Strava: I hit start on replacement Garmin and nada. (BOO!)
On Wednesday last week, I secured a different position at BRCM and as a result, I get to stay on the team! I'll spare the details, but I sure am glad the drama is over and we can resume team activities as usual. Go Team BRCM!!!
For today, we had a pretty good-sized outing with Vince, Todd, Shannon, Vin, Jaffe, Jeremy and Noah coming out and joining me for the Dodged a bullet ride. The route was through Anteater, up san Miguel, Spyglass, San Joaquin, down NPC, Pelican, hit PCH, go through CDM via Ocean, and back toward BB and Jamboree. There were two predetermined regroup points (top of NPC and on Poppy) to help keep everyone together, so it was a "team" ride in this regard. Almost everyone represented BRCM colors but given Tiff is pregnant (who else will do the laundry, right? - just kidding), we'll give Vince the pass for today.
Jeremy led us out again (I already gave him kudos previously), and in typical fashion, broke away from the bunch of us by the time we started going up E. Peltason. I tried to pick up the group to latch them on but it didn't seem like anyone was interested right away. Thus, I was going to hold Jeremy out until they caught up. Yeah...that's it. That's the ticket.
After the group caught up, I tried to take the front only to have Todd pass me right away so.... Then, Shannon started to spin up and all I could do was latch on and stay on his wheel all the way up to Bonita Canyon. I took the front after but was relieved by Vince, Jaffe and Vin subsequently followed by a Noah sprint to the light. Nice.
Going up San Miguel, Todd led initially but Shannon pulled the rest of the way up to and onto Spyglass. Todd tried to take the front, but I jumped ahead to see what kind of pace I can hold. I almost got to the very top ahead of everyone, but once Todd and shannon passed just before the crest, I was already going into recovery mode in preparation for the San Joaquin climb. I know...weak, right? Vince and Jeremy came by also, but we were all caught at the light to make the left.
Once the light turned green, I went ahead and took the front again on the climb to keep things interesting, but of course, I didn't have enough to latch on when Shannon and Todd made their way past me. Jeremy also made his way past me toward the 2nd section that pitched up. Vince made his way past when it flattened out at the top. Thankfully, there was that regroup point on NPC. Then again, maybe that was the plan. Muahaha.
After we ALL regrouped where I got verbally abused...even threatened for doing so (damned if we do, damned if we don't), we were off. Gotta love this team, I tell ya. Shannon and Todd were again on the attack and set up for a breakaway once we got on Pelican. The rest of us were in chase mode up the hill, but I was hanging back a little trying to setup the climb after hitting the bottom. Vince and Jeremy were just ahead of me at that point, so I used them to slingshot my way up to Todd and Shannon on the climb. Once we reached the top, I saw someone passing to my left half expecting it to be either Shannon or Todd, but lo and behold...it was the Jaffe-nator (who Todd also refers to as the "gapper"). Nice, Steve.
The breakaway attempts continued on PCH with Vince being the primary instigator, but he and Noah got caught at the light just before we got into CDM. When we got onto Poppy, there was no need to regroup as we were all together at that point. Noah opted to go straight and be the rabbit to chase on BB, but the rest of us went through CDM.
On the left turn to Poppy, Jeremy was expressing how he was glad I was back on the ride since he enjoys a little sprinkle of Rich on his glasses. Better that than on his chin I guess (wink wink).
CDM was pretty incident free, but Shannon once again broke away through the neighborhood seemingly having taken notes from Vince's cycling rule book. Fortunately, we were all together again for the left turn back onto PCH.
We missed Galen not being out with us for the final stretch of PCH leading up to Jamboree, but when Vince pointed this out, what he didn't realize was he basically was saying my pull during that section pretty much sucked. HAHAHAHA...damn.
When we got on Back Bay drive after using the crosswalk, I guess the guys were a little tentative so Jaffe manned up and took the lead initially. It's rare he gets kudos, so.... Shannon took over eventually bringing the pace up just before we passed the gate, and the rotations resumed. I was originally ahead of Vin, but even he stepped up and jumped ahead of me in the rotation. This is either a testament to the ongoing improvements with the team, or I should expect pigs to fly in the very near future.
Toward the tail end of Back Bay, there was still no sign of Noah, and Shannon did the final pull leading up to the hill at the end. Vince broke away for a sprint to the top with Jeremy and Todd not far behind, then Jeremy broke away on Eastbluff with Todd giving chase up Jamboree. Noah was just ahead of the two as they crested at the top, but Jeremy and Todd opted to keep their breakaway and made the left turn at the light. I tried to give chase on the Jamboree climb, but my legs and lungs lost interest half-way up.
I was hoping to make the light on McArthur after we were heading down Bison, but the stupid light before it had everyone at the intersection stopped (including us) with no on going through. This was where we watched Todd and Jeremy take off at the green on McArthur, and understandbly so. After all, climbers don't sprint, right?
When we finally got to McArthur, I was wondering if Vin (who keeps calling me out offline to sprint on Bison) was going to get some. Noah had gotten ahead of us right away, but I setup the sprint just before the 2nd light over the 73. Once I saw it turned green, I took off probably startling Noah in the process. The young guy didn't pass me for that sprint, so I guess we'll just have to wait another day for him to make good on his promise.
Good right today, folks. I'm definitely glad to be a part of it as there's no better way to turn myself inside out during lunch than riding with this crew. Thanks!
On Wednesday last week, I secured a different position at BRCM and as a result, I get to stay on the team! I'll spare the details, but I sure am glad the drama is over and we can resume team activities as usual. Go Team BRCM!!!
For today, we had a pretty good-sized outing with Vince, Todd, Shannon, Vin, Jaffe, Jeremy and Noah coming out and joining me for the Dodged a bullet ride. The route was through Anteater, up san Miguel, Spyglass, San Joaquin, down NPC, Pelican, hit PCH, go through CDM via Ocean, and back toward BB and Jamboree. There were two predetermined regroup points (top of NPC and on Poppy) to help keep everyone together, so it was a "team" ride in this regard. Almost everyone represented BRCM colors but given Tiff is pregnant (who else will do the laundry, right? - just kidding), we'll give Vince the pass for today.
Jeremy led us out again (I already gave him kudos previously), and in typical fashion, broke away from the bunch of us by the time we started going up E. Peltason. I tried to pick up the group to latch them on but it didn't seem like anyone was interested right away. Thus, I was going to hold Jeremy out until they caught up. Yeah...that's it. That's the ticket.
After the group caught up, I tried to take the front only to have Todd pass me right away so.... Then, Shannon started to spin up and all I could do was latch on and stay on his wheel all the way up to Bonita Canyon. I took the front after but was relieved by Vince, Jaffe and Vin subsequently followed by a Noah sprint to the light. Nice.
Going up San Miguel, Todd led initially but Shannon pulled the rest of the way up to and onto Spyglass. Todd tried to take the front, but I jumped ahead to see what kind of pace I can hold. I almost got to the very top ahead of everyone, but once Todd and shannon passed just before the crest, I was already going into recovery mode in preparation for the San Joaquin climb. I know...weak, right? Vince and Jeremy came by also, but we were all caught at the light to make the left.
Once the light turned green, I went ahead and took the front again on the climb to keep things interesting, but of course, I didn't have enough to latch on when Shannon and Todd made their way past me. Jeremy also made his way past me toward the 2nd section that pitched up. Vince made his way past when it flattened out at the top. Thankfully, there was that regroup point on NPC. Then again, maybe that was the plan. Muahaha.
After we ALL regrouped where I got verbally abused...even threatened for doing so (damned if we do, damned if we don't), we were off. Gotta love this team, I tell ya. Shannon and Todd were again on the attack and set up for a breakaway once we got on Pelican. The rest of us were in chase mode up the hill, but I was hanging back a little trying to setup the climb after hitting the bottom. Vince and Jeremy were just ahead of me at that point, so I used them to slingshot my way up to Todd and Shannon on the climb. Once we reached the top, I saw someone passing to my left half expecting it to be either Shannon or Todd, but lo and behold...it was the Jaffe-nator (who Todd also refers to as the "gapper"). Nice, Steve.
The breakaway attempts continued on PCH with Vince being the primary instigator, but he and Noah got caught at the light just before we got into CDM. When we got onto Poppy, there was no need to regroup as we were all together at that point. Noah opted to go straight and be the rabbit to chase on BB, but the rest of us went through CDM.
On the left turn to Poppy, Jeremy was expressing how he was glad I was back on the ride since he enjoys a little sprinkle of Rich on his glasses. Better that than on his chin I guess (wink wink).
CDM was pretty incident free, but Shannon once again broke away through the neighborhood seemingly having taken notes from Vince's cycling rule book. Fortunately, we were all together again for the left turn back onto PCH.
We missed Galen not being out with us for the final stretch of PCH leading up to Jamboree, but when Vince pointed this out, what he didn't realize was he basically was saying my pull during that section pretty much sucked. HAHAHAHA...damn.
When we got on Back Bay drive after using the crosswalk, I guess the guys were a little tentative so Jaffe manned up and took the lead initially. It's rare he gets kudos, so.... Shannon took over eventually bringing the pace up just before we passed the gate, and the rotations resumed. I was originally ahead of Vin, but even he stepped up and jumped ahead of me in the rotation. This is either a testament to the ongoing improvements with the team, or I should expect pigs to fly in the very near future.
Toward the tail end of Back Bay, there was still no sign of Noah, and Shannon did the final pull leading up to the hill at the end. Vince broke away for a sprint to the top with Jeremy and Todd not far behind, then Jeremy broke away on Eastbluff with Todd giving chase up Jamboree. Noah was just ahead of the two as they crested at the top, but Jeremy and Todd opted to keep their breakaway and made the left turn at the light. I tried to give chase on the Jamboree climb, but my legs and lungs lost interest half-way up.
I was hoping to make the light on McArthur after we were heading down Bison, but the stupid light before it had everyone at the intersection stopped (including us) with no on going through. This was where we watched Todd and Jeremy take off at the green on McArthur, and understandbly so. After all, climbers don't sprint, right?
When we finally got to McArthur, I was wondering if Vin (who keeps calling me out offline to sprint on Bison) was going to get some. Noah had gotten ahead of us right away, but I setup the sprint just before the 2nd light over the 73. Once I saw it turned green, I took off probably startling Noah in the process. The young guy didn't pass me for that sprint, so I guess we'll just have to wait another day for him to make good on his promise.
Good right today, folks. I'm definitely glad to be a part of it as there's no better way to turn myself inside out during lunch than riding with this crew. Thanks!
Sounds like a good ride today gents. Wish I was there to help out on PCH :)
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