In which I find some biking self-esteem

[dmaze]

Those who pay attention to my biking endeavors may recall that last week I went on a group ride in familiar territory, but somewhat faster than I usually go. This week I went with the same group on essentially the same ride (added about 5 miles in Carlisle) and it went significantly better for me.

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Act 1, Scene 1: Arlington Heights

Ride leader: Next week the ride is at 9:30, and at the new shop. 16 mph to Bedford.

Act 1, Scene 2: Lexington Center

Cranky old guy: You young whippersnappers should be riding single file!

Random bicyclist: Erm, shouldn't you be walking on the right side of the path?

Cranky old guy: Nope! Walk on the left, ride on the right!

Act 2, Scene 1: Bedford Depot

Me: Hmm, it's awfully warm. Maybe I could take off my sweatshirt and switch to the other gloves.

Ride leader: The group that's going to go fast, leave.

A half-dozen cyclists depart.

Ride leader: Okay, next stop is the Old North Bridge rest area.

Act 2, Scene 2: South Street and Great Road, Bedford

Me: Okay, middle of the pack, not so bad.

The light changes. The entire group turns left, managing to pass me in the process.

Me: The back of the pack can be rewarding too, I guess.

Act 2, Scene 3: Route 225, Bedford

Me: Pretty out. And I'm doing a pretty good pace. Too bad I'm ALL ALONE OUT HERE because everyone's zoomed on ahead. Grump grump grump.

Act 2, Scene 4: Old North Bridge Visitor's Center, Concord

Me: Hmm, it's awfully warm. Maybe I could take off my jacket.

Ride leader: A group will be heading out Strawberry Hill Road.

Other bicyclists: Yarr! Spluff!

Me: That route sounds tempting...but can I keep up with the splufty bikers without dying?

The rear half of the big bike mob appears.

Me: Oh. Hmm.

A steady trickle of people leaves the parking lot for points north and west.

Me: ...maybe I'll follow these people and see how it goes.

Act 3, Scene 1: Strawberry Hill Road, Concord

Me: Yay! Climb! I can pass people climbing! Not doomed!

Act 3, Scene 2: Rutland Road, Carlisle

Bicyclist 1: What's in the saddlebags? Are you training for something?

Me: I'm trying to do the CRW century in mid-May.

Bicyclist 1: I bet you've got a cold bottle of Gatorade in there.

Bicyclist 2: No, I bet it's beer.

Act 3, Scene 3: Carlisle Center

Me: That was quite a ride! Let's start eating our sandwich...

Ride leader: Oh good, everyone made it! Next stop is Concord Center!

Everyone else leaves.

Me: ...maybe half a sandwich can go back into the bike bags.

Act 4, Scene 1: Lowell Road, Concord

Me: Awfully lonely again. But I'm pretty sure I'm not very very last. And besides, I have an excuse, which is that my subgroup went the long way around.

Act 4, Scene 2: Concord Center

Me: So...where's the group?

A couple other stragglers appears. They're unclear too.

Finally another bicyclist points us to the restrooms a block away. I finish my sandwich.

Act 4, Scene 3: Mill Road, Lexington

Bicyclist 1: So, when are you pulling out the Gatorade?

Bicyclist 2: Beer!

Act 5, Scene 1: Starbucks, Arlington Heights

Other bicyclist: So how far did we go?

Me: My bike computer has about 45 miles. And it's 1 PM now, and we left the shop pretty promptly at 10 AM, so a 15 mph average.

Me: And since I haven't done enough miles yet today I'll tack on my usual Winchester loop, only backwards, so I can climb the hills! Yay! Bye!

Act 5, Scene 2: Grove Street, Winchester

Me: Ow. Why did I come this way?

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When all was said and done my bike computer had 58.85 miles on it for the day. And I was still able to run around and do things the rest of the afternoon. This does make the goofy four century plan look a little more plausible. (Route map)