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| HBUH 200K Finishers, time 6 hr. 51 min. (l to r) Paul Chuck, Paul McKenzie, Sarah Schroer, Ken Cabeen |
I scheduled to ride this event with Paul Chuck on the tandem, March 15, 2014. This is one of the most beautiful, challenging, and fun, 200K brevets on the calendar featuring over 8,000' of climbing in 126 miles. We show up register efficiently in the good hands of Bill and Evelyn Ellis. Bob Redmond gives a short speech and we are off at 7AM, as dawn light prevails.
The capable tandem team of Craig Robertson and Lori Cherry sets the pace in the early miles. Craig likes to be at the front in big groups, and Paul and I have no objection. I need a while to warm up, get the feel of the ride, and fashion a strategy for the day. I'm in no hurry to do that. We sit a few wheels back, riding patiently, after starting a bit late and catching.
Also at the front are Jason Pierce and Becky Berka on their fixed gear bikes. So impressive how they are riding.
About 12 miles in Jady Palko jumps and the fast F-ers jump too, one by one. Carl Sanders, Doug McKenzie and maybe another rider or two sprint after Jady. We sit tight many wheels back. I start thinking we should be in position in case there is is split, so Paul and I roll to the front. We get to the front and I look at the gap to the break, and figure, well, we can close this down without too much trouble. I call Scotty (Paul Chuck) in the Engine Room, and let him know the ship is going to have to go quite a bit faster for a bit, and without so much as an "Aye, Captain," we slowly wind 'er up to nearly 30 mph and begin to close the gap to the leaders.
We roll past Craig and Lori, who are setting a perfect pace, and chase down the leaders, going a bit faster than we'd like. Marc Moons jumps to catch us, while Sarah Schroer is already perfectly positioned on our wheel and following. Seems her rides on the tandem with me have rendered her attentive to being at the right place at the right time when the tandem makes a move! She followed our wheel all day so effectively.
We catch the front group and bring a decent sized group with us. The ride is now split. On Canyon Paul and I soft pedal as the group climbs ahead. Just for fun, we blow past them on the downhill, but the fast riders easily latch on, and we lead the group toward Dutcher Creek.
Dutcher to Cloverdale is uneventful. Then the big climb out of Cloverdale. We set a sensible pace and the fast group is long gone. Others stay with us, we crest, then have a very fast roll to Boonville, picking up shelled riders along the way. The leaders are there, in Boonville, and just leaving. We do our business and get on the road. Climbing CA 253 we have Sarah, Scott D, Eric L., Shane B. Doug M., Ken C., and others. Doug M. and Ken C. float up the climb ahead of our group. We crest and roll down the descent. Paul and I drop everyone, except Eric L. and he takes the Strava KOM on the descent following our wheel. It's one I told Paul C. we'd take, but unfortunately, when someone follows your wheel, they often pimp the KOM from you!
http://www.strava.com/segments/1023378?filter=overall
We catch Doug and Ken near the bottom of the 253 descent and tow them into Ukiah, where we find the leaders are at the Safeway control. Carl S, Carl A, Marc M, and Jady... maybe someone I missed. Paul and I do a quick turnaround, and are ready to leave a minute or two after the leaders. Then Sarah S, Scott D, Shane B arrive at Safeway as we are about to depart. I know the long flat drag to Hopland is ahead, so I take Sarah's bike and tell her, "Make it quick and we'll wait for you." No point in leaving this group of friends to ride the upcoming flat section alone.
Our group rolls out and we make quick work of the flats to Hopland, rolling at 25mph most of the way. Mt. House is a struggle for all of us but we make it to 128. Eric L. is dropped here. We descend to Cloverdale, slow, stuck behind cars. Uggghhh! As we climb Dutcher Creek, I inform our group, "We are looking good, if we stick to the knitting here, we have a crack at sub 7 hours."
The group asks us if they can do some help at the front, which we appreciate, but I feel Paul and I still have the legs to get the job done. We set the steady pace at the front and tow Sarah, Doug, and Ken to the finish in 6 hours 51 minutes. Paul and I had hoped to do this course in under 7 hours, so mission accomplished. We are happy to do it with good friends.
Apparently, Carl Sanders and Marc Moons finished first something like 10+ minutes ahead, followed by Carl Andersen and Jady Palko just a few ticks ahead of us.
The social time at the end was spectacular, and a big thanks to Bob Redmond for hosting yet another fantastic Brevet. Smiles were everywhere as we hung out for a good 2 hours to welcome the other riders finishing.
Freddie Rodriguez made a Cameo visit to the finish line. I hope some of you got the chance to meet Freddie. Such a great guy!
A big thanks to Bob Redmond and all the volunteers for a great day on the bike.
Strava file for ride:
http://www.strava.com/activities/121009889
The capable tandem team of Craig Robertson and Lori Cherry sets the pace in the early miles. Craig likes to be at the front in big groups, and Paul and I have no objection. I need a while to warm up, get the feel of the ride, and fashion a strategy for the day. I'm in no hurry to do that. We sit a few wheels back, riding patiently, after starting a bit late and catching.
Also at the front are Jason Pierce and Becky Berka on their fixed gear bikes. So impressive how they are riding.
About 12 miles in Jady Palko jumps and the fast F-ers jump too, one by one. Carl Sanders, Doug McKenzie and maybe another rider or two sprint after Jady. We sit tight many wheels back. I start thinking we should be in position in case there is is split, so Paul and I roll to the front. We get to the front and I look at the gap to the break, and figure, well, we can close this down without too much trouble. I call Scotty (Paul Chuck) in the Engine Room, and let him know the ship is going to have to go quite a bit faster for a bit, and without so much as an "Aye, Captain," we slowly wind 'er up to nearly 30 mph and begin to close the gap to the leaders.
We roll past Craig and Lori, who are setting a perfect pace, and chase down the leaders, going a bit faster than we'd like. Marc Moons jumps to catch us, while Sarah Schroer is already perfectly positioned on our wheel and following. Seems her rides on the tandem with me have rendered her attentive to being at the right place at the right time when the tandem makes a move! She followed our wheel all day so effectively.
We catch the front group and bring a decent sized group with us. The ride is now split. On Canyon Paul and I soft pedal as the group climbs ahead. Just for fun, we blow past them on the downhill, but the fast riders easily latch on, and we lead the group toward Dutcher Creek.
Dutcher to Cloverdale is uneventful. Then the big climb out of Cloverdale. We set a sensible pace and the fast group is long gone. Others stay with us, we crest, then have a very fast roll to Boonville, picking up shelled riders along the way. The leaders are there, in Boonville, and just leaving. We do our business and get on the road. Climbing CA 253 we have Sarah, Scott D, Eric L., Shane B. Doug M., Ken C., and others. Doug M. and Ken C. float up the climb ahead of our group. We crest and roll down the descent. Paul and I drop everyone, except Eric L. and he takes the Strava KOM on the descent following our wheel. It's one I told Paul C. we'd take, but unfortunately, when someone follows your wheel, they often pimp the KOM from you!
http://www.strava.com/segments/1023378?filter=overall
We catch Doug and Ken near the bottom of the 253 descent and tow them into Ukiah, where we find the leaders are at the Safeway control. Carl S, Carl A, Marc M, and Jady... maybe someone I missed. Paul and I do a quick turnaround, and are ready to leave a minute or two after the leaders. Then Sarah S, Scott D, Shane B arrive at Safeway as we are about to depart. I know the long flat drag to Hopland is ahead, so I take Sarah's bike and tell her, "Make it quick and we'll wait for you." No point in leaving this group of friends to ride the upcoming flat section alone.
Our group rolls out and we make quick work of the flats to Hopland, rolling at 25mph most of the way. Mt. House is a struggle for all of us but we make it to 128. Eric L. is dropped here. We descend to Cloverdale, slow, stuck behind cars. Uggghhh! As we climb Dutcher Creek, I inform our group, "We are looking good, if we stick to the knitting here, we have a crack at sub 7 hours."
The group asks us if they can do some help at the front, which we appreciate, but I feel Paul and I still have the legs to get the job done. We set the steady pace at the front and tow Sarah, Doug, and Ken to the finish in 6 hours 51 minutes. Paul and I had hoped to do this course in under 7 hours, so mission accomplished. We are happy to do it with good friends.
Apparently, Carl Sanders and Marc Moons finished first something like 10+ minutes ahead, followed by Carl Andersen and Jady Palko just a few ticks ahead of us.
The social time at the end was spectacular, and a big thanks to Bob Redmond for hosting yet another fantastic Brevet. Smiles were everywhere as we hung out for a good 2 hours to welcome the other riders finishing.
Freddie Rodriguez made a Cameo visit to the finish line. I hope some of you got the chance to meet Freddie. Such a great guy!
A big thanks to Bob Redmond and all the volunteers for a great day on the bike.
Strava file for ride:
http://www.strava.com/activities/121009889
