Ride 04/18/07, 6:00 p.m. Cary/MacGregor Village, Oh Melo Velo, RSVP

[Zonda]

There is a strict start time of 6:00 by the ride organizer Ed.

When: Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.

Where:
MacGregor Village (http://www.ncbikeclub.org/calendar/ncbcstrt.htm#mcgvl) Cary

Meet in parking lot between Wachovia Bank and Bistro Restaurant. Try to avoid parking near the bank.

Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=101+Edinburgh+Dr+S+Cary+NC)

Distance:
Any distance. Ride ½ your time and U-turn, finish at sunset.

Pace:
10-12 mph beginners
13-15 mph
No drop. Me, Michelle or Rick will ride behind the slowest rider. Michelle will lead from the back this week. There are several subgroups for ride paces and distances.

Cue Sheet (no cue sheet in advance this week)

Contact Person: Zonda

Comments:

Please RSVP so we can plan riding groups.
Slow Spokes join the fast Oh Melo Velo (http://ohmelovelo.dnsalias.org/) riders to lead a slow group. See Ed's website Bicycling 2007 section.
Beginners are welcome to join this ride.
Please arrive in time to prepare your bike to leave promptly at 6:00 p.m. If you arrive late, David or Ed will leave cue sheets on their car back window under the wiper blade.
All riders should carry proper equipment in case they have a flat (spare tube, pump or CO2 cartridge).
It is strongly recommended that you carry your driver’s license and health insurance card in case of an emergency. You may also want to program your cell phone with an emergency contact number under the name “ICE” In Case of Emergency.
New riders should read Bicycling Hand Signals and Safety Pointers (http://www.trianglecycling.com/showthread.php?t=17385)

[BetsyW]

Count me in for the 13-15 group and Brian in with the faster group.

[RickF]

I plan to be there. I can ride in any group up to about 16 mph.

[Gerard]

I plan to ride. 16mph group.
Gerard

[Pugslyyy]

I'll be there. Looks like the weather should be nice on Wednesday evening.

[JayC]

I should be in attendance. Ill bring my workstand and scales for anyone that might want to weigh their rigs.

[tombiowami]

I will be there, 16mph.
Tommy

[KarenG]

i'm in.

[Pugslyyy]

I should be in attendance. Ill bring my workstand and scales for anyone that might want to weigh their rigs.
Will there be a prize for the heaviest rig? :)

[RickF]

Will there be a prize for the heaviest rig? :)If so, I wlil ride my hybrid. I figure 40 pounds, at least. Two full water bottles will add another 3.5 pounds.

[sportingfool]

Count me in for 13-15.
Andrea

[CharleyM3]

I should be in attendance. Ill bring my workstand and scales for anyone that might want to weigh their rigs.

I can't miss this. I'll be there for sure.

[aliepins]

I'm planning on being there. This time more than just for beer :D Prolly 13-15 pace.

Cheers,
-a.

[Michelle W]

I'm in.. I'll be riding with the slowest rider.

[fvncgal]

I'm in.....13-15 mph

Rebekah

[JayC]

Will there be a prize for the heaviest rig? :)


If there is, I think Charlie will win it.

My scales only have a 50# weight limit :)

[BetsyW]

Michelle - nice avatar, is that the lawn mower? I need to see pictures of the bar stools, thinking of having those installed:D

[CharleyM3]

If there is, I think Charlie will win it.
My scales only have a 50# weight limit :)

Hey now, watch that stuff... I'll add a couple more cages and fill them with tall water bottles before the weigh in. ;)

I wanted to ride an indestructable tank. I think I succeeded.
Just wait until I get my new uber commuter on line.

[Michelle W]

Michelle - nice avatar, is that the lawn mower? I need to see pictures of the bar stools, thinking of having those installed:D

Hey Betsy...yes that is the lawn mower. Cool huh? Check out the other bike at http://www.trianglecycling.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=221

[Zonda]

Nice avatar Michelle!:D

[JimH]

I plan to be there.

Jim

[MikeD]

I'll be there.

[Jackie T]

Looks like I'll make it this week.
Jackie T

[Zonda]

Nice group for tomorrow.

Head count - 21 riders

10-13 mph
Michelle (leading from the back behind the slowest rider)
Me
Jackie T.

14-16 mph
Betsy
Rick
Andrea
Charley
Andy L.
Jim H.
Andy S.
Selena

16+ mph
Brian
Brian A.
Gerard
Jon T.
Jay
Tommy
Karen
Mike D.
Mark S.
Fred

If I listed you in the wrong group, please feel free to ride with whatever group you want. This is just an estimate so others can see who is riding at their pace.

[MarkS]

Count me in -- 16.

[xflow]

I plan on ridding - Fred

[Dluck2]

I should be there.

[JayC]

Anyone got route info for tonight? Is it the same route as a few weeks ago?

[RickF]

Each week is a different route. When David makes up the routes, he sends Zonda the cue sheet a few days ahead of time, and I post it on the cue sheet forum. When Ed makes up the route, he keeps it a tight secret until we get the cue sheet from him on the night of the ride. Tonight it is Ed's turn to make up the route, so we have not seen the cue sheet.

[JayC]

Each week is a different route. When David makes up the routes, he sends Zonda the cue sheet a few days ahead of time, and I post it on the cue sheet forum. When Ed makes up the route, he keeps it a tight secret until we get the cue sheet from him on the night of the ride. Tonight it is Ed's turn to make up the route, so we have not seen the cue sheet.

I see.. so in other words, Garmin users are screwed if they want to make the route up ahead of time.

Whats the point in keeping a weekly ride route "a tight secret" unless youre going to do something stupid and have everyone ride down Tryon Rd or something and are afraid no one will show up.

[RickF]

I thought the Garmin could record the ride as you go. Since we ride until a designated time (I assume tonight it will be 6:55, or half way between 6:00 and sunset at 7:51), you would not know where you were going to turn around anyway. David usually has his rides set so you could complete the route at an average speed of about 18 mph. Ed's routes are usually designed for about a 22 mile average, so very few people will get to the end before the turn-around time.

[JayC]

You can preload the routes at any speed you want and use it for navigational purposes. I havent carried a cue sheet since early last summer.

I guess if youre worried about people putting thumbtacks on the road like some of the charity rides are, then I could understand not distributing the route but I just dont see the point in a weekly ride.

[CharleyM3]

My sister has organized more than a few rides from pickups to major events. She used to hide behind the "secret routes" thing. Then I discovered that she was finishing them minutes before leaving for the ride. Preplanning was never one of her strengths. If she couldn't get it done, she would pull out an old set of queue sheets.
Apropos of nothing at all, that was just her...

[KarenG]

I see.. so in other words, Garmin users are screwed if they want to make the route up ahead of time.

Whats the point in keeping a weekly ride route "a tight secret" unless youre going to do something stupid and have everyone ride down Tryon Rd or something and are afraid no one will show up.

yea...that is the secret. that was my first and last ride last year!

[Pugslyyy]

:p Don't worry Jay, you can just follow me!

[JayC]

:p Don't worry Jay, you can just follow me!

I feel better now. I was thinking about taking it easy tonight anyways.

[tombiowami]

Zonda, I am probably going to have to bail on tonight's ride. Work is going to keep me here...
Tommy

[JayC]

Almost 5000 feet of elevation change on the ride tonight. That route had a lot of hills.

[CharleyM3]

So Did I win the heavy bike award? For those who weren't there to see the bike stand bend over, my sirrus sport tipped the scale at 32.51 lbs in full battle dress. Top that!

[JayC]

Hahaha.. you did. Karen still has the lightest bike award. Gerard was a close second. I had my heavy wheels on tonight so my bike wasnt in contention. I was probably just under 18#s.

[Zonda]

Just got in. I'll post stats in the morning! Nice ride tonight!

[Pugslyyy]

Good ride tonight - those hills were tough tho'

[JayC]

Good ride tonight - those hills were tough tho'


I remembered riding down that LOOOOONG hill on a SS ride we did from the Spin Cycle last year. Soon as we came around that curve and I realized where we were, I said "Ah ****."

It wasnt as bad as I was expecting tho. That other, steeper hill on the way back was kind of rough tho.

[Zonda]

We had a great turnout for the ride last night. I hope I didn't forget anyone. Forgive me if I did.

Riders 25: Me, Michelle, Forsyth, Jackie T., Wayne, Betsy, Rick, Andrea, Charley, Andy L., Margo, Brian, Jon T., Brian A., Jay, Karen, Mike D., Fred, Jon D. and Suzanne.

Welcome: Sandy, Bill, Mike W., Ted F. and John A.

A few people missed the ride. Gerard was delayed by traffic and arrived after we left. He was nice enough to hang to chat with us when we got back and weigh his bike. Jackie T. was also delayed by traffic. Rebekah had a last minute emergency. Tommy and Jim H. had to work late. Andy, Selena and Mark S. no showed.

Michelle, thanks for leading the 10-12 mph group.

Rick, thanks for leading and setting a nice pace for the 14-16 mph group.

People started with one group, returned with another, so most stats will be listed individually rather than by groups.

Michelle & Forsyth
Distance: 16.3 miles
Pace: 12 mph
Time: 1:23

Me
Distance: 20.6 miles
Pace: 13.8 mph
Time: 1:28
I finally rode in the drops last night.:eek: First time since my crash on March 3.

Betsy
Distance: 24.2 miles
Pace: 14.2 mph
Time: 1:42

Rick & Andrea
Distance: 25 miles
Pace: 14.4 mph
Time: 1:44

Charley
Distance: 20.4 miles
Pace: 14.9 mph
Time: 1:22

Andy L.
Distance: 26.3 miles
Pace: 15.8 mph
Time: 1:39

Karen
Distance: 26.2 miles
Pace: 16 mph
Time: 1:38

Dajuan
Distance: 31.1 miles
Pace: 16.6 mph
Time: 1:50

Brian J.
Distance: 29.2
Pace: 16.9 mph
Time: 1:43

Brian A.
Distance: 31.1 miles
Pace: 17.4 mph
Time: 1:50

Jon T. & Mike D.
Distance: 28.6 miles
Pace: 17.5 mph
Time: 1:38

Jay
Distance: 29.6 miles
Pace: 19.1 mph

I didn’t get stats for: Jon D. (Dluck2) & company, Mike W., Suzanne, Sandy, Bill, Jackie T., Wayne, Margo and Fred (xflow)

11 of us went to the MacGregor Ale House afterwards.

Thanks for coming out!

[Zonda]

Whats the point in keeping a weekly ride route "a tight secret" unless youre going to do something stupid and have everyone ride down Tryon Rd or something and are afraid no one will show up.

Ed said he isn’t keeping the route a secret. He said it’s a tradition for the past 20 years. David doesn’t provide the route in advance to their riders. He gives us a courtesy copy.

Ed puts a lot of thought into planning routes so that our slower riders get to ride on different routes since we don’t see the nice scenery they do by riding the full route. I’m glad they invited us to participate and they prepare the route for us. This has become our most popular ride. Ed is very pleased with our participation and feels the Slow Spokes have reinvigorated their ride.:rolleyes:

[KarenG]

Ed is a character! I know he musta read my post about coming out last year and doing the Tryon Rd ride. My first and last. He said last night's ride was just for me.

I had stopped at the corner of Johnson Pond for a minute with one of the Brian's and Susan. Turned around and who do we see? Ole Fast Eddy coming up the road. I was contemplating turning at this point cause my calf was killing me, but, no way could I turn now!! Ed blew on through and I took up after him. Caught up with him on that first long downhill before "Smile Hill". I didn't think I was gonna make it up that darn hill, but finally did and he and I turned around a little farther on down the road and headed back.

We headed back together, but I dropped off because I didn't want to hurt my calf anymore and I couldn't get the damn gearing right. Jay if you read this, right now, I F***ing hate this drivetrain. We need to see if it can be worked on, cause something just ain't right. I had to stop on that hill that's paved cause I couldn't get to the small ring and yes, I shifted BEFORE starting up the hill and NOTHING. I had to stop and manually turn the pedals to finally get it on there. It just doesn't shift well.

Anyways, good ride last night and had a good time at the Ale House.

K

[BrianJ]

Good ride. Some tough hills and coming back on 64/Tryon in the dark was interesting.

[skychef10]

Zonda,

Suzanne hung with me most of the time, I caught up with sher and Karen before crossing over 1010 on Kildaire Farm. Her stats should be very similar to my own, maybe other than the speed. She was little slower than I was if I remember correctly, she was between Dajuan and myself the entire way back from the turn around at the railroad tracks.

Brian A

[Pugslyyy]

Thanks again to Jay for bringing his scale. I didn't win the prize for having the heaviest bike, but I'll work on it for next time...

Jon

[CharleyM3]

Thanks again to Jay for bringing his scale. I didn't win the prize for having the heaviest bike, but I'll work on it for next time...
Jon

You weren't even close. Pour some lead shot into your down tube. :eek:

[RickF]

You weren't even close. Pour some lead shot into your down tube. :eek:If I had brought my Specialized Crossroads Elite, I think I would have had you beat by at least two pounds. I still use that bike when it is my turn to lead from the rear and I suspect I will be going 15 to 20 miles at 13 mph or slower, but I much prefer my Roubaix for longer and faster rides. I also use the Crossroads on the trainer (where weight is absolutely no issue) and on trails.

[Zonda]

Ed is a character!

Ed, aka Fast Eddy, is such a character. He is 71 years old and still going strong. If he can do it, anyone can!

[CharleyM3]

We need to have a "Bring out the tanks" night. Entry level would be 30 lbs.

[skiffrun]

We need to have a "Bring out the tanks" night. Entry level would be 30 lbs.
But measured after the owner has ridden up a "wall". Don't ride the wall successfully, no weigh. I.e., you get off the bike or you stop while ascending the wall -> disqualified. Then, maybe, the min weight requirement could be dispensed with.

"All" one has to do is find a safe, convenient "wall". (E.g., Old Creedmoor Rd - from Shooting Club Rd up to Norwood Rd - might qualify as convenient, but is too busy (IMO) with no shoulders (and sometimes no white line) to be considered safe (IMO). I think convenient means close to a logical starting place that is within normal driving range of participants.

I can only think of one that is safe & convenient in north Raleigh. But "wall" is a bit short, so the riders would need to softened up a bit with 10 miles or so of "rolling" hills first. I can think of a "wall" that might be a better test, but it is almost in Kittrell, and has no logical meeting ground.

Maybe the SW Raleigh (Apex) or SE Raleigh (Clayton) riders can think of a qualifying "wall".

Tanks on a Wall Night. At least two categories of competition. 1) Heaviest. 2) Time-Trial adjusted for weight (weight adjustment formula to be kept secret until competition completed). But the time-trial might not work the first "Tanks on a Wall Night", time-trialing while checking a cue sheet doesn't seem a very good combination.

[RickF]

We headed back together, but I dropped off because I didn't want to hurt my calf anymore and I couldn't get the damn gearing right. Jay if you read this, right now, I F***ing hate this drivetrain. We need to see if it can be worked on, cause something just ain't right. I had to stop on that hill that's paved cause I couldn't get to the small ring and yes, I shifted BEFORE starting up the hill and NOTHING. I had to stop and manually turn the pedals to finally get it on there. It just doesn't shift well.
That is the downside to a compact crank. The change in size between the two chainrings is too large to allow for smooth shifting. I would trade the extra few ounces in weight for the reliability of a triple chaniring over a compact double any day. The smaller the difference in the number of teeth from one chainring to the next, the easier it is to shift.

Even with a triple, proper positioning of the front derailleur is critical. If it is too high above the largest chainring or if it is not angled correctly with respect to the chainrings, it will not work properly. All the adjustment of the limit screws and cable tension in the world will not help if it was not positioned correctly to begin with. It is difficult to mess up the rear derailleur, but getting the front one correct is an art.

[Michelle W]

Hey Skiffrun.. when you going to come out and ride with us?

[skiffrun]

Hey Skiffrun.. when you going to come out and ride with us?Perhaps when SS comes north again. It is 7.5 miles from home to either Blue Jay Point or Pleasant Union School. Or an hour or so to get to SS rides. $2.85 a gallon. Hmmn.

Besides, how can I pass up rides like these:

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=781

[Zonda]

Perhaps when SS comes north again. It is 7.5 miles from home to either Blue Jay Point or Pleasant Union School. Or an hour or so to get to SS rides. $2.85 a gallon.

Hey, we already came north! You need to come down here...:D

Mike D. lives in north Raleigh and travels all over town to ride with us! Jay, Karen & Tracy travel from Garner/Clayton. Mike H. and Todd travel from Wendell. I'm sure I'm overlooking others, but many people travel a long distance to ride with us. Gas isn't getting cheaper, come on out now!!

We most likely won't be back up there til the fall unless someone else organizes a ride on Sunday. Organizing two rides a week is plenty for me.:eek:

[KarenG]

Perhaps when SS comes north again. It is 7.5 miles from home to either Blue Jay Point or Pleasant Union School. Or an hour or so to get to SS rides. $2.85 a gallon. Hmmn.

Besides, how can I pass up rides like these:

http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=781

c'mon, only 7.5miles...wow. guess it's just too far to come to cary, clayton/garner. i think jay, myself & tracy probably travel the furtherest to ride out in the cary area. it's probably 30-35miles from my house to macgregor ale house where we meet on wednesdays.

you should come experience the slow spokes rides instead of just lurking & only posting once in a while.

i'll keep the rest of my comments to myself since you seem to have very thin skin and think i'm ragging on you...

[skiffrun]

c'mon, only 7.5miles...wow. guess it's just too far to come to cary, clayton/garner. i think jay, myself & tracy probably travel the furtherest to ride out in the cary area. it's probably 30-35miles from my house to macgregor ale house where we meet on wednesdays.

you should come experience the slow spokes rides instead of just lurking & only posting once in a while.

i'll keep the rest of my comments to myself since you seem to have very thin skin and think i'm ragging on you...
Good for you. I, however, don't see the need to spend more time in the car than on the bike.

[KarenG]

enjoy yourself then. as will i.

not going to get into a word war with you.

[skiffrun]

enjoy yourself then. as will i.

not going to get into a word war with you.

That's funny. You've been the one laying down all the smack.

Couldn't keep those thoughts to yourself, heh?

[KarenG]

fine. you seem to be able to dish it out, but can't take it.

my last post - you like to push all the buttons to aggrevate me, but not any more. bye.

btw - if you want to continue this elsewhere, such as pm, then feel free. no use cluttering up the forum with your nonsense.

[skiffrun]

fine. you seem to be able to dish it out, but can't take it.

my last post - you like to push all the buttons to aggrevate me, but not any more. bye.

You started it. You heaped it. And now you ... whatever.