2300

okay -crappy title- it'll work...

so I hit the tuesday night ride here, pretty damn solid ride. And I let it rip. And I managed to do okay. i did a couple sets of full out max efforts off the front that were a couple minutes long at least and one long effort towards the end. There was just one acceleration that I couldn't match, it was right after a long effort of mine and the attack was made up a steeper pitch. But I managed to dig through it and bridge up before the end of the section, making up a good bit of ground.

It was fun. beneficial? yeah probably in some way.

But i had a moment of clarity. Sitting on Dr Flats-a-lot's wheel as he motored up after the turn there by the CVS, he started to wind it up - i was uncomfortable, but I had 'a' wheel to follow. I knew I couldn't let him gap me and I was able to dig down and stay there. In the pack, i'm still wheel blind. I'm not riding like i do when I'm sitting on one or two wheels in a smaller pace line. I haven't figured out how to lock on a wheel in a pack when the intensity ramps up... maybe if i rode with a mirror like Paul C and could see that there wasn't anyone behind me before I found myself with the guys getting gapped I'd learn faster. Maybe if the next race I do i just tell myself - pick a wheel and stick on it no matter what. I shouldn't have ever let go of the tallest's freaks wheel... never. But I did. that and I realized my team mate wasn't running a 42-23. He was running a 39-23. Not a big difference, but a notable one. One of these days I'll figure it out. Till then, I guess I just have to keep working, doing what I know I need to do.

Sunapee is out for me. Saddly. I guess I have to look ahead at what's next. Do a crit maybe? me? possible, ya never know.

Bike to work week is still in full effect. A group of commuters from the factory here got together for a PR photo-op yesterday, and Friday is going to be big.

Oh best thing about yesterday's ride? Not a drop of rain fell on us. Dumping buckets just before we went out, but narry a sprinkle -just a bunch of wet roads. But my super selfish fender worked to keep me ass dry.

This morning was a super soft pedal ride in, mellow as mellow could be. Gonna be driving home so it really is a rest day, a light spin in the AM and that's it. Stupid wings lost. That's a bummer. But man Dave Moulton has a good little piece up there right now.

And thinking more about the strap that Tilford uses, it actually makes sense. Forcing the tire to conform to the bead seat of the rim instead of getting a bit round and having a tendency to pull away from the middle, and by squashing it while it is curing you force the outside edge down two as the air volume can't push up or down so by going out it gets pushed down more effectively on the edge of the rim. Make sense. At anyrate - he's right - there is no excuse for a rolled tire.

I'm looking forward to the Bikeworks TT series... I like TTs. Even without all the gear, they are fun...

maybe i should clean my desk... certainly could use a bit of organizing...

okay - now the Giro is just flat out a gorgeous race...

ciao and heddwch
G