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Old 03-15-10 | 10:15 AM
  #32  
calamarichris
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 277
From: Carlsbad, CA

Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis

4:31? Mann, I wish I could limp that fast!
I ended up finishing in 5:18, but riding solo much of the time. I was really looking forward to the right hand turn that would surely result in a tailwind, but they managed somehow to engineer a head/crosswind for about 80 of the miles.
I participated in two packs (they seemed to collect behind some of the tandems that were moving well) but the echelons required meant they were either taking up the whole lane, or passing the slower rides too closely for my liking. Many times we'd yell "on your left" and the slower riders would look (and veer slightly) to the left. Also, there seemed to be more exploitation than cooperation going on. After having some little turdbird with carbon-fiber eyebrows and a 2007 state champion jersey* lean on me after I'd taken a pull and then watching some hapless slower rider get shouted at for getting in someone's way I decided fluid pedaling form for the whole ride was better than riding in that kind of negative energy, even if it meant riding alone. So I stopped at a Foxen Canyon Rest stop and stretched for a few minutes.
The tailwind finally came on the downhill of Foxen Canyon. I sustained ~40mph for several minutes there, but that road alternated from wonderfully smooth section to brutally rough with little in-between.
I'm glad of the time change; all this time on the rollers on weeknights has made me soft. Still it was fun fun fun!

*Clearly not a state champion in any event involving climbing or crosswinds, however.

Last edited by calamarichris; 03-15-10 at 10:21 AM. Reason: It's "Foxen", not "Foxel"
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