We had three different speed groups leaving the car park this morning, a 20+ mph advanced plus group, an advanced group, and a moderate speed group. I chose to go with the 18-20 mph advanced group.
All ten of us were moving along at a reasonably fast pace, riding together as a peloton should, until four of us got caught up at a red traffic signal. The lead six did not stop or even slow down, which is downright rude and inconsiderate in my opinion.
Despite our gallant efforts, we simply could not catch the lead six when cycling into the 15 mph north wind. Sandy S would pull, I would pull, and then Sandy would pull again, all for naught. Finally, after nearly exhausting ourselves, we slowed to a reasonable pace, taking Indian Trace all the way to the coffee shoppe for our only break.
You can bet that the lead six heard from me shortly after they arrived. It’s debatable whether or not my rant will have any impact on future rides. I doubt it, because some folks simply take delight in dropping other bikers even with the help of traffic signals.
Anyway, had I not escorted my wife for two miles while she did a training walk/run, my overall pace would have been nearly 17 mph for the 32 miles. As it is, my overall pace was something like 13 mph with a top speed of 22.5 mph. Elevation gain was 156 feet, which had to of been the Interstate Highway bridges.
