Treasure Valley Cycling Club

Saturday was the 2012 edition. Jenny and Dan patrolled the 50, and Chris and I rode the century.

Unlike this year's LeBow, the weather was PERFECT! I left my house at 6:20 with almost no extra gear - only arm warmers. I'm not a morning person (surprise) so I wasn't really excited about a hard, fast day, but Chris was positive like always and got me into the groove.

The ride started out like most of these. Early there would be gaps forming on any little hill and a bunch of Bob's and Sandal's guys pushing the pace at the front. Eventually a group of about 20 formed. Things went well, except a little side wind caused echelons that some folks took all the way into the oncoming traffic lane! Hiding from the wind is great, but that kind of riding makes me pretty nervous!

That hill west of 45 caused a split. I ended up in a group of 12 with a bunch of folks that are too fast for me, but it was ok because I didn't take very many pulls. This worked well until that stretch past Marsing Rd, where everybody gunned it. Eventually, 8 guys were up the road, and 4 of us were trailing. My group was Robert H, Jen H, Jeff C, and me. Robert wanted to catch the Bob's guys up the road, and had us working hard along Lake Shore. He was definitely the biggest engine and pulled the hardest and longest, but there was no place to hide so I had to work a lot more!

Fun, hard ride, and I'm sure it was my fastest century. About 4:20, and that included 2 brief stops for water. Add my ride to the start from home, and it's by far my longest ride this year!