Rode out to the Giro ride this morning under clear skies, looking forward to a fast ride. There was a large group by the time we hit the end of Lakeshore Drive. I'd say around 50 riders. The word circulating around in the pack was that a bunch of riders was planning on "going long," which is Girospeak for an extended ride out to Fort Pike or Slidell. With the forecast for tomorrow looking pretty rainy, a lot of guys were trying to get their miles in today.
The pace took a little while to ramp up, but it did, and by the time we reached the end of Hayne Blvd. it was pretty fast. I looked over to see Warren (the big guy in the center of the photo) up near the front. He stopped racing a few years ago after having a couple of heart attacks but he's been showing up at the Giro ride lately.
The group came over the I-10 overpass where we have to merge with interstate traffic for about a mile, and as usual a few of the lead riders cut across in front of a couple of cars. The rest of the group waited, but the drivers slowed down and let the group cross in front of them. (Boys and girls, don't try this at your home interstate highway.) It always seems that the size of a group is inversely proportional to its aggregate intelligence, and here again was incontrovertable proof.
Once we hit Chef Highway and got past the stoplights, things really picked up. I took a few pulls and then dropped back for a while, moving back toward the front again a bit later. My legs were feeling pretty good and as we rounded the last curve before the turnaround sprint at Eden Isles, I moved up near the front. A few riders went by at 28 or 29 mph., but it was way too early. I was sitting on Carey's wheel in the second group. The riders who had surged ahead started to fade and our group caught them just as a few riders came by on the left. I saw Branden's green jersey out of the corner of my eye and caught his wheel. He was on Noel's wheel and we pulled clear. Branden came around and started an early sprint and I switched over to Noel's wheel. Noel went past Branden and, thinking he was safe, started to ease off, but when he looked over his left shoulder he saw me smiling in his draft. I clicked it down to the 12 just as Noel stood up and went past him pretty easily since I hadn't realy been out in the wind at all yet. It felt good be able to stand up in the 12 again. A group of about a dozen kept going straight but I turned around with the group. The return trip was mostly at a good pace, but definitely more restrained than it was on the way out.
After the ride I hung around in the parking lot on Lakeshore Drive for a little too long. The skies had started to get cloudy and now I was getting cold. Ronnie walked over and gave me a Fire Department T-shirt he had (couldn't find anyone else who could fit into a small, I guess). Luckily I had worn my vest on the ride out to the lakefront, so I pulled it out of my pocket and put it on for the ride home.
Hopefuly the rain will hold off for a while tomorrow morning so we can get in a few miles on the Northshore . . .
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