Thursday, August 7, 2008

8/7 Bayway Racepace RRR 6:30 - One for the record books!

ride report:

Per Sandor's command, 8 SF2G gladiators convened at the colosseum (Ritual) today at 6:30, faced with the grim task of dethroning reigning team-time-trial champions Hobinator & Cattell on the mortal roads of the bayway.

Knowing nothing less than a 21+ mph average pace would challenge the 1:59:58 record, a fast pace was decreed from the start, and a rare paceline was observed on even Valencia.

As Trinh took the front, Kemler opted out early (despite good fitness), as the pace was inconsistent with his Tranquilo state of mind.  Trinh proceeded to throw down an unsustainable pace, knowing his services would cease in san mateo, and kept the average creeping ever upward.

Space & Julian then took over, churning out a disciplined 23-26mph over long stretches, and got up to 20mph average by millbrae.  The group split in two around foster city, but a Menchov-like slick-surface solo crash by yours truly (see attached) in the tight-left just after the 92 underpass enabled a regrouping, and the speed was increased to compensate for the delay.

Somewhere around the Holly/Whipple detour, the group shrank to 4, and the average peeked over 21 mph coyly, then recoiled in the confusion of the Bridge to Nowhere, which was extra loose and featured freshly applied redwood chips (ideal for road bikes).

Calculations revealed a new record was within reach, and speed ratcheted up again.  Tremendous leadouts by space and julian stretched the elastic but it didn't break, and at Charleston/Rengstorff, the clock stopped.  Final stats:

- 1:59:22 total rolling time - new record! (provisional)
- 21.2 mph rolling average
- 2 crashes (me and John, no significant injuries)
- 4 riders at the end
- 8:50 arrival time, ~2:07 actual elapsed time ritual->G
- wind: 3mph NW (per weather.com) - mildly favorable
- riders: space, trinh, murph, john, kemler, sandor, julian, yours truly

nice work dudes!

-SC

---

I am moving out of the city and I want to set personal records for
both bayway and skyline.  I'm going to start with bayway this week and
probably do Skyline the following week.  I have already gotten Trinh
to agree to set the pace/break but I think he will not make it all the
way.  His endurance has really gone down recently ;-)  Scott said he
wants to break the all time record of 1:59:58 but said something about
not being able to do it alone.  I think he needed some help pedaling
his bike.  Space also commited to the ride though I am not sure if
that was skyline and bayway or just skyline.

The pace will be fast.  People will get dropped.

So who wants to set a new course record Thursday morning?
[I'd like to do it earlier but I have to recover from the marathon yesterday.]

--

I'm planning on being there, we need Hobe and Sean Dawson. I'll
actually go to Google and take my pulls if you guys can sneak me into
the cafeteria - and if we do a general regroupment after Cortland and
San Bruno to make sure all the roulers are in place.

We will need to decide how to address the San Carlos section - do we
take Veterans to Maple or do we cross at Whipple and go over the
bridge allowing Sandor one last bridge to nowhere run.
I'll be there, definitely.  By the way, taking Maple these days is soooo slow with all the lights.  It's gotta be whipple to have a good shot at the record.  Sandor, when do you leave?  If you could delay the bayway attempt until the bike path has reopened, and Marius and wickman et al can go, it might be better.

-murph

---

    I'll be there, definitely.  By the way, taking Maple these days is soooo slow with all the lights.  It's gotta be whipple to have a good shot at the record.  Sandor, when do you leave?  If you could delay the bayway attempt until the bike path has reopened, and Marius and wickman et al can go, it might be better.
----

 I am leaving at the end of the month.  Unfortunately I may only get two more sf2g's in.  There will also a racepace skyline.  I know that is more Maruis' style so we should get him and some of the other's out for that.  I think Hobe is out.  I saw his status this morning said Dublin or someother faraway site.

I am open to other routes, but this one does not look like too much fun, a lot of time on Camino Real.  I guess I would rather do a good time on the std bayway and not break the reccord than to try to cheat for a good time by going a short cut.  I actually have not done the San Carlos since the closure.  I will have to punt to someone who has done bayway recently on the best way through that.

-sandor


            yeah the detour is an issue, as it's kinda hectic going over holly overpass and getting squashed by an SUV is a high price to pay for the record.  there's also quite a bit of traffic in general on the detour.  we could try for the as-yet unset "bayway while the water main is being replaced in redwood city" record ;)


    but it might be best to try this after aug. 15(?) when the old route is back in force.  bonus: hobinator and m3 will be available.

    -SC

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