A large group was gathered in the Park & Ride for rollout. Nick Vita and Denzil Hathaway were the strongest riders, but there were a number of solid riders. Rick Paukstitus and the Wheelsucker agreed it was a "Plan B" ride. The pace at rollout was easy, and Rick and the Wheelsucker continued the discussion, concluding that the chances of a successful breakaway were low, as even if the two strongest riders got clear, there was enough firepower in the group to bring them back. The only risk was if several riders got clear with both Nick and Denzil.
The pace picked up part way to 214/Central Avenue and was fast from 214/Central Avenue on. On Harwood Hill the Wheelsucker was positioned where he could watch Denzil, but Nick was somewhere behind. Jeff Chun was on the front for the second half of the climb, and drove the pace. Denzil maneuvered into second, and the Wheelsucker grimly held on to Denzil’s wheel for third. But despite the pace everyone was there with no gaps.
The Wheelsucker took a short pull when he rotated to the front and moved back to hide. When the group turned left onto South Polling House the Wheelsucker was well back. Jeff Chun moved up on the downhill before the South Polling House stairstep, and the Wheelsucker followed, also wanting to be closer to the front.
The Wheelsucker pushed right from the start of the climb moving up to about fourth wheel, then accelerated two-thirds of the way up and got a gap with Denzil following. The Wheelsucker swung wide at the turn to let Denzil lead and then decided it was too early for a break to work, so the Wheelsucker eased up and let Denzil go off by himself. The Wheelsucker tagged on at the back of the group and let the leaders work to bring Denzil back.
The group was together until Nick jumped on the golf course false flat and rode away. The group accelerated to chase, putting the Wheelsucker in difficulty momentarily, but he hung on. At the start of the stairstep climb the second time, Nick was still ahead but the gap was coming down. The Wheelsucker again waited until they were two-thirds of the way up and accelerated, closing down most of the remaining gap and getting to the top second, a few bike lengths behind Nick, before pulling off and letting someone else finish the job.
It was still a rather large group. The Wheelsucker’s next pull was on a fast downhill on Bayard and he some trouble catching on at the back; it took quite some time to drift back, and the group was moving fast, but he made it on after straining to his limit.
The pace was steady and fast. Climbing out of the dip (where the Patuxent sometimes floods Patuxent River Road) the Wheelsucker was riding about fourth wheel, with Steve Owens taking a long hard pull. When Steve stood up about half way up the climb the Wheelsucker decided Steve was at his limit and this was a good opportunity increase the pace and get to the top first. The Wheelsucker pulled out left and accelerated smoothly. He went by the riders in front easily, but then Nick Vita went by to his left going much faster and saying "Lets go!". The Wheelsucker jumped hard to get Nick’s wheel.
Initially this worked, but the power required to accelerate and then stay on Nick’s wheel was rather more than the Wheelsucker could put out, and as they reached the little kicker at the top Nick accelerated again, the Wheelsucker realized he was done, and the next few riders who were responding to the attack went flying by.
A gasping Wheelsucker was passed by the entire group. He was unable to accelerate to get a wheel and was gapped behind the last rider, but finally got it going and got back to that wheel, took a few breaths, and came around and closed the gap to the back of the group. While the light at 214 is almost always red, it turned green as the group approached. The group accelerated again, and the Wheelsucker barely made it across with the group.
The Wheelsucker tried to find a strong wheel to follow for the sprint, but was gapped off that wheel, and it didn’t matter anyway, as Nick simply rode away from everyone to cross first.
So decent climbs on Harwood Hill and the South Polling House stairstep (twice), and a nearly suicidal attempt to go with Nick on Patuxent River Road. If there is a lesson here for the Wheelsucker, he has not figured it out yet.
Wheelsucker Data (from 214 to the finish):
30.64 miles, 1:15:53
Power: 205 av/777 max watts
HR: 146 av/168 max bpm
Cadence: 87 av/119 max rpm
Speed: 24.39 mph
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