Air Force Association Challenge ride

[Vicegrip]

Was happy to see my lap times improve once the pack thinned out a bit. best was #3 at 21.something mph. 71th in the standings however they measure. Then I dropped onto a series of pace lines from time to time that were a bit slower but fast enough for me to finish in proper time. For the last couple I struck out on my own and picked it up a little.

Wow, just looked at the video of the wreck. It seemed that folks were not acting on the fact that the racers were going to be back real soon.

Couple of phone grade pix just before the start.

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[Rod Smith]

You finished six laps in 2:48:18 three minutes slower than me. Haha. Who cares? You went seven and thereby bettered everyone who went six and most of us who went seven including me. Second fastest Bike Arlington rider after Tim. You rock!

[Rod Smith]

@Jason B 54695 wrote:

You guys were cranking. Time for you guys to start Saturday!
One of our W-L teachers, Butler, also did a great job and did the Generals Proud, 10th. We only got one student this year, and she got 6 laps. She did great!!!!!

My times got messed up. They missed recording my first lap and had me recorded for 51:44 for the first lap, and only 6 laps total. I’m going with my 3:06 19s for 7, not 6! I’ll figure out where I stand later.

That’s messed up. Looks like you, not Vicegrip should have “first BA member after Tim” honors. Kudos!

[Vicegrip]

@Rod Smith 54739 wrote:

That’s messed up. Looks like you, not Vicegrip should have “first BA member after Tim” honors. Kudos!

Not to mention that Dickie and PeteD got the drop on me and finished lap 7 ahead of me too. Was real funny from my perspective too. I was cranking along with them sensing a town line sprint with a grin when I felt water all over my feet. “What the?” Looked down and saw that the cap had come off a water bottle. Looked up and they had both started to bolt. Doh!

BTW I am embarrassed that I heard nothing when you were calling over to me.

[Jason B]

@Rod Smith 54739 wrote:

That’s messed up. Looks like you, not Vicegrip should have “first BA member after Tim” honors. Kudos!

I suspect the top 10’s 7th lap was more of a cool down, I know it was for W-L’s Butler, who rode the last lap with his daughter. If they moved everybody down to just six laps, it might be a scary gap. Those guys had an insane cranking pace line.

[Rod Smith]

Yes but you started after them so the sprint doesn’t really matter. Funny story about the water bottle. To be honest, my ‘holler” at that point in the ride may have been more of a gasp.

[Rod Smith]

@Vicegrip 54740 wrote:

Not to mention that Dicky and PeteD got the drop on me and finished lap 7 ahead of me too. Was real funny from my perspective too. I was cranking along with them sensing a town line sprint with a grin when I felt water all over my feet. “What the?” Looked down and saw that the cap had come off a water bottle. Looked up and they had both started to bolt. Doh!

BTW I am embarrassed that I heard nothing when you were calling over to me.

Yes but you started after them so the sprint didn’t really matter, did it? Funny story about the water bottle. To be honest, my ‘holler” at that point in the ride may have been more of a gasp.

[Rod Smith]

Dasgeh, I saw a white Bullitt with number attached at the finish, but didn’t see you on the course.

[NicDiesel]

@dasgeh 54644 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I was the only one on a cargo bike.

My wife saw you on the Bullitt and asked what you had in the little cargo area when I stopped by for a banana (or two) after lap two. When I told her you had a baby on board she just about exploded with glee. She’s not really into cycling but I think you might have gotten her interest piqued quite a bit with the Bullitt and baby cargo.

[Vicegrip]

@Rod Smith 54746 wrote:

Yes but you started after them so the sprint didn’t really matter, did it? Funny story about the water bottle. To be honest, my ‘holler” at that point in the ride may have been more of a gasp.

Ah, I am starting to get it. Start is not a single time point as with a Green flag as in auto racing it is time between crossing the line start to crossing again for a finish. Am already thinking of what I need to do different next year. (buy a better motor)

Looked like a lot of folks were having fun all in their own way with their own goals.

Was very cool to see Dasgeh cranking along on the box bike. Gave an “all right!” as I made my way by. Was also good to see all the younger riders on their own road bikes. My dear daughter is a long lean tall girl for her age and likes to ride her road bike with dad. I foresee the day when Dad gets dropped off the back by Dear Daughter on this ride (and am looking forward to it).

[DOS]

@Brent 54673 wrote:

I think they might have had some troubles. I have a friend who did six laps, but her chip only registered one lap, and at twice the time it really took her.

Yeah, that’s happened last year too. This year a friend of mine did 7 laps. they got the time right but recorded only 5 laps. His time, 2:49.03 puts him top 10 bu he doesn’t get the satisfaction. Ah well, it’s not a race, it’s a ride.

[DOS]

@Jason B 54741 wrote:

I suspect the top 10’s 7th lap was more of a cool down, I know it was for W-L’s Butler, who rode the last lap with his daughter. If they moved everybody down to just six laps, it might be a scary gap. Those guys had an insane cranking pace line.

Seems like there was a small group crossing 6 laps at 2:24 to 2:25 then a good 4 or 5 minutes, then a group of us crossing the 6th lap at 2:29-2:30. I have nothing but respect for all those 7 and 8 lappers. I crossed 6 lap at 2:29 and stopped. If I’d gone for 7 , I’d be cresting the Air force memorial just about now. I was done after 6 and happy to break 2:30.

[dasgeh]

@4st7lbs 54749 wrote:

My wife saw you on the Bullitt and asked what you had in the little cargo area when I stopped by for a banana (or two) after lap two. When I told her you had a baby on board she just about exploded with glee. She’s not really into cycling but I think you might have gotten her interest piqued quite a bit with the Bullitt and baby cargo.

Success! Thanks so much. If you’re around Arlington this weekend, bring her by Quincy Park (behind the Central Library, Qunicy b/n Fairfax and Washington, bn Virginia Sq and Ballston Metro) at 10:30am for the Kidical Mass start. You should see all sorts of babies on bikes set ups. And you can stick around at meet us at Rocklands (2 blocks from the park) for some ‘Q. Or better yet, join us on the ride!

[Tim Kelley]

Photos from the weekend here:

http://www.cycleboredom.com/photoset-2013-air-force-cycling-classic-clarendon-cup/

http://www.backprint.com/view_event.asp?PID=bp%13zOr&EVENTID=115763

http://robcurrie.zenfolio.com/p564780818

http://www.backprint.com/view_event.asp?PID=bp%13zOr&EVENTID=115763

Please add more if you find them!

[Bilsko]

I enjoyed the ride – I dont think I rode as strongly as I would have liked, but still it was a good experience.

Dasgeh – sorry I couldn’t stop to chat when I passed you. I think that was on my last lap and I needed to get home to help out with the little one. Nice to be able to say hi and put a face (and bike) to a name!

I think my overall average was 19, although I had 3 couple-of-minute stops to say hi to my wife and daughter who were spectating at the turn-around in Roslyn and then a 5 minute water break at the top of the AFM hill.

I did feel pretty good about my climbing on the AFM and the other hill along 110 back into Crystal City. I’ll need to take a closer look at Strava to see what my moving time and moving avg. speed were.

Kathy, thanks for the cheers and cowbell – it was great to see you!

A few pictures[ATTACH=CONFIG]3085[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3086[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3087[/ATTACH]

[Author]

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