Saturday was the Inaugural PalmettoVelo "Flip the Switch on Winter" ride. It was a great day for it. 65 degrees and a big warm sun. The wind didn't cooperate, but it wasn't that bad either...mostly a crosswind. The ride started with 16 and we lost some on the trip out to Sandy Run. We made the first quick stop and allowed everyone to get back on. The first climb on 21 split the group pretty evenly into climbers and non-climbers. I was, of course, in the latter. We chased and all got back together right at the turn to head back in. The run down 176 was a steady one, all the way back to the store. Shortly after the second store stop, Ward flatted and we all stopped to wait. The rest of the ride was steady...until Dixiana. Once we got on the end of Dixiana, all hell broke loose. Attacks and counters went right and left. Doog and JayC were about 100 yards up the road and didn't seem to be coming back, so I swallowed hard and ripped across the gap @ 60kmh. It kind of stung. I felt bad the entire ride and that short, but very violent, effort did nothing to help the situation. The pace stayed high and, through my own inattention, I ended up in the second group on the run down 12st extension. We chased again and caught the front right after the turn. The remnants of the group rode in together.
We ended with 105km and a 34.5kmh average. The 'meat' of the ride (the middle 80km) yielded 36kmh average, which ain't whistlin' Dixie, considering the hills and the wind.
It was a great ride with alot of familiar faces, some new faces and a couple we haven't seen for a long while. I hope everyone had a good time...I did!
Today we met for the normal Sunday ride. Coco, Doog and I felt like doing some steady effort, so we left the group and rode into Eastover, then across to the Cricket Store. The wind at the end of Bluff was BRUTAL! I was MASHING the pedals to maintain 30kmh. We passed the GMart as the rest of the group was pulling out. We figured they'd catch us before the end, but never did, even with us not really making the effort to stay away. Doog and I made a slow-motion effort at the sprint and just sat up.
We all just rolled in together from there. Another 95km and 3 hours and change in the legs. It was really windy today, but 70 and sunny.
After two long days in the sun, I have some nice new tan lines on the arms, legs and bald melon.
2 comments:
You left out the best part: the delectable coconut blondies from Orangeburg’s Cricket Hollow Bakers at the Sandy Run convenience store! That's the only reason I came out; I got shelled out (to the "third group"—OK, stragglers) within the first few miles back on the road.
Yes, the blondies are quite good. The smells coming from the kitchen out there were just brutal. Nothing says lovin' like a meat and 3 veggies!
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