Eleven.
Massive horsepower.
It was a watt fest worthy of welcoming Leland back. And I brought a cross bike with a 44t ring and 46c-c bars and my old legs. Womp womp.
What's to say? We rolled out and didn't really hit it till Woodward. It ramped the f'up on Prospect. Leland attacked the fuck out of the group at the bottom of Jacob, and it was ON... i tucked in and hung on until the turn to Pine and someone lit it up. Like dropped a bomb... and I clung on for a bit, then i came unhitched, Jpalm came around and buh bye I couldn't hang. Got shredded. Disheartened. Shit. But I dug and kept pedaling. Knowing this was the workout, knowing i need the intensity, i stuck with it. Forced myself to keep going. Got down the backside of Pine and just decided I needed to just drill it myself. Just pedal. Solo TT time. motor motor motor... caught up with the gaggle as they were chilling and chatting going into Rocky Hill, so I figured may as well unload my tank, and I took the lead through the first up then the downhill I dropped it and left everything out there, big fat guy going downhill. no brakes just pedaling down the hill, arm flick and SEE YOU GUYS. Everyone took off.
Somehow I managed to stay focused, rode at my absolute limit (as everyone rode away from me) all the way to the top. I may not be as fast as everyone else but I pushed myself to the limit. I'm sure last night and the last couple days have taking a good bit out of me but I left it all out there. Bailey chilled and hung back waiting for me and the two of us bridged back up to the group just after the turn onto River. They TOOK OFF up Hillside with some encouragement by me. I kept Bailey in sight but only barely. And by the time I hit the mailbox I was so cross eyed and extended I don't even remember going up the hill. Rolled up just as Goldberg and Leland's wife joined back on and the whole crew hit Pine, then Davies attacked and a gap opened I couldn't close and the only ones behind me were #dreamydave (Kessler) and Oregon Dave... so yeah a couple Cat 1 kids came around me and I ALMOST was able to hang on to them. But I just stuck my head down, kept going and hoped they all would let up a touch.
And they did, first goldberg drifted back a touch and I slingshotted past him and caught into the pace as we slowed to make the left turn. Kessler took off, Fuller on his wheel, I bridged, Fuller went but then I had to hit the brakes and yelled at Fuller to let it rip, then i went around him and again emptied the tank on the downhill, found watts I didn't have and them Oregon Dave came around as I faded around the turn...
only to encounter Farm equipment meandering at about half our speed... fuuuuuuuuck... we slowed up, single file around the left and survived. Total bummer, wish we'd had a chance to let it roll. Then well we transitioned from Bailey's least favorite section to his most favorite and again, hey guys... But no draft means no hiding and leaving everything out there.
I added a new sprint today. Waterfront Drive. Finish at the start of the guardrail. We hit the turn together. pretty soon Bailey attacked, It was actually easy to slip in behind and go with him, and hang with him, then...
he pulled off... leaving me...
fuck...
20 pedal strokes I lasted maybe? Boom done, everyone came around but I kept digging, kept pushing it, and one more last final time.... and that was all that was left.
I rolled straight to the bike path, goldberg tagged along, and dropped me like a rock on the little hill up to the bike path. And kept dropping me. I left it all out there. Emotionally drained or physically not-recharged.
Stomach felt funky a bit on the ride but overall not terrible.
Chalk it up to stimulus and response.
Working on the car tomorrow, gotta ride back in and get my backpack and stuff from the office that I didn't get because i rode straight home.
And yes I hit the 5,000 mile mark today. 5014 in 180 days of riding. August is focused on hitting the 6k mark, September I think I may work to emulate May, half toying with not racing at all in September, shit's expensive #1 and #2 Nationals in January. Downside is the later I start racing the further behind I'll be from everyone else, plus side: if i delay the start of the season by a month maybe I can move that old traditional peak at Plymouth into December/January? Not that there is every a guarantee or that it would work, but it is an idea that i'm liking more and more.
Time to recover and get ready for the TT on thursday.
heddwch
G
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