Penn Velo Pack Ride Thread
 

Did this ride several weeks ago, and it was great. I wanna do it again, something nice and flat, before Marco's assault on Mt. Tam. So who's in? Once again, it's 8 am, at corner of 92 and Canada. Maybe this time, I'll be able to stay with the pack a little longer. Plus, it's a way to cool off.

My wife has to be out in Livermore for a Relay-for-Life walk. I don't know when yet but if it's in the afternoon, I'm definitely in. I was bummed to have missed it last week due to my wifes all-day training class.

I will be doing the Canada TT on Sat.

Not sure on my start time yet, so don't know if I can make it.

I'd love to do it, but am camping this Saturday with the family.

Next month, I'm a bachelor for the whoooooole month. Lots of riding going to happen :thumb:

I was planning on going tomorrow as well. Went last week, had a good time. I prefer over the Group Rides starting from the GGB. This has a lot less junk miles.

How long after 8am do they wait before taking off??

I ask because my start time for the Canada TT is 7:52 am. I figure 30 min between my TT ride then getting my time, etc... So that would be 8:22 ish that I would be ready @ Canada and Jefferson.

Wondering if I can latch on afterward.... Hmmm funny thing is... previous times suggest I would be making the turn around (near Canada & 92) at around 8:04 - 8:05 or so... HAHA. Maybe I can secretly latch on the peloton on my way back :innocent:

Or... Maybe you guys will be chasing me all the way down Canada. :eek: ;)

Where is the first re-group?

It rolled out pretty promptly at 8:15 from 92/Canada, iirc.

If you finish your TT, then head to the parking lot across from Roberts, they stop there for like 5 mins. Or did last weekend. Or just latch on Canada (its what I did, went for a potty break).

I MIGHT be in, at least for a shorter version.

Perfect.

So, I'll have around a 10 min head start on the pack. Assuming I will be traveling not too much slower than the pack, that should give me enough time to get my time, strap on my seat pack, grab my water bottles, then latch on while you roll by. Hopefully my recovery will kick in quickly after the TT. :rolleyes:

See y'all there in the morning. Nice short cool ride.

Bachelor party in the afternoon. :D

Get pics :thumb:

Will we have a taxi citing on this ride Saturday????

I'm in. Now I just have to decide which bike....

Just got back home.

I did the Canada TT (saw Rich & Mary Ellen). Caught my breath, got my time then headed to my car at Edgewood/Canada to get my saddle pack, Gel, 2nd water bottle, etc..

BUT... On my way to the car I see the pack. DAMN! So I pulled a 180 and joined the pack with one bottle, and that was it. I found Ron, and asked him if he had two tubes ;) Just in case. I spotted Mateo, Ron and Doug (so 4 BF people).

The pace seemed pretty quick, then suddenly *CRASH* Someone lost a bottle (I guess) and a rider went down hard. I don't know if any other riders went down. That really sucks :( I hope the guy(s) didn't get too badly injured.

The group carried on after the ambulance was on its way. I had to catch the group since I was one of the later people leaving the crash scene. Ron, Doug and I were sitting on the back for a bit, then Doug dropped of a little before Alpine. Ron dropped off somewhere (not sure). I had enough of all the slinky BS in the back (wasting energy, more dangerous, etc..) so I took off and merged into a gap, mid-pack, near Mateo. For whatever reason, decided to go up front with the hammerhead dudes. It was fun. On the way back up Sand Hill I decided to go off the front and increase the pace on the last climb before Whisky. One guy (racer) marked me, and passed me. So I grabbed his wheel, and was able to keep him within reach. It seemed the TT did take the little bit of snap out of my legs, since I got passed by two other riders that were challenging for the climb on Whiskey Hill. I didn't push it, just kept them in reach. Then I saw Ron close to the Pioneer Hotel.

It was getting really hot by that time, and I was glad my riding was done for the day when I got to my car. I can't imagine how bad it would suck at like 3pm :eek:

Tomorrow should be cooler, so that's good.

BTW: I got a 25:58 in the TT. Which is pretty good for Merckx Class (no aero stuff).

I just got home. As Marco reported earlier, a rider in the pack did go down. This was after we turned onto Portola from 84, and just before the intersection of Mountain Home and Portola. I was near the front of the pack, then about 100 yards from the intersection, I heard the sound of some plastic banging against each other, and then a thump. It was about 15 riders behind me, but loud enough to stop. If you know that road well, you know how narrow it is, and we had to make sure cars slow down, as there was only the one lane in opposite direction to maneuver. I hope it's not too serious.

We proceeded on, and I was keeping up with the pack. This is a lot longer than I lasted the last time. Last time, I lost the pack when we made the turn onto Portola. This time I lasted till about 1/2 mile from turning on Alpine. I then headed straight on Alpine (shortcut), and eventually, the fast riders (including Marco and Mateo) caught up to me on Whiskey Hill.

It was toasty out there, but it was nice by the time we got back to the cars ... there was a nice breeze, and almost felt cooler than when we started. As I was driving home, the temperature was already up at 92 F, and about 97 F by the time I got back to Santa Clara.

According to Garmin Training Center, I got 31.14 miles, avg speed 15.2 mph, and 1394 feet climbing. According to Motion Based, I got 31.22 miles, avg speed 17.5 mph, and 2411 feet climbing. How could it be so far off? According to my Blackburn Delphi 6.0, I got an average speed of 16.2 mph, and 1463 feet climbing.

I think I need more computers ... I don't have enough measuring devices for my riding ... :D

I got a late start, and missed the roll out at 92 and Canada, so I rode hard down Canada and turned off at Olive Hill, and cut over to Kings Mtn to catch the pack going the other way. Sure enough, there they were, coming up 84 towards the turn. First important lesson: turn around BEFORE the pack gets to you, and then let them pass you, and grab a spot somewhere. Don't do what I did - wait till they pass, THEN turn around and have to catch them! Hung at the back, doin' the slinky thing as Marco said, till Portola and Mountain Home, where the rider went down, and I had to skid to avoid plowing into the rider in front of me! I found Marco and Ron, and as Marco said, hung on until guardrail, when the Engine Room called up to say "I cannae gie ye morrre powerrr, Captain!" I caught up with Ron shortly after - I think he'd gotten shelled about 100 yards further on. We started down Alpine, when suddenly *CLANK!* I looked down, and it looked like one end of the chain was hanging loose. I told Ron, "Busted chain!" and waved him on.

Luckily, it wasn't a BROKEN chain, just a thrown one. I guess the new, narrower chain I put on last week will require a tighter adjustment of the limit screw! So I took off down Alpine, then Arastradero, Page Mill, Foothill, Sand Hill - probably about half an hour behind Marco!

Canada was starting to get hot, at least the part before Filoli. After that, the headwind started coming. I got home and drank a quart of ice water, and I'm about to go drink another!

50 miles, 16 mph avg - those few miles in the pack really add to the average speed!

Good ride, lots of fun. Oddly enough it feel cooler when we got back to Canada then when we left. I was on the wheel of the guy who crashed. Bottle rolled right in front of him, he didn't have a chance. Don't know how I stopped in time or how I didn't get plowed into, but I do hope he is ok.

Felt good considering, but at SandHill knew suffering was about to come, out of water and the salt was here. Got popped, dragged ass to the gas station and (thankfully) hydrated. Canada was fun, a little slower than last week, which was fine with me. Didn't have the legs to do the work I did then though.

btw, Who is Theo?
<--Mateo?

Great to see you guys!

opps... people said 'Teo I think for short and messed me up..

Fixed! and Sorry about that.

No worries.

Just got back from Livermore from the Relay for Life walk. Long day but it was nice to see some friends I haven't seen in a long time. I also got to take the kids to see Kung Fu Panda when the heat was at its highest. That was nice.

I almost made it for this ride since it was our wedding anniversary today and I missed the last two Saturdays of riding due to wife's activities. She said "go on your ride, but be back by 10" :rolleyes:

Sounds like you guys had an imprompdu Gladiator ride! Jealous:cry: Nice work Ron! and the rest of you. Great TT time Marco! Too bad Doug with the chain. I saw Tim up in Marin with the Roasters. He's doing pretty good with those Roaring Mouse guys. I had to do the Social thing but it was pretty cool... Can''t wait for Todays ride and seeing you guys;):thumb: