Yesterday's post was long. (I actually started writing it from my Blackberry at the Tim Hortons near lake Simoce, originally it was written in the present tense... yes I know, my grammar sucks, but hey this isn't the front page of the Globe and Mail, then again my grammar is better than theirs!)
Anyway I got tired of writing the previous post and just sort of stopped at 16'th Ave. and Ninth Line. Now I believe I noted, Ninth, below 16'th is a really crummy road, far too much traffic, at least on a Saturday, but that said, I have to wonder what a Sunday would be like.
But back to my story, the ride into the city was mostly fine. Right up until I got to Kingston and the Danforth split (just west of Midland). I was tired and rolling into a bit of a headwind, after 180km, almost all of them alone, I had decided to take things easy. I ultimately got to the traffic light by the Variety Village pool just east of Birchmount rolling along at only about 30km/h, this is a frequent sprint section where everyone in the club goes hells bells gang busters and burns whatever they have left, I basically had nothing left. Anyway I caught a red light and queued up in the traffic, just as the light changed and I started clipping in some guys from Hello Velo tore past me. I should have just ignored them.
Something about being passed, I saw red and cranked it up. Of course without a draft and 180km already done, I was in no condition to sprint, but then they caught a red light and I was far enough back that it turned green just as I arrived. I hammered and they did catch me, but not for a little bit. As they passed the second guy signalled to me to get on his wheel. So I figured, a free draft.
Just after I joined the paceline the guy in back started to pull forward, the guy in front started dropping back. Well we all know the rules, keep the gap small, so I did, I knew this would ultimately mean I'd likely have to pull soon but I recover fast. (And I was only about 2km from home now.)
Then the guy who had been in front starts dropping right behind his buddy's wheel nearly cutting me off and almost forcing me onto the sidewalk. I have to admit I was more shaken by the sheer bad handling of one of Paul Parker's guys than I was by all the bad motorists. After that fiaso I dropped back and stayed away from the two Helo Velo guys. If one is not riding among reasonably skilled riders, it is probably best to ride alone.
Sunday I could not ride long, had to be home early, but I did ride with the guys. (I'd love to rant here about one of the guys in the club, who shall remain nameless, but I'm a lot more mature than that. Don't worry, if you are reading this blog, you aren't that guy.)
Anyway here are some pictures from that ride.
Anyway I got tired of writing the previous post and just sort of stopped at 16'th Ave. and Ninth Line. Now I believe I noted, Ninth, below 16'th is a really crummy road, far too much traffic, at least on a Saturday, but that said, I have to wonder what a Sunday would be like.
But back to my story, the ride into the city was mostly fine. Right up until I got to Kingston and the Danforth split (just west of Midland). I was tired and rolling into a bit of a headwind, after 180km, almost all of them alone, I had decided to take things easy. I ultimately got to the traffic light by the Variety Village pool just east of Birchmount rolling along at only about 30km/h, this is a frequent sprint section where everyone in the club goes hells bells gang busters and burns whatever they have left, I basically had nothing left. Anyway I caught a red light and queued up in the traffic, just as the light changed and I started clipping in some guys from Hello Velo tore past me. I should have just ignored them.
Something about being passed, I saw red and cranked it up. Of course without a draft and 180km already done, I was in no condition to sprint, but then they caught a red light and I was far enough back that it turned green just as I arrived. I hammered and they did catch me, but not for a little bit. As they passed the second guy signalled to me to get on his wheel. So I figured, a free draft.
Just after I joined the paceline the guy in back started to pull forward, the guy in front started dropping back. Well we all know the rules, keep the gap small, so I did, I knew this would ultimately mean I'd likely have to pull soon but I recover fast. (And I was only about 2km from home now.)
Then the guy who had been in front starts dropping right behind his buddy's wheel nearly cutting me off and almost forcing me onto the sidewalk. I have to admit I was more shaken by the sheer bad handling of one of Paul Parker's guys than I was by all the bad motorists. After that fiaso I dropped back and stayed away from the two Helo Velo guys. If one is not riding among reasonably skilled riders, it is probably best to ride alone.
Sunday I could not ride long, had to be home early, but I did ride with the guys. (I'd love to rant here about one of the guys in the club, who shall remain nameless, but I'm a lot more mature than that. Don't worry, if you are reading this blog, you aren't that guy.)
Anyway here are some pictures from that ride.
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