it's been 2 years since that ride, you know the one, you're late so you push the pace of your warm up... sweat breaks early, unsure of the legs but certain of the time; giddy up! you catch them, just, and settle in the middle of the pack... but then something, a bit of snap up the first climb, maybe due to your accelerated warmup and you have a feeling youre ready... you go with it and find yourself at the front not pushing but seems a bit quick for the others... the descent comes too soon and cresting doesnt need recovery, gear up and push 'em down, speed building easily and no one comes around you... cruising off the front as the group reforms you get a quick tip from your water bottle, next up a set of rollers and you already know you will be taking them out of the saddle, save nothing, leave it all on the road today. stomp hitch stomp hitch stomp hitch you're hitting on all cylinders, up to the false top and someone is matching the pace but you're not gonna let up, seated speed-grind see how that feels; in their legs. over the crest much the same except on the twists, turns you lose sight of anyone, quieter, for a few short seconds its like a solo ride... you get to the turnaround and wonder; is this the day, the day you pour it on, counter all comers 'the bottomless tank'? on the way back in its flat and attacks come, you chase everything down, sit a bit, watch, wait, another, get that wheel, still more in there... you take a flyer, down to just 2 or 3 now, one pulls through but shortly drops the pace, just a touch, but this IS your day, get up and snap off a 20 second sprint, still able to gap 'em! settle in wait for them to catch back on, are they coming around? no? would going again breach etiquette? nah! lay another patch on the tarmac, give 'em a show! you've been back there before but not today... cool down is coming, sit up, small ring take a drink, too much left in there! chug more than usual, let them think youre nearly tapped, but you could go again, couldn't you. today there was always more in the tank.
hope to see one of these days again soon, in fact how about one for everybody...
all's'miles
curby