Today was the first of the Mingo Creek road race series and I thought, why not? A 30 mile race, on rolling roads south of the city? Sure! I very nearly didn’t go, as I was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of riding there and back, but last night, a friend offered a ride, and I took it. So, after spinning up to Squirrel Hill at 7:30 AM, we were off. 45 minutes later, we pulled into a packed parking lot in Mingo Creek State Park and registered for the race. As we wandered to the registration desk, I immediately made an observation–I would likely be the only person racing on a bike equipped with bar end shifter (friction no less). The morning was sunny, but chilly, and quite windy. Robbie and I pulled our bikes from the rack, suited up, and spun off in search of a warm-up and the start line.
30 minutes or so later, the category 4/5 race was off, and promptly I was off the back (as was a rather group). I looked at the computer–30 MPH. Within about a mile, I lost touch with the main group. About mile later, a small, completely unorganized group formed and tackled the rising rollers on the first half of the course. These hills weren’t bad, but I assumed they would hurt later. After a tight right hand corner, the course began to slope downhill with another set of rollers, this time with no severe inclines. Instead, we were greeted with rather stiff headwinds, and even in a pace line, the going was hard. This section lead to another short climb, then a slightly downhill section to the start finish area. Five more laps to go.
The group stayed more or less intact on lap two, I think. We would lose a couple of riders on the first section of rollers, but they would storm back on the downhill on the back section of the course. Here I made another observation–I am not so good on the flat-ish or downhill sections. I just can’t enough a big enough gear. I was still sheltered from the wind though. Soon enough we were crossing the start/finish line.
Lap three had the group slowing a bit on the first section of rollers, and I felt pretty good so I jumped to the front and keep up the pace. A few moments later I looked back and had a decent gap on the group. Cool, I thought. This would, however, end up being Bad Decision #1. Roughly half way through the back half of the course, struggling mightily in the wind, I was caught by, and quickly left by, the group I left. I didn’t hitch on the back of the group quickly enough, and quickly they gapped me. I kept them within sight however, and managed to do this through the first half of lap four.
This is where it all went wrong for me. First, I was passed by the break and the chasers from the category 1/2/3 race. Bad decision #2 was not hitching my wagon to the chasers, at least for a bit. As we headed into the back section of the course, I saw the chasers overtake my friends, and they wisely attached themselves. A minute or two later they were out of sight. I was caught out on the last section of the course, getting blown about and feeling the bonk a-coming. By the time I started lap five, Bad Decision #3 was apparent–I didn’t eat enough, and I wasn’t carrying anything. Sugar levels plummeted, and it felt as if I was going backwards. I took a hard corner too quickly and nearly lost it, then promptly shifted my chain into my spokes on the rollers. While fixing that on the side of the road, the 4/5 pack passed me. The good news, I suppose, was that I would finish a lap down, meaning 6 fewer miles of bonked out riding. I crossed the line, found my extra bottle and jacket, sat down, and considered eating some grass.
Did I have fun? Yeah. Did it hurt? Yes, quite a bit (to borrow a phrase from Pro Mike Friedman, I was in the pain cave and I dropped my flashlight). Will I do it again? Certainly. The series at the Oval starts in a few weeks, and I could see myself riding there once or twice a month. I will remember, however, to eat more.
Posted on 30 March 2008
Old Mill-Middle Loop
Dan wanted to shakedown his new lighting system, and leaving at 10:00 PM disrupts little in our house except my bedtime, so I took advantage of rather spring-like weather and rolled out in the darkness. Within three miles of the start, we were on pitch-black back roads in Fox Chapel, going up and down, up and down, on the rollers of Old Mill. I was reasonably impressed with the light put out my two LED lights (a Cateye EL-500 and a NiteRider commuter model), though they paled in comparison to Dan’s SON-powered kit. The swoopy gravel descent on Old Mill was interesting, and I was most certainly riding by feel and my knowledge of the road rather than by what I could see.
Hills, like the grind up Indianola, seem to be easier in the dark. You can’t see the crest, so there’s nothing by which to judge progress. You simply pedal, and pedal more.
Best part of the ride? The short stretch of Church Lane, between Middle and Saxonburg, riding along open fields, illuminated by the moon and stars.
Posted on 27 March 2008
If you own a shop (particularly a bike shop), and you have a “Contact Us” page or your email address address listed on your website, would it be so hard to respond to an email message in timely fashion? If it is too difficult, please remove the email address from your site so I don’t waste my time.
Thank you.
Posted on 21 March 2008
City Loop (no map)
Winter refuses to go away. I rode through heavy headwinds (a consequence of taking the Jail Trail, I suppose) and even a bit of snow.
I’m still very much on the fence about the Mingo Creek race. I have a feeling that one way or another, I’ll ride out to the race, if only to see the pace in person (and it’ll be good training for Princeton). I also suppose that I’ll show up for the first event at the Oval in a few weeks to simply get my new rider training out of the way.
Posted on 18 March 2008
Mount Troy Loop
First recreational ride in a long time where I didn’t wear a jacket. Spring is coming, slowly.
Posted on 16 March 2008
I’ve come up with a bit of ambitious spring riding schedule, at least for the next 5 weeks or so. First, on 30 March, is the Mingo Creek Road Race, 28 miles on a rolling course. In case that wasn’t enough, I’ve decided to ride to and from the park (~20 miles, thanks to riding the T to Mount Lebanon). My goals are fairly simple: finish, don’t get lapped (on a 4.5 mile circuit, the latter shouldn’t be too hard), and maybe finish with the group. I’m curious to see exactly what the pace will be, and how I’ll feel at that pace. Given the commitment of riding to the race, I’m ready to chalk this day up as an adventure. It should, however, provide good training for the Princeton NJ 200k Brevet two weeks later.
I’m not sure what scares me more–28 miles at 22+mph, or 120 miles at a more leisurely pace with 10,500 feet of elevation gain. I had intended on doing the Eastern PA 200k with several other ‘burghers, but other commitments will keep us in town that particular weekend. Given that Princeton is only about 45 minutes from family in Dresher, PA, it’s not much of a trade-off, and hey, there’s nearly 1000 less feet of elevation in the New Jersey event. The key to completing the brevet will simply be managing my food intake, specifically carrying enough with me should the bonk come a-knocking.
Full ride reports will be posted.
Posted on 11 March 2008
“One Nation Under Elvis”
Right-wing politicians may serve the super-rich with tax cuts and deregulation and privatization galore, but they also dress up expertly in a heartland all-Americanism that has, at least until Bush’s plummeting popularity, allowed a lot of rural Americans to see them as allies rather than opponents. The right has also done a superb job of portraying the left as elite and hostile to working-class interests, and the class war going on inside and outside leftist and environmentalist circles did this propaganda battle a great service. The result of all this has been a marginalized environmental movement—more specifically, an environmental movement that has alienated the people who often live closest to “the environment.”
Posted on 11 March 2008
Highland Park Circuits (no map, cuz who wants to map a 2 mile loop?)
I worked from home today, babysitting our FIOS installation, so I figured I would sneak out mid-afternoon for a ride. Cold, dreary weather, so I stuck close to the house. Good thing, too. As I was climbing up Bunkerhill on lap number two, *ping* *tink tink tink*, there went a spoke in the rear wheel. Typically, this isn’t a problem, except when your rear wheel only has 24 spokes, in which case, the wobble induced by the sudden lack of tension won’t clear your brake pads, even with the cable disengaged. In this case, you give thanks for NOT heading north and ride the ten blocks or so back to your house.
Posted on 5 March 2008
Thompson Run South
I thought the day would be a wash, weather-wise, but the sun came out and it warmed up, so I headed out. This is a decent loop, though a bit more traffic-ky than heading out Saxonburg or Middle Roads. Thompson Run has some nice sections, but is generally too narrow given the amount of traffic. I made a wrong turn off Wible Run, and found myself on a rather short but steep climb on Soose. The family getting into their car found my efforts at forward motion entertaining.
Posted on 3 March 2008
Year ’round commuting is a learning process, especially when your route varies from year to year. After a snowy and cold winter (which isn’t likely over quite yet), I’ve started to put together a wish list for a proper winter commuter for next season. The Redline Monocog will provide a fine, fine base, but here’s what it needs to be complete:
1. Full fenders, with mudguards (like these, with custom mudguards).
2. Studded tyres, either Nokian A10s or Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106s. I will not be thwarted by the Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge again!
3. Different/more comfortable handlebars, like the Titec H-Bars.
At least I have 8 months to collect this stuff.
Posted on 29 February 2008