Thanks for the post-ride recap Psimet!
Since this will be the official register, I'll repost my comments from the other thread here:
I don't think the weather could've been better (okay maybe less wind on some routes).
First, off, a hearty THANK YOU to the entire BFNIC crew, especially Psimet for doing all the event legwork. (Thanks to your father-in-law for the SAG role too!)
I've only been on the bike since the last weekend in August and I was able to accomplish a lot of FIRSTS on this ride:
1) First time I rode a distance far enough that it actually had a name: HALF-METRIC! Woo-hoo! I know. I know. What's the big deal, but again I've only been riding a few weeks, and my longest ride prior to today was only 21 miles. I don't think I could've shared the event with a nicer group. Thanks for pulling me along fellas!
2) First organized group ride.
3) First pace-line. That was a paceline right?
4) First time as lead bike of a paceline. Not that I meant to pull, but I just happened to be the second bike in line when the first guy rolled out. It was a short lived mile and a half experience but will be cherished nonetheless.
5) First mid-ride stop at a gas station for refreshments. Never rode far enough to need to stop anywhere. LOL!
6) And, lastly, first Christening of my Litespeed as it fell and kissed the asphalt . . . with me clipped into it. Just my luck, a decade of riding MTBs on wicked trails that require multiple spontaneous clipless exits and I can't unclip in a parking lot at 1mph in front of a dozen seasoned cyclists who I just met. (My wife got a kick out of this.) Anyway, anybody know where I can get a replacement left Ultegra brifter cap? For cheap?
Some things I learned:
A. These boys are FAST! I could barely keep up with them, if at all!
B. I really need to get a lot more miles in these legs, but that's no surprise. I was in upper Zone 4 and Zone 5 nearly the entire time. Clearly puts things into perspective and provides me something to shoot for.
C. Paceline riding requires a series of quick strokes and minor jabs at the brakes.
D. For the first time, I didn't find riding in the drops all too uncomfortable, at least not as much as I remember. My other road bike has a farther drop from the seat to the bars, so that obviously had something to do with it. I also figured out I may need to mildy adjust the angle of my bars.
E. Don't bother riding clipped in while in a small parking lot (see #6 above).
It was a privilege to meet all of you BFNIC gents and am looking forward to the next one!
