Tuesday ride report 8/25

30 miles (this is a guesstimate, my computer went into shutdown mode for a few minutes)
85 minute of ride time (the days are getting shorter)
21.2mph on my computer - again a guesstimate

Another warm night, that makes like 5+ weeks in a row of really good weather for the Tuesday night ride. Nice, especially after all the crappy weather we had at the beginning of Summer. Knowing it’s coming to an makes one appreciate it even more. Although Fall riding ain’t so bad either!

As was the case last week, the Spin Arts team took their place at the front of the line again this week. But unlike last week I didn't even bother trying to come up with a plan on hanging with them, if anyone went off the front I was resigned to letting them go, even if it meant losing a spot on the Tuesday night podium, which based on the speed and intensity of this year's rides, seems to be a pretty big deal.
But Daren picked a fairly tame route this week, not too many difficult climbs, in fact the only one that stands out in my mind is the climb up Wallace Hill Rd (Townsend?). Oh, and the hills up in W Townsend as we crossed 119 at the store and began the ride back to the shop. Those hurt a little (okay, they hurt a lot).
All in all it was a pretty uneventful night - even with the quick pace I don't think we lost too many riders, everyone played nice and there were no odors of any kind to report, save for a skunk or two. Ernie's light is still a problem, but I've learned how to get low and use other riders to shield myself from it (thanks Dixie Chick Raye).

Started out up Prospect St and rode straight all the way to the left turn that takes us past PJ Keating. Something didn’t seem right this week, the tempo was actually a “normal” B ride pace, unlike the weeks before when things seemed to quickly get out of control on the flats of Rt. 70, or the climb up Pleasant St. Whatever the case I wasn’t complaining.
There was a slight jam up trying to get under the narrow bridge past Keating, with traffic coming in both directions it was especially challenging, but no one went down and we kept on going.
All the way down Reservoir St he pace steadily increased, but it never got to the all out hammering pace.
As we rode along I made the mistake of asking Daren about his new saddle. If you're a guy here's a hint, never ask another rider about their new saddle because it raises too many questions about what it is you’re paying attention to while riding. The only reason I noticed (and I swear this is the truth) is just last week I was looking to buy a new saddle (SMP Evolution) and Daren tried to sell me his, which as I noticed was conspicuously missing from his bike this week (Hmmmmm). When he tried selling it to me I politely told him "thanks but no thanks", I'm sure he's good about personal hygiene (unlike Greg who was telling me about his saddle sore from 3500 miles of riding and only washing his bibs 30 or so times this year), but the thought of riding a used saddle, especially a guy's saddle, didn't appeal to me so I told him I'd pay the extra $150 for the new one. Which left me wondering last week, did I really get a new saddle or did Daren simply take the saddle off his bike and put it on mine? When I got home I had the neighbor's dog come over to see if he would get excited over any new scents, he didn't so I didn't bother bleaching the saddle after the ride. (and I'm joking of course, I know Daren and the folks at GW are very ethical and wouldn't sell me a used saddle)

Rode straight to the end of Reservoir Rd, a right, a left, another right until we came out onto 2A.
2A is pretty beat up and it's pretty near impossible for the riders up front to call out all the cracks and holes. I got caught in a pretty deep crevice with riders on both sides of me, I still don't know how I managed to maintain balance for 30 feet not taking down anyone. The pace down 2A was obviously fast, 24+mph for a lot it, but it's flat and we managed to maintain a pretty good line so it wasn't that painful.
Took a left onto Lawton heading into W Groton, a right onto Groton and then a hard left onto Townsend Rd, had a good pace going all the way to 119 where we stopped to regroup.
From there we went straight across, a little ways up the road there was a garage on fire, all kinds of fire trucks coming down the hill forcing us to ride single file. There really wasn’t any way to move up to the front before the climb up Wallace Hill so it was slow going as I looked up and saw riders blasting off the front as they began the climb. Once past the fire the pain and suffering started as we headed up the hill - as is usually the case the group got pretty split up going up, once at the top we again regrouped, some riders got yelled at for lollygagging in the middle of the road, not paying attention as the unknowingly came pretty close to getting taken out by a guy in an SUV who also wasn't paying attention until almost taking out said riders.
Fast down Highland Rd, a couple of turns until we ended coming out to the road by the Townsend PD.
From there we turned onto Dudley Rd and once we got past the rough stretch of road “A Ride Greg” moved to the front and started driving the pace, I had second wheel and barely managed to hang on before taking my pull trying my best to keep the pace Greg established. After emptying the tank, flicked the elbow and pulled off letting the pace line pull through – the plan was working nice, stretch everything out so we could ride in a single file pace line which we managed to maintain most the way down to 119.
Once we came up to the intersection of 119 (where the store in Townsend is), not quite sure what happened (I heard someone double flatted) we held up for 15 or so minutes before we starting the climbs up W Townsend. I’m not sure but I think some riders cheated by not waiting and getting a head start before the rest of the group took off, all I know is there was some riders way off the front that usually aren't way off the front - they were promptly disqualified from consideration of a spot on the Tuesday Night Podium.
Literally rode through the 4 corners in Lunenburg (sorry to the drivers held up as the train continued through a red light - there's no stopping at 7:45 with little daylight left). Punched it down Leominster Rd at a crazy 30+mph, riders all over the road trying to get to the front. Avoided all temptation to stop at the ice cream stand, continued fast all the way to the light at the Honey Farms in Leominster. Phew!
A left onto 13 and everything settled down into a nice easy pace back to the shop.

All in all it was another great night of riding! Hopefully we can keep the ride going through September!