What constitutes a drop if the dropped rider is constantly gaining ground on you? Yesterday hasn't been easy since I finally put my dog to sleep after we have been through together for 10 years. Mimi is my hero. I hope I can dedicate my next win next season for her. I hope I don't sound like Tyler Hamilton??
I rode to Central Park today since I already did 2 hours in Prospect Park the pasting Sunday. It was very cool (cold) and windy today. The early season race in NYC makes today's weather feels like Summer. I was at the park and onto my second lap. Going up the Harlm hill I saw another rider mashing up. I looked at him but he was too focused to notice me. Strange though he kind of put the "hammer down" at the top of the hill and looking back to see if I was with him. "No, mister, I am not in the mood to race you," I told myself. Funny though I began to gain ground on him on the descends. I was very close to his wheel as we were passing 125th street exit. He began to dash right and left like a sprinter trying to shake loose his rival. He was constantly looking back like a professional. I was simply holding about 220w to 245w, just tempo riding. Well, he went ahead and got a gap about 200 feet. "Let's see if I will gain ground on you again on the next section," I told myself. No real effort on my part. As soon as I hit the big downhill section near the police station, I was gaining ground on him again. What can I say since I spent a lot of time perfecting my bike position to be as aero and low as possible. I was going down the hill around 29 mph not even breaking 200w. At this point he was already in my sight and about to pass him. Then, he attacked right at the 72nd street exit. He looked back to see where I was. He yelled out to other park users who were about to cross the section. One of the park users said out loud that he was serious about his training or whatever.
Right now, he was about 200 ft in front of me. I told myself how long this dude could keep this up since I was planning to do 4 laps in the park and I was on my 3rd already. He and I did almost one full lap already. Again, just tempo riding on my part. I caught up to him AGAIN right at the Boat House section. He attacked again on the Cat's Paw hill. Right now, I was in the Cuggenheim Museum section (the long flat stratch of road). I kept my effort at the high tempo and was in the drops. At this point, I was maybe 100 ft behind him right at the playground section and going through the S bend. I was wondering if he would attack again if I passed him at the "dip" section. I gained as much speed as possible coming off the S bend, without breaking 300w.
So I put a bit of effort on this "dip" section and just passed him. I maintained my speed and at threshold power for a bit over a minute until I was hitting the downhill section near the skating ring. He wasn't behind me anymore. I kept my effort a bit high until I was at the Harlm hill again going up at no higher than 250w.
I finished my 4th lap without seeing him at all. Wondering what was on his mind. Maybe he thought he could tire me out.
