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Plans for 2008

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In the most roundabout of ways, I’ve been figuring out which rides to do in ’08. Here’s the program (if you can call it that) so far:

Definite:

  • Early season training camp. Dates and location TBD.
  • Burnsville Metric. A classic, can’t miss kind of ride.
  • TOSRV. Well, definite in the sense that I’m going to pay my money and talk myself into driving a long way to ride in bad weather.

Probable:

  • Bike Virginia. It’s back in the mountains this year, so it should be worthwhile and chock full of suffering.

Well, maybe…:

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Breathless Update: Tour of America

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And I thought the whole idea had disappeared. Guess not. Those lovable goofs at Aqu Sports are continuing on, like totally undeterred, in their quest to stage a Big Time bike race in the US. Something along the lines of the whole damn Pro Tour wrapped up in one convenient race. So you know it’s gotta work.

Cyclingnews is back on the story, and to help you read between the lines I offer this handy translation of Tour Director Frank Arokiasamy’s promoterspeak:

What he said: “Things are moving along really fast,” he said. “I say that with reservations,
because some [things] are slower.”
This meant: Things are really, really, really super-great, except for all the things (and there are a boatload of them) that aren’t. And there are more of those than I can ever imagine, and believe me, I haven’t gotten around to imagining them yet.

What he said (about finding sponsors): “It will probably be a little later than I expected.”
What he meant: Does prospective sponsors’ collective laughter mean no, or maybe?

What he said: “People are coming out of the woodwork
asking if they can help. We have around 200 volunteers around the country
so far, and I’m driving up to Augusta, Georgia, soon to meet with three
people.”
What he meant: Those three reside at the same secure facility for the criminally disturbed, so we’re working through some issues coordinating their visiting hours.

What he said: “We wrote to thirty-five top level teams
all over the world and we got ten replies in the first day.”
What he meant: I’m still reviewing those ten restraining orders and will reserve further comment.

Previous. More. More yet. And even more.

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50 (pleasant) miles

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I’ve managed a fair bit of riding lately: Tuesdays at the Farmers Market, Thursday rides that change from week to week, the occasional Sunday ride. This morning about 20 of us rolled out of Shannon Hills at 9 AM for the usual 35/50 ride. The normal route is 35; adding the so-called “chicken loop” bumps it up to 50.

Fortunately the day was a little cooler than those before, though just as muggy. I opted for the long loop along with about a dozen others. We kept a comfortable (~18 mph) pace, chatted a bit, and took in the scenery. All in all, a pretty cool ride.

Other than the dudes doing a karaoke version of “Play that funky music…” in front of a hardware store. I wish I’d had a video camera to capture that.

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Carl’s ride; back on the Pinarello

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I haven’t been out for the Sunday Farmers Market ride in a while. It’s an easygoing recovery ride with two groups: one a little faster and one a little slower. I rode near the front of today’s group of 37 for a while and waited for it to break into the two groups. About six miles in, going up a slight grade, the pack blew apart and about eight of us found ourselves off the front.

That was the last place I wanted to be. Hanging on, tongue hanging out. After a long stretch at 25-26 I backed off, let them go and rolled home with the next group through.

Not an easy ride. Particularly for April. Kinda fun to be back out on the Pinarello, though. It handles as well as I remember.

Mileage for the day: 32.

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