Tuesday August 24th Training RideThe Wheelsucker Report

Having raced Church Creek on Saturday and starting three races (and only finishing one) at Dawg Days on Sunday, the wheelsucker was a little tired. Taking Monday off the bike had helped, but he still was not feeling fully recovered for the Tuesday Training Ride. This should not have been a problem, as per his coach the wheelsucker could simply sit and avoid working too hard.

So the wheelsucker rolled out at the back of the group, riding tailgun (and yelling "CAR BACK!" and "SINGLE UP!" at appropriate moments) all the way to the route 214.

Either the wheelsucker really was tired, or he was feeling the accordion effect at the back of the group, but the wheelsucker found himself having to drill it to stay on.

Hoping to reduce this effect and concerned about attacks at the front that were too far away for him to get to, the wheelsucker moved up as the group crossed 214 to a position closer to the front.

After weeks of skipping the Queene Anne Bridge Road part of the ride, the group took the left turn up the hill. At the right turn onto Wayson road the group started to break up; not so much from attacks, as from some riders simply not paying attention and not closing gaps. A small group got a gap of a few bike lengths. Michel Wedel decided to close it, and the wheelsucker took the tow up. A hard charging Michel got them to the lead group just as they started up the first of the two bumps. For some reason the wheelsucker thought something might go on the bumps. Michel had been closing at a fast rate, so the wheelsucker had speed and momentum on his side. Coming around Michel he went to nearly full wheelsucker power, charged up the bump and grabbed a wheel to go down the other side and up the next bump. At the top of the second bump it was down to four riders and a big gap.

Big Kyle Pitman (recently of Team 4Mil in the RAAM) started taking long steady monstor pulls, with the other three: the wheelsucker, Steve Owens and a non ABRTer, taking shorter pulls. Going up Harwood Hill no chase could be seen. The four rolled on and each time the wheelsucker checked behind the road was clear. The pace was fast but steady, and not too hard for the wheelsucker, provided he pulled off the front soon enough and went back to wheelsucking.

The four were still clear with no chase in site at the left turn from Sands onto Patuxent River/Harwood. On the climb out of the dip where it floods, the non ABRTer popped. There was a very brief discussion about sitting up and waiting, but the gap to him was significant and surely there was an aggressive chase behind being driven by Ace, Denzil, Stu and others, so the remaining three pressed on. A quick check for clear traffic at 214, and they were across. Kyle was careful to ensure Steve and the wheelsucker were on his wheel before slowly accelerating. When not hyperventilating, the wheelsucker encouraged Kyle to greater efforts by telling him it was only 2,000 miles to go.

The wheelsucker continued taking short-but-hard pulls and pulling off, while Steve Owens would take longer pulls, while Kyle looked like he could pull at a good pace forever and was doing most of the work.

Coming into the sprint the wheelsucker pulled off to maneuver Steve into the lead, and tucked in behind Kyle. Steve pulled most of the flat, down the hill and up the false flat towards the finish line. The wheelsucker waited and waited and finally launched as hard as an aging-wheelsucker-who-has-been-working-in-a-break-for-over-an-hour can launch. Kyle looked over, smiled, and slowly accelerated to pull even and then pull slightly ahead. The wheelsucker changed up to a bigger gear and pushed even harder, but Kyle easily matched the move and slowly pulled ahead to take the win. The wheelsucker crossed second, Steve did not sprint.

The leaders of the chase came up the hill to the Park & Ride a couple of minutes later. While rain had been threatening all afternoon, it held off until just after the group returned to the Park & Ride.

Wheelsucker data (from 214 back to the finish line)
Average Power: 238 watts (max 857 watts)
Average Cadence: 96 rpm
Average Speed: 24.5 mph

So much for sitting in and taking it easy.