Sandy
10-06-2004, 06:18 PM
Dan L. and I went to Howard County in MD to ride with Dekonick today. I even got to meet his wonderful mixed breed dog.
We rode about 39 miles in rolling terrain and several 2 mile hills. The views were beautiful and the terrain, trust me, offers challenging rides for any level of rider. Somehow, Demon Dekonick took Dapper Dan and Serotta Sandy to roads at which we were given the choice as to whether we wanted to climb them or not. I voted a reounding NO on several of them, at which time we took the alternate which always seemed to be a 1 1/2 to 2 mile climb that certainly challenged me, and even made Dapper Dan do some work.
I had turned down, rather vehemently, climbing a hill that the Demon said was 18 degrees. It looked like 80 to me. We looped around and went down the hill that I refused to climb. Prior to the start of the steep descent, my mind snapped, as it often does on a ride at which some road looks inviting for speed, and I took off, somehow hitting 35 mph right before the start of the steep drop. At the very beginning of the hill I barely missed a large pot hole which would have changed my name to Smashed Scarred Sandy. I immediately started mumbling to myself that no one with any degree of sense would ever go down that hill at 50 mph, which the Demon says he does. I started braking and looking for pot holes that would launch me and my bike into oblivion. The steeper the hill got, the more I applied my brakes. I was transformed into Scared (better than Scarred) Serotta Sandy. Dapper and Demon hit somewhere around 48 mph or so, but I was still Shaking Scared Serotta Sandy, glad to have reached the bottom in one piece.
Other than the scare at the start of the big descent, the ride was really most enjoyable. The weather was ideal, and the compant was as good as it gets. We plan to do a ride again together next week, but Dapper Dan and Serotta Sandy will probably insist upon a cue sheet to eliminate certain hills prior to the ride.
A most enjoyable ride with 2 very enjoyable cyclists and a visit with a special dog.
Still So Scared Still So Shaken,
Sandy
We rode about 39 miles in rolling terrain and several 2 mile hills. The views were beautiful and the terrain, trust me, offers challenging rides for any level of rider. Somehow, Demon Dekonick took Dapper Dan and Serotta Sandy to roads at which we were given the choice as to whether we wanted to climb them or not. I voted a reounding NO on several of them, at which time we took the alternate which always seemed to be a 1 1/2 to 2 mile climb that certainly challenged me, and even made Dapper Dan do some work.
I had turned down, rather vehemently, climbing a hill that the Demon said was 18 degrees. It looked like 80 to me. We looped around and went down the hill that I refused to climb. Prior to the start of the steep descent, my mind snapped, as it often does on a ride at which some road looks inviting for speed, and I took off, somehow hitting 35 mph right before the start of the steep drop. At the very beginning of the hill I barely missed a large pot hole which would have changed my name to Smashed Scarred Sandy. I immediately started mumbling to myself that no one with any degree of sense would ever go down that hill at 50 mph, which the Demon says he does. I started braking and looking for pot holes that would launch me and my bike into oblivion. The steeper the hill got, the more I applied my brakes. I was transformed into Scared (better than Scarred) Serotta Sandy. Dapper and Demon hit somewhere around 48 mph or so, but I was still Shaking Scared Serotta Sandy, glad to have reached the bottom in one piece.
Other than the scare at the start of the big descent, the ride was really most enjoyable. The weather was ideal, and the compant was as good as it gets. We plan to do a ride again together next week, but Dapper Dan and Serotta Sandy will probably insist upon a cue sheet to eliminate certain hills prior to the ride.
A most enjoyable ride with 2 very enjoyable cyclists and a visit with a special dog.
Still So Scared Still So Shaken,
Sandy