Friday B1 Ride

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mfarnham
Posts: 884
Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:56 am

Friday B1 Ride

Post by mfarnham »

They were playing it cool in the parking lot after the A1 ride rolled out. “Does anyone want an A2 ride?” Heads shook. Riders cast their eyes down, demurely. “No…we can all go as one group.” said one. “I’m not going to hammer today.” said another.

“OK, then. This is B1. No drop.”

About ten rolled out…mostly A1 and A2 types. A couple joined on the road. Everyone kept their cards close to their chests at first. Shelbourne was brisk, but no early moves. The group crossed to Blenkinsop, holding together. Everyone awaited the inevitable first attack. Who would it be? Where would it be? On Blenki?

It came on Mt. Doug Parkway. 3 smashed off the front heading up the hill, stringing out the group behind them. Someone foolishly…desperately…called “Steady!” but the gap just grew. They hammered up Ash, building on an advantage gained when the chasers had to delay their left turn for oncoming traffic. One of them bent his chain trying to keep up.

“This is too easy”, thought the leaders. “We should probably give them another chance.”

(note: some poetic license being taken…I don’t actually read minds)

Someone called for a foot down at the top of Ash. What kind of a race was this? It was a worrying moment. Such softness does not bode well for heroics. Then, to make things worse, one of the last to reach the top of Ash called out, “Remember…this is a no drop ride.” But as everyone knows, such words only cause excess twitching in the quads of hammerheads. The group rolled on, as the mechanical was still being sorted. One rider was back making sure Bent Chain could get home alright. When he looked up, the group was gone.

The chase was on. The rider back pointed his light up, in desperate hope that someone would shoulder check, take pity, and call for the group to steady. Maybe someone...just one person?...would remember that a B ride is a no-drop ride. They were only 50 meters ahead, after all…

Such foolish thoughts are for the weak. The group rolled on. But wait… a sign of hope! Heroically, one rider dropped back to help his fallen comrade. He towed the fallen rider for 3 km, chasing the group, but the rider back was already gassed from the initial solo chase. It was a hopeless case. “Go on…save yourself!” he called.

(Note: I did say poetic license right?)

At Arbutus and Queenswood, there was a quick check on the group. Was someone missing? “That Martin guy, maybe?” This was a perfectly opportunity to attack, but guards were down. Thinking was fuzzy. This worrying about the group really takes the mental edge off racers. So many opportunities squandered.

Thankfully from there (I’m told) people regained mental clarity and the hammerfest was back on. By BHP, only 4 riders of the initial 12 or so remained. I couldn’t say who gloriously prevailed in the sprint, because I was finishing my ride with B2. All I know was that it was a B1 ride for the history books.

Martin
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Rolf
Posts: 2682
Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:27 am

Re: Friday B1 Ride

Post by Rolf »

B sounds like it stood for Bullshit this morning, Martin. And: Booooo!

I hope the mea culpas soon to be posted below are half as poetic and enjoyable as your take-down.
Alan
Posts: 919
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:19 pm

Re: Friday B1 Ride

Post by Alan »

Martin, sounds like you need to enlist your helpers.

I think this might be an occasion to re-purpose your censor monkeys. Send them forth

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Bosie
Posts: 365
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:16 pm

Re: Friday B1 Ride

Post by Bosie »

Love the fact that this is posted in the "race" section. Its definitely a contender for post of the year. (Extra points for posting it in the race section)

(Maybe a link from the "General Banter" section will help make it more visible to those who dont look this far dont the forum normally:))
Craig B.
Fozzy
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Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:26 pm

Re: Friday B1 Ride

Post by Fozzy »

Definitely needs more expletives if it’s a contender for post of the year.
rduncan
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:08 pm

Re: Friday B1 Ride

Post by rduncan »

This just makes me wish I decided not to sleep in and treat November like an optional month.

There’s nothing like the feeling of humiliation after suffering and then getting dropped. I’m starting to enjoy it now after experiencing is so frequently.
Rob Duncan
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