Share the road

Really there is not much to the story. I was tucked in behind John F, Bob C, Susan and Harlan. Behind me sat Gener, Rich, Woodhouse, Austin, Lance, Katrina and Vince, all returning from Creeds store. Also, the mystery guy who does not wear a helmet had latched onto us, but that’s a different story.

We had just hit a straightaway on Nanney’s Creek Road in Pungo going about 23 mph when a deer shot in front of leader John. We all turned to look left for any deer following. Here comes number two. It bolted through the pack, somehow navigating through a tiny, moving gap between Susan and mystery guy. I had started to slow and could see deer #3 in a full sprint. No stopping it, the world had spun for millions of years and my time with Bambi had come. It was the perfect calculation of motion, me now at 20 mph, this doe going 30 I guess, and SMACK on my front end. Deer did not slow a fraction and vanished. I landed hard in a chucky gravel driveway, helmet taking a nice hit. The Easton fork fractured but wheel held up, and I had deer hairs in my gloves and on my helmet. Start to finish, about 5 seconds.

Everybody held lines without panic so there was no pile up. With a less experienced group and a little less luck, it could have been ugly. It was a Zabriskie moment where one person is just plucked from a tight paceline, though my culprit was not an invisible one.

Vince called Janet, our team Pungo transport liaison, who took me to VB General for a check. The hospital had my name in their system, but they never asked to see an ID and didn’t ask for a co pay. Interesting. Doc said no concussion but take a prescription for headaches. Nurse gave me a tetanus shot for road rash and animal encounter. The most valuable lesson I learned from this is that the cycling grapevine is ALIVE. Thanks for the calls.

Breakaway

I’m into pens. Nice ones, like my blue Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine. So we are sitting there at Panera after the Tuesday morning ride when Sally, Carol and I got to talking race tactics. I lent my legal pad and prized pen to Carol who gave a lesson on tactics (see diagram) though who would ever know by the diagram that race tactics was the topic? She was driving home some point about riders in the front of peleton (see repeated circles) but I drifted off, worried that the pen was suffering under the pressure of whatever point she was trying to make. I started a different tactical game of getting the pen out of her hand and giving her a junky one.

Plans A, B, C

It’s astounding that it has never occurred to me. I’m thinking the way to evacuate the area in event of coming hurricane would be by bicycle. The auto evacuation options suggested by the state take me through the Downtown Tunnel. The state says to leave 24 to 14 hours before tropical force winds hit. Once everyone hits the road on the limited out-routes, there would be no movement. Often discussed scenario around here.

I considered that John peddled 375.8 miles in 24 hours in a recent race. Let’s say I cut 100 miles from that for vicious wind and other trauma. That would still put me in Blacksburg, VA by the time the tropical storms hit Hampton Roads.

Campostella or Berkley Bridge would get me to South Norfolk. Easy ride across Jordan Bridge from there (PA on map). If something goffey is going on there like the bridge stuck in the up position, it’s a 10 minute ride down Bainbridge Blvd. to Gilmerton Bridge (PB). If the powers there won’t let me cross since they think I’m nuts, I really give them a show and swim across the river with bike in tow (PC). From there, it’s Rt. 13/ 460 west with lots of back road options. There would be gridlock everywhere, and being a “move” among the “move nots,” I would need to prepare for being doored and such.

Charmed Life

(right, BJ Samuel takes in the silver spot on the Masters National Criterium Championship podium.)

Gosh, I don't even know where to start with a Nationals report. BJ is an amazing competitor who does not carry race anxiety baggage anywhere. She is all about getting to know other racers, respecting their accomplishments and plain just having fun. I mean, this is the kind of thing that motivates BJ:

"Before I left, Laura agreed to eat a bite of hamburger and Art agreed to eat green beans if I made the podium. I won - they lost! I'll try and schedule a ceremony, which will probably turn into a gag fest, watching them pay up their bets :-)" --BJ

BJ had a late Wednesday Time Trial start time 5:18:30 (got it memorized since she said it 100 times) and throughout the day every weather event imaginable hit western PA--humidity, wind, cold, pouring rain--but she refused to have anything but a winner's attitude all day. This TT course could not have been any fun in the rain which fell at 5:18:30. We are talking 50+ mph descents and small ring grinder climbs. She hammered across the finish line for a bronze performance behind a pure climber Kay Tsui (gold) who did 46:44 at Wintergreen TT and Jo Garuccio(silver) who is a six-time worlds triathlon champion.

BJ attempted her signature move in the Friday’s Criterium--get away and work with who comes. If only one person had been willing to work when they opened up gaps, there could have been a break created, but they were content to stay put. That was fine except that it made sense for people to want a breakaway since the chicane and short straitaway at the end meant those who just sat in would have little chance of passing the lead riders in a bunch sprint. So she firmly established her position up front, never drifting back past 4th wheel, and had great position in the chicane last lap. Kay pulled off an explosive sprint, BJ answered but she’s more 18-wheeler power than explosion. They left the field behind in the straitaway, Kay (HPC/ List) gold, BJ (TriPower) silver. They both dominated the field throughout the race.

Personal note, I finally got to Pittsburg. We drove in Thursday, easily found Mount Washington, and had lunch looking down on the city.

E=MyCalves

Good to see Jon Devich is back as a Tour photographer. Many of his images are showing in Cycling News and on his website.

I have been conserving a bit of fuel by cycling to the Saturday ride rather than driving there. I have been accompanied by Wes, one who is pretty adamant about not driving to rides, so it works out well. Perhaps this goes without saying, but when energy is saved from one source, it exahausts another. By the time I do 20 miles out, 55 ride, 20 back, I am wiped out for the remainder of the day. I may not be consuming but I am being consumed.