Fifty Plus (50+) - Today I was the Nail

The 10 penny variety where it takes several solid strikes to get it flushly driven into a dense piece of hardwood. And that was okay, I guess.

It was an organized 62 miler with 100+ riders and the half life of the group was probably 9-10 miles. By 20 miles we were down to about 20 riders. By 30 miles we had averaged around 24 mph and it was down to 10-12. We started to hit some pretty good hills that made me wish I hadn't done the 50+ miles the day before trading pulls with some of the local tandems. Three or four of us got really nailed on a longish steepish hill and dropped off the group-or rather they rode off without us! At least there were enough riders left to trade pulls for the rest of the ride and we were still able to finish in less than 3 hours for an average around 22 mph.

While I didn't crash I could emphathize with LA seeing riders easing off ahead and unable to do anything about it.

Those other riders should be ashamed of themselves for crushing your soul like that. Heck, they might have hurt your feelings and/or damaged your sense of self-esteem. Boys can be so cruel sometimes.

Greg Lemond has always said if they cleaned up the sport you'd see a lot more drama, and would see immortals start getting shelled out the back.

PS: I mistook you for Hermes or I wouldn't have snarked like that. However, I hate to erase perfectly good irony so I'll leave the remark. But it was directed at Hermes. Humility would be good for his soul.

Sorry you got crushed. It was probably the weather, that and the possiblity that everyone else was doping.

Tandems should do all the pulling. They got twice the power, right? And one rider is always sheltered...

Sounds like it was a pretty fast group. If I remember accurately the 6th stage Friday was running about 24mph for the first 70 miles or so.

How do you get 100+ riders on a hammerfest, on a Monday?! Do people not work on Mondays anymore? Have we become part of Europe? Is it August already?


I could emphathize with LA seeing riders easing off ahead and unable to do anything about it.
I *hate* when that happens. And it's always like it's in slo-mo, too... :mad:

Those other riders should be ashamed of themselves for crushing your soul like that. Heck, they might have hurt your feelings and/or damaged your sense of self-esteem. Boys can be so cruel sometimes.

Greg Lemond has always said if they cleaned up the sport you'd see a lot more drama, and would see immortals start getting shelled out the back.

PS: I mistook you for Hermes or I wouldn't have snarked like that. However, I hate to erase perfectly good irony so I'll leave the remark. But it was directed at Hermes. Humility would be good for his soul.

Sorry you got crushed. It was probably the weather, that and the possiblity that everyone else was doping.

Mistaken identity...we all make mistakes some more than others.:D

You definitely need to HTFU and get on the CRH's wheel to release some of your frustration.:thumb:

Tomorrow, my friend, a 45 miler.

Until then, drink Dos Equis.

I am for the Dos Equis. It will help me on my quest for my first road bike at age 67 LOL. Or not but I think i will give it a try.

I am for the Dos Equis. It will help me on my quest for my first road bike at age 67 LOL. Or not but I think i will give it a try.

Yes. If not, when you are 70, you will say to yourself, "Why didn't I try a road bike when I was 67?"

The time is NOW!!

Yes. If not, when you are 70, you will say to yourself, "Why didn't I try a road bike when I was 67?"

The time is NOW!!

This we all agree on. Spend your children's inheritence. You know not what tomorrow will bring.

Do it. Do it now. Buy the bike. Ride the bike. Drink Dos Equis. Rinse. Repeat.

I got hammered yesterday too, not by the Dos Equis variety ;), but by going home uphill into a headwind with a heavy load of groceries from shopping after work.