| Course: | University Village, Leschi, across Mercer Island, Newport, up 164th, up Cougar Mountain, down the zoo road, Issaquah, up Squak (Wildwood Blvd), back down, Newport, up Montreux (NW Village Park Dr), up Lakemont Blvd, Newcastle Golf Rd, Coal Creek, across Mercer Island, Leschi, Madrona, Union, home |
| Results: | |
| Comments: | I think I've figured out how to dress for these damp, cold days! I go with a long sleeve undershirt, a short sleeve jersey, a long sleeve jersey and a vest for a wind block. On my legs I go with roubaix-weight leg warmers over roubaix-weight knickers and top it off with shoe covers and Gortex lobster mits over my OR Gripper gloves and a cap under my helmet. Can't forget the cap... it helps a lot! I was quite comfortable today.
It was a super bunch today. All the usuals (Greg, Brian, Jim, Tony) were there. We rode pretty slowly between the hills and on the hills everyone went their own tempo. For some reason I was going up the hills faster than everyone else but I know Greg and Tony and maybe one other person could have beaten me, they must have been holding back. But I wasn't going super hard, just a steady, moderate speed. And I kept it up for all three hills so I know I was not digging that deep.
I've decided Brian S is the king of not being able to pace himself. He always starts out too fast and then when he dies it's a spectacular death and he has to slow way down. Today he said he was pretty hung over and so in an effort to get rid of the poison he went up Newport with a little more passion than everyone else. Sure enough, when we got to the first real hill he was back in the bunch and then on the second hill he was at the back. These things take time to learn I guess...
On our way up Cougar this new guy Paul and I went all the way to the top. That's twice to the tippy top for me in as many months! I never did this last year at all.
On the descent I was miles ahead of everyone. Because of all the snow and ice the road was very heavily sanded but my disk brakes made it no problem. And I did not freeze! Almost everyone else was complaining of the cold after the descent and my hands and feet were just fine.
As we rode away I noticed I had a flat, crap. Everyone got a head start and Tony, Paul and Brian waited for me. Squak was fine, just churning it out and whereas on Cougar Paul was going like gangbusters, this time he fell back a bit towards the top and it was Tony that summited with me.
I had forgotten just how steep it is to ride up through Montreux... damn. My 38x25 had been okay so far but there I was wishing I had a 27.
I didn't really start to feel beat down until we headed back across the lake. Then it always sinks in. Madrona was ridden slowly as was Union. But I was super happy with the way I went up the big hills. To quote Ice Cube, "It was a good day". |
| Equipment: | Bianchi Volpe, 38/50, 12-25 |