Different doing the 20 miles at 19.6 average speed. I am more used to the 44 milers at 17 as my usual so it took some effort today. Joaquin looked very strong today, must be the new bike ha ha! Joaquin and I took turns pulling at the front. Jose did take one turn heading to the coast. We had a 19.7 arriving at the coast so I thought we might have a better average but that dang wind!
It seemed tougher heading back! Joaquin also seemed to think so, so it wasn't just my imagination. We left the coast and it was Jose's turn to pull. I was ahead of him waiting for him to catch up but he wasn't. What the heck? C'mon, the average is dropping! We had figured we would aim for a good average seeing it was a short ride, so C'mon! Not sure what happened but next thing I see when I look back is Joaquin pulling Jose.
Just as the catch me, I wave them to roll by figuring I had taken my fair share and wanted my fair share of help as well. But then I notice a different guy roll by with Joaquin and Jose on his wheel. Heck with it, this is even better ha ha! More help!
The guy rode with us for a while, turned off somewhere near Warner. As he pulled off he shouted, "thanks for the help guys!". Cool, most guys just suck wheel then act like you owe them so it was nice to have someone help and acknowledge you ha ha!
Right as we headed into the tunnel at Moon Park, we came up on some guy. I was probably breathing too hard to recognize him at first but hey, it's TONY! :-P He rode with us for a bit but also hopped off the trail somewhere around Warner.
Right after the first wooden bridge heading North from the Coast, I had moved over to let Jose go ahead, but it was Joaquin again! :-O Joaquin took the front so I tried to move to the back but Jose said, "dude, I'm tired, I can't help anymore, go ahead!". I shouted, "teamwork!" but it didn't matter, he just fell to the back. He hopped on so I thought he might recover then try to take another turn at the front later on, seeing he had only taken one turn so far. Nope, I guess he was toasted. He sat on the back for a bit but once we hit the downhill at Moon Park, he faded quickly.
We had the other dude with us so I figured we were cool. I did get thrown for a little loop on the uphill though. Joaquin was at the front then when we hit the little short ramp, he sprinted up. I was getting tired so it took a good effort to stay on his wheel going up. I mean I do weigh 100 pounds more than he does and I haven't been riding much. I figured I would push hard then recover on the flat section ahead. Psyche!!!!! Joaquin raced up the ramp and as soon as we hit the top, he moved over and let me hit the wind. Maybe there wasn't a huge headwind but it sure felt like it at that point ha ha!
I took the front for a bit struggling to recover so I could lift the pace again but it was tough. I went for a bit then the other dude rolled around on my left side I think. I dunno, maybe it was Joaquin? I was lacking oxygen to the brain at this point ha ha! Anyway, I held on then recovered some.
Once we rolled beyond Warner, it was only Joaquin and I. Felt like a headwind and I saw our average dropping from 19.8 to 19.5, dang it! Joaquin was still looking good so he spent more time at the front than I did. Of course, once I recovered, I did move to the front a couple more times. I know I am OK once I recover so holding a steady pace at 19 is not a problem, it's those 23's that get me!
Once we hit the 22, I could see Joaquin back off a bit. His usual is a 20 miler while mine the 40. So I went around again feeling good. Yeah, I am more of a steady distance rider vs racer so I was back in my element at this point.
Just hope I recover for tomorrow's long ride ha ha! Mr. Pasta, here I come! :-P Just me and Mike tomorrow. Jose backed out and Joaquin said he has plans.
I have to mention this. I really hate when you are passing a rider, noticeably faster than their pace. Thanks to Strava, I see were averaged 19.6 while this rider averaged 18. So you know we are traveling at a higher rate of speed. We roll up on a guy wearing a jersey that says "Speedy", not sure if it was a bike club jersey as I have seen a couple on a tandem wearing the same jersey. They did the same thing to Gina and I once on our tandem. I guess the "Speedy" makes them feel like they have to prove something. So anyway, 3 of us rolling, politely shout out the pass for safety reasons.
The dude knows there are 3 of us as he looked back. Once our second rider starts passing him, the guy lifts his pace and hangs on our side. Great! We can see several riders up ahead heading in the opposite direction, about 50 yards ahead. If we pass it's no big deal. But because this dope decides to race us in a race that is not there, we run the risk of an incident. Or have to break up our group because he's a moron. Really irks me as one thing I read far too often, is cyclists complaining on forums about how rude, thoughtless, and inconsiderate drivers are out on the road. For the record, I get nothing but courtesy on the road from vehicular traffic but far more risk of injury from these morons trying to prove something to a group that is passing them and clearly holding a better pace. Thanks to Strava fly by's I know exactly who the moron is ha ha!
Forgot to add, the dude hangs on the back for 1/4 then gets dropped. This is the guy that won't let you pass because he thinks he's fast and wants to race once you catch him from behind. Oh brother!
Somewhat foggy day today and an early start!
That's how fast we were rolling, even the lines are blurred ha ha!
Break time!
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