It was a charity ride but there were 100 bikers and several teams pushing the pack. I broke away the first time at about the 4 mile mark and put 2 minutes between me and the pack. They reported spinning at 24-25 mph to reel me in.
I would have been gone but the sheriff's officer that was escorting us across a dicey section of traffic made me stop and wait for the group. I tried to explain the dynamics of the ride and that I had busted my a$$ to get 2 minutes ahead but he coldly repeated "we have to wait for a big group before we proceed."
So I wait and the group joins me waiting and we proceed. The deputy leads us down a wrong road but others know the way and proceed without the main group putting us all about 4 minutes behind. I catch them just before the 20 mile point where there is a rest stop/fruit stand. Everyone dismounts (charity ride, right?) and has some food, two guys slide out unnoticed and ride on.
I leave after a minute and ride hard to catch them. We arrive at the opposite side of the "escort" and have to wait again for the pack to catch up, this time some 12 minutes. So I ride in the pack for another 10 minutes avg about 21 or 22 mph and break free again. One guy goes with me but drops after a mile. I beat all to the 40 mile mark and finish first at the 53 mile mark too.
I guess because it was a charity event they couldn't call it a "race".
Even though there was no prize for 1st place, I enjoyed the ride and feel like I actually won.
Gravity
I would have been gone but the sheriff's officer that was escorting us across a dicey section of traffic made me stop and wait for the group. I tried to explain the dynamics of the ride and that I had busted my a$$ to get 2 minutes ahead but he coldly repeated "we have to wait for a big group before we proceed."
So I wait and the group joins me waiting and we proceed. The deputy leads us down a wrong road but others know the way and proceed without the main group putting us all about 4 minutes behind. I catch them just before the 20 mile point where there is a rest stop/fruit stand. Everyone dismounts (charity ride, right?) and has some food, two guys slide out unnoticed and ride on.
I leave after a minute and ride hard to catch them. We arrive at the opposite side of the "escort" and have to wait again for the pack to catch up, this time some 12 minutes. So I ride in the pack for another 10 minutes avg about 21 or 22 mph and break free again. One guy goes with me but drops after a mile. I beat all to the 40 mile mark and finish first at the 53 mile mark too.
I guess because it was a charity event they couldn't call it a "race".
Even though there was no prize for 1st place, I enjoyed the ride and feel like I actually won.
Gravity
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