Tuesday July 30th Training RideThe Wheelsucker is Dropped!

The Wheelsucker was feeling rather ordinary prior to the ride. Of course he often feels ordinary, and then things get a bit better after warming up. He rolled out a bit early to start warmup and was rolling backwards on the route when he met the group just north of Governor Bridge Road. It was a strong group with Ace, Eric, Matt, Iain and several more non ABRT riders.

After a quick U-turn, he tucked in as far back as he could, though he had to work at it to get actually get behind Eric Boone, Ace and Iain, though Iain was riding a TT bike and staying clear off the back most of the time.

The Wheelsucker was still feeling very ordinary at the base of Harwood Hill but there was no hard attack and he made it up with the group. He took a pull after the right turn onto Polling House but was off the front and sitting in very shortly after the left turn onto South Polling House.

He was still feeling ordinary, but made it up the stairstep climb with the lead group. He did have to close a gap after the turn onto Bayard, and there were riders gapped behind him, and some of those sat up or did not make it back on.

The Wheelsucker was taking short pulls and trying not to go hard when he was on the front. He made it up the golf course false flat and the bump at the end, but a little later was on the front taking a short pull when Ace jumped on the left, with others jumping to go with him.

The Wheelsucker had little reserve and was initially gapped with two other [non ABRT] riders. He followed one for a few seconds, jumped to the second, followed him for a few more seconds, and then made the effort to cross the gap.

And he made it!

Except it was a big effort for a tired Wheelsucker. He was still on the back gasping for air at the right turn onto South Polling House. Two or three riders rotated off the front on the way to the base of the stairstep climb. A non ABRT rider was going downhill in a very aero tuck, but Matt and Iain went around him and got a small gap. The Wheelsucker decided he wanted to be closer to the front at the start of the climb and moved out of line and partially closed the gap to Iain and Matt.

And then the climb started. The pace was high and the Wheelsucker was out of matchsticks. The gap opened. The Wheelsucker kept going at a steady hard pace, hoping for a miracle, but the gap opened. He chased hard on Bayard but the gap opened and he could not sustain the effort, anyway.

A tired and frustrated Wheelsucker backed off the level of effort and tried to ride z3 to the finish.