Mike's Bike Blog

Sprints for city limit signs go hand and hand with group rides. If you're in a regular group ride everyone knows where the signs are so they can anticipate the attack. Last week when I road with the Austin Road Riders down Parmer there was a sprint on the way out for the Leander City Limit sign. I've ridden that route many, many times, but last week was the first time I'd ever noticed the City Limit signs. Same with the Cedar Park City Limit sign on the way back, I totally missed it.

Today I rode with the Austin Road Riders, I'm really enjoying their group ride. My schedule keeps me from making any of their other rides. On the way I made sure I was close to the front, but I wasn't 100% sure where it was. I was behind Chuck, who's a pretty big guy so I couldn't see around him all that good. I could only go when the group launched ahead. I went but alas just didn't have the kick to pass.

On the way back we headed into the wind, so we had a double pace line going. That was a first for me, I'd only done a single pace line. As we started the climb up the bigger hill at 3405 heading towards Hwy 29 the group was debating how to attack it, keep the pace line or everyman for himself. Bruce and a rider in Texas A&M kit started to pull away up the hill. I threw caution to the wind and attacked. I got about half way up and then Scott (races for AT&T/Brain Spine) caught me, we briefly dueled up the hill. I think he might have been toying with me. He put the nail in my coffin as he attacked. That left Scott, Bruce and me off the font for the rest of the ride.

We were taking turns pulling on the way back. I kept looking out for the city limit sign. Scott was pulling when I thought I could see it. The timing couldn't have been better. He pulled over to the side for me to take the lead. I shifted down as I came past him. It was automatic, I got up out of the saddle and exploded. I left it all right there on the road, it took about 13 seconds, but I claimed my first City Limit sign!

I had the biggest grin on my face as Scott past me and said "You'll pay for that". Which I did, Bruce attacked and I put everything into my effort and I needed a bit to recover. I couldn't keep up, actually I couldn't even start. However, my attack rendered a personal best for 5 second peak power.  All I can say is the City Limit signs have just been put on notice, here I come!

The Rest of the Week

I didn't have a lot of chance to ride this week, I spent Tuesday to Friday in San Antonio. Monday I did intervals on Limecreek. I did take the Fuji down to San Antonio and rode 2 days at the Radisson Hotel's parking garage, it's only 3 floors, was ok, who am I kidding it was pretty boring. I actually thought I might get a better workout on the trainer. Next week I'm only down for 2 days so hopefully I can get back to my normal schedule of riding during lunch. Saturday I rode out on 620 to the dam and back. It was only 25 miles of wind and cold.

This might not necessarily be a bad habit, but on yesterdays ride it proved to be troublesome. Yesterday was a rainy, dreary day in Austin. Throughout the morning it rained off an on, but there was a 2 p.m. ride down Parmer called by the Austin Road Riders. I've never ridden with this group, but I've been on their yahoo group for a couple months.

At 2 there was a slight drizzle and a a strong wind from the North. One other rider showed, everybody that confirmed for the ride earlier in the day backed out. At 2:05 we rolled out on Parmer heading North into a strong headwind. David lead out but as I got onto his wheel I started to get pelted by the stream coming from his rear wheel. The problem arose with all the wind that even in the draft I was exulting a lot of energy so I was breathing heavily through my mouth. My mouth was being sand blasted in David's wake. If I didn't do something the enamel on my front teeth would be worn out from the sandblasting. I tried to breath through my nose but as much air I was sucking I couldn't adjust, if I moved a little to the left or right I lost any benefit of the draft. I ended up taking the front and pulling most of the way down Parmer.

David thanked me for pulling so much as he was coming off an injury and it was one of his first rides coming back. So it worked out for both of us. Heading North on Parmer we averaged 17 mph into the wind. We rode all the way to Andice Road and turned East (right) to Indian Springs for a hockey stick route. On the way back in with the wind at our back we averaged 21 mph with several sections we cruised at 24 mph.  It took us 1'03 to get out to Andice Road and 53 minutes to get back and that included the extra miles on Indian Springs Road. That was the fastest I've ever went South on Parmer.

When I got home not only was my bike a mess but I had gravel stuck in my teeth, ears and nose.