Bryan, Shellene & I rode the PBA Popsicle ride tonight. Thank you Bryan & Shellene for inviting me. AND I didn't even get to ride with that much. How rude of me.
 
We started off from the Tom Thumb shopping Center at Renner & Custer shortly after 6:00pm. Bryan & Shellene  suggested we ride with the "B" group-19-21 mph avg. I had no problem with that as I have very little experience in riding in packs. I'm not sure how many riders, I would guess about 30-40 for the "B" group.
 
We left out of the parking lot headed through Richardson. I was taking it easy & riding behind Shellene ,while Bryan was out front leading the pack(madman). At one of the intersections ,a stop light separate the pack. Bryan fell back to check on Shellene. We eventually headed out toward east Plano & I was feeling a little more comfortable with riding in the pack. Riding through a residential area, I hear Byran call my name, he rides to the front of the pack & I follow him. We lead the pack for a few miles.
 
Then as were coming up on a fast descent, a hammerhead roadie challenges me(on a downhill). Duh! He lasted a few seconds as I reached 42.5 mph. From the point on ,I lost Bryan(I think he said he falling back to check on Shellene) & stayed up with the lead pack.
 
Some of the route shares the same roads as the Richardson Wild Ride. During a return trip from Murphy, we head back to Richardson, we saw an unsettling site.  We saw an ambulance & cyclists gathered around a fallen cyclist. One of the "A" group riders touched wheels with another slower rider which caused the crash(who knows what really happened).
 
Once we cleared the crash, the pace would quicken. I was out leading the group & I could cyclists behind  me  telling their friends to "go,go,go" ,"get 'em", they would send different riders to try & pass me. I wasn't haven't any of it. I kept out front. The last 1/4 mile,another attack of roadies, one cyclist behind me shouts encouragement "go recumbent go!"
 
Since hadn't ridden the entire route before ,I had no idea where we were. The roadie hammerhead that challenged me on the downhill, says"nice ride" as we're stopped at the light just east of the shopping center at Renner/Custer. I ride into the parking lot & see Bryan & Shellene putting the bikes away on the SUV.  
 
I finished with a 20.2 mph avg, total ride time of 1 hr 45 min,50 secs. Not bad for all the stop lights in/out of Plano,Murphy,Richardson area.  
 
This is a great training ride. I would do it again. ALTHOUGH, I do miss my LSR rides. I'm still not a fan of riding in packs of cyclists that I don't know.
 
Next time ,I would like to spend more time riding with Shellene & Bryan. Maybe Peggy can join us next time(if the doctor releases her later this week), if not she'll ride soon enough.

that's a darn good ride right there!  I had a ton of people on my ride last night.  Hopefully Thursday I'll be able to ride with the Tuneros team.

I loved the encouragement from Bryan when I sprinted with the roadie, "go get'em Steve!" That was fun. Yeah ,my comfort zone in a large packs is not high on the scale, I just held my line & passed to the front when I was tired of being in the middle of the pack. Thanks to Bryan for pulling me up to the front. Once Bryan was up front, that gave me confidence to head up there with him.
 
Good average speed & H/R rate Bryan. My average H/R was pretty high-150, my max was 175. I'm sure the anxiety of riding in the pack had something to do with that higher H/R. Most of the time(when not stopped at lights) ,the group was rolling at 23-28 mph.  
 
It was good to see Daniel S.(another LSR rider) on the ride as well. He rode to the ride from Rowlett/Garland area.  
 
I'm looking forward to seeing Bryan & Shellene this weekend in Mineral Wells. Bryan, you'll do well on the 600k.  
 
 

Greg, you're dead-on. Nelson had mentioned to me that there are several Cat.1,2,& 3 cyclists that ride a Crit  & use this ride as a recovery ride. These guys are used to rubbing elbows(and tires).  
 
I'm much more comfortable drafting with Greg, Ray, Bud,Bryan ,& Nelson than an unknown cyclist. I guess that's just natural. I didn't hear any of these guys complaining last night(that were an 1" off my wheel)that hey weren't getting any draft.  
 
And it was cool to see three "Yellow" Bacchetta's in the pack.

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on May 20^th, 2009, 9:32am:

 
Paul ,I could hear a few roadies(while were stopped at lights,etc...)behind me talking among themselves about how fast recumbents,how efficient/aero dynamic (one even referenced a recumbent setting the speed record)we are. Like in life ,some people are educated ,some are not(why would you challenge a recumbent on a downhill). That's what Bryan was asking the guy post ride.  
 
I saw first hand all too well how squirrelly how both the "A" & "B" groups can be...I hope the cyclist wasn't injured too bad & has a speedy recovery.    
 
 

Quote from shellenefoster on May 21^st, 2009, 7:33am:

 
 
Shellene, the Popsicle ride made me appreciate our LSR rides. I too needed a recovery ride yesterday,& I am looking forward to a fun Minerals Wells 200k.  
 
That's a the great thing about the LSR group, there are no biases/stero-types about what bike you ride.  
 
And I would ride with you anytime you want.  

Brian / Shellene - you doing the Popsicle ride tonight (6/2)???  I'm planning to be there...
 
Paul

Uh-oh, Paul's going to "do the demo" on the roadies again....