We extended our usual Lbertyville loop by taking River Road to Rt. 120. before turning back and heading for home.
The group included:
Dave
Herb
Martin
Mike
Randy P
Rich
Rich made a valiant attempt to stay with the group, but was still too sore from last week's crash to complete it with us.
While at Panera Bread in Wilmette, the group agreed to set a goal of maintaining a steady 22 mph pace for the entire ride. However, somehow by the time we got to Winnetka, 22 mph was no longer the speed limit, but had become the minimum. speed. We even took the three little hills on St. Mary's at 22 mph, with Dave setting the pace by pulling us up the first of the sisters. By the time we were headed back home down the Skokie Valley Bikeway, the minimum speed had popped up to 24 mph (and considerably faster than that on some of Martin and Mike's pulls).
During the ride, we caught up with a "shop ride" group that we rode with a few times in the spring. As we passed them on Waukegan Rd heading toward 176, they sped up to 25 mph to try and hang with us, but due to being able to draft off Mike and Martin, we left them in our dust. I was having trouble keeping up with Martin and Mike, but was highly motivated to stay well ahead of the other group. The other group got stuck at a light, and we were able to get so far ahead of them that they were out of sight by the time we got to 176. I have to admit that we were rather pleased with ourselves for showing up this other group.
Heading west on Everett, we took the sidewalk over the overpass. It was probably a good thing, because there was lots of traffic heading east.
It was a successful ride, and thanks to the front that came in yesterday, the heat was not too much of a factor, although it was starting to ampt up by the end of the ride.
Sounds like you guys were having fun.
ReplyDeleteThe stretch of Waukegan between 137 and 176 is only about 2.2 miles. We went at our typical "spirited paceline" speed, so technically we were just minding our own business. The fact that we would have done exactly the same thing anyway with or withot the "shop ride" should entitle us to feel morally smug.
ReplyDeletewell your ride was impressive for sure but I was on the bike longer....hahaha ...and gained a lot of endurance/stamina points. I rode with John Chisholm - 105 miles with a TON of hills, constant hills from Cuba Road through Barrington to Crystal lake. A character-building ride ("I am Jens Voight, I do not..etc"). Hot, ran out of water, and so on. I ran out front at 22 whenever I had the chance and on the way home Cliff and I did the 52 return miles alone with just one stop and a good speed of 20+. Rich joined us in the morning until just short of Long Grove. And of course after the ride we had beer, wine and burgers at Trish's until after 8 pm...that eased the very aching body in an excellent way.
ReplyDelete105 miles in yesterday's heat puts the other ride to shame.
Delete100% agree with Randy. I was overheated after 50 miles only today.
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