I got tired of waiting for IAB to start a thread so here are my photos.
I joined BadDNA, QuoFan, BigT, IAB, MBC, and others on the 50 mile ride.
Here is the group with their race faces on (even though it wasn't a race) at the start line.
Right from the start BadDNA edged his way to the front so I figured I'd follow him. I didn't realize he as going to treat this like a race. The 19mph average pace at the very front of the pack quickly dropped the rest of the group. But we broke off at the first rest stop to wait for the others.
IAB at the first reststop.
BadDNA looking very proud of his performance in the first leg.
MBC rolls in.
Me (one of the few without a RM jersey. Put me on the list next time you order).
QuoFan trying to run me over.
Mark showing off his mtn bike with slicks.
IAB got a tiny bug in his eye and whined about it for about 5 minutes (wuss) lol.
BigT. I thought it was funny that we both have C'dale mtn bikes and Bianchi road bikes.
On the road.
After the first rest break BadDNA and I tried to slow down a bit but we still got ahead of the group and again waited at the second rest stop. Our average dropped from 18.8mph down to 18mph.
IAB and MBC at the second rest stop.
After the second rest stop we said we would slow down but we didn't. We got our average back up to 18.5mph and arrived at the third rest stop. After about 10 minutes we began to wonder what happened to the rest of the group. About 5 minutes later they rolled in. Appantly someone got a flat. I joked that they would have to do really well on the next stages to make up for their time deficit.
Group at the third stop.
IAB and MBC rolling into the fourth and final rest stop.
Again, BadDNA and I said we were going to be more social on the last leg but the busy road prevented that. Then when we got back into the country they were nowhere in sight so we charged on. After one of the hills I got ahead of BadDNA but strained my calf passing riders on an uphill so I slowed down. BadDNA caught up at a light and we rode the last 10 miles with me on his wheel. Then in the home streatch I tried to get him into a sprint finish but he didn't want any part of it so I got ahead. I turned in the wrong parking lot though so he won because I had to cut across the grass to the finish line.
Group after the ride.
See a few more photos here.
Also see my gps data here. The flat areas of the graphs are when we were at the rest stops.
Great time with some great people. This was the first time I touched my road bike since July of last year so I was expecting to be really slow/sore/etc. But I actually felt really great. Being so long off the road bike made really appreciate how fast they are.
I joined BadDNA, QuoFan, BigT, IAB, MBC, and others on the 50 mile ride.
Here is the group with their race faces on (even though it wasn't a race) at the start line.
Right from the start BadDNA edged his way to the front so I figured I'd follow him. I didn't realize he as going to treat this like a race. The 19mph average pace at the very front of the pack quickly dropped the rest of the group. But we broke off at the first rest stop to wait for the others.
IAB at the first reststop.
BadDNA looking very proud of his performance in the first leg.
MBC rolls in.
Me (one of the few without a RM jersey. Put me on the list next time you order).
QuoFan trying to run me over.
Mark showing off his mtn bike with slicks.
IAB got a tiny bug in his eye and whined about it for about 5 minutes (wuss) lol.
BigT. I thought it was funny that we both have C'dale mtn bikes and Bianchi road bikes.
On the road.
After the first rest break BadDNA and I tried to slow down a bit but we still got ahead of the group and again waited at the second rest stop. Our average dropped from 18.8mph down to 18mph.
IAB and MBC at the second rest stop.
After the second rest stop we said we would slow down but we didn't. We got our average back up to 18.5mph and arrived at the third rest stop. After about 10 minutes we began to wonder what happened to the rest of the group. About 5 minutes later they rolled in. Appantly someone got a flat. I joked that they would have to do really well on the next stages to make up for their time deficit.
Group at the third stop.
IAB and MBC rolling into the fourth and final rest stop.
Again, BadDNA and I said we were going to be more social on the last leg but the busy road prevented that. Then when we got back into the country they were nowhere in sight so we charged on. After one of the hills I got ahead of BadDNA but strained my calf passing riders on an uphill so I slowed down. BadDNA caught up at a light and we rode the last 10 miles with me on his wheel. Then in the home streatch I tried to get him into a sprint finish but he didn't want any part of it so I got ahead. I turned in the wrong parking lot though so he won because I had to cut across the grass to the finish line.
Group after the ride.
See a few more photos here.
Also see my gps data here. The flat areas of the graphs are when we were at the rest stops.
Great time with some great people. This was the first time I touched my road bike since July of last year so I was expecting to be really slow/sore/etc. But I actually felt really great. Being so long off the road bike made really appreciate how fast they are.
Last edited:
I must've got hit in the eye with something. 
Looks like a good time. We're going to have to come to one of these (this year our sitters were out of town on vacation -- where do they get off?)
. The RIM split on the inside, the tire popped out and the tube exploded (See picture). 10:00pm, Called MBC and IAB and they had a spare wheel I could use for the ride... Thanks a bunch, you saved the day! 
