Originally Posted by patentcad (Post 10910236)

My kid wants to go to Columbia. And the scary part is she might have a decent shot at actually getting into the school. I told her to tell the interviewer that her Dad went to NYU and he thinks that Columbia friggin blows.

You know when I see those decals for all the pricey colleges on cars, I always think that if it wasn't for that stupid sticker on the back window, maybe this car wouldn't be a Honda. Maybe it would be a BMW.

Originally Posted by patentcad (Post 10912002)

When I went to NYU the tuition costs were about $4K annually. No kidding.

Originally Posted by midgetmaestro (Post 10911425)

:beer:

Originally Posted by Velo Vol (Post 10910714)

This evening I show up at a nearby LBS group ride. I know going in that the ride may be an overshoot because (1) my group riding experience consists of a few small social-type rides, and (2) it's billed as an "A/B" ride with an average speed 2-5 mph faster than I normally ride.

But hey, why not?

I immediately establish my Fred credentials at the outset by (1) showing up late so that I joined the ride in progress a block from the start, and (2) eschewing standard bike weenie style and wearing a tank top.

Anyway, I merged in near the front of the 20 or so rider pack. I really didn't want to be at the front, but I was essentially boxed in for a couple miles so you gotta roll with the flow.

Frankly, being boxed in takes getting used to. I envisioned Pcad-esque crashes.

Things went relatively well for the first four or five miles. I even took a pull. The group was in a fairly consistent two-abreast pace line and it was pretty straightforward to simply follow the wheel in front of you.

But then the organization and speed of the ride seemingly become more erratic. Eventually the four-lane road we had been riding turned into two lane. I quickly succumbed to the rookie mistake of letting too big a gap open up in front of me and got dropped.

But I continued fighting on and rejoined the pack when it got to a couple stop signs.

I was still trying to go with the flow thereafter when I had my most gloriously Fredtastic, "we're going to yell at you" moment. Although I had been studiously observing the group, I had not yet picked up on the paceline rotation. And so, as I was cruising in the right line with a gap in front of me, I was notified--repeatedly--that I needed to be in the left line if I wanted to lay back.

Oh, the humanity.

Shortly thereafter I detonated and was dropped--I thought for good. But when I finally got to the next stoplight (near the half-way point) I happened upon three other dropees. I hooked up with them and availed myself of some drafting as we rounded the far side of the loop and headed back to the bike shop.

We shaved a couple miles off the normal route and eventually rendezvoused with part of the group. I hung onto the back for a while only to get dropped again on a slow climb. (I subsequently learned that they like to dial it up on that stretch. That kind of thing is good to know in advance).

I got saved by one more stoplight; the last couple miles were cool down so I was able to finish the ride not in last place!

Is there a moral to this story? No. But if you're going to ride in a fast group, (1) know the paceline rotation, and (2) stay glued to the wheel in front of you.

The End.

Originally Posted by ptle (Post 10912138)

It was the first time I did a rotating paceline with more than ten people.

Originally Posted by patentcad (Post 10912152)

I have created the Fredicenter of the Known Universe with this stupid thread.

Originally Posted by mzeffex (Post 10912147)

I got a D on my physics final. I got the second highest grade in the class. :wtf:

At least I still have an A- for the year.

Originally Posted by roadiejorge (Post 10912211)

but it's probably happened to everyone of us at some point when joining a group ride.

Originally Posted by coasting (Post 10911315)

My plan is to get 5 of us together and to do a paceline to do a fast century. They seem willing because I know the local roads better but that puts me in a difficult position. I cannot be dropped; I have to lead the way so I'll be busting a gut

Originally Posted by patentcad (Post 10912666)

I can't remember, it was about 20 years, 500+ Nyack Rides and about 250 races ago.

Originally Posted by Tulex (Post 10912034)

Did we even have the dollar back then?

Originally Posted by mike868y (Post 10913795)

Fark. Just found a deep cut in my p3r tires. Put a copious amount of electrical tape on the inside so I can race them this weekend, but it's time for some new race tires.