The Gearworks Tuesday night rides for 2011.

The Gearworks Tuesday night rides for 2011 kicked off last night.

As I’m driving to the gym all kinds of images flash by as I anticipate the start of these rides for 2011. Will I be able to hang on, get dropped, be on the rivet the whole way or have a mechanical? Did I remember to bring everything, helmet, shoes, socks, gloves, spare tubes and so forth? Maybe I should have a check list, ya think!

As I rolled out of the gym parking lot it was cloudy with a light Northeast wind and the temperature was around 59F.

About 26 riders were just about ready for launch at 6pm. This broke down to 18 riders for the “A” ride and 8 riders for the “B” ride. This was a first for me since I have been attending these rides. The “A” groups was bigger than the “B” group. My guess is a lot of folks did some serious training over the winter to graduate up the “A” ride.

Once again this year Daren provided guide service for the “B” ride. He indicated that there was only about 1.5 hours of daylight left so the ride would be a little shorter so that we could get back safely with a little light left. We could add a few miles onto the ride if rolled right along and did not have any mechanicals. Eight of us headed out over to Route 70 in Lancaster. A little regrouping at the end of Goss Lane then of we went into Sterling Junction. At this point Daren decided we could add a bit on so we went over by Sterling Airport. Then we went on some hilly back roads over in West Sterling (again some regrouping) that brought us out onto Pleasant Street. A long decent down Pleasant on into Leominster Center and back to the shop.

Daren did a nice job guiding us around and keeping the group together. We did 28 miles in 1:31 @18mph (stats from Big Dave’s computer. Very nice ride for the first one this year.

Saturday ride’s start this Saturday April 16th at 9am.

So naturally there we items I forgot. Food for the ride, chest strap for my heart rate monitor, shower flip flops, soap, shampoo. Should have made that check list!