WILSON: Mostly cloudy skies, with hopes of clearing, wind and temps in the upper 40s saw six COWs gather at DD for a 1:00 ride. Doc, Jim, Wally, Bob L, Dale and LR rolled out Nash St and into a wind that would be “many hills” (see Jim’s comment Friday). Writing this a day late I might get some of this route wrong so jump in for course correction as needed. The group rolled onto Hornes Church off Nash St. in downtown New Hope. Over 95 and Old Smithfield turning on to Strickland Rd. and on to the Quick Pick at the intersection of Liles Road where the group took a short breather after pushing itself into the wind fairly consistently into the wind up to this point. Continuing on Strickland, over 581 turning right on 97. A tail wind at last! LR was on the pull, up the first hill, headed up the second and here comes the herd, thundering up the second. All I could see was the dust flying, was that rubber I smelled burning? The hammer session was on, no one was going to waste any of the hard work spent getting to this point. With each slow arching bend of 97 the tail wind was further fine tuned, speeds crossed 30 and kept rising. A brief stop at the store at Strickland’s Crossroads was the only slow time the peloton saw. As soon as the group was back out on 97 it was off to the races again, taking advantage of that great tailwind. Over 95 and turning on to Sugar Hill Rd LR feels the unmistakable flat coming on. Calls of flat and stopping where drowned out by the the wind now blowing in everyone's ears. Pulling over, and out of the wind I change the flat. Bob L rides up as I was remounting the tire. We finish the ride gently as I am not comfortable that I have managed to get the tire back to full pressure. Bob and I split up and headed for home off Nash St. We suspected the rest of the group had already rolled home and the clouds never did break on the ride. Getting home and warm were the priority.
The rest of the peloton will have to provide the details of their finish. I understand that it includes another all out sprint or die (Dale likes those) and a surprise visit by a would be rider ducking the weather. The wind was the story of the day, 35 miles but only a 15 avg up to 97. However the hammer fest on 97 pushed the ending average up to 18+. LR. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CyclistsOfWilson-COWs" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cyclistsofwilson-cows?hl=en.
