(The fine words of Mike D)
I just got back from the TDPC Gran Fondo, and man are my legs sore.
I had to get up a 4:00 in the morning to make the 6:00 start in PC. A LOT of people showed up (I'd guestimate a couple hundred starters for the 170). All the local teams were represented, as well as Red Burro, out of Las Vegas and some other out of towners. At the start line, I ran into Noah Grassi from Las Vegas. A few of you have met him, but might not remember. He's a super nice guy, and strong rider. He finished the TDPC Century with Jeff, Scott and I last year. I've ridden a few events with him since then, including the Tri-State Gran Fondo (which he won).
It was a mass start for all of the 170 mile riders. We rolled out a 6:00 sharp at a reasonable pace. When we started Chalk Creek, I pulled over for a nature break, and was blown away at the pack size. It was like the Tour De France pack coming past me. Fortunately for me, some others had stopped too, and we worked our way back up to the pack without a problem (this time, please read on). I just tried to stay towards the front of the monster pack, because there were a lot nervous riders, and near disasters. I kept finding myself riding next to Noah, who was riding strong, and staying right at the front too. The insidious Chuck Creek rolling hills finally started to take there toll on the pack. We went from close to 200 at the start, to probably 60 or so by the time we hit the gravel stretch. Riding in a huge pack at high speed, through gravel is another way of dropping the weak (it's kinda like evolution, except it's really quick and hurts a lot). When we got back on pavement, we were about 30 riders strong. That's when things went a little south. Noah was riding next to me and said he REALLY needed to take a nature break. At that point I thought, well, I could use one too (we didn't want to wait for the single porta-potty at the feed in Evanston). We rode up the side of the pack, saying "pee break" so they wouldn't think we were attacking, then pulled over, with one other guy. We got back on the bikes and started chasing (Paul, is this sounding familiar to you?). We couldn't get on, and the third guy was not taking pulls at first. Finally, I was just starting to flame out, and after my pull, the third gut decided to take a pull that started in a sprint. Well, Noah, and this guy drop me (now I'm sad). I just kept chasing until I hit the Evanston feed. Noah and the other guy were still there, so I got with them and started out again chasing the 30 some odd riders ahead of us. We finally caught a pack of about 12 riders as we were starting the 20 mile climb to Bald Mtn. Pass. As we climbed, we started shedding some, and pretty soon there were about 6 of us. We hit a feed zone, and most of us pulled over. As we gobbled goodies and filled bottles, I noticed some people going away. I looked a Noah, and we knew it was time to ride. We started chasing one guy that Noah knew. Noah said "We gotta catch him, he's a work horse", so, we eventually reeled him in, but it was starting to cost me, big time. The road was starting to tip up, and my legs were yelling at me. I said "Shut up legs, and do what I tell you to do", but just like some teenage kid, it made them more rebellious, and I just couldn't hang with Noah and the "work horse". I just kept hammering, but got caught by about 2 guys. That gave me some motivation and I dropped them. I looked back and saw a couple riders and thought they were coming back to me, but it was two other guys, so I dropped them. I passed two other people on the final ascent up Bald Mtn. Pass, I was coming up on the summit feed zone, and by then, I needed some food, water, and psychotherapy. Well, they had water and food, so two outta three ain't bad, but, all the guys that had made me work so much on the climb stopped there soon after. Finally, one of the guys gets on his bike and starts descending, so I thought I'd go too, and get a little jump on the others. I couldn't catch him, but for a long time, no one caught me either. Finally, another guy came up just as I was catching the guy I was chasing and the three of us started working together (then there were 5, then there were 7, okay, I can't descend). As we made our way down to Kamas, we passed some people (and made sure they couldn't get on), but as we got towards Kamas, we caught Noah, riding alone. I guess the "work horse" had shed him. He grabbed on, and we were riding together again. We left Kamas, only to face those brutal climbs around Jodanelle. Noah and I were hanging pretty good, and taking our turns at the front, but on the final hill (going up to the Brown's canyon turnoff), Noah and I both popped. About 4 of the riders we were with got a gap that we couldn't close. They finished about 3 minutes ahead of us. Noah and I finished in 8:12 (average speed of 20.8 mph, about 7500' of climbing).
Did I mention my legs are sore?
I had to get up a 4:00 in the morning to make the 6:00 start in PC. A LOT of people showed up (I'd guestimate a couple hundred starters for the 170). All the local teams were represented, as well as Red Burro, out of Las Vegas and some other out of towners. At the start line, I ran into Noah Grassi from Las Vegas. A few of you have met him, but might not remember. He's a super nice guy, and strong rider. He finished the TDPC Century with Jeff, Scott and I last year. I've ridden a few events with him since then, including the Tri-State Gran Fondo (which he won).
It was a mass start for all of the 170 mile riders. We rolled out a 6:00 sharp at a reasonable pace. When we started Chalk Creek, I pulled over for a nature break, and was blown away at the pack size. It was like the Tour De France pack coming past me. Fortunately for me, some others had stopped too, and we worked our way back up to the pack without a problem (this time, please read on). I just tried to stay towards the front of the monster pack, because there were a lot nervous riders, and near disasters. I kept finding myself riding next to Noah, who was riding strong, and staying right at the front too. The insidious Chuck Creek rolling hills finally started to take there toll on the pack. We went from close to 200 at the start, to probably 60 or so by the time we hit the gravel stretch. Riding in a huge pack at high speed, through gravel is another way of dropping the weak (it's kinda like evolution, except it's really quick and hurts a lot). When we got back on pavement, we were about 30 riders strong. That's when things went a little south. Noah was riding next to me and said he REALLY needed to take a nature break. At that point I thought, well, I could use one too (we didn't want to wait for the single porta-potty at the feed in Evanston). We rode up the side of the pack, saying "pee break" so they wouldn't think we were attacking, then pulled over, with one other guy. We got back on the bikes and started chasing (Paul, is this sounding familiar to you?). We couldn't get on, and the third guy was not taking pulls at first. Finally, I was just starting to flame out, and after my pull, the third gut decided to take a pull that started in a sprint. Well, Noah, and this guy drop me (now I'm sad). I just kept chasing until I hit the Evanston feed. Noah and the other guy were still there, so I got with them and started out again chasing the 30 some odd riders ahead of us. We finally caught a pack of about 12 riders as we were starting the 20 mile climb to Bald Mtn. Pass. As we climbed, we started shedding some, and pretty soon there were about 6 of us. We hit a feed zone, and most of us pulled over. As we gobbled goodies and filled bottles, I noticed some people going away. I looked a Noah, and we knew it was time to ride. We started chasing one guy that Noah knew. Noah said "We gotta catch him, he's a work horse", so, we eventually reeled him in, but it was starting to cost me, big time. The road was starting to tip up, and my legs were yelling at me. I said "Shut up legs, and do what I tell you to do", but just like some teenage kid, it made them more rebellious, and I just couldn't hang with Noah and the "work horse". I just kept hammering, but got caught by about 2 guys. That gave me some motivation and I dropped them. I looked back and saw a couple riders and thought they were coming back to me, but it was two other guys, so I dropped them. I passed two other people on the final ascent up Bald Mtn. Pass, I was coming up on the summit feed zone, and by then, I needed some food, water, and psychotherapy. Well, they had water and food, so two outta three ain't bad, but, all the guys that had made me work so much on the climb stopped there soon after. Finally, one of the guys gets on his bike and starts descending, so I thought I'd go too, and get a little jump on the others. I couldn't catch him, but for a long time, no one caught me either. Finally, another guy came up just as I was catching the guy I was chasing and the three of us started working together (then there were 5, then there were 7, okay, I can't descend). As we made our way down to Kamas, we passed some people (and made sure they couldn't get on), but as we got towards Kamas, we caught Noah, riding alone. I guess the "work horse" had shed him. He grabbed on, and we were riding together again. We left Kamas, only to face those brutal climbs around Jodanelle. Noah and I were hanging pretty good, and taking our turns at the front, but on the final hill (going up to the Brown's canyon turnoff), Noah and I both popped. About 4 of the riders we were with got a gap that we couldn't close. They finished about 3 minutes ahead of us. Noah and I finished in 8:12 (average speed of 20.8 mph, about 7500' of climbing).
Did I mention my legs are sore?
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