Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/394394191
Attendees: GTJ, GSM, GSJ and GML
With work and the weather getting in the way of riding the last week and a half, it was finally nice to get out with the troop. We didn't have the numbers that we had during my last outing, but it was a good group and great training nonetheless.
One great thing about the ride was the humidity had finally become "normal" where it didn't feel like you were back east. It was still warm, especially wearing the black kit that EVERYONE had donned, but slightly cooler as we rode toward the coast. Winds weren't bad either, so the conditions were about as good as we can ask for compared to the last several weeks.
I was on my TT bike for this ride, and I originally had set the route to be a faster flatter route. However, GTJ chimed in early on and wanted to do more hills so we ended up changing to the route he suggested despite the clear disadvantage it presented to my 20 pounder ride. I go with the flow....
The ride started out fast enough with GTJ leading us down CA, me taking the first pull on the BT and GSM and GTJ getting us to Back Bay. I had a little trouble with the uptick in the pace up the grades, but I managed to get back with the group after descending into BB and join the rotation.
Through BB, everyone was pushing up and rotating up front early on but it lessened as we got closer to the end with people pushing up front from toward the back. This was okay as it allowed for us to stay together throughout. This continued on PCH and through the CDM neighborhood including Ocean. We almost got split up at an intersection, but I did a rolling regroup as we made our way up the steep kicker hill leading to Ocean.
When we came back to PCH from Poppy, GTJ and GSM pushed up to get the group going again, and I had to drop onto the aeros just to close the gap and help with the rotation.
At the bottom of NPC, I let the guys know not to wait for me given I expected I wouldn't be able to keep up on the climb. When the light turned green, GTJ and GSJ took off and I just stood on the pedals and started my ascent. I was surprised I didn't get too far behind during the first part of the climb, and upon approaching the first Pelican we were all pretty much together at that point. Now I thought GTJ indicated we were going up Pelican, so I slowed thinking we had to cross the street. The light turned green just shortly after our arrival, and I found myself watching them climbing up NPC wondering why. Then I remember that GTJ indicated "Vista" and not Pelican, so off I went trailing everyone up the hill.
I started climbing and rolled up to GML thinking he was holding a good pace where I would have been content riding with him. I ended up passing where he rolled up behind me, so I expected he would just sit on my wheel during the climb since this was his specialty as my "wingman." However, he hadn't ridden with the group for a while, so dropped off some and onto the next person.
I rolled up to GSJ next, and I gotta say, this guy took off like a bat out of hell at the bottom of NPC with a cadence that seemed taken from the playbook of our cycling samurai, GHS. I didn't think he would have a lot by the time I pulled beside him and expected he would try to stick my rear wheel as I passed. Instead, he started spinning up faster contesting my pass and rode abreast with me a while even challenging my pace. That went on for a bit and I had to actually look at him to make sure it was GSJ. It was! He ended up rolling off after a while, but it's nice to know that he's actually putting that R5 to work now.
As I continued to climb up the hill, I started closing on GSM and thought to myself, something is definitely going on here. I'm going to have to look and see if he did a ride earlier in the morning that may explain this, but GTJ was already calling out earlier that GSM seemed to be holding back. As I passed, I did expect GSM was going to just match my pace, but he continued on as though it didn't matter much that I passed. Anyone who knows BAM, however, would know that this is not a characteristic typical of this group. I know BAM, so I just kept going, dropped onto my aeros when it started flattening out, and just tried to get enough of a gap to make it interesting for him to pass me at some point. That point was about 100 yards up Vista with a "Good job, Rich" to further demoralize me as it seemed too easy. It turned out, he would also catch GTJ, who had been ahead of both of us the whole time, and get a couple top ten segment placings (not annual either) as he did so.
GTJ remained ahead of me the whole time and I only saw him until he reached the false flat only to be seen again waiting for me with GSM at the top.
Looking back, we didn't see the other guys coming up, so we decided to roll down to the bottom and wait there. GSJ and GML pulled up shortly after. After this, we all rolled down NPC together making our way to the last climb...Summit.
There were some cars making their way onto Summit upon our arrival, so we didn't get a lot of momentum going onto the road. GTJ led initially, and I followed closely behind. The next thing you know, GSJ pulls up and passes both of us with his newly found high cadence and caused Todd and I to have to push a little more. We both managed to pass GSJ, but he stayed just between us as we rode abreast ahead of him.
GTJ started to pick up the pace and started to pull away from me. It wasn't long before GSM came out of nowhere to pass me as well. I tried to push hard toward the last part of the climb, but the two were just too far ahead. I was happy I wasn't too far behind though as we made the u-turn and began descending.
We were all regrouped as we made our way onto Turtle Ridge and prepared to turn right onto Bonita Canyon. We pushed the pace on Bonita Canyon together and managed to reel in a couple guys who had got caught at one of the lights. The guy in the yellow jersey took off at the light and had us in his draft initially while his buddy was waiting to get onto the back of the train as the rest of us lined up. Once GSM passed and elevated the pace again, the two dropped off. Hell, I was off the back for a bit after the pass because it was pretty intense, so it was understandable.
With the lights on Bison made it challenging to setup a sprint, it was again GSJ who was up at the front toward the end pushing the pace. It was only because I was fully tucked in and cranking that I was able to catch up, but someone needs to check what this guy is putting in his water bottle before the ride. In any case, nice work!
Another good ride and great training for the books. I'm sorry I won't be able to make next Tuesday's ride being that I'll be in San Diego, but I'm already looking forward to next Thursday.
Thanks for coming out, Gents!
Attendees: GTJ, GSM, GSJ and GML
With work and the weather getting in the way of riding the last week and a half, it was finally nice to get out with the troop. We didn't have the numbers that we had during my last outing, but it was a good group and great training nonetheless.
One great thing about the ride was the humidity had finally become "normal" where it didn't feel like you were back east. It was still warm, especially wearing the black kit that EVERYONE had donned, but slightly cooler as we rode toward the coast. Winds weren't bad either, so the conditions were about as good as we can ask for compared to the last several weeks.
I was on my TT bike for this ride, and I originally had set the route to be a faster flatter route. However, GTJ chimed in early on and wanted to do more hills so we ended up changing to the route he suggested despite the clear disadvantage it presented to my 20 pounder ride. I go with the flow....
The ride started out fast enough with GTJ leading us down CA, me taking the first pull on the BT and GSM and GTJ getting us to Back Bay. I had a little trouble with the uptick in the pace up the grades, but I managed to get back with the group after descending into BB and join the rotation.
Through BB, everyone was pushing up and rotating up front early on but it lessened as we got closer to the end with people pushing up front from toward the back. This was okay as it allowed for us to stay together throughout. This continued on PCH and through the CDM neighborhood including Ocean. We almost got split up at an intersection, but I did a rolling regroup as we made our way up the steep kicker hill leading to Ocean.
When we came back to PCH from Poppy, GTJ and GSM pushed up to get the group going again, and I had to drop onto the aeros just to close the gap and help with the rotation.
At the bottom of NPC, I let the guys know not to wait for me given I expected I wouldn't be able to keep up on the climb. When the light turned green, GTJ and GSJ took off and I just stood on the pedals and started my ascent. I was surprised I didn't get too far behind during the first part of the climb, and upon approaching the first Pelican we were all pretty much together at that point. Now I thought GTJ indicated we were going up Pelican, so I slowed thinking we had to cross the street. The light turned green just shortly after our arrival, and I found myself watching them climbing up NPC wondering why. Then I remember that GTJ indicated "Vista" and not Pelican, so off I went trailing everyone up the hill.
I started climbing and rolled up to GML thinking he was holding a good pace where I would have been content riding with him. I ended up passing where he rolled up behind me, so I expected he would just sit on my wheel during the climb since this was his specialty as my "wingman." However, he hadn't ridden with the group for a while, so dropped off some and onto the next person.
I rolled up to GSJ next, and I gotta say, this guy took off like a bat out of hell at the bottom of NPC with a cadence that seemed taken from the playbook of our cycling samurai, GHS. I didn't think he would have a lot by the time I pulled beside him and expected he would try to stick my rear wheel as I passed. Instead, he started spinning up faster contesting my pass and rode abreast with me a while even challenging my pace. That went on for a bit and I had to actually look at him to make sure it was GSJ. It was! He ended up rolling off after a while, but it's nice to know that he's actually putting that R5 to work now.
As I continued to climb up the hill, I started closing on GSM and thought to myself, something is definitely going on here. I'm going to have to look and see if he did a ride earlier in the morning that may explain this, but GTJ was already calling out earlier that GSM seemed to be holding back. As I passed, I did expect GSM was going to just match my pace, but he continued on as though it didn't matter much that I passed. Anyone who knows BAM, however, would know that this is not a characteristic typical of this group. I know BAM, so I just kept going, dropped onto my aeros when it started flattening out, and just tried to get enough of a gap to make it interesting for him to pass me at some point. That point was about 100 yards up Vista with a "Good job, Rich" to further demoralize me as it seemed too easy. It turned out, he would also catch GTJ, who had been ahead of both of us the whole time, and get a couple top ten segment placings (not annual either) as he did so.
GTJ remained ahead of me the whole time and I only saw him until he reached the false flat only to be seen again waiting for me with GSM at the top.
Looking back, we didn't see the other guys coming up, so we decided to roll down to the bottom and wait there. GSJ and GML pulled up shortly after. After this, we all rolled down NPC together making our way to the last climb...Summit.
There were some cars making their way onto Summit upon our arrival, so we didn't get a lot of momentum going onto the road. GTJ led initially, and I followed closely behind. The next thing you know, GSJ pulls up and passes both of us with his newly found high cadence and caused Todd and I to have to push a little more. We both managed to pass GSJ, but he stayed just between us as we rode abreast ahead of him.
GTJ started to pick up the pace and started to pull away from me. It wasn't long before GSM came out of nowhere to pass me as well. I tried to push hard toward the last part of the climb, but the two were just too far ahead. I was happy I wasn't too far behind though as we made the u-turn and began descending.
We were all regrouped as we made our way onto Turtle Ridge and prepared to turn right onto Bonita Canyon. We pushed the pace on Bonita Canyon together and managed to reel in a couple guys who had got caught at one of the lights. The guy in the yellow jersey took off at the light and had us in his draft initially while his buddy was waiting to get onto the back of the train as the rest of us lined up. Once GSM passed and elevated the pace again, the two dropped off. Hell, I was off the back for a bit after the pass because it was pretty intense, so it was understandable.
With the lights on Bison made it challenging to setup a sprint, it was again GSJ who was up at the front toward the end pushing the pace. It was only because I was fully tucked in and cranking that I was able to catch up, but someone needs to check what this guy is putting in his water bottle before the ride. In any case, nice work!
Another good ride and great training for the books. I'm sorry I won't be able to make next Tuesday's ride being that I'll be in San Diego, but I'm already looking forward to next Thursday.
Thanks for coming out, Gents!
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