Monday, January 25, 2010

1/24/10 Ride Report - Who Let The Dogs Out ?!?

Group A’s “Wild Dogs” attacked hard on this ride, littering the road with casualties and injuries. They must have read Mike Wilke’s secret training technique for Thai, with that big old country dog, and decided to unleash their own “dog” fury on the ride. Not to be out done, Group B’s responded to A’s challenge with their own “dogged” determination. Here is how the ride went…

24 riders showed up to Mile Square Park ready to do major battle. It had been raining hard this past week in Southern California, and everyone had been cooped up and was anxious to let loose some pent up energy. At the start, Cap’t Thomas looked around and commented that we “mostly” had Group B riders, and cautioned everyone that we would ride slowly and remain together. A minute after Cap’t made that statement, Fed-Ex drove up. This “ride slowly” plan seemed to be toss out the window as Fed-Ex’s vocabulary does not contain the word “slow”!

After Tan and Nancy got to the park, we slowly rolled out. So far so good, no fast guys in sight, just me and Cap’t riding in front chit-chatting about the upcoming Tour de Palm Springs. I was trying to figure out what my game plan was for this century ride. The Animal rode up and casually mentioned he was thinking about doing the ride this year in his fixie bike. Yikes!

We rode up to the River Trail, and just as the group pull onto the trail, SANG AND TUAN IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED. What the heck man! What happened to that “stay together” instruction?

This move of course caused a big ripple effect in the group. The first to move out after the front pair were Greg and Luke. Next Billy and Martin went. That’s it I thought, as I also moved out to chase after the lead six. Fed-Ex too also moved out. As you can see below, our pack started thinning into a long line as the speed picked up and folks try to latch on.



We caught up to the front pair. These eight riders worked hard and separated themselves from the main pack. After the wooden bridge, Fed-Ex rotated to the front and took a strong pull, raising the speed to 28 mph. He maintained this speed for an extremely long time. After a while, everyone was in the anaerobic zone just trying to keep up with Fed-Ex.

Fed-Ex rotated through and immediately the speed dropped to 25-26 mph. Around this time, there were some braking and I heard someone yelled out from behind. I was the third from the front, with Greg and Luke in front, Fed-Ex on the side, and I think Sang, Martin, Tuan, and Billy were in the back. Martin and Tuan had touched wheels with Tuan ended up on the ground. Luckily Tuan came away with just scratches and his bike was okay. His jersey and bib did not fare as well though. Tuan had about 50 holes in the back of his jersey and 10 holes in his bib. Here you can see our “traveling” nurse Co tending to Tuan’s arm. Thanks Nurse Co!



At the rest stop, four Rock Racers, TZ, and 2 new riders joined up with us, totaling 31 riders. After a brief rest, it was decided that Group B would take off and Group A stay with Luke, who was changing a flat, and then try to catch up. The tire change took like an eternity as we waited anxiously for Luke to finish so that we can play catch up. The Gear joined in with the tire change to try to speed things up. Finally it’s done. We took off!

The Animal immediately jumped to the front and started to drive the speed up. Greg, Luke, Fed-Ex, and Tuan all took their turn with strong pull. I managed to put in one or two turns at the front without going too much into the red zone. We caught up with Group B on the top of Jamboree, as they had stop to repair yet another flat. Luke and I stopped, but the rest of the Group A continued on. Now is the reverse, and it is Group B’s turn to chase Group A!

After the flat was fixed, we continue down the Jamboree hill. Group B bombed down the hill over 35 mph as we try to chase Group A. Nancy was riding beside me and descended like a pro. Her back was flat as an ironing board, and she had no fear descending in the tight pack. She even talked while descending, and told me that Candy was still working on her bike (she was riding a friend’s bike). Wow, our lady riders are getting pretty good riding in the pack!

Once we hit the flat, the speed suddenly dropped and we cruised at 18 mph. What the heck happed to the chase speed? Cap’t was in front at this time and he wanted to make sure everyone stayed together. We stay at this speed for the next 5 miles. Here you can see Group B strolling along enjoying the scenery.



Things changed on the way up Newport Coast Drive. This street is one absolutely LONG hill. Cap’t first let us know that he was going to go hard on this hill, that he expects most of us to go with him, and then… Cap’t attacked!

Cap’t aka “Lance” Thomas made an Armstrong move on this hill. He first turned around and gave us that Armstrong “Look” as if to say “here I go”, and then stood up and accelerated up the hill. Immediately Luke, Toan, and I responded, but the acceleration was way too abrupt, way too hard, and we shut down after a short burst. We went into the “maintain the distance” mode.

In the distance, Cap’t did a number of “sit-stand-surge” moves. This move seemed very effective, as he continued to move away and the gap grew. I mimicked and tried a few of these sit-stand-surge moves myself, but quickly went into oxygen debt! Sometime during the middle of this anaerobic haze, I noted we passed the tandem crew of The Italian and Co, who took a short cut and was already working hard on the hill before us. Cap’t made it up the hill first; I was second, and with Long in third. I was literally crossed-eye at the top of this hill. Slowly everyone came in and we re-grouped at the top.

The roll back was fast and furious, as most folks took some turn at the front. On PCH, Luke surged, then Cap’t took his turn, and these two shredded the pack. We re-grouped at the start of the trail. On the trail Luke took off again, with Billy and I chasing after him. The three of us got a good gap, but Cap’t and the crew behind worked together to bring us back. Here you can see Cap’t and the Rock Racers working hard at the front chasing after us.



As we hit the last stretch to Miles Square Park, Luke went for it yet again and sprinted hard. Toan and Billy immediately went after Luke. I used Billy as a sling shot and sprinted pass all three riders. I glanced back and saw that I had a gap. I surged even harder thinking that I had the MSP sprint in my belt. Another quick glance, and what I saw drained all energy from my legs.

Cap’t Thomas was coming up hard and fast like a mad diesel, and quickly close the large gap. He passed me like I was standing still by the side of the road hitching for a ride. The torque he exerted on his wheels was so massive that it broke his rear wheel spoke. Check it out…



In the end, Group B rode hard and fast, and beat Group A back to MSP by about 15 minutes! Led by Cap’t Thomas, the B riders gave everything to their Cap’t and raced their hearts out knowing that the tough Palm Spring Century is coming up, and that in this very flat terrain it will be hard to press the “Wild Dogs” of Group A.

What will happen on the 100-mile century ride? Will there be enough of Group B’s riders that show up to challenge the strong rolleurs of Group A? Stay tune for the Palm Springs Century recap!

Signing out,
Phong

9 comments:

  1. Good job recapping Phong. after 2 weeks of diet seefood you still thin but stronger. on the way back start at Macarthur i saw you sprinted 30mph up to jamboree with Capt and Luke. the speed continue at 28mph pass 55fwy. Thank god with my muscle leg i still be able hang behind your guy. On River bed i try to get some last photo shot but i can't do much with this litle camera when the peleton pass me like a rocket that why the photo missing you and someone in front

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  2. Phong awesum recap! The pics are nice to see when reading up on it. I heard abt the crash. Luckily there wasn't anyone seriously hurt.

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  3. Phong,

    Again, awesome. Just like Toan said it...no body does it better than you.

    Appropriately said, it's the dog ride. A pack of 31 riders spreading all over PCH. It would have been good if we had Mad Dog joining our ride. He was recovering from a virus.

    I think Phong should start with A group then finish with B. Thus, giving us a complete picture of entire ride.

    Speaking of ride, we have Nancy, Christina, Co, Michelle, Fixie Girl, and now Alex's GF. Although new to the group, she rode Starcrest Hill with ease and holding the pace 18-20MPH. I hope she can come and ride more often with the rest of ladies.

    Also, I wanted to thank Cuong for his quick hand with the camera. He brings his studio talent onto the bike. Please continue to be careful when you ride and snap pictures.

    Lastly, we hold a straight and steady paceline while riding.

    Ride Safe.
    T2.

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  4. The day started all well at MSQ. The crew rolled out together toward the Santa Ana Riverbed. I started to pick up the pace because I wanted to warm up faster. A group of about 7 joined in at a nice fast toward the the restroom stop. After we crossed the wooden bridged, the pace picked up faster.
    We were maintaining a nice fast paceline. All of the sudden the person in front of me hit the brake and I ran into the rear tire and lost control. I crashed and Sang ran into me. This was a bad day to crash as I was test riding Billy P. Look 595. He was nice enough to lend it to me for the ride to the restroom. He had warned me before if something happens, he want the frame destroyed and don't want to have to fix anything. Well, good thing nothing major except a broken Look carbon cage holder. First accident with VV. Hopefully the last.
    I have a new nick name for Hung. It's SUPERFLY, as he can fly up the hills with ease. On one of the hill that was about 10-12% gradient (as shown on my Garmin), he flew up and shredded the A group. Not only did he do it onced, he looped around and did it 2 more time while we waited for the rest to regroup on top.
    Back to MSP with no incident and looking forward to next week to ride with my fellow VV brothers and sisters!!!

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  5. I was happy to see both Tuan and anh Sang were OK. Both of them had torn jerseys and lots of holes in bib. Anh Sang helmet's absorbed his impact as it was cracked per my inspection while Tuan landed on the left side of his body.
    Glad to see both riders rode off without any substantial damage at that high speed.

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  6. I can understand these things happen but most often it happens out of negligence. Before you make a sudden move, please remember that there may be someone next to you or behind you.

    Sometimes it's better to roll over broken glass then to make a sudden move. Making this sudden move may have dire consequences then a flat.

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  7. In addition, always keep your eyes and ears open at all times.

    Taken from a basketball saying, "Head down, Man down"

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  8. so, for cycling, we should use..."head up, bike up." :)

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  9. Great to read this recap. The pics mean thousand words... sorry to hear about the spill but group still look awesome.

    We MN will have to wait and take our pics in April and send to you... but for now we just have to enjoy whatever pics from OC group.

    Tomorrow we will gather a group for some serious spin class that will last 4 1/2 to 6 hrs... so let's see who can last til the last min?

    Keep riding hard!
    Quang

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