PTBO RIDES.

Friday (Tuesday) Morning Thursday Night Report. 07/12/12

A late breaking report! News from a great ride by the B Group, no word from the A Group – guess that means they had a less awesome time.

Dirty Thursday is just around the corner. Be part of the story – come on out!

Words from Jon M – the man on the scene.

This weeks ride saw the return of a couple of friendly faces in our pack.  A big hello and thanks for coming out to Chris Barthalamew and Matt Parnell. Happily, we also saw Kieran Andrews and Scott Wood mentoring a couple of youth riders that came out to see what the fuss was all about on Thursday nights.  Here’s hoping that the youth riders enjoyed themselves and will come out again.

So, a hot night without too much wind saw a big, B group roll out of Douro arena for three laps.  One of the first things I noticed as we headed up the hill on Rock Rd. was that the fitness level within the bunch is getting better and better.  The climb up Rock Rd. was not blistering but, it was also not slow and while it is hard to judge how many riders we may have dropped, what I did notice was the number of riders that were still there as we turned right onto 4th Line.

The ride last night saw the group stay together quite well for most of the time.  As always, a few riders were willing to sacrifice themselves a bit at the front to get things moving and so the pace did pick up a few times thanks to Paul MacNeil, Chris Bart, Chris Fleming, and Kieran Andrews.  We had a couple of small breakaways that pushed the pace a number of times but, in the end, did not stick.  That is one thing that stands out in my mind in respect to the B Group.  It is very hard to get a good break going in the B group. While the fitness level is fairly high for most, there is a strong sense that making the effort to get away from the rest of the pack might mean not finishing with the pack.  It’s the chance you take.  Do you want to be a hero or pack fodder?  In my mind, this is what the B Group is all about.  Gaining experience and confidence and learning just how far you can push yourself.  Taking the flyer off the front and seeing how long you can hold of the group is part of an equation that leads a rider to take chances that will eventually lead to something spectacular.  So, encouragement to all B group riders out there to see what you can do for yourself but; also, to spice up the ride for everybody else.  To put it another way, nobody and I mean nobody is going to think less of you as a rider if you get dropped after pushing the pace and trying to break away from the pack.

At one point last night, Kieran asked me what I think would happen if he went off the front.  My response was to give it a go and see what happens.  He did and while he did not stay away for too long, he brought with him a couple of riders that were willing to work with him.  The chase was on and while it not take too long to reel him in, the extra effort to catch the small group saw the bunch working well together and it was obvious that is threw some folks onto the rivet.  Perfect.  The last climb up Rock Rd. hill pushed the pace and a number of riders were working very hard to stay on.  Once again, the group stayed together quite well and while the pace was high along 4th line again, not too much happened until we got close to Bell’s Corners. At this point, Kieran, Chris Fleming, Chris Bart, Matt Parnell , Tanya MacNeil, and the man on the black rocket, Paul MacNeil pushed the pace and really got things moving.  A blistering pace was set for at least two km with many struggling to stay on within a strong chase group.  I believe that a number of riders were surprised to see themselves in this little group off the front and I for one thought that this fast break might stick as we got closer to Broccoli Hill. The climb up Broccoli was definitely not slow and it was all I could do to stay on after the effort in the breakaway.  Here, the group rejoined.

Once again, as we neared the finish, the pace slowed so that folks could align themselves for the sprint up to the Fiddle Sign. Me, I looked to Chris Flemings wheel and also to Kieran Andrews wheel for what I was sure to be a well timed exodus from the bunch, and a successful win. Before either of those two made a dash for the finish, Scott Wood along with Patrick Daly tore up the left side of the group forcing the bunch to react sooner than expected.  It was great to see young Patrick take a chance with Scott and see what those climbing legs of fury could do. I remember seeing Patrick’s egg beater legs peddling at 150 rpm’s just to keep up with Scott.  What happened after that, as usual, is a bit of a blur.  What I do remember are the folks that passed me as we headed up to the finish.  Tanya and Javier both came by me, Arlen pushing the obligatory big gear went by me.  By this point, Chris Fleming had already taken the win with Chris Bart coming in second to the best of my second hand knowledge.  All in all, a great ride with a group that rode like a well oiled machine.  Thanks to everybody that came out and to those that pushed the pace.  Next week is Dirty Thursday…will you be there?

Jon

Observations:

Patrick checking to see where his son was.
Chris Fleming, snot rocket etiquette.  Nice.
Matt Parnell, rather quiet on this ride. Different.
Kieran Andrews, Scott Wood.  Amazing acceleration.
Youth riders rock. Encouragement!
Where was Kathy Eggenberger?
Where was Jeff Minicola?
Bill Blair can turn it up when he wants to.
My sprint sucks.