Smackety Smackety Smack.

Someone sent out the P/1/2 bat signal tonight.

We had a HUGE turnout.  Turns out my ride announcement was a bit prophetic. But in the opposite direction. I'd kind of hoped to encourage the old guard to show up. And one of them did. He showed up to celebrate his 25th anniversary of being the President of the Brown Cycling Club. But that left only two of us old guys. I'm not sure where Garber fits into the age thing. He's seemingly as fast as the 20 something kids.

But Tonight? Kipp saw him get worked OVER. And the kids were looking like they were on a recovery ride.

For Jules it probably was a recovery ride.

I got popped BEFORE pine. Sure I did the ride leader thing and set the pace most of the way until we got to the turn on to Woodward, because that's just what has to be done. It was pretty chill heading to prospect, we had to work to get back on headed down Prospect at first but it settled in. 14-15 people showed, I was probably the slowest, Kipp may have been giving me a run for the money but he's still Cat 2 so, he's faster by default and everything else.

Seriously. Jules snagged the KOM on the Lincoln to Pine stretch. That fucker. I was working so goddamn hard that I was gapped by the turn up Pine. and well Fucking lights out. You think I have the W/KG to stay with some dude who raced the Tour of California?

Fuck. No.

From there? well I just killed myself up pine. Kipp steadily dragged himself back up to me at the top and the two of us picked up the new kid and then we gathered Fuller. Who I don't think still quite gets group rides. But that's okay. I set a pretty nose bleeding pace for me and we kept at it, no break, all the way to the top of Rocky Hill. I set early part, Fuller came around, then declined to pull any more and I emptied everything only to have that gangly knucklehead who's losing 30-40 watts with his upright position nab me at the sprint line.

Then we get to the bottom, he's soft pedaling and the four of us are together, the other 10-11 are fucking GONE. Buh Bye. SO FAST. And so i say - dude we're together, lets go. And set pace till the base of Hillside. Fuller attacks, Kipp ain't no where to be seen and Peng has a broken fucking spoke, rendering his $20k wheels useless. Okay maybe they're only 5k. But not rideable, so I chat, offer to go back get car, all that. Nah he'll get a ride.

Fine.

I get to the top of hillside, i'm dead, legs are like dude - this hurts, and get to Pine and Fuller and the new kid are no where to be seen, really? dudes, wait? no that's okay we weren't really riding as four, it was two and two, i only caught up to up to you and pulled you for miles because you were softpedaling waiting. Thanks for waiting at Hillside.

I looped back, Kipp had dropped a bottle and looped back to retrieve it, also talked with Peng. I had crazy idea that we should piggy back him home, Kipp seemed less keen on that idea. So the two of us old fuckers rode home together.

Burke's grumpy now because he got a flat, presumably on his way to the ride, but he never made the start and i have 10-14 20something hot shits on the ride and he's wondering why we didn't stop? He didn't even make the start and we rode by him but he looked in control and well, not really sure if he was wanting to join us and yes Kipp and I lamented his lack of presence because it would have increased the old guy quotient, but he sent me grumpy weird text that sounded odd, maybe he had a few beers after fixing his flat.

My legs hurt. I was so fucking slow but I was able to tap the limit of my legs and lungs. I ain't no cat 1. Never probably ever gonna see Cat 3 on the road. And I haven't raced once this year outside of bandit TTs. And those guys that showed up? Podiums, and shit. Impressive. Also, Dani is poised to make Becca look wikked slow, genetic freak and so young. Not sure about getting her into CX, we'll see, there are some CX focused kids on the team, maybe they'll get her to show up for a race or two. Will she get to the level of hitting the second spot in a C2 of a C1/C2 weekend? Probably not. There's something extra special in that person, super cool to see her success.

But hey. it is late. Recovery means sleep. I was going to have a couple beers but maybe i'll have just one more and catch up on the facebook and THEN go to sleep.

Was good riding hard, even if my hard is slow for some. I ain't ever been blessed with althetic ability. anything i have is hardwork. Nixon said it best, you know pretty much what your ceiling is. You know there's no way to get higher than that (fitness/results wise), and I do, and where is mine? mid-back pack of the Masters. Maybe a powermeter and a coach and a feedback based training program might eek a bit out of me, but you know what?

Fuck it.

I really just like riding my bike.

Bikes are awesome.

heddwch
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