It seems that every morning is noticeably darker this time of year and that just makes it ever harder to get out to meet the group for those early group rides. At least today's ride didn't feature any wet asphalt for a change! There was a lot of horsepower in the group today and on the way out to the turnaround it showed. I suppose we may have had just the slightest bit of tailwind, but that didn't really make the steady 27 mph speed all that much easier. By the time we were halfway out I was down on the drops six inches from the wheel in front of me and wondering if my next pull would be my last. Except for Howard, everyone was holding a pretty steady pace, though, and with the six or seven riders who were still in the rotation I was getting just enough recovery to survive. After The Dip our pace slowed down for a little while, so that helped a bit too. Anyway, it was another good 40-something mile training ride.
This evening I'm sitting at home alone working my way through a bottle of Francis Coppola Merlot and watching, for the hundredth time, Top Gun. I admit it, I love watching those dogfights.
So this Saturday I'll be heading north for eight or nine hours to ride the Six Gap Century again. The weather forecast for Dahlonega, Ga. is looking kind of sketchy for Saturday, but much better for Sunday. The question, of course, is exactly when on Sunday it will be better. Flying down those winding downhills in the rain with wet brakes would be interesting, to say the least. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the trip regardless.
1 comment:
in 2006, I rode the first three mountains in the rain, with light rain beginning to fall near the summit of Neel's gap. Unicoi was entirely in the wet, and it was quite nerve racking to ride wheels full of water down that mountain. lets hope it doesn't happen again.
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