05/03 Ride Report - Models, Inc.

We strutted our stuff, and posed as runway models, as we had our very first 2009/2010 professional photo shoot on this last Sunday's ride, compliments of Cuong and his wife Suong. Here is how it went...

So Cap’t said to wake up early to do our hair for the photo shoot. Man… this hair fixing thing is not my style at all! I am used to just putting on my helmet for the ride, and my hair objected to the gels that I am putting on just to get it to go in the right direction. I should be eating, and mentally preparing for the ride, instead of messing with the hair for a whole 5 minutes in front of the mirror. Hair finally in place, I loaded the Ducati up and drove to MSP.

It was incredible at our usual starting MSP location as the whole parking lot was flooded with red. Almost all of our riders came out and everyone was in their VeloViet red jersey. I hardly recognized folks as everyone’s hair was combed, no one wore their helmets, no arm warmers and sunglasses either. Who are these people?

What drove the camaraderie mood even higher was when the Rock Racers showed up at the parking lot (they usually meet us at the river trail) and in matching VeloViet jerseys. Unbelievable! Ever since I have met these guys, they have always wore Rock Racing gears. That’s teamwork in clothes coordination for you!

Photo #1 - Recognize these guys? None other than VeloViet's Rock Racers in matching club uniforms.

Cuong then led us deep into the park, and there we met his very nice and cute wife Suong. This lady sure knows how to work a large crowd though, and soon had us lining up to pose for the group picture. Check out the club shoot!

Photo #2 - 2010 VeloViet Cycling Club

Everyone was in a great mood. There is something about seeing everyone wearing the same jersey that was very uplifting. Dashaan, VeloViet's rider and designer, did a great job with this design and the kit made us looked real good in the picture. having everyone wearing the same kit solidifies you into a single cohesive unit, and let you know that these guys and gals are part of your team within any bike packs. Here we are in another of our group poses.

Photo #3 - The VeloViet Line-Up

Cuong and Suong were working the crowd extremely well and were snapping away. They had some serious camera equipment with them as you can see below. We had all sorts of shots, from team pictures to action pictures. Check them out!

Photo #4 - Master Photographer & VeloViet Rider Cuong Hard At Work. Check out the size of that lense!

Photo #5 - Nancy looking like runway model on her bike

Photo #6 - Posing with Loc, Cap't , Minh, and Duc

Photo #7 - Paceline action for the photoshoot

Photo #8 - Tandem action from the photoshoot with Mac and Michelle

Once the pictures were done, Cap’t turned us over to The Animal to take us on a 55 miles ride. Cap’t rode 150 miles yesterday, to prepare for the upcoming gathering wiin MN, so his legs were shot. It was so sweet to see 35 riders in matching jerseys out on the road. We had cars stopping and honking. Walkers and runners stopped to stare. Check out this the deep double paceline picture below.

Photo #9 - The Animal taking charge and leading the VeloViet pack

Photo #10 - Deep double paceline action on the road

On PCH, instead of “Models, Inc”, this part of the ride should be called “Project Runway”... because Fed-Ex basically “ran-away” from us! From 20 mph, Fed-Ex ramped up to like 32 to 34 mph on the flat road. The group and I tried to keep up but we quickly splintered. After a while, I could not hold on anymore and dropped off. Fed-Ex took with him Tuan, TZ, Cuong, a few other riders, and basically disappeared from our sight.

I was now in the second group. This group was rotating, traveling around 26 to 28 mph, and we managed to pull back a couple of the guys in the front group. Around this time, Duc decided to take charge, went to front, and pull our group at 30 mph, by himself, for a few miles. It was incredible to see the endurance that Duc showed. Fifteen miles down PCH, we all regrouped at a gas station.

Photo #11 - Regrouping at the first stop

We started off again after a short rest. The hard riding started again and quickly we slimmed down again to about 10 guys in the front pack: Fed-Ex, The Animal, Greg, Tuan, TZ, Cuong, Long, Sang, Duc, and I. This group drove hard all the way to the halfway mark. Right before this point, there was a short and steep hill. I knew the only way I had any chance to take this hill was to do a surprise attack. I was about fifth in line, and right at the bottom of the hill, I attacked!

Things went extremely well ¾ of the way up the hill. I gapped the group and was charging hard… but then I ran out of gas! Fed-Ex closed the gap and came charging by, then Duc, and then TZ. Man, if only I had a few more minutes of energy!

Photo #12 - Regrouping at the halfway point

After the halfway break, Fed-Ex came up alongside and gave me some sprinting tip. He said that I should sprint in the drops, and to keep my head still and about 6 inches above the stem. In the drop, he said that I can use my upper body in the sprint, and I would conserve energy for the sprint if I keep my body still. I tried this out on the next few hills and do notice that it does seem a bit more powerful sprinting from the drop. I am not use to this form and will have to practice more. Thanks Fed-Ex!

On the way back, it was again hard and fast as Group A1 drove hard. Near the MSP park, Tuan did a surprise attack and this brought out Fed-Ex. The rest of us could only look on as we had spent all of our energy on the ride. We arrived at MSP and the rest of the group started to roll in shortly after.

What made this Sunday so special were two things. The first was that everyone was in a VeloViet red jersey, and this created an emotional “high” on and off the bike for all of us. The second was the photo shoot, and it was even more special because a VeloViet member, and his spouse, took those pictures. It was not a professional photographer the club hired, but a VeloViet rider who know us, have experience the highs in those epic rides we did, and know what it is like to ride in the VeloViet pack.

The VeloViet Cycling Club will always treasure these pictures. We cannot thank Cuong and Suong enough, and look forward to future bike rides with Cuong for many, many years to come. Who knows... we might even get Suong on a bike and come out to ride with us!

Signing Out,
Phong