On Saturday, we rode 68 miles to the Cuba Marsh. It was a day on which the wind was our friend, as it was out of the southwest and picked up a bit as the morning progressed, thus giving us a bit of a push home coming back east. We got in some practice at rotating double paceline riding on Deerfield Road going west. On the way home, going east on Deerfield Road we took advantage of the wind at our backs for an energetic 31 mph sprint.
The group included:
Bob
Cons
Brian
Dave
Gary
Herb
Hugo
Mike
Randy
Sad to say, this ride is not quite the same now that the Apple Haus is closed. We attempted to check out the new restaurant that has replaced it, but they were do not not open till 11:00 am. Instead, we stopped for a mid ride break at Panera Bread in Deerfield. Given the heat, it was definitely a two stop to refill water bottles type of day.
On Sunday, we did a 51 mile loop around Ascension Cemetery. We kept up a good pace on the ride, with an average bike computer time of over 20 mph. The group included:
Dave
Felix
Gary
Heidi
Herb
Joe
John
Martin
Randy
Rich
We were certainly loyal Panera Bread customers. The ride started and finished at Panera in Wilmette, and we took a mid ride break at a Panera in Lake Bluff.
There are three spots on this ride that have become the regular locations for sprints: 1) the overpass on Everett; 2) Waukegan Road from Buckley to Rt. 176; and 3) Geeen Bay Road (usually starting around Tower Road, but sometimes in Glencoe). However, there is construction on the the Everett Road overpass, so we had to take that a bit slowly today (and the construction will be ongoing for a couple more weeks). We still were able to get a good work out in on this ride, due to chasing Martin down Waukegan and Felix down Green Bay. It turned out to be a successful ride, and we completed it before the nasty heat of the day arrived.
Thanks to my "singular" point of view, I realized we might benefit from agreeing on a few spots for regrouping if we routinely raise the paceline speed at a few familiar stretches while on a typical route. Regrouping both before and after the said stretches should get everyone onboard and avoid confusion.
ReplyDeleteOne exception: Just don't ever let Felix know before raising your speed. Avoid eye contact and absolutely do not look back. Act normal. Continue chit-chating about your cat, dog, Iguana, etc. Deny everything afterwards.
Martin.... Can't believe you're riding so soon. I guess I'll have to ninja you and pass from the left
ReplyDeleteYeah, where were you? I brought the digital scale but you and the Serwello were nowhere to be found. I really think my Squatt is lighter than your Serwello by at least 50 grams.
DeleteLet me know so I can fill the tires with helium
DeleteUp until recently I was satisfied with my Shimano 105 shifters, but a bit mystified as to how Felix was able to respond so quickly and powerfully to my attacks. Then he mentioned that all he had to do was stay alert for the sound of my shifting, and he had plenty of advance warning that I was about to initiate an attack. Or at least that is my excuse for Felix's counterattacks consistently leaving me in his dust.
ReplyDelete