2005 Tour de Georgia Stage 4

Ride Report

Prelude: Cary and I left Starkville about 2:PM yesterday for a weekend of riding and watching the 2005 Tour de Georgia with a mostly local continengent from Starkville. Robert, who coordinated our stay in Blue Ridge, and John met us at the cabin with Ric, who had driven in from Michigan. Ric and Robert worked up a hearty pasta dinner, while John uncorked a vast array of vintages, and briefed us on the results of today's time trial in Rome. Robert and Cary said Landis would win the Tour De Georgia, after noting that he had won the time trial and posted more than a minute ahead of Armstrong. My bets were still with Lance, thinking there were plenty of opportunities over the next three days, especially in the mountains. Ric quietly chose Leipheimmer and John threw away anothern cork as Robert cranked up the sauna: fat digs!

Wolfpen and Woody Gap. My first foray into the mountains with a road bike. Around the table this morning we finalized our plans for the day, drinking Jittery Joe's coffee, but not anticipating a very strong cold front that would blow through in the afternoon. The plan was to ride some of the stage 4 route in the morning, then find a good spot to watch the riders come through. Stage 4 was from Dalton to Dahlonega and the start was around 10:AM, about the same time we left the cabin. The riders were expected to be in Suches around 1:PM, go over the Category 3 climb at Woody Gap for the first King of the Mountain points, continue on to Neel's Gap, the backside of Wolfpen Gap, and then return to Woody Gap again before descending down to the finish in Dahlonega. The drive from Blue Ridge to Suches was along a very curvy, hilly road with small ranches, clear-running streams, and vacation homes tucked along the edges. Northern Georgia in a beautiful place, and absolutely excellent for hill climbers and Appalachain Trail hikers.. As we approached Suches, we started seeing lots of cyclists. A mile or so south of town we parked the car, and got ready to ride. Robert, Cary, Ric and John led the way into Suches, then turned to the north where the rolling road hints at what's ahead: the Cat. 2 climb to the top of Wolfpen Gap. There were lots of riders - some going up, some flying down. The trees were mostly leafed out, and the road wound around some farms and streams, the the climbing began. I'd never done anything like this; the road was good, and traffic was minimal and well behaved, and then the grade increased, and increased again before getting steeper yet. I was wondering when the climbing would end, and as my legs protested unamicably, Rabid Chihuahua flew past me down the mountain, and double-backed just as easily. "Just a few more kilometers - you're almost there!", I remember him saying. He matched my painful ascent for a few meters before zipping up into the stratosphere again. A few minutes later I I made it to the top of Wolfpen Gap, and without stopping, where the guys, looking calm and relaxed, had been waiting for who knows how long. There were also other riders, and race officials, policemen and barricades, in preparation for Tour de Georgia, which was due through in an hour or so. One surprise was seeing another rider for John Deere, Brady, who Robert said was on his team. A few minutes later we flew down Wolfpen Gap the way we came and returned to our cars. The guys wanted to get in a few more miles from there, and continued on, while I waited, then rain. Then heavier rain. The guys returned soaked, and we spent 45 minutes or so in our cars as the first bit of weather blew through. We learned later that the weather had "gone from bad to worse out on the course." (Scrymgeour, cyclingnews.com):
The rain is really bad now and riders can hardly see in front of them. All media cars and unneccesary cars have been sent up the road out of the way. There is more lightening now and the wind is really blowing and there is even hail coming down now. Seventy miles into the race now and the break is still away and have a gap of 1'35". Back in the peloton Phonak are still setting a steady pace and there looks to be about 60 riders left in this main group. It won't be long now before the race reaches Woody Gap for the first time. Today though, it won't be the climb that is the worry so much, but the descent which has some nasty turns and will be dangerous in the rain.

There was a race marshal standing outside in the rain, and we thought she had a car and just wanted to stand under trees for protection; she seemed content. Soon enough the first cars of the motorcade drove through, then three riders, with Rubiera (Discovery) in the lead! Behind Rubiera was the young rider for CSC, Andy Schleck, followed by Sven Krauss for Gerolsteiner. About 20-30 seconds later the peloton blew through on their way to Woody Gap. The Discovery team, with Armstrong in third position, was at the front behind a group of Phonak riders who were setting the pace. We continued to watch riders come through for another 10 minutes - the stragglers seemed mostly relaxed, but probably knew they were too far behind at this point of the stage to work too hard, coming through ahead of the sweeper wagon at maybe 20-24 mph.

After the riders went through, the weather seemed more stable, and we decided to ride up to Woody Gap behind the riders, where the riders would yet again come through. The climb to Woody Gap, in comparison to Wolfpen, was much easier, yet required a good sustained effort to make it to the top. This was a festive atmosphere, with lots of race officials, loud music, grills and beer, mobile homes, cyclists everywhere, and plenty of folks who walked up from Suches, most of them lining the road to the top. Even Elvis was there, popping wheelies on his bike, and posing with fans for snapshots. About an hour later the motorcade preceded the breakaway group, and just 20-30 seconds behind was the peolton with Discovery setting the pace. Later the stragglers, looking exhausted, but still maintaining an incredible pace with professional legs, yet the pain shows through in their faces. Afterwards we stuck around to hear race radio piped through a loudspeaker and unofficial results that Team CSC's Brian Vandborg had won the stage. Rubiera had won all five KOMs, while Landis (Phonak) retained the yellow jersey. Danielson (Discovery), who would be tomorrow's star, was 5th in the general classification (GC), one minute behind Landis. We returned to the car very hungry, and drove back to the cabin, cleaned up bikes, tooks showers, and I prepared some chicken and roasted vegetables and we all snacked on cheese, wine, chips and guacamole until Peter arrived.

Merry Fitness & Happy New Rear Ride

January 1, 2005

McKinney, Texas

What a really great way to start the year - on a bicycle. It was cold at first, and trying to warm up fell into a nice slipstream early on. They didn't seem to mind doing all the pulling and I didn't mind either. Great route from the McKinney Horse Park out around past Cottage Hill Cemetary, where it was really nice to look up and see the winter plains of Texas. Stopped and waited for Mom, Mike, and Jimmy at the rest stop - then we all pretty much went on together from there, though Jimy and Mike kept to theior own pace and that was okay with us slow pokes. On the final hill coming back to the horse park, just as you wonder when it will top out, someone had written some encouraging words, "You're Almost There". After the ride there was black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread.

End of the Cycling Season in 2004

Sure enough - I never thought I'd ride as much this year as I did. A lot of it I'm sure had to do with the fact that there was a 13 mile bypass, free of cars in my back yard...well a mile or so from my front yard. Anyway, 2,676 miles seems like a lot to me and it was a lot of fun - especially meeting all the super bike folks in this local neck-o-the-woods. Hope I can get in half as many miles next year - that would be great.
Discoveries

Pay attention when riding in groups. If someone hits your back wheel you'll probably be okay, but if your front wheel touches the back of someone elses...your mangled

Pay attention when riding alone too: cars, uneven pavement, dogs.

Hydration is amazingly important - you almost can't drink too much.

Estimate calorie burn: Calories = (1000*h)+(100*s)-2000, where average speed of the ride (s = speed in miles per hour) and ride time (h = hours).

For most rides all you need is water.

It's easier to get out of clipless pedals than it is toe clips.

Riding in the rain can be fun - especially if the sun pops out, or you're almost home.

I'd rather eat a small bug than have it hit me in the eye.

The draft? Sign me up - slipstreams are aptly named.

Daylight savings time is alright! I say move up the clocks TWO hours in the Summer.

There are the strong riders, and then there are strong riders, and then there's the Rabid Chihuahua.

NuGrape Soda rinses me mash!

Headwinds and hills are exponentially less fun than tailwinds or flatland

Natchez Trace is a great place to ride.

40 miles out without turning around probably means a long ride is yet to come and it'll be windy and hilly all the way back.

City limit signs - where'd everybody go?

Waco Wild West Century - Ride Report

What a night, then a day - especially for my good friend Escher. Last night started out easily enough with calm winds and warm temps, but the weather soured not too long after dark as a hard cold-front blew in, bringing winds with gusts to 41 knots and more than 3 inches of rain during the night. Escher & Imelda's new tent from Winnebago did not fare well and was filled with water by morning - they "slept" in the car with Astro, my god-dog, but Escher only logged about an hours-worth of shuteye.

The next morning was cold and rainy and windy. Escher and I jumped in my jeep and drove to Waco. On arrival, with Escher snoring with less enthusiasm about riding, I went out and looked around for the others. There were plenty of people on bikes with a light rain and blustery skies. Encouraging - but how do they know the weather wil improve? I returned to wake Escher and ready the bikes. After about an hour of delays the rain finally sputtered, and the ride officially began with Eleanor (my Mom) & Mike, Jimmy, and Mandy. Yolanda and Leslie stayed behind, cheering us on to what would prove an arduous and frustrating ride for several of our group. Escher, Mandy and I contemplated the 50 or 62, but with unpredictable weather and no foul-weather gear we elected to do 25 with Eleanor & Mike and Jimmy.

After a few slow miles Escher decided to go on and promised to wait at the first rest stop. As we arrived there he was fixing a flat. This would proove to be the first, yet not the only problem of the day for Escher. We rolled on from the first rest stop and within a short time Jimmy and Mandy were a good ways ahead of Eleanor and Mike. Escher and I decided to spend the rest of the ride bouncing back and forth among the two parties. We were sprinting down a little roller and soon caught up with Mandy and Jimmy who were side-by-side chatting along. I transitioned to a spot in front of them and waited for Escher to either pass on by at speed or transition as well. He did neither, but stayed on my wheel, and not expecting me to slow turned his head for a moment. Yet it was less than a moment later that he clipped my rear wheel very roughly from the inside. I knew a wreck was likely and wasn't surprised to hear him go down behind me as I stabilized my bike after a rough blow from behind. Then I heard another crash, and on looking back saw Mandy ride handily over Escher's leg, which was on the ground with Escher. One would think Mandy would have fallen as well after running over such an obstruction, yet she was fine - it was Jimmy who had crashed - a hard pull on the front brakes caused a spill next to Escher. Escher was appropriately brushed up with plenty of road rash and an increasingly sensitive shoulder.

His helmet was fiercely cracked, and he spent the rest of the day with cranial disharmony after his involuntary dismount! Jimmy was in much better shape with only a rough knee and a clipped finger from a place on his bar. Other than some shredded bar wrap the bikes were okay. After Eleanor and Mike arrived we had a good laugh and on we rode - Eleanor keeping up a relatively (and surprisingly) fast pace with Escher as they lead us on through the last 7 miles or so to Waco. Yet Escher would have another flat. It was Mandy, who with a full cabinet of pharmaceuticals and bike repair parts (all miraculously organized in a small tool pouch - how does she do that?), who would come to the rescue with an extra tube, and which Escher punctured in the haze of increasing concussion and shock. Exasperated, he might have considerded SAG had it come along, yet with encouragement and the timely arrival of a Rider Assistant that he was soon underway. The remainder of the ride was fortunately uneventful. The skies had cleared, it was breezy and cool - a perfect day for a ride.

Camping and Riding in Waco, Texas

I arrived in Waco at the campsite on Wednesday the 29th. Up early Thursday morning to tour the countryside and ride into Waco, about 20 miles from the campground, for lunch and to noodle around. Everything looked good: great weather, bike's in great shape with new bar wrap and Rivendell's beautiful lugged stem, but ehn...where's the pump? Without a frame pump I didn't feel comfortable with the tour and rather drove to town to buy *another* Zefal frame pump. Ate lunch at the Elite Cafe, an 85 year-old historic cafe that has been spruced up nicely on the east side of I20 south of Waco. Tilapia with a light cilantro sauce with polenta and spinach. Then back to camp. Dexter (my Dad) had arrived with my old Trek 1000, and later in the evening so had Escher with his steel Bianchi that he purchased earlier this year. Up lazily the next morning for a ride to Waco with coffee at a downtown morning cafe. Escher and I rode along China Springs Rd, the backside of the airport (KACT), and on to Waco via Lakeshore, and MLK. I have a new appreciation for Waco and the ride was splendid. The return followed the well-marked routes of the Waco Wild West Century, which is tomorrow.

Cyclists Curing Cancer 2004 Century Ride - Clinton, MS (3rd Annual).

Another very early morning alarm with a packed jeep and on the road by 4:AM. Arrived in Clinton with about 45 minutes to spare and was one of the first to pick up a pre-registration packet. About 100 riders.

All routes were South from Clinton on the southern section of the Natchez Trace. Just for kicks, rode the first 11 miles at a very slow tempo with Joyce over mostly flat roads - the first 6 miles through town and the latter 5 on the Trace. Average 12.2 mph. Picked up a coupla fig bars at that first rest stop and said c-ya to Joyce (who was turning around), then picked up the tempo some, passing the 20 mile rest stop with a steady, yet light, north tailwind. Starting to catch up with the rest of packs, most of the 50 and metric riders returning in packs of six to 10. More hilly in this section.

Passed the 30 mile rest stop, riding a few miles on to the metric turnaround, then made the stop to refuel with some Gatorade, M&Ms, and bananas. Took a breather and made a few phone calls, then waited around for a group to slip in with on the return, but noone came along and I shipped out solo against the wind, which was slowly strengthening. Very short stop at the 20-mile rest stop for a few salty crackers and some cold water to dilute the Gatorade from the 30-mile stop, then on again under more wind, yet more even terrain.

As I was about to pull into the 10-mile stop a group of 6-8 riders was pulling out and I joined them, savoring the slipstream for the first time on this ride. It was a medium paced group and not very organized or consistent. Three riders on the back pulled around the rest and I followed. Over a hill and it was the four of us only now at a reasonably steady 18 mph pace. One of the riders touched my rear tire but didn't crash, yet he was wobbly and unnerved from the experience and dropped off the back. The balance of the ride was with Bruce and Ronnie. Bruce was strong and pulled a few more miles, then Ronnie, who wasn't as strong. I took my place on front but the pace was too much for Ronnie and we slowed down and made introdutions. The rest of the ride was at a slower pace, maybe 16-17. Although my first 11 miles on this ride were averaged at 12.2, the average over the rest of the metric was 17.6 mph, and most of that solo.

31st Annual Birmingham Bicyling Club Century & Double Century

31st Annual Birmingham Bicyling Club Century & Double Century

Alarm at 3:AM. Dressed, breakfast, and on the road by 4:AM. Drove to Montevello, Alabama via GPS routing, except for a re-route through a wildlife management area. Arrived at the Montevalle High School a bit before 7 and found a shady parking place on the University of Montevello campus. Unloaded the Rambouillet and after picking up registration package sat down in a folding chair and listened to La Bottine Souriant's Quebecois. 8:AM start looped us around town a little and then it easy pedaling for the next 4-5 miles or so, then the first hill: up and down. Missed the 10 mile rest stop as I jumped from group to group, then the memorable section...as Robert says, " a nasty set of rollers". Wasn't as bad as I had made it out to be - mostly, but definitely memorable...each one starting gently enough but having a quarter mile section on each with 7% grades. The 20 mile rest stop marked the end of the rollers - then it was just rolling farm and timberland. I rolled on by the 30 mile rest stop for a few miles, then turned around and enjoyed the refreshments put out by the Alabama Bike Coalition. This was the best stocked rest stop I've ever seen - trail bars, bananas, oranges, nectarines, grapes, pb and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, opwerade, water, etc etc...While the rest stops were excellent, the ride was not well marked and I missed several turns, then had to turn around after a 1/4 to a mile out. The rollers on return were less fun, and especially with noone else in sight (there were only 200-300 people total for the ride) - then I missed another turn, huffing up a steep hil only to realize that the cyclists who were previosuly ahead of me were unlikely to have gone so fast as to have disappeared. Few dogs, fantastic rolling curvy scenery the whole route, and a temperate day in September.