Tuesday Nighter 6/23/09

My rear tubular was flat before the ride. Filled it w/ air and it seemed to hold, so I rolled out from home. Rode Lakeway Blvd. to the Bank and was surprised to see about 8 lounging before our 102 degree start at 6:15. Missing were some of the big guns (Jason, Jeremy, James and Barry), but Jeff and Joe and Mose and some other contenders were there. Also our two new Tom’s from Hudson Bend. We rolled out (15 strong) really neutral this time all the way to 2244 (I don’t think we rolled away from anyone).

It was windy and I think Joe and Jeff did the meat of the pulling. I was going well uphill and slotted in from 2nd to 5th w/o losing spots on the hills. At Rollingwood I went to the front and pulled thru to the turnaround. Jeff passed me on the downhill to the light and I echoed his statement on video several weeks back. “Did you get that ? PAIN”.

The pace increased on the way back and the front of the pack (as I suspect the back as well) started to string out a bit. I concentrated on keeping a wheel, any wheel, right in front of me (no gaps). At one point Joe and I and Jeff got a small gap but were starting to feel the heat big-time. I went by Jeff at the bottom of a hill and said “lets go” and he jumped on as we pressed up. He rolled by I said “go, go” again hoping I could hold his wheel. I should have kept my mouth shut as he gapped me considerably with about 1000 yards to go. I thought I was alone, but knew Joe could/would go by at any time. Sure enough he rolled up and said “pull me home” (yeah right). Knowing he could have gone by me anytime and was just being nice, I did my best to bend the cranks the last 300 meters and Joe let me roll in second.

At the High School my rear tire was VERY low. Babyied it home w/ about 20 lbs. pressure in it, it was flat when I rolled into the driveway. I really lucked out. Hot, fun ride. I’m sure everyone was baked after. I went straight home cause of my tire and I wanted to get in a cold shower ASAP.