After Saturdays ride was cancelled due to rain, the Sunday ride was lengthened out a bit.. The following group rode to the Wisconsin border.
Clay
Cons
Dave
Felix
Gary
Heidi
Herb
Martin
Mike
Randy P.
We practiced a rotating double pace line while heading north on Waukegan Road. It seems like the group is actually starting to get it, although we would have to add speed to stay on our target pace for the Sub 5 Hour Challenge.
This was the first time our group had been on Delaney Road this year (north of Gurnee). The winter was not kind to this road. The potholes were much worse than last year. Felix hit one of the potholes and double flatted.. It may be appropriate to try taking Washington Road west and heading north on Hunt Club Road on future rides.
The trip home featured a number of sprints, and along with a fast pace on the Skokie Valley Bikeway, led to an average bike computer reported speed for the full ride of above 19 mph.
In order to get back home earlier and to serve as training that is more like the conditions on the Sub 5 ride, we had decided before the start of the ride not to make a food stop. Somehow, on our way back home as we came within 5 miles of Panera Bread in Lake Bluff, the group thinking made a remarkable 180 degree change. After 55 miles of riding, the idea of a stop for food at Panera became much more appealing. We ended up stopping for a pleasant 20 minute break to refuel before heading for home..
Rule #88
ReplyDeleteDon’t surge.
When rolling onto the front to take your turn in the wind, see Rule #67, do not suddenly lift the pace unless trying to establish a break. The key to maintaining a high average speed is to work with your companions and allow no gaps to form in the line. It is permissible to lift the pace gradually and if this results in people being dropped then they have been ridden off your wheel and are of no use to the bunch anyway. If you are behind someone who jumps on the pedals when they hit the front do not reprimand the offender with cries of ‘Don’t Surge’ unless the offender is a Frenchman named Serge.