Hammer Hundred Report

A beautiful day to ride, with lots of sun, light winds and temps in the 70's.
About 10 people showed up today, 4 of which were women from Verve. After we got up past Wayzata and had fixed a flat, we got organized and started pacelining. It worked well and gave us a little advantage into the wind. Everyone took their turn up front and the rotation was pretty smooth. These were all talented and very experienced riders.
At Hanover we turned and had the wind pretty much at our backs. Not much was happening at first and I was getting a little impatient. I finally yelled, "come on let's go", and the hammer came down. There were 4 or 5 of us who were regulars up front, and we rotated in and out of position easily. Again these were well experienced riders. I was the only one who wasn't currently racing. They all knew exactly what they were doing. We were pushing it hard, and when we got to Rockford, and I was sure we were in Watertown. Once the oxygen started flowing to my brain again, I did finally realize we were on planet earth.
We stopped in Delano for Gatorade, Rice Krispie Treats, and a Baby Ruth candy bar, and then made our way to Watertown. I knew where I was now.
At Watertown some shenanigans took place. Ten of us turned into just two of us. Everyone had looked strong and it was hard to believe we had dropped them, but.... We looked back and they just weren't there. So Dan Schueller and I stayed on course and worked our way together to Mayer and then Waconia. Coming out of Waconia who do we see, but the missing eight. I think they were more surprised to see us, as we were ahead of them, and they had taken a short cut, that lopped four miles off the route Dan and I did. I developed a smug little grin on my face as I realized all I had to do was stay with them, and in reality I was finishing four miles ahead of them. Now that's SAWEEEET!
They didn't make it easy. With some of the hills we came over, I began to worry if I could hold on, but I did and it was painful. Coming out of Excelsior we got on Excelsior Blvd. Just before Hopkins Dan and I were at the front and came up to a stop light. A van was in front of us and started to pull away from the light very slowly. I got behind the van to get a draft. Dan got beside me so we were both getting the draft from the van. Dan was able to stay with the van much longer than I, but we both got quite a gap on the rest of the group. They may not have been trying, but.... So from about Baker Rd to Punch it was just Dan and I, and Dan was at least a half a mile ahead of me. I got onto the greenway before Dan did, and I lost sight of him. Then all of a sudden I see his jersey. He got stuck at a stop and the gap was smaller. I couldn't go any faster though and he was off again. It looked like he was extending the gap ever so slightly on me again. I just couldn't close the gap. I really tried. God he's strong. YES! He got stuck at another stop and I catch him. I pat him on the back, and let him know that I caught him only because of his bad luck with stops. We ride about another mile and a half to Punch and wait for everyone else to show. It took 'em awhile.
I'm very tired, but quite satisfied. 100/22.5 and a 10 mile cool down around the lakes.

The month of May's been very good to me. Five Saturdays. Five Hammer Hundreds. Five averages over 20 mph. Today's average is a PB. This season I've also had 2 solo Hammers come in at a 20 mph average or better and another 1 where I did 99% of the work, that came in over a 21 mph average. Feels Good!

Rescue Ranger

Took the day off the bike. I've been riding a ton, probably over ridden, but I've been having a blast. Nevertheless I'm tired, so off the bike today. I'm so tired I even bailed on my granddaughters dance recital. I know, bad grandpa. I just planned on lazin' around and saving up energy for what appears to be a grueling hammer tomorrow.
The phone rings, or whatever phones do these days, it's a damsel and she's in distress. So, I'm off to the rescue. She claims she's on Hwy 7 right where it ends..........We finally figured out where she was.
Picked her up, got her home, and worked on improving flat fixing abilities.

Miles and Miles

Got the grocery shopping done on the bike again. Made some deliveries for work on my fixie, then took off for about 30 nice flat easy miles.
I was leaning over my bike adjusting something, before my ride, and thought to myself, I love living like this. It was a nice affirmation about cycling and how important it is in my life. Sometimes it's a little scary that it's so important, but...

408 miles for the week. That's a new weekly record for me. Today 53/17.0

Ageless

You go out for an easy ride and what happens? You come up on some young kid that's got to go fast. Damn, I just had to light them up with him on Summit. It really was fairly tame. He took off from a stop light, and I grabbed on to his wheel. I let him pull for awhile, and then I came around close and slow so he could grab on. He did and I slowly raised the speed. He didn't come around me and fell off slightly a couple of times, but was able to get back on at stop lights. Turned on to River Rd and he came up beside me and we started talking. It's pretty cool, that you can come up on a total stranger, not say a word, ride a little and gain a respect that makes you want to talk and share some stuff about bikes. He was about half my age, and it didn't matter. 45/17.8

An Eventful Ride

Saw a ton of people out tonight including, Laura, Karl and Eric. Lots of people heading west, when I was heading east. That's a common theme in my life.
I didn't feel too peppy when I started out, but got a little stronger as the ride progressed. Heading around Lake Harriet I got a flat, so I sat down on a bench right by the lake, and fixed it while I enjoyed the scenery. If you're going to get a flat, that's the way for it to happen. It took a little longer than usual to fix, just because I was so comfortable.
On my Sunday ride I hit a rock that was about the size of a golf ball. The rock ricocheted and came back and hit my bike. I didn't think too much about, because I stayed upright. Monday I noticed my rear wheel making noise when I applied the rear brakes. I didn't think the two things were related. Today I took a look at my rear wheel and found a divot in my rim. It wasn't on the lip, where I'd think it would be if I ran over something, but just above the lettering and still on the rim where the brake pad would hit it. It looked like a tiny meteor hit it creating a crater with a bunch of metal piled up toward one end. That pile or lump of metal was what caused the noise when I was braking. I just sanded it down and enjoyed the "Sounds of Silence" while riding tonight. I figure the divot was created on Sunday by the rock ricocheting and hitting my rim. It's pretty bizarre some of the stuff that can happen on a bike.
Nice ride tonight. 43/17.3

Talkin' Laughin' Ridin'

A couple of friends, talkin', laughin', ridin'. It doesn't get any better than this. 53/16.7

A Sunday Ride

Took off at about 9Am to put on a few extra miles before the Coffee Ride. Got there and kind of wound up leading the ride. I like to be at the front anyway. Not too many people and no women, so again, I didn't mind being at the front.

To get to the cafe I went around the lakes and along the creek to East River Rd and then came across the Mississippi on Marshall and up to the cafe. We did the usual route along the river into downtown St. Paul, back along Lilydale Rd to Hwy 13, across 494 and down through Fort Snelling, up to the Falls and back to the cafe.

I came home for a quick bite. The Waffles, eggs and bacon I'd had for breakfast only lasted about 48 miles and I was at 63. Took off again, with camera in hand and went by Cedar Lake and then up into Theodore Wirth Park. It was humid out, with the threat of tornadoes later this evening, so it's like summer with the air thick enough to cut.










Cedar Lake









I'd hate to be the parents that had to tell this kid he couldn't ride his trike.
Just a great ride...I didn't want to come home. 83/17.0