WTFriday

[katew]

So, I think we need to rename our rides again.

• A: The usual hammerfest
  A-: Formerly B1, this ride, illuminated by the sparkle of loafing A's, warmed up by riding 42 km/h up Shelbourne and running down the actual As. Minimum size 36 riders. That herd averaged 35 km/h over the ride. Nominally no-drop, but "steady up" resulted in quiet cackling between the gasps for air, and shattered riders being passed back to
  B++: This ride unintentionally left blank
  B+: Formerly B2, still averaging 33 km/h over the entire bloody ride, this ride scoops up those wounded in soul and body before spitting them out partially digested for
  C1: Actual, sane human beings, including a number of people still recovering from Post Traumatic Ungulate Disorder. Took a good hard look at Beacon Hill Park, nodded in its general direction, and said, "Screw it. Let's go get coffee." Even so, split off from
  C2: Where genuine recovery riding and learning happened. And yet: there was
  C3: I looked up from my coffee (it was badly diluted from all the weeping) and saw this vaguely familiar guy in a red shirt, great big arm-bandage, and running shoes. I swear to God, it took me five minutes to recognize Barton without his baby blues on. What a sight for sore eyes. He was wonderfully chipper for a guy who'd just had his hand pinned.

Naptime.

[Rolf]

I take great comfort from this post. After months of generally riding with the Farm Team, B1 was a rude shock this morning.

But don't worry, Kate. The explosion of fitness around us is the natural consequence of almost two months of bright and dry mornings. The dark, cold rain and winds shall shrink us and slow us. People will resume eating things like poutine and pork rinds. And the cycle will begin all over again.

[Paul C.]

Kate and Rolf...I always enjoy your writing and reflections on cycling and on life in general.

This summer I have ridden B1, B2, C and Farm team....I agree with your comments.
The C group today actually split into a C and D group..And speaking of splitting, how come when the B's start out and the Farm team splits ( yes I know Farmers aren't a Tripleshot ride,but about 80% are members)...its something like a 22 and 8 split? How do we change this?

I guess all the groups getting faster is a good thing. It means we are getting fitter and faster, and those that race are getting more competitive.....a good thing as long as we continue to accommodate first timers and slower people.
And one more thought; is our B1 group a no-drop group or a "too bad if you get a flat, see you at coffee " group??

[Andrew L]

Last Friday in the B1 group we had a mechanical going up King George Terrace and people behind stopped to help and the rest of the group waited on the top of the hill at the normal spot.

[leftcoaster]

Gotta tel ya, the A- ride as Kate calls it, was fun today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/344950922

The moving average was 35.5km/hr and except for the shortest of pauses on the hill tops, was really quite smooth. Everyone's abilities were about the same. There were no heroes taking long pulls while everyone else coasted, it was great. If we didn't have to wait for the A's so much on Shelbourne , we may have hit 36.

A couple of weeks ago when we broke 35km/hr for the first time, it was painful. Great weather and everyone in better shape made it sweet.

[phiri]

This Friday a.m was my first ride back after a long hiatus, I held on to the C ride until Dallas Road paceline began, then couldn't keep the speed (I think close to 40km/h) and dropped off the back, taking a quick short-cut home (Fairfield). So there's the C- defectors group (ie those who fall off the back and disappear into oblivion and infamy) too. Thanks for the nice C ride though. Most of the ride was really a nice pace and we held up for others at the top of hills. As a cycling group I think we really do want to have a place for returning or new riders to join in, so I hope the C group can be that place.

Pierre

[wonger]

This Friday a.m was my first ride back after a long hiatus, I held on to the C ride until Dallas Road paceline began, then couldn't keep the speed (I think close to 40km/h) and dropped off the back, taking a quick short-cut home (Fairfield). So there's the C- defectors group (ie those who fall off the back and disappear into oblivion and infamy) too. Thanks for the nice C ride though. Most of the ride was really a nice pace and we held up for others at the top of hills. As a cycling group I think we really do want to have a place for returning or new riders to join in, so I hope the C group can be that place.

Pierre

Hey there club members,

I just wanted to remind everyone that there is only one ride where being "dropped" is acceptable. That is the fast group, the one that leaves the parking lot first - call it A or A+ or "those _____ers!!" or whatever.

It's important to note that even this ride usually stops if someone gets a flat or a mechanical. The dropping, when it happens, is due to the pace. If you choose to go with this group that is the risk that you accept. And good for you for challenging yourself.

All other rides, however you want to name them, are no drop rides. This means that if someone falls behind on a hill or elsewhere (like after a sprint) the group will slow down and/or wait for that person to rejoin the group. If you're pace lining and losing people off the back, YOU'RE DROPPING THEM. That is not very Tripleshot.

The no drop policy is what got me out with Tripleshot and I think it is the most important aspect of our club. Can we please try to ensure that it is respected?

[DavidB]

I don't know how the C ride works, but my understanding is that is essentially open mayhem/free for all/drop after we re-group at the top of KGT. I may be (probably am) wrong.

[Paul C.]

I am not sure who David B. is or how often he rides with the C group, but I think he may have got us confused with another club,( or is he just trying to be funny??)....but I will let Barton or Mark Ford respond further to the previous posting.

[AlW]

I am not sure who David B. is or how often he rides with the C group, but I think he may have got us confused with another club,( or is he just trying to be funny??)....but I will let Barton or Mark Ford respond further to the previous posting.

I believe David is correct. No-drop for the C ride appears to end after the regroup at KGT.

[DavidB]

Sorry, I meant that in regards to the A/B rides.

[barton bourassa]

For the Cs no drop ends at Beacon Hill. We do a pace line down Dallas with the front person rotating off after 10 or a maximum 20 revolutions of the pedal. Soemtimes this does mean a slower pace for the faster Cs or a really slow pace for any usual B riders but we stay together to give everyone the experience, training, challenge and thrill of a good smooth pace line. At Beacon, GOOOO! Unitl then, patience for some and full effort for others.

I second Geoff's comments. No drop except the A ride. It is very important for those falling back to yell Steady! If you leave it too long or wait for someone to notice you are off the back, it takes the group that much longer to regroup and get rolling again. If you find you cannot keep up, ride the next level down on your next ride until you are stronger. Like Mark Ford said one day after riding in a really quick B group, "I rode above my station today!"

Both the quick riders and those not so quick who find themselves falling off the pace have a role to play. Self seed and take care of each other!

[sylvan]

For the Cs no drop ends at Beacon Hill.

This is important because it gets everybody up the Ross Bay hill together. That's gotta be the most common and demoralizing shelling spot in the whole ride.

[katew]

This is important because it gets everybody up the Ross Bay hill together. That's gotta be the most common and demoralizing shelling spot in the whole ride.

This is where B2 blew into smithereens on Tuesday. Still scraping my ego off the pavement.