Tuesday October 9th Training RideThe Wheelsucker Report

With the hours of daylight shrinking rapidly, the Tuesday "world championship" ride start time has been moved back to 5:30pm, and the route has been shortened.

It was overcast and cool most of the afternoon, and there was not much light at 5:30pm.

It was a smallish group with Tom A., Mike F., Michel W. , Eric Wang and the Wheelsucker.

The Wheelsucker had had yet another stressful day at work, and was tired. His legs were still sore from a short run on Sunday, so his first thought was to sit in and warm up. But as the group rolled up to the left turn for Rossback, just after rollout, it occurred to the Wheelsucker that maybe everyone else felt like they needed a warmup before going hard, so the Wheelsucker casually ramped up the power to threshold, and kept pedaling on the downhill after the left turn.

And it worked!

By the time he crossed Governor Bridge Road, he could not see the group. With his forearms resting on the bar tops to get as low and aero as possible, he worked to hold threshold power, trying to go higher on the climbs and recover slightly on the downhills.

The Wheelsucker was very fortunate to roll up to the 214 intersection and see a car waiting at the light, which apparently triggered the light. The Wheelsucker slowed but did not have to stop, and rolled through on his own. A quick glance back just before a turn would have blocked the view of the intersection revealed the others at the intersection, not far behind, but probably not making it across on that green. The Wheelsucker quickly got back into his most aero position and pedaled for all he was worth. Having been surprised on Saturday when Nick Vita pulled Rick and Matt up to the lead group – the Wheelsucker and Steve Owens – the Wheelsucker was careful to check behind him at points when he had a clear view behind, but did not see the chase. He was alone climbing out of the dip and riding past the Sands Road intersection. He was alone climbing Harwood Hill, and he was alone on the way to route 2.

But then he was slowed by accident cleanup involving fire trucks, police cars, an ambulance, and police directing traffic. But he did not have to wait long – perhaps 40 seconds – and as he rolled past and accelerated he did not see a chase, and they would probably be held up as well.

Down the route 2 shoulder, right onto Polling House, left onto South Polling House, down the descent and up the stairstep climb, the Wheelsucker was alone. It was too dark to read the numbers on his computer display, so the Wheelsucker was pacing himself by perceived exertion.

Down Bayard and up Sands, left on Patuxent River, and then, as the Wheelsucker approached the 214 intersection, a waiting car triggered the light to green, and the Wheelsucker sprinted across on the last of the green. With about eight minutes to go to the finish line, a tiring Wheelsucker put his head down and pedaled as hard as he could. He checked over his shoulder a few more times, but saw no one.

Climbing out of the last dip, the Wheelsucker gave it everything he had left, pushing 370 watts for forty seconds, before easing up and crossing the line, alone.

A few minutes later, the Wheelsucker pulled into the Park & Ride and stopped at his car, and was surprised to see Mike, Tom and Eric come in just behind him. They reported being within range at the 214 light, but not making the same green and having to wait for a complete light cycle, and apparently did a slightly different version of the route (they may have continued on Polling House, skipping South Polling House), not going hard.

Hmn.

The Wheelsucker is still claiming a solo breakaway win.

Wheelsucker Data:

First crossing the finish line outbound, back to finish line on shortened route:
1:03:24 @ 264 watts average, 599 max, and 276 normalized, 154 bpm average, 87 rpm average cadence, 22.61 mph average speed.