Race report: Brownstown Pennsylvania
michael01612
Posts: 7
Eight score years ago, Union General Mead looked through a pair of brass binoculars at the fields, farms, and ridgelines around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and said to himself, "This is good ground for a fight." Now the cannon and musket are quiet, but through my mirrored wraparound sunglasses, 160 years after the epic battle at Gettysburg, it is equally apparent to me, "This is good ground for a bicycle race."
Good ground, excellent ground actually...for both Mead and myself for our different purposes. For the Pennsylvania countryside around Gettysburg is like that of an Amish quilt -- farms patchworking the countryside like the colored patches on a handsewn blanket, roads twisting and curving like the handsewn embroidery, and rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains like the wrinkles on a quilt on an unmade bed. Same as 160 years ago, whoever can master this terrain, the hills, beautiful and historic as it is, will emerge the victor.
Pre-race, I am amazed at the anachronistic imagery ... horse-drawn buggies next to titanium and carbon fiber bicycles, Mennonite and Amish kids in freshly pressed cotton and bonnets watching racers clad in lycra and spandex. This is going to be a special ride, 25 miles broken up into 5 laps through some of the most beautiful farm country there is....all at breakneck pace.
The first lap starts fast and we are averaging over 23 mph. Some twisty chicanes and tight corners, but the peloton is very orderly today, not a lot of crazy and disorderly movement within the pack. No need to try and control your destiny or outcome...the riders know the hills will sort the field. On the loop we pass a horsedrawn Amish buggy. I think about drafting behind it for a minute, but think better of the idea. As I pass I see the horse flinch and hope I don't fall, the clop clop of his hoofs sound nice, but wouldn't feel so good if he trotted over me. We get to the main hill...about 6% gradient, max 9% max gradient, well within my wheelhouse. And as we climb I realize...I have good legs today...and I move right up on the climb, cresting in the top 5 or 10 positions.
Actually, I crest well-placed on 4 of the 5 laps. But on the fifth lap, I am starting to dangle off the back and chase. By the time the fifth climb begins I have been chasing hard for a couple of miles and have no legs on the climb. I finish probably within 30 seconds of the pack. Still, a good strong ride for me.
My family came to see me race. This is the first time. My 9 year old son took some video of the race. I was glad I raced well, the kids were proud of me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0OpGgGh81s
GPS and HR data courtesey my Garmin 305 show some impressive ride data. http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6102913
25.58 miles
23.3 avg mph
167 avg heartrate, max hr 187 ...a zone 4.8 effort.... 30 minutes zone 4, 30 minutes zone 5 ...that's all out.
Good ground, excellent ground actually...for both Mead and myself for our different purposes. For the Pennsylvania countryside around Gettysburg is like that of an Amish quilt -- farms patchworking the countryside like the colored patches on a handsewn blanket, roads twisting and curving like the handsewn embroidery, and rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains like the wrinkles on a quilt on an unmade bed. Same as 160 years ago, whoever can master this terrain, the hills, beautiful and historic as it is, will emerge the victor.
Pre-race, I am amazed at the anachronistic imagery ... horse-drawn buggies next to titanium and carbon fiber bicycles, Mennonite and Amish kids in freshly pressed cotton and bonnets watching racers clad in lycra and spandex. This is going to be a special ride, 25 miles broken up into 5 laps through some of the most beautiful farm country there is....all at breakneck pace.
The first lap starts fast and we are averaging over 23 mph. Some twisty chicanes and tight corners, but the peloton is very orderly today, not a lot of crazy and disorderly movement within the pack. No need to try and control your destiny or outcome...the riders know the hills will sort the field. On the loop we pass a horsedrawn Amish buggy. I think about drafting behind it for a minute, but think better of the idea. As I pass I see the horse flinch and hope I don't fall, the clop clop of his hoofs sound nice, but wouldn't feel so good if he trotted over me. We get to the main hill...about 6% gradient, max 9% max gradient, well within my wheelhouse. And as we climb I realize...I have good legs today...and I move right up on the climb, cresting in the top 5 or 10 positions.
Actually, I crest well-placed on 4 of the 5 laps. But on the fifth lap, I am starting to dangle off the back and chase. By the time the fifth climb begins I have been chasing hard for a couple of miles and have no legs on the climb. I finish probably within 30 seconds of the pack. Still, a good strong ride for me.
My family came to see me race. This is the first time. My 9 year old son took some video of the race. I was glad I raced well, the kids were proud of me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0OpGgGh81s
GPS and HR data courtesey my Garmin 305 show some impressive ride data. http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6102913
25.58 miles
23.3 avg mph
167 avg heartrate, max hr 187 ...a zone 4.8 effort.... 30 minutes zone 4, 30 minutes zone 5 ...that's all out.
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