FLCC> Ringwood Tuesday Bs

[Mark Rishniw]

With the threat of rain negated by the presence of His Excellency, El 
Prez, a large group rode up to the start of the Ringwood 
ride.  Finally, midway through May, we were going to do a full 
course.  I was not looking forward to it and was quickly trying to 
rack up excuses - I'd been digging trenches all weekend as well as 
doing hillwork; I was still 10lb above my minimum race weight (a 
serious fatboy start to the season!); I was tired and 
overworked.  None of them were any good - the others saw my shiny new 
Orbea and decided I had negated my disadvantages.

The B-group rolled out quite large, and gradually picked up pace 
along midline.  Through the corner, Donal F swung wide over the 
yellow line and then cut across the pack somewhat dangerously through 
the corner (Don, you can only cut a corner if you're in front, not 
from midway through the pack), but everybody was ready and no ill 
came of it.  Over the crest and down Midline towards 79, Mike P and 
Emmanuel decided to put the hammer down.  The group was strung out 
single file as we turned onto 79, everybody barely holding the wheel 
ahead.  Onto EHS, the 2 break-aways were reeled in.  I jumped on the 
lower section, forcing the pace. Of course, this cost me dearly in 
the second part of the climb, and I barely hung on to the cresting 
pack - we were down to 13 riders.  Mike P put in another attack on 
the downhill, this time taking Hugh with him.  Coming up to Ringwood, 
it was gruppo compatto.  Don F went to the front and started motoring 
- the pack sitting on his wheel.  Finally, the extra twinkies I'm 
carrying made me pay the price and I waved a sad bye-bye as they 
started up from the bridge.  Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!  Four more riders 
also fell off the back - the most painful of whom was Alex Tamm, who 
cramped for about 5 minutes by the side of the road.  The other 3 
riders regrouped and proceeded to chase the lead bunch - I could see 
FannyPack George in there, but couldn't pick out the others.

Try as I might, I couldn't bridge the ever-widening gap and resolved 
myself to riding a TT to the finish line on Snyder Hill.  I finally 
got to the finish line as a small group of chasers were closing down 
on me.  I have no idea who won.  Although I'm nowhere near fit, this 
was a pretty fast-paced (and therefore relatively safe) race.  The 
B's are definitely racing better this year!



Mark Rishniw

Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
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