We are back from another group ride. 32 miles.
It was supposed to be a moderate ride, as well as a slower ride. We had about a dozen people that were going to do the moderate ride. Among them were friends that we ride a bit with on another tandem. Also with us were some who are known to use people.. to sit in and not do any work.. then attack. Some times they behave sometimes not. We also had some we had not ridden with.
So we start the ride with the two tandems at the front. We are switching off some with the other tandem, but end up pulling most of the time ourselves. Because it is a moderate ride, and there are people I don't know.. we keep it pretty steady, and not to fast. We still dropped some people. So we stop at the next intersection and wait. Laurie gives the group some pointers on riding with tandems in a group. She also mentioned a good way to piss us off is to let us pull for miles then attack.
One of the people that we dropped, decided to drop back to the slower group [part of the ride we were going the same route]. We pull for about another 5 miles.. and in the middle of a hill.. where we had backed off for the others.. they went flying by like we were sitting still....
So I sat up and took it easy. For quite a few miles.. we stayed off the back, not sitting on others wheels, but not giving any free rides either.
The ride was becoming slower than I wanted.. so we attacked a couple of times...at times we could get away.. and some not. Sometimes the other tandem would tow them up to us. A couple of the "users" are strong enough, I was not confident of just riding them off our wheel. So we had to actually attack. Which is harder to do on a tandem, we don't accelerate so well.
Once again at the back.. about 10 miles from the end of the ride, we attacked again... and actually passed the pack, going over a little knoll. I was hoping the other tandem would get away with us, but they were not able. I knew the two bikes could stay out and away from the group. With us allone and, one of the tandems still with them, made if much iffier.
So away we went. Steadily pulling away. We did have a decent head wind.. and a semi tough 1/2 mile hill ahead. I was not sure we could stay away. Laurie has also had a cold, and was coughing pretty heavily. I don't attack the hill very strongly.. I wanted to save my wife, for the last few miles. Halfway up the hill I have her glance back..and there is no one in site. We steadily grind away.. up the hill and into the wind. Towards the top.. I have her look again, and she sees at least 1 bike.
Of course they still have the hill to climb..
At the top of the hill it is flat and open.. so a bit of wind. We then start a gradual downhill, then it gets steeper with a short steep uphill on the otherside.
"Is the other tandem coming?" At the top of that next hill, I have Laurie look back again.. and she sees nothing.
We keep the hammer down.... and pedal with a fairly decent intensity. It is gently rolling now, till the finish.
We make it back alone. I get the bike taken care of in the van.. and my shoes and helmet off... before we see bikes in the distance. I make sure to make myself look comfortable before they arrive..
One of the guys said he almost caught me.. he thought perhaps within a 1/4 mile. I did not say a word... With us climbing and him before gets to the hill of course will close some ground.
and one we get over the top.. and he is still climbing.. we pull away again.. [idiot] He never even saw us again until the parking lot...
One of the others.. when finally taking a pull mentioned it got windy...Yeah well it was windy all day, you have just been sitting in all day..
The interesting thing.. I did not teach them anything.. they loved the ride..
