Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Fwd: 8/12 Sandor's Skyline Express 630 Peets

Beaut!

Here's the view from the back:

The night before I swapped out the battery in my HR monitor as I've
been
missing it and I know I've been running a bit hotter than I've
intended
on some recent rides.  It probably won't stop me but at least I'll
know
just how for over I've gone.

Rolled out the door in Bernal about 6:37.  Later than intended and
foggier than
expected.  I was doing the math in my head as to how fast I'd have to
push to
make it to Great Highway by 7AM.  I was rolling down Sloat about 6:59
and
noticed a rider heading up Skyline, I hoped that was the last of the
fast
group.  I could see the turnout up ahead and there was either a small
group
of riders gathered or maybe a sign.  It was a sign so I rode through,
squinted
through the much denser fog than was covering the mission and could
only make
out cars heading for me.  I remembered that solo rider and adjusted my
position from off the back of the fast group to off the back of the
chill
peloton.  I headed back towards Skyline and was thinking I should try
to
catch them on the hills since once we got to the down or Sawyer Camp
Trail
progress would essentially be nil.  I was pushing up the hills and
trying
to remember what they topped out at, squinting through the fog for any
sign
of other bikes.  Finally 2 riders materialized out of the soupy
atmosphere
but instead of up ahead they came from behind.  Once they caught up I
recognized Space and Trinh.  I jumped on their wheel and hung for oh,
20
seconds before I realized the folly.  Then came another rider and
again
I started to hold his wheel and glancing down at my HR sanity was
restored
and I went back to my own pace not wanting to start a bonk this early
in the
ride.  We regrouped up at the top of the hill and our numbers grew
from 4 to
maybe 9, the missing riders having been slowed by a flat tire.  Once
we set
off we were pretty cohesive.  There wasn't a lot of pacelining, pretty
much
everyone cruising down in a loose pack.  As we passed under trees the
condensation had made puddles and our tires were kicking up rooster
tails
giving us a little taste of the road.  Once we got to Swayer Camp
Trail things
were fairly chill but moving at a good clip.  We exited and returned
by
the 280 on-ramp.  Things picked up a bit and we were buzzing around
corners.  I was having a conversation in my head trying to remember
the difference between early and late apex when I over cooked a corner
and
piled it in.  I bled off as much speed as I could before I hit dirt
and
kept it upright.  Then the dirt shoulder dropped into what was about a
3
foot or so ditch and I knew I was going down.  There was a fallen
branch
I tried to not impale myself on but aside from that I just let the
endo happen.

Final count was popped lip, scratch on chin, some leg scrapes, hole in
leg
warmers, off kilter front brake, off center rear wheel and my left
front
lever slipped over a bit.  Sore shoulder but no broken clavicles (yay!
last
time I endoed this was not the case).  Trinh stopped and rode with me
up to
the end of SCT.  From there Trinh turned off and my busted ass
rejoined the
group the TTT started but honestly my legs were pretty cooked and it
was all
I could to to hang on.  I finally dropped off the back at the point
where
my ODO indicated 30mi and I was happy to ride the rest solo.  Once I
rolled
through the intersection at Woodside I spotted the rest of the crew.
They
had feigned another flat but I know in my heart they were waiting up.
From
there 1 other rider dropped off and I followed his lead at about mile
39.

All told my ride clocked in at 2:40 moving time, avg HR of 165 and
46.76 miles.


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