Pack Fodder

It was a busy week and a busier weekend, and I guess that accounts for the fact that I carried my camera around in my jersey for each ride but never really managed to take any photos.  The Daughter flew in late Friday night with plans to hit the Jazz Fest on Saturday.  Fortunately, they don't start things at the Fairgrounds until 11 am, which works out perfectly for those of us riding the Giro. So I rode out to meet the group early Saturday with a nice little tailwind of thick warm muggy air.  It was going to be a hot one, despite the scattered clouds and slight chance of rain.  The Wife is out of town for a meeting, so by the time I'd walked the dogs I was running a little later than I like.  That little bit of extra urgency pushed my pace up a bit as I rode up Carrollton and Wisner and then across the park on Harrison. By the time I got to Starbucks, hot coffee was already out of the question and I went instead for the iced version.  Another sure sign of summer. 

The Saturday Giro was fast.  For most of the ride the average speed worked out to 24.2 mph, including the usual recovery/regrouping stretches.  From the time the pace picked up on Hayne Blvd. to the sprint at the turnaround, our average speed was 27.3 mph.  Fortunately things were a little more controlled on the way back.  I made some good efforts here and there, and arrived back at home with just enough time to get ready for the short ride to the Fairgrounds. As usual, people we were meeting were running late (they took a cab!), but once we locked our bikes up in the big bicycle corral they set up, we picked some snoballs and headed over to the Blues tent.  I'd probably spend most of my day there if it were up to me, but after listening to a great set there I picked up a shrimp po-boy and headed over to the big stage to wait for Better than Ezra.  It was blazing hot and fairly crowded, but we found a little spot to sit.  I'm not a big fan of their sound, myself, and took the opportunity to pull my hat over my eyes and take a little nap. The main event for the day was the 5 pm performance by The Eagles, which was not to be missed.  We headed over to that stage about 45 minutes early and it was already packed pretty tight.  Squeezing our way through the masses, all the while practically getting a contact high from all of the ganja wafting through the air, we found a couple of square feet to stand where we waited in the sun.  We were packed in like sardines, shoulder to smelly shoulder, with people as far as you could see in every direction.  Moving was really not an option.  It was like being in the middle of a 150-rider field.  We were just pack fodder.  I think Quint Davis estimated the crowd at 65,000.  Granted, I'd take that number with a grain of salt, but I don't think it was all that much of an exaggeration. The Eagles did not fail to deliver, but unfortunately we had to leave early.  That was, of course, practically impossible.  People did not want to let anyone by.  It was way tighter than any Mardi Gras crowd, and since I wasn't the one who had to pee, I have to admit I wasn't too motivated to push my way through.  I think it took three more songs before we reached the periphery of the crowd and could actually take a normal step.  Anyway, I was sad to have to leave before they were done, but at least they had started with most of their classics and we didn't have to deal with any traffic on the way home.

I expected the Sunday Giro to be a little thin since some riders were racing in Texas and others were doing a northshore ride.  Still, by the time we got going we'd accumulated a pretty good group and although it wasn't the fastest Giro, it was still a good workout with a few 6-7 mile stretches in the 27-29 mph range.  Throughout the ride we'd been seeing dark thunderclouds scattered about, but we'd managed to avoid all of them until we were halfway home.  I guess I was only four miles from home when it really started to rain, and although it lasted only ten or fifteen minutes, I was well-soaked when I got home.  I think my shoes are probably still wet.  Later that day The Daughter had to go to a wedding, so I took the opportunity to go out for an easy spin on the levee before dinner.  I decided to take the old steel Cervelo out for that ride since I could use my old, and dry, shoes on that bike.  Unfortunately, when I pumped up the rear tire the valve stem pulled loose from the tube and I ended up having to patch a tube and change it out so I could ride.  It's never simple.....  Anyway, I was pleased that I'd somehow managed to get in a decent week or riding despite some complications, logging almost 14 hours on the bike.  Too bad if was all on flat roads, though.