winds, Humidity

Saturday May 8th.
Assembled for the days ride included the following cyclists; - Rode with the Stems

Kevin Smit – GOG (Glistening Older Gentleman) – Rode with the Stems

Theresa Smit – Mother Theresa

Steve Cope – Capn Carbon – riding his old school aluminum framed bike – rode with the Thorns

Phillip Burton – Rode with the Roses

Rob Robertson – sporting a brand new jersey. A Falstaff beer jersey to compete with the other beer jerseys and to show respect for the King of Generic Beers. – Rob rode with the Thorns until Jettisoned late in the ride by the group.

Jim Coughlin – new rider to the group – rode strong with the Stems

Ron Clanton – on the tandem with his wife – they rode with the Roses

Tracy Clanton – providing all the power for the tandem team

Sandy Parrish first time with the group - riding with the Stems

Shea Beacham – rode with the Roses

Harlan Alan – back with the group after 2 or 3 years – rode strong with the Stems

Shawn Richardson – The Green Flash – on his road bike – pushed to pace all day with the Thorns.

Barb Hartsfield – first ride of the season with the group - rode with the Roses

Jay Brainard – Led the Roses on a great ride.

Tom Gaither – First time with the group – rode with the Roses.

Gina Hicks – Rode with the Roses

Michelle Duff – Rode with the Roses

June Bennett – first time with the group – rode with the Stems

David Bridenbaugh – Mr. Bridenbaugh – rode with the Thorns until he was jettisoned late in the ride.

Tom Plant – back with the group and looking forward to more of the weekend rides – rode strong with the Stems – did a great deal of the work at the front of the pace line. His pedaling style is slow and powerful just like the power stroke of a Cummings diesel engine. From this day on Tom will be known as POWER STROKER.

Laura Spell – rode very strong with the stems – led some of the draft line efforts.

Joe Pittman – Immortal Man – rode with the Thorns

Jessica Holland – first time with the group – rode hard with the Stems.

Lee Duncan – ON A BRAND NEW CARBON Cervelo. Lee had been riding old school steel with fat tires and was able to abuse the Thorns regularly. He is now more deadly than ever. As he passes and explodes out past the front of a pace line the pressure generated when he cracks the sound barrier almost nocks other cyclists off their bikes. From this day forward Lee will be known as SONIC BOOM.

Angie Magdelena – rode with the Stems

Doug Augustine – Rumble Strip – had one of his longest rides of the season with the stems

Shiela Augustine – first ride with the group this season - rode with the Roses

Beth Gonzalez – first ride with the group this season – rose with the Roses.

A great turn out for the days ride. The best behaved ride group of the season as all riders fell into one of the three groups and worked together to stay together in those groups.

GOG provided a brief introduction to the first time riders. He also provided guidance to the Thorns and the stems as to where the days ride would take them. Jay informed the Roses that she had a relatively flat 30 mile route with an expected average speed of around 14 mph.

The pack was let out of the parking lot by the Green Flash. GOG paused in the parking lot to ensure all riders were good to go. Just as he was prepping to push forward Gina Hicks informed him that her chain had come off the front chain rings. GOG quickly assisted her in getting the chain back on and the two headed out of the parking lot to catch the others before they reached the Preston neighborhood.

The line of cyclists was impressive to view as they stretched out on the quite neighborhood roads. The Thorns and Stems held together as they swept thru the round-about and then turned towards High House and the roads that would take them into and then beyond Apex. GOG expected the first separation of the Thorns and Stems to take place at the top of the first major climb. The Thorns cannot resist attacking each other on a hill. In anticipation GOG slide slowly backwards in the draft line to warn the newer riders that that first attack of the day was about to take place. “You can participate, or do as I do and just wave goodbye to the Thorns” he was heard advising the others. Sure enough just before the bottom of the hill, on Jenks Carpenter Road, the Thorns were seen all jumping out of their saddles in an attempt to add rpms and associated speed to enhance the momentum already gained by them from the previous down hill run. The Gap was instantaneous as the Stems each planned their own response to the pressure being applied by gravity as the hill rose in front of them.

The Thorns paused long enough at the top to seek confirmation from GOG that the next turn would be left onto Holt and then to Old Salem, and then onto the race track of Tingen. We will call that stretch of road on Tingen as TINGEN SALT FLATs. Just like the Bonneville Salt Flats were speed enthusiasts go to see how fast they can go on a long straight away, and then have hills in the distance to help slow down a run away engine. http://www.saltflats.com/

The Thorns did not hesitate to jump onto Holt and ready themselves for the run down Tingen. The Stems trickled in to the top of the previous climb and allowed all others to gather there prior to making the left turn onto Holt. The Stems stayed in a nice tight pack as Tom Plant (Power Stroker) pulled from the front and did so with such smooth strokes that he did not shatter the gaps between each of those in tow. The pack was all together as they prepared to roll into apex. At the light Kevin (GOG) used the opportunity to remind all the cyclists that Apex has no problem writing tickets to bicyclists who do not stop at all stop signs, or who ride more than two abreast. The bunch of Stems did not have a specific leader as they each delicately maneuvered thru the town of Apex. At the turn onto Tingen SALT FLATS the Stems formed a very well organized draft line in anticipation of the speeds about to be attempted on that section of road. IT was POWER STROKER who once again set up the draft line as he slowly accelerated with all others tightly aligned behind him. He pulled everyone along slowly building from a near dead stop to speeds of 23 mph. Then pulling out wide Power Stroker handed the pull position off to Harlan Alan who did a marvelous job of gradually taking the pace up to and just beyond 25 mph. He held that pull position into the curve and start of the rolling hills that signal the end of TINGEN SALT FLATS and the beginning of Woods Creek Road. It was there that Laura Spell to the pull position and maintained it beautifully until she was over taken by Kevin (GOG) who was gaining speed on the down hills as a result of his larger MASS. The hills on Woods Creek splintered the Stems who finished that section of road only to find two groups waiting at the intersection of Woods Creek and Friendship. The Thorns were there waiting as was the cycling group The Slow Spokes. The Slow Spokes were regrouping and resting. The Thorns were there just to make sure they knew the next set of turns that GOG had planned for the days ride.

“OK, what direction do we turn to get to Tody Goodwin” asked Capn Carbon. “Go right – the opposite that you did last Saturday when you rode by yourself” GOG informed Capn. “How far do we go before the turn onto Tody” Capn then asked. “I think about a mile and a half” replied GOG. “Its more like 5 miles to the turn onto Tody Godwin “ Immortal man chimed in to clarify. “Yea that sound more like it” agreed GOG. Then the discussion turned to describe land marks to help Capn Carbon find the turn onto Tody Goodwin.

After that brief exchange both groups agreed to meet back up at the gas station on highway 64. The Thorns leapt into action as the Stems continued to rest and hydrate. They then gathered themselves up and coasted thru the left hand turn onto Friendship were they slowly fell into another draft line with POWER STROKER again at the front of the line. Just as the pace line got into rhythm they were briefly absorbed by the Slow Spokes who had left the last intersection only moments later. The pace line was now Slow Spokes and Stems. This remained until the next intersection. “OK, All Thorns and Roses we turn right here, Follow me” GOG instructed in his attempt to make sure each rider knew what group they were following. GOG was now at the front of the pace line and worked hard to maintain that spot as he worked to make sure all made it to the next designated turn onto Tody Gooodwin. Just before the turn the pace line nearly clipped a large snake that was attempting to cross the road. “SNAKE” GOG shouted as he was past it before he could react. The Snake was Black and Gold/Yellow. Not sure what kind it was but GOG swears he heard it HISSSS “I will KISSSS the Sixth rider”. GOG quickly glanced in his mirror and counted helmets. The Sixth one in line was Laura Spell. GOG then watched her peddling strokes to see if the Snake indeed attempted to KISSS the Sixth in the pace line. To Laura’s quick thinking, or just plain luck her right foot was at the top of the peddling stroke as she rushed past the awaiting Snake.

GOG then directed the pack into the left turn and a shady spot to regroup for the stems, once they were on Tody Goodwin. A short rest in the shade of an old oak tree allowed the group to discuss the LARGE SNAKE that almost took out everyone, and to hydrate. What laid ahead of the pack included, more rolling hills, head wind, heat, humidity, rough pavement, and searing sunshine. All continued to straddle their bikes as they contemplated those next 5 to 7 miles till the rest stop at 64.

Then GOG slowly rolled away from the group signaling the rest was over, let’s get this done. Jim Coughlin was the first to roll past GOG and continued to hold the Pull position the entire length of Tody Goodwin. That stretch of road was uneventful as each rider focused on responding to the hills, head winds, and rough road that added a degree of difficulty at that point in the day’s ride.

The road ended as it meets Beaver Dam Road in a T intersection. Doug Augustine (Rumble Strip) then led the pace line from the T Intersection to the gas station rest stop at Highway 64, were they meet up with the THORNS and several other biking groups.

The Thorns were well rested and itching to head on out. Capn Carbon and GOG discussed several route options for the Thorns. They wanted at least 10 extra miles from the days planed route. Capn made a command decision that the Thorns would continue on Farrington all the way past the Lystra Gas Station and turn onto Stage coach, then 751, and then Okelly, and then loop back into Cary on Carpenter Fires Station. LOTS OF HILLS to challenge the Thorns. At that point Rob Robertson Immortal Man, and Mr. Bridenbaugh made it known that they would turn at Holland Chapel and stay with the day’s planned route, however they would continue to ride with the Thorns until that point. GOG was at that point starting to spiral down into one of his famous BONKS. He was getting light headed and had to sit down in the shade to keep from passing out. He had already procured extra cold water from the gas station and was now trying to consume as much as he could in between dizzy spells. The rest of the Stems were either visiting the porta Potty, or inline in the store buying water and items to assist in any form of energy boost.

GOG slowly recovered and was able to say goodbye to the Thorns as they scrambled to jump into the pace line of CSH as it had just arrived at the stop light. When riding with the Thorns it is always advisable to be prepared to respond without warning to an attack, the turning of a green light, the sudden arrival of pace line to jump in with, and always expect the pace to quicken if there is a lone rider spotted in the distance.

The Stems were now gathering for their last 15 – 20 miles back to the start finish. “I am going to flatten out the last several miles, I do not have more hills in me” announced GOG. “We vote for that as well” was the response from the Stems. GOG then added , “Ok, we will turn at Holland Chapel, go by the strawberry patch, turn onto Green Hope High road, and then walk over the rail road tracks at the high school” Laura asked “Have you ever gotten in trouble crossing the tracks?”. GOG replied “Nope, not yet”.

Across Highway 64 and down the road on Farrington the Stems rode in single file. GOG was in the Pull position in an attempt to announce his full recovery for the earlier BONK. In reality the Pull Position affords GOG the ability to control the speed so that he is not dropped by the pack. It was Jim again who charged past GOG on the hill just before the turn onto Holland Chapel. GOG had to gather up strength to shout up ahead to Jim to make the next right turn. All the Stems swung safely onto Holland Chapel slowing long enough to regroup. It is almost without fail that this section of road Known as “Waffle Run” generates either a fast pace, or a more relaxed pace with lots of chatter between the rider. On this ride “Waffle Run” produced a more relaxed pace with lots of Chatter.

How did Holland Chapel get the knick name “Waffle Run”? Several years ago, on that road, the pack was pulled along at neck breaking speeds by Doug Augustine (Rumble Strip). There was no CHIT CHAT as everyone was using all oxygen to survive the blistering pace demanded by Doug. Upon completion of that section of road GOG asked Doug “What possessed you to ride that so hard”? Doug replied “Sheila made me giant Waffles for breakfast and I eat two”. Doug’s breakfast of Giant waffles provide the energy to push the pace the entire length of that road, and from that day on it is known as “WAFFLE RUN”.

The group navigated a slow right hand turn a lane change and slow left hand turn as they were now gliding past the strawberry patch. Lots of folks were there picking their own strawberry’s.

The Stems fell in line to allow for the extra traffic in that area and to draft off of each other. Mother Theresa was beginning to fall off the back of the pace line as the group made their way to the end of Lewter Shop road. At that point GOG was asking Laura to share more information regarding her concern about the Rail Road Tracks at Green Hope High School. “Well I have heard of folks getting tickets, and the Inside Out group no longer cross them because of that. Now they go thru the Sears Farm Neighborhood.” she informed GOG. “COOL, YOU are now the ride leader, Take the pack in that way, I am going to fall back and make sure Mother Theresa does not ride alone” GOG said as he fell back towards the end of the draft line. The Stems were now in the capable hands of Laura Spell as she and the rest of the pack easily gapped GOG.

The hills in the Sears Farm Neighborhood came as a disappointment to all the riders after GOG had promised a flat finish to the days ride. On the fast run down High House GOG hit 31 mph. He knew of a large pot hole that would force him up against the curb, or into the middle of the lane. He was looking to position himself into the middle of the lane and was signaling to the trailing car that he wanted over. The car was not responding to his request. GOG looked closely in his mirror to see if the driver even noticed him. In close inspection GOG could see a lady on her cell phone engaged in a very animated conversation. Clearly she was not paying attention to her driving or anything beyond the point she was attempting to make on the cell phone. GOG had to make a quick last minute adjustment to dodge the pot hole. As the car skirted by GOG yelled out “GET OFF THE PHONE”. High House is a challenging road with lots of traffic in both directions that require constant situational awareness by the cyclists. This is most needed to make the left hand turn across all lanes into the parking lot below Brueggers.

Up completion of the ride those that could afford some time all meet at Brueggers/caribou for food and beverage and chit chat. It was there that Rob Robertson shared the story of how he and David Bridenbaugh (Mr. Bridenbaugh) were Jettisoned by the Thorns only to limp home together with Mr. Bridenbaugh complaining about being wore out as he pulled Rob along at over 20 mph into the finish.

The Stems completed 43miles at 16.4 mph

The Roses completed 32 miles at 14.5

The Thorns completed 52 miles at 18.9 mph.

Here is the recap by Capn Carbon regarding the Thorns ride

OK… Here are the key points to remember about last Saturday’s Thorn’s ride from my perspective:

· Lee has purchased and is now riding an illegal bike as it weighs well below anything that a scale can measure

· Rob rode like a man possessed and rode with the breakaway Thorns all the way until Toddy Goodsomething road

· The Green Flash proved once again that he has Zero patience as he did not wait for ANYBODY including me after the lights coming through Apex

· Mr. Bridenbaugh had a very bad water management day and basically bonked by the time he hit the Wilsonville gas station. However, according to Rob, he still motored at close to 19 mph all the way in after complaining about being toasted!

· Immortal Man was rock solid and hammered like a mad man. He must be riding extra miles during the week!

· Lee rode like he was possessed. Must be the “new bike syndrome/high” that he is riding on. Just like the rest of us, he will certainly slow down once he gets the credit card bill for his new purchase!

· Green Flash, Lee, and Capn rode 52 miles at just a hair under 19 mph average. Would have been much faster except they were slowed early on by the GOG

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