Oct 22, 2013 at 04:03 PM
i wonder what would happen if bruce and harry collaborated on a race/group ride report. wikipedia offers some guidance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irresistible_force_paradox
Prospect Park Weekday Morning Training
Oct 22, 2013 at 07:30 PM
@Bruce's report almost makes the whole thing worth it.
I was joined by Ed from Major Taylor for a cooldown lap; we parted ways at GAP where I went home to a hot shower and he continued on for a quarter lap before getting taken out by a hobo in front of the bandshell...
He's fine, fwiw; apparently the junkie wasn't wearing high-viz.
Oct 22, 2013 at 09:02 PM
Damn, that's bad news. I'm glad Ed's ok.
Oct 23, 2013 at 06:06 PM
I will be out tomorrow morning at 6AM facing the cold.
Oct 23, 2013 at 06:37 PM
I woke up to a moonlit starry night, decided I needed more sleep and bid the crystal sky adieu.
Oct 24, 2013 at 02:17 AM
I'm in for tomorrow. 6 in the AM
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:06 PM
Anyone in for 6:00 AM tomorrow?
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:29 PM
Yes I will be in
Oct 29, 2013 at 12:22 AM
See y'all bright and early.
Oct 29, 2013 at 12:44 AM
I'll be there.
Oct 29, 2013 at 02:33 AM
In
Oct 29, 2013 at 02:34 AM
I'll be warm in my bed
Oct 29, 2013 at 04:29 PM
It was warmer out this morning than I had thought, but still in the high 40s and it did cool down as we went in circles. We had a good group today, and everyone above who said they were showing up, did. Nice job on the commitment. And others came along - good to see you.
We were the only organized group in the park today, from what I saw, which meant we became the peloton, so when Erika and I pulled off the front to let the next two have some fun, we found a group trailing behind us.
I'm certainly ok to have others riding with us, especially when we have nothing specific planned for the day, but I still believe there's etiquette involved in, if not asking to join the ride, then at least announcing that's your intention.
Though, when Erika and I moved to latch onto the back, the group let a gap open so we could rejoin teammates. I appreciated that. There was one rider who didn't, stayed in front of me, and I have to say I was incredibly impressed with his bad bike handling skills. Actually, I don't believe I've ever seen anyone unable to ride in a straight line, as he did. Each crank on his pedal pushed him to one side or another, his pedaling was uneven, he would stop and coast, pedal, coast, pedal for several revolutions.
I was conflicted, because I know we all need to start somewhere, yet at 48F in the pitch black at 6:30AM, I have to believe he wasn't a novice. And I was concerned for the safety of my teammates. As we got to the bottom of the downhill, I was trying to decide what to do, ask him to pull out of the group, ride alongside him to give him some unwanted tips, get in front of him so he was behind the whole group, but the pace picked up slightly and he pulled out.
The rest of the laps were uneventful, though I have to report that Jessica was great on the uphills. A few weeks ago she wasn't able to keep up, and today she looked much stronger and stayed with the group.
Any advice on the bad bike handler riding with the team? - I'd like to hear some thoughts.
Oct 29, 2013 at 04:39 PM
@Bruce if a team ride gets a comet trail of freds you want to avoid mingling if you can - both for safety and because the KCC uniform is distinctive and when some fred screams at a pedestrian it's your (our) uniform that gets remembered.
One way to do this is to drop back only to the second-from-last spots; let the the back-most two Kissenas open a spot for you.
If people charge up the sides to the front you can politely slow down and drop their wheel.
Another way to do this is to gather the KCC riders in the back and signal for a quick stop to let the non-KCC riders go up ahead.
Oct 29, 2013 at 05:42 PM
Another contributing factor may be that new members (like myself) don't have team kit yet, so it looks to other people like there are already a couple of freds joining in.
Oct 29, 2013 at 06:05 PM
Oct 29, 2013 at 06:20 PM
Funny that I had no idea what was going on this morning, Kayt and I were too busy conversing about the Loire region!
Oct 29, 2013 at 06:23 PM
@Thierry....no doubt sipping on a nice Chenin blanc from your bidons.
Oct 29, 2013 at 11:49 PM
After losing my water bottle then subsequently bridging the resulting gap between myself and the group, I ended up in the rear and did notice some folks that I didn't recognize. There was a guy that we passed who a short while later ended up right next to me, now surging and now falling behind...he may or may not have been the rider that Bruce is referring to.
At any rate, things in the rear got a tad bit disorganized for a lap. Eventually it was down to four of us and I got to talk with Jessica for a while...nice to have another strong female rider on board! I exited the park around 7:25, almost 30 miles in this morning!
Also, there was French being spoken behind me for a good while. Talking about the Loire region? Right. My sense is that it was about a rebellious overthrow within the club's ranks. Be aware all :-)
Oct 30, 2013 at 06:24 PM
Stopped at GAP this morning just to see if anyone was out. Saw @Thierry zip past with a wave (at least I think it was him... whoever it was, they were very zippy). Took a few laps at a tempo-ish pace then went grocery shopping and got home before sun came out.
I'll be out again tomorrow morning at 6am. Anyone else?
Oct 30, 2013 at 06:40 PM
Erika-
It was I who waved at you this morning doing my TT routine however I did not recognize you since it was so pitch dark during that time.
It was I who waved at you this morning doing my TT routine however I did not recognize you since it was so pitch dark during that time.
Oct 30, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Oct 31, 2013 at 12:26 AM
50/50 chance for me tomorrow. It'll depend on how early I can get to sleep tonight. See you at 6, or not.
Oct 31, 2013 at 03:25 AM
most likely see you guys in the a.m.
Oct 31, 2013 at 02:46 PM
Double, Double Toil and Trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Into the darkness I rode with my wispy shadow chasing me, ever nipping at my heels. In the distance, I spied cracks in the darkness from humble blinky lights, pushing back the gloom like Atlas trying to cast the world off his shoulders. I paused at our meeting place, shaking the spiders off my shoes; they clambered on the moment I put my cleat onto the ground.
Comforted by the large group of 8 of us, gathered together in our small band, we began our journey forward, resisting the spiraling pull into the 9th Circle of Hell where Ice and Treachery await.
We rode, two by two, watching each other's backs, and each time the front pulled off from the lead, we watched them, making sure the bony hands reaching out from the grimacing trees didn't wrench them from their bikes. Harrowing, pulling off the front, alone, out of formation, sliding along the cracking foundation of the jogger's lane. What awaited for us once separated? I couldn't even imagine. With the last rider passing me, I pulled back to the group as quickly as I could, spying my riding partner, breathing easy once again. But only for a moment.
Then, at the top of the hill, his front wheel rising beneath him in a daring standing wheelie, the headless cyclist awaited our arrival. On the side of the road, his jack-o-lantern head blazing a toothy grin, a preternatural laugh booming all around us. We rode! Harder up hill! As a group, staying in formation for strength and teamwork, ever closer to the evil mist sitting high atop his BMC impec Lamborghini Edition, in screaming yellow and deathly black, with a Zipp 808 in the rear and 404 in the front and, too frightening to look upon, Campagnolo Super Record components.
We wavered, we shuddered, we could not hold our line. But we are a Team! We all knew it, drew upon the same strength-giving thought. Ride, we thought, push, spin, take that hill. Use your fear.
We whooshed past him as though we were the scythe swung by the reaper himself. We had PRs. Strava melted. I, in the back, barely keeping up, sweat and fear pouring down me, turned, unsquinted my eyes, to see the most amazing site. The cyclists black cape opened, revealing his Foundation Kit(!), and as he turned, spinning his massive crank, the chain digging into bared teeth, his cape, billowing on the wind, caught in his Zipp rear wheel and down he went, crashing to the ground, savagely crying out for us. A hand outstretched. And then he was gone. A memory. Dust into the ground.
As the darkness slowly lifted, we each found our paths, exiting one by one, until we were safely home, shook off the awful image, and watched the sun rise onto another beautiful day.
Happy Cycling Halloween
Oct 31, 2013 at 02:57 PM
I have got to ride in PP one morning...! Thanks Bruce.
Oct 31, 2013 at 05:00 PM
@Bruce, you're my hero!
Question about training in Prospect, re: hill repeats. The KCC ladies are going to try a few tomorrow during our Friday ride (all are welcome, btw!) and I was curious about the best post-hill route for repeats. I assume if we're just out for hillier laps, we cut across Center Drive. But if we want to focus on the hill, does it make sense to peal off at GAP and take Flatbush down to the entrance just north of Ocean Ave? That seems like too much rest for intervals. Is there another way?
Oct 31, 2013 at 05:29 PM
Erika,
Just before the lake on your left, there is a nice hill that's perfect for repeats.
Oct 31, 2013 at 06:16 PM
With Great Honor
Done only through Team Support, with Erika, Kayt, Jessica, Joel, Pat, Eric and Jay. We kept our wheels rolling.
Hill repeats - center drive is great for either focusing on the hill, and cutting back to it at a reasonably good pace, or hill sprints, as it affords good recovery time when moving slower. I'd stay off the streets, since the park affords us good safety, and it will be pitch black outside.
(The assumption here is that we are not riding the wrong way in the park, especially while wearing KCC kit).
Oct 31, 2013 at 07:06 PM
Hey Erika, for what its worth -- one thing I that's worked for me to close the recovery gap in PP/hill repeats: As I come up the hill (knowing my HR will drop coming over the hill)... I try to keep the intensity going about Sub-threshold all the way through about 9th street -- Then , recover and cut across center dr... Then repeat hill, etc.Erika Tarte said:Question about training in Prospect, re: hill repeats.
I've only done this solo in the early a.m. before it populates, but I bet if you're a small enough group during the early hours, would be fine. My two cents. cheers!