39-16-84

Season Miles: 1,706

The new computer on my new Specialized Roubaix (now mounted on the stem which I really like) is set up to show me three numbers in the display as I ride; Speed, cadence, distance. So from now on those are the three numbers I will log from my rides. In today's case it was...

39 miles
16.0 ave. speed
84 ave. cadence
New route, Tess Corners to Sunny Slope (no name for this one yet)
Sunny, 76, breezy, 10-15

This was a Sunday morning group ride with 'der Jan' and 'I Drop You' (I nicknamed 'em both), who met me near Greenfield Park and away we went. We chatted it up about my new Roubaix as we headed south on my Three Bridges route to the sports complex in Franklin.

Once there der Jan suggested a new direction for me. Once again, as he has done in the past for me, he came up with a nice little variation of about the same distance back home but with one added climb.

A couple times we turned into the wind and one of those times der Jan said out loud, "OK Issac, this is why we brought you along!" Dutifully the young stud of the group took the point into the wind. The big strong man der Jan second in line, motioning for me to tuck in behind him in third position.

It's a pleasure to ride with these guys for a couple of reasons. I really like riding with veterans who are very steady on the bike. Heck, I Drop You can hold his own in the front 20 positions of a local race, so the guy knows what he is doing. And der Jan is my super domestique. He's always checking to make sure the pace isn't too hot for me to keep up with these guys. I trust them not to do anything stupid or to fall to the temptation of speed and just drop me, which they both could do in a heartbeat.

Now, having said that, the young buck of the group did stretch his legs up that one hill. Boom. I Drop You was gone up that hill faster than a Jimi Hendrix lick on a Stratocaster. After his most-awesomeness display of power he then pulled it back to once again simply pull me home basically.

The new Specialized was feeling good as was I today. Part of it was the fact that I had two guys in front of me for much of the ride. But I handled that climb fairly well today, choosing to stay in the saddle and take the slow and steady approach with the new compact double gearing.

Each ride I take on the Roubaix is a learning experience now. But I must say that today things felt very 'normal' to me. I never really struggled too much out there, which is always a plus. I could ride the bike faster when needed, yet I felt comfortable like a touring ride at times as well. I guess that's what this bike was designed to do.

Two sightings worth noting from this ride.
-Two big deer on the path toward the end of the ride near Bluemound.
-And he's still out there. Yup, we saw the infamous "Knave" at one point on the path also.


This is the point where I wrap up this post because I invited the boys over for granola bars and Gatorade before they continued home. You don't want to know what the conversation was about at one point. Honestly, cyclists are an odd lot.