Dec 27 – After Christmas Ride
27th December 2008 by brtoone
Another awesome turnout this week with well over 50 riders making it out for a ride with temperatures peaking in the mid 70s. The pace was moderate and pretty steady again this week. At the “nature break” stop just outside of Leeds, Terry announced that we would extend the attack zone by blowing the whistle on Hwy 43 right after we crossed over the bridge from St Clair county into Shelby county. This added about 1.5 miles to the total length of the attack zone.
When Terry blew the whistle, the pace ramped up pretty quick with Travis Sherman (Marx and Bensdorf), Lennie Moon (Tria Market), and I (Tria Market) all drilling it at the front. My goal was to see if we could get a gap by rolling hard at the front – but that didn’t happen. Instead, the pace of the entire group just sky rocketed. We were going about 27mph cresting the small hill about 1/2 mile before making the left onto Hwy 55 when Darryl “fast as a horse” Seelhorst launched a massive solo attack and quickly established a lead. Ty “powerhouse” Stanfield (Inferno Racing) moved into position and then attacked to bridge up to Darryl. Will “moving like a train” Hibberts bridged up too and the three riders extended their lead. As the leading trio railed up front eventually becoming two with Darryl and Ty laying it down at pro-tour level speeds, Joe Eldridge (Team Type I) and another rider launched a strong attack breaking free from the field but not quite able to close the gap on the leading duo. At least once or twice after that it looked impossible for the break to stay away – but never giving up and relentlessly pouring out the watts, the two managed to extend their lead coming into the final hill.
Back in the pack, I maneuvered into position at the front waiting to see what Terry would do. A young rider from GS Montagna Rossa launched a perfectly timed attack just before the hill. Jim Brock (ERA Oxford Realty/Alabama Masters/Bob’s Bikes) attacked shortly thereafter. Jim caught and passed the GSMR rider and looked like he was on his way to third place as the rest of the group eyed each other. Terry was stuck in the front as we rounded the bend at the church at the top of the hill. I was in perfect position behind Terry so as he ramped up the speed, I came flying around him knowing that a quick enough acceleration would take me to the line before the big sprinters could wind it up. As a surprise bonus though, I managed to squeak by Jim just before the finish line for third. Jim rolled in a tenth of a second later quickly followed by the Tria sprinting prowess of Sammy Flores in fifth.
Meanwhile, up front, Darryl buried himself to keep the break away and Ty was just able to come around him to take the victory!
For the women’s competition, Amy Gravlee (Team Medplan) stayed right up there with the men and a new rider Elizabeth rode strong too coming in behind Amy for second place.
Ok, that’s it for today – see you next week! Here is the updated series standings.