Bike

• 58m 28s
• 14.78 miles
• 15.17 Mi/hr

Temp - 51-48
Wind - west@ 13-24
Max mph - 27.2

When I woke up at 6:30 I was cold so I made coffee and then crawled into the downstairs bed to drink it. I figured this would be an easy 30 miles and I would eat when I go home.

We left the parking lot at 8:39 - Greg, Randel, and I. I knew in the first mile I was in trouble. We had a bit of a head wind and I could not get anything going. That coupled with the first big hill and I was sucking air hard.

The good part was the next few miles would be generally down hill. We rolled into Chaska without a problem and headed off towards Carver.

Randel had to back off a few times for Greg and I so I caught him sleeping as we approached the Carver town sign. I held back until we were 10 feet away then blasted by him taking the sign. I then announced that would be my last town sign of the day :)

Rolling into downtown Carver I could feel a little mist in my face. I joked with Randel and told him to quit spitting. Shortly it would not be a joke!

It never rained hard put it was a steady cold drizzle/ light rain.

When we hit the turn for East Union I called a stop to discuss what to do. Randel said we were already wet we should go on. I didn't want to get chilled and sick again. Greg hates riding in the rain so I knew ahead of time what his vote would be.

The problem with heading back was we were at the lowest point of our ride. We were at the base of a 6% hill. Randel passed me and had a good gap. By the time we were half way up I was back on his wheel and he was complaining about hauling so much weight up hill. By the top he was on my wheel.

The next section was kind of rough farm roads when Randel asked me if I recognized where we were. I told hi all I saw was water spots on my glasses:) I thought Greg was going to fall off his bike laughing.

At this point we were very close to back and we were all wet. When we hit the parking lot I asked the guys if they needed in the church for anything (since I had the key). Since they didn't I told the I was throwing my bike on the rack and heading home quick since I did not have any dry clothes with.

Hopefully next week it will be drier and I will be smart enough to eat first.

Bike

• 1h 28m 06s
• 22.23 miles
• 15.14 Mi/hr

This was one AWESOME ride.

I had 5 other guys from work riding with me. One was on a hybrid mountain bike. Another thought exercise was a stupid. And then I had the three knuckleheads from last year.

I started off holding a 15 mph pace. The next thing I knew the guy on the hybrid was passing me. OK so you want to play!

We were coming into our first bridge sprint and I took off hard. Remember I was out for 5 days with the flu and hadn't ridden in 9. Byron was on my right and was working hard when I heard a "UFFF" and he drifted back. At the same time Mike came past me hard on the left to take the bridge.

We coasted along waiting for everyone else to catch up. When the 5th guy rolled up I asked where Byron was. Turns out he slide his wheel in the frame and had to try and straighten things out. That boy has power.

The next exciting moment came when we were climbing the big hill along the river. Mike, Zack, and Jeremy (hybrid man) were gone off the front. Byron and Chris were in front of me (I was making sure we didn't lose anyone.) This s a shared path and we were coming up on this young lady rollerblading up the hill. Byron goes by, Chris goes by almost taking out an oncoming biker. I ended up ducking back in behind the rollerblader just as she stops! I ended up doing a track stand on the hill and then started off bck up trying to catch my other two pals. I pass Chris quickly and got on Byron's wheel by the first crest. I was hurting so I figured he could pull me over the next crest!

Once we got on the Cedar Lake Trail we kind of all split up. Zach and Mike took off never to be seen again. Jermey was just a tad in front of Byron and I. Chris was out the back in no time.

When we hit the Keneworth cutoff Jeremy took that (a shorter way back to the shop). Byro and I were cruising along at 17-18 mph. As we approached the next bridge I rolled up next to Byron and asked him if that was all he had. He nodded yes.

I pulled in front of him and told him I wasn't going to leave him and held a constant 17 mph. Bridge 1 goes by, bridge 2 and then bridge 3. I was surprised he never attacked.When I looked back he was no where to be seen!

I stopped at a park and waited for a few minutes and he rolled back up - totally toasted.

From then on I just did my best to pull him home.