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- Thursday, April 25, 2024

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 On fire
Today we did the easy beach ride. Start in Corona and cruise to the beach and back for a 60 mile jaunt. I got there a little early and started to set up my bike and a car pulled in next to me. It was a guy Ramon, that I know from the Riverside bike club. A few minutes later, Carlos his riding partner showed up and then the rest of our crew did too.I told Ramon and Carlos our plan was to ride down as a group at around 20 to 23 mph and then go all out on the return. They decided to join us. I thought they wouldn't hang around long because these guys are fast. Carlos is a cat 4 racer and can really move. Ramon races occasionally and almost always gets a podium in his age group. (40 to 45). But we all went out together and the ride down went real quick with only one person dropping off,but still not that far.
Now on the way back I didn't think we'd be seeing much of these guys or a couple of our group either. I decided I'd get on a tire of one of our faster riders and just hang as long as I could.The pace started out fast, but not to fast. I was not only hanging, I was hoping the pace would pick up. One of our guys (Jose) took off and I went with him, followed by all the rest. We got about a quarter mile and guys started to drop off. The pace was fast, but I didn't have a computer so I just went at what felt good. Jose had fallen behind me and I went out front.My turn to pull. My friend Tom, was right behind me and I thought Jose remained, but he had lost it. Ramon and Carlos were sucking Toms tire. After another mile I looked back and it was just Carlos and me.The others were no where in sight. We had covered about 10 miles by now and had 20 more to go and I felt fresh. Carlos came up to take his turn at the pull, but it felt like we were going slow. We went like this for about 5 minutes then I moved up to pull again and pick up the pace a little. As I went out Carlos shouted to go, he was done. I felt like we were just starting and I nailed it. I put down some mean cadence and Carlos was just a speck after a few minutes. I pulled way out and believe it or not I took a wrong turn (yes,me, took a wrong turn). I climbed up a part of the bike path till I came to a gate (an extra 5 miles) and then it hit me that I was supposed to go under the bridge not over it, DOH! It's really not my fault though, I've only done this ride a few dozen times. I got back to the path expecting everyone to have either caught up to me or gone by. I noticed some riders up ahead and it was Tom, Carlos with Ramon way up ahead of them. I buried my head and went after them, not really expecting to catch them. But a few minutes later I had reeled in Tom and a minute after that I got Carlos. I laughed as I went by and they just looked at me puzzled as I flew by. I was not on the hunt for Ramon. After what seemed to be an eternity I got him. As we crested a small hill I came up around his side and let out a big laugh. He said it scared the shiat out of him and off I went. We only had about 3 or 4 miles left to go and I dropped them all,hard.Big ringed it the last little hills as fast as I could. What a great day!
Posted by Pain Freak riding a Surly Turner from The 909 on 12/24/05
Responses: (1) Post Reply  
  •  Re: On fire
    Hey PF, great story, but one thing you didn't tell us.......were you on your carbon road bike, or a Harley?
    Posted by Closet Roadie a 52 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Trek from Upland on 01/02/06
    Responses: (0) Reply (to this)(main)
    
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