Cars started pulling into the lot at 7:45 AM and a very large bike group rolled in. By now, there looks to be about 500 riders in the Marina. The VeloViets joined the group preparing to roll.
8AM sharp the group rolled out onto PCH, and IMMEDIATELY went from about 5 MPH to 27 MPH. There was absolutely no warm-up and this definitely was not a social ride! Everyone scrambled to catch on to the lead guys, who must be cat 1 and cat 2 guys from their no nonsense approach to the ride. Cap’t Thomas quickly move out onto the outside and sprinted up towards the front of the pack, and took turn setting the pace in this beginning section.
The energy in the pack was amazing. You can see everyone riding hard and a thousand legs were moving in a synchronize dance. With every corner that we pass, there would be a small pack of new cyclists pulling into the group. We rolled through all of the stop lights with no stop. If anyone had a mechanical issue, such as a flat, the pack would move around the stop rider. This was pack riding at its finest. The speed after about 15 minutes settled at 31 MPH. The pack now must be close to a thousand riders and three lanes of the road were taken up by cyclists. Around this time, The Warrior and The Gear, who were waiting along PCH, joined the pack and hooked up with front riders. The Gear, feeling strong like a Mighty Lion, tried a mini-breakaway. The Lion Pack roared its disapproval and quickly swallowed The Gear back into its clutches. Here you can see Cap’t Thomas, The Warrior, and TZ along Sunset Beach.
We hit Laguna Beach and the hills started to appear. As I crested down the first hill, I looked ahead and saw that the pack stretch out to almost 2 blocks long and all lanes of the road were filled. The Laguna hills started to gradually splinter the large group, with small gaps forming between the groups. I have been in my high aerobic threshold zone to hold the 31 MPH speed in the pack, and I quickly went into anaerobic. I gritted my teeth to maintain contact with the rider in front of me, who had thighs like tree trunks!
Good thing this anaerobic portion did not last for too long as we approached Newport Coast, the agreed turn around point. There I saw Toan, Sang and Greg, who joined us somewhere in Huntington Beach. As we turned around, we saw The Rock Racers also. The VV Group started riding back together.
With the ride back to the Marina, some of the VV guys must have not expended enough energy and were pulling at 25-26 MPH. As we passed Sunset Beach, my left calf starting to cramp big time and I had to slow. As I was dragging myself back, a rider from the NYD ride came by and asked “What’s VeloViet”. I explained to him who we were and he noted “you guys are fast”.
So although the VV Mighty Lion got jumped by the 1000-strong Lion Pack, it did get a chance to roar loudly enough to get some attention. The VeloViet cycling club was well represented for the 2010 NYD Ride.
Signing Out,
Phong
It was one hell of a fast, fun, and adrenaline rushing ride I had ever done!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFor those who have not participated, it's an awesome heart pounding experience. Let alone, it can be intimidating to ride with a large and fast group riders.
ReplyDeleteEach year, it seems there are more faster and stronger rider joined in at the front. As we were getting ready, I see guys that built like a true cyclist - slim, tall and full of muscle in their legs. Not to discount these nice expensive Colnago, etc.
You really have to ride with good strong riders to understand your current skill level. At the end of the day, your success should based on experience learned and ride away successfully without a crash.
Until next year. We just need to figure out how NOT to stay out late and get up early to ride.
Wow! That look like lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteNext time, try to stick together and get pics of all VVs together before flying at 31mph! Great to see you in action VV OC!