CVC Team Ride

This morning there was CVC team ride. The rides leave at 9 am, so I have to wake up early for them.

Today, I felt more fatigued this morning than I usually do, so I flopped down on the couch while I was eating my breakfast and didn't get back up until 8:40. The ride leaves out of Starbucks, 6 miles across town. And because of my late start I was hustling around trying to get ready, which set up problems later in the day.

I managed the leave at 8:45, I don't know how. And due to my knowledge of the back roads of Glastonbury, I was able to charge across town and get there at 9:03. I guess the ride got a late start, or Henk(Team President) and Max(The team's best rider) were waiting to see who else showed up.

After about ten minutes of intensely discussing cyrptozoology the five of us set of. The ride consisted of me, Max Henk, a CCNS rider I'd met before (I'm bad with names) and another CVC guy who's name I didn't catch.

We set off north down Main Street crossing into East Hartford while dodging monster pot holes. We turned away from the sun and paraded through Hartford. It's amazing how 10 miles makes a difference, from Isolated Orchards to Bustling City.

Nonetheless, we crossed the bridge over the CT river and rode through Constitution Plaza. I don't what it is about biking through the city, but it's so humbling. I never get the same feeling walking or driving. Weird.

We left the city and rode through Farmington to Plainville. In Plainville we did some recon of the criterium course there. Every spring for about six weeks there is a criterium series there. I missed out this year, but next year, I will race full time. This year I was just getting my feet wet.

After our quick recon session we headed west and looped back around through Avon and into Windsor. About this time I felt like my legs were dragging. Because I didn't have enough time to make any food, usually on long rides I'll make a sandwich or something of the like, something with a little protein. But today, I just grabbed a handful of granola bars, all carbs. So I didn't have any 'snap' in my legs later in the ride.

This caused major problems, the guys would speed up, I would get dropped and have to dig really deep, practically sprinting, to catch back up. I was so relieved when we crossed back over the CT river and into East Hartford and returned to Glastonbury. The guys stopped at Daybreak, but I was dying to get home, so I said goodbye and chugged home. And that's when things got really bizarre.

I was on 17 and I was making the left to head up to the Orchards. The car in front of me was travelling very slowly. I was coming up behind said car to pass it, when all of the sudden the old woman driving slammed on her brakes. I hit her rear bumper with my front tire. Right as I hit it I thought, 'Oh, shit, there goes my $200 front wheel' and 'Bye bye, Trek 1000." My bike did an endo but I managed to keep from flipping over onto her trunk. She pulled up and stopped again, as I went by she told me, "You really need to watch where you're going."

I got her good though, My front tire kept spinning for about half a second and left a big black stripe on the back of her white car. It even took some of the paint off. All I ended up with was a few scuffs on my tire and a story to tell. Nothing else, no injuries, I didn't wreck my front wheel or fork, just a few scuffs and paint chips on my tire. I guess I really lucked out.

The rest of ride was an uneventful 10 minute climb to my house. Even though I was exhausted, I seemed to float up the hill.

Well, nine hours later my calfs still hurt, I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep and a moderate tempo ride tomorrow on my own.

BTW, if any one sees CVC riders, or me, out and about, take a pic and post it in a comment. Also, if anyone has any questions, fire away.

'til next time.