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03-31-08, 12:53 PM
TWICE BAKED
Moving to the next level, like making the jump between high school and college athletics, was bound to be fraught with some growing pains. I arrived on time for the 2008 Ride for Heroes, but not early enough for a proper warm up. The lead group at these charity rallies always begins with a furious and frenetic pace, which I knew would result in a painful first 10 miles or an outright dismissal.
The high school horn section fumbled their way through The National Anthem while an eager group of cheerleaders bolstered our spirits for the upcoming barrage of climbs. The game was full blast from the opening tip-off, and the lead group was formed within the first few miles. We crashed over the climbs and bombed the down sides, already my max speed read 35 MPH and we had yet to cover 10 miles. I looked around for teammates but had none. No one was passing me the ball and driving to the hoop alone looked ominous judging by the hulking and grizzled legs of the leaders pushing the pace.
By mile 20 we had already ascended more vertical feet than are contained in the entirety of my Saturday’s normal 55 mile route. I was riding with an elite group of 25 or 30 out of the field of about 2000 starters. I was challenged but held well over the smaller climbs. Riding near the front of the group I slid up the next climb only to realize I had covered only about a third of what the accent had in store. As my heart rate peaked my speed dropped and the group pulled around me and floated up the road. Legs and lungs burning I was cooked…baked.
Cramps set in from the brutal first hour of riding and after being dropped early I decided the 62 mile option seemed more appealing that the original planned 75. At the 30 mile rest stop I was greeted by eager art students, as I was the first rider who stopped at their station, having received smiles and a couple of cookies I veered off the 75 route onto the 62 route.
As I took in the scenery of farmsteads, lush green fields, cattle ponds and lazy cows I resigned myself to a comfortable next 30 miles of hill training. The weather held steady at 50 degrees with a thick cloud bank preventing the sun from warming up the morning air. I was alone on this route enjoying the cool mist and the country farms with their red tractors and weather beaten barns.
My route soon merged into the 40 mile route and I found myself in the company of other riders which kicked the competitive juices in once again and I hastened my pace. I was easily passing these riders when a group begin passing me. Familiar legs and jerseys were contained within this squad one jersey in particular the 2007 Texas State Champ jersey. This was the lead group that had just dropped me a few miles earlier. Apparently the 75 route had only taken them off my course by a few miles and now they had rejoined the main course. A second chance to finish with the leaders I though, so I jumped back in the group. The group had relaxed some and were working together in a pace line. The pace was still high but no longer attacking and the group had been whittled to about 20.
I was working hard to stay with the varsity team and about 9 miles later we encountered the next large swell of pavement. I just could not maintain their pace and found myself slipping out the back once again. Weakened and fatigued my legs were toasted…baked. It is a rare thing to get dropped twice by the same group in the same day. Twice baked.
The 75 and 62 mile route separated again and from last year’s ride I knew that road led to the hardest climb of the day. I took the 62 option half hoping I would be swept up by the leaders once again further down the road. A quick stop at the mile 50 rest stop revealed I was the first rider they had seen, so the leaders on the 75 had yet to pass this point. My course soon joined in with the 20 mile route and I tore past ladies on hybrids, kids on Huffys, and couples on tandems. I finished the 62 miles in just over 3 hours with an average speed of an even 20 MPH.
By the time I put up my Colnago and changed into some shorts the leaders of the 75 route came rolling in. Our tickets entitled us to a hot dog and chip lunch served with a side of 70’s acid rock played by the local high school garage band.
Moving to the next level, like making the jump between high school and college athletics, was bound to be fraught with some growing pains. I arrived on time for the 2008 Ride for Heroes, but not early enough for a proper warm up. The lead group at these charity rallies always begins with a furious and frenetic pace, which I knew would result in a painful first 10 miles or an outright dismissal.
The high school horn section fumbled their way through The National Anthem while an eager group of cheerleaders bolstered our spirits for the upcoming barrage of climbs. The game was full blast from the opening tip-off, and the lead group was formed within the first few miles. We crashed over the climbs and bombed the down sides, already my max speed read 35 MPH and we had yet to cover 10 miles. I looked around for teammates but had none. No one was passing me the ball and driving to the hoop alone looked ominous judging by the hulking and grizzled legs of the leaders pushing the pace.
By mile 20 we had already ascended more vertical feet than are contained in the entirety of my Saturday’s normal 55 mile route. I was riding with an elite group of 25 or 30 out of the field of about 2000 starters. I was challenged but held well over the smaller climbs. Riding near the front of the group I slid up the next climb only to realize I had covered only about a third of what the accent had in store. As my heart rate peaked my speed dropped and the group pulled around me and floated up the road. Legs and lungs burning I was cooked…baked.
Cramps set in from the brutal first hour of riding and after being dropped early I decided the 62 mile option seemed more appealing that the original planned 75. At the 30 mile rest stop I was greeted by eager art students, as I was the first rider who stopped at their station, having received smiles and a couple of cookies I veered off the 75 route onto the 62 route.
As I took in the scenery of farmsteads, lush green fields, cattle ponds and lazy cows I resigned myself to a comfortable next 30 miles of hill training. The weather held steady at 50 degrees with a thick cloud bank preventing the sun from warming up the morning air. I was alone on this route enjoying the cool mist and the country farms with their red tractors and weather beaten barns.
My route soon merged into the 40 mile route and I found myself in the company of other riders which kicked the competitive juices in once again and I hastened my pace. I was easily passing these riders when a group begin passing me. Familiar legs and jerseys were contained within this squad one jersey in particular the 2007 Texas State Champ jersey. This was the lead group that had just dropped me a few miles earlier. Apparently the 75 route had only taken them off my course by a few miles and now they had rejoined the main course. A second chance to finish with the leaders I though, so I jumped back in the group. The group had relaxed some and were working together in a pace line. The pace was still high but no longer attacking and the group had been whittled to about 20.
I was working hard to stay with the varsity team and about 9 miles later we encountered the next large swell of pavement. I just could not maintain their pace and found myself slipping out the back once again. Weakened and fatigued my legs were toasted…baked. It is a rare thing to get dropped twice by the same group in the same day. Twice baked.
The 75 and 62 mile route separated again and from last year’s ride I knew that road led to the hardest climb of the day. I took the 62 option half hoping I would be swept up by the leaders once again further down the road. A quick stop at the mile 50 rest stop revealed I was the first rider they had seen, so the leaders on the 75 had yet to pass this point. My course soon joined in with the 20 mile route and I tore past ladies on hybrids, kids on Huffys, and couples on tandems. I finished the 62 miles in just over 3 hours with an average speed of an even 20 MPH.
By the time I put up my Colnago and changed into some shorts the leaders of the 75 route came rolling in. Our tickets entitled us to a hot dog and chip lunch served with a side of 70’s acid rock played by the local high school garage band.