Saturday Feb 28 FROM DISCO ON DISCO

[barton bourassa]

160 K this time. Leaving from DISCOVERY COFFEE ON DISCOVERY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND DOUGLAS at 7 AM sharp. Show up early if you need pre ride coffee.

The route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/632353206/

Seriously! I am shooting for a pace of 27 to 27.5 K/Hr. I know for some folks 30 K/Hr is their long slow pace. Last Saturday's ride near done me in! I cannot ride that quick over that distance (29.4 K/Hr.) and still hope to put in a decent workout the next day out.

I cannot put in quality workouts during the week and hope to keep up a pace approaching 30 K/Hr. I have a plan and that plan includes being able to do long rides on Saturday and quality near all out workouts during the week (like this morning's TTT!) and staying healthy and getting stronger up to the Penticton Fondo July 12.

Is this ride all about me? Yes. Well, sort of. I don't want to discourage anyone from coming out. There is still the underlying ethos of TSC, the group comes first. So if you want to come out and do the distance, please keep in mind the goal of the ride.

Thanks,

Barton.

[myboys]

Barton, I'm in (for an hour or so) if you'll have me. I'll have to peel off at 8:30-ish. See you dark and early!

[barton bourassa]

See you there Mary!

[barton bourassa]

Well, from my perspective that worked out well. 161.8 K. 27.7 km/hr. Started off with Mary, John D, Blair and Doug. Mary left us at Lagoon but it was really good to have her with us to that point. It kept things under control with a nice warm up pace. John D stayed with us till Burnside and the Goose leaving just Blair, Doug and I. We kept things civil till W Saanich and Interurban where Blair headed home to jump on his mountain bike. At the top of Sparton we meet Eric (newish guy, not to be confused with doctor and teacher Erics!)

Eric is one strong rider! We still had 97 K to go when we picked him up so we had Eric doing a lot of the pulling! Things picked up pretty good down Caddie Bay and Beach. I was smelling the finish line and calculating all of the hills and little rises left to go and hanging on to Eric as we flew down Dallas. I think I pushed the pace a bit too much.

I was done by the time we hit Cook St Village but not shattered. I look forward a massage and physio this week!

Next week, a more civilized 140!

Barton.