FLCC> Tuesday night A's

[Glenn Swan]

	With the Fitchburg stage race coming up this weekend, all of the heavy 
hitters were just going out for a ride, and the "A" racing was going to be 
left to ordinary fellows and old guys. Some of us were debating how to ride 
the corners (Midline/Irish Settlement and Midline/79) in a manner that 
stuck to the guidelines set out in the parking lot, while still feeling 
like we were racing. With a Mt. Pleasant finish I wasn't in any mood to go 
from the gun, and although there were a few spirited attacks I don't think 
anyone else had illusions either. When we neared Ellis Hollow south Andy 
Getzin and Travis were driving a break with a small gap. Jake and Ano lit 
up a chase into the hill and blew by them like they had shifted into 
reverse. Visiting bike-god Danny T floated up to them, and I figured I 
better get on that bus, so I motored up as fast as I could get there. Jake 
suddenly vanished leaving Ano and me with Danny. Ano noted, "Hmmmm...I've 
played this scenario more than a few times."  Danny makes it look so easy 
that you tend to kill yourself trying to keep up with him. This has led 
more than a few guys to their deaths as they go too hard and blow up. Ano 
and I stayed within ourselves (just barely) forcing Danny to wait if he 
wanted our company. (Not that either of us were able to form any words, let 
alone produce witty or meaningful commentary, while gasping for air.) We 
certainly rode faster than we would have if left to our own devices, but 
were not going to blow up and get caught by anyone either. Ano's one 
functioning brain cell misfired at the turn-off from 79 to Ellis Hollow the 
2nd time and he rode straight by it. Danny and I waited for 20-30 seconds 
for him to get turned around and then we resumed our pace up the hill 
toward our real climbs and the finish. I tried to take a few pulls so that 
I wouldn't have to write that I had simply sat on Danny's wheel for 20 
miles, but let's face it, Danny could have ridden faster without us. Ano 
and I rode shoulder to shoulder up Ringwood and then up the first riser of 
Mt. Pleasant. I was a bit uncomfortable, and even considering that If Ano 
played his cards right he might score a victory on the Observatory Slopes 
and overcome his mental barrier. But as we rolled over the top and into the 
final dip and climb Ano let his head take over and said something to the 
effect of "leading you guys out", meaning that he had already lost in his 
head. Danny lit a rocket and zoomed up the hill to the finish. I lit a 
sparkler and fizzled my way to the finish, and Ano rolled in a short bit 
behind me. It was close to 4 or 5 minutes before anyone else rolled up 
the  hill to the finish. I think Danny may have helped us get there a 
little faster than usual....as for heart rates and respiration figures, 
from what I saw as I stuffed my organs back into my chest after the climb, 
I would say it looked like my heart was beating at about 165 and my lungs 
were inflating around 100 liters per acre...

Glenn