4 September Ride - A view from the back of the pack

We read the Doubles DOGS report on their ride of last Saturday. We cannot agree more about the beauty of roads chosen and the overall quality of a day out with our adopted, extended family--The DOGS.

The DBLS DOGS always present rides that have nice roads that are also challenging. The Hill & Dale, Sail & Scale route is no exception. However tough it may seem, it is also doable. The hidden pleasure in participating in one of these rides is the sense of accomplishment when you conquer the challenges.

Team Wells wasn't having a good day last Saturday. A few tactical errors sealed our fate early in the ride. The first 10% grade was our waterloo. I forgot to shift into the Alpine/Granny ring and we suffered up that grade, building up a bunch of lactic acid that didn't go away for the rest of the ride. It was going to be a long ride, and we knew it. But, we had company, Team Bird held back and waited for us hoping that we might hold back Bob's "target fixation" and desire to keep up with the Alpha-DOGS at the cost of his own legs. Little did they know that they waited for a team that was already toast. It was nice to have the company. The terrain didn't offer many opportunities to draft, but knowing that we were not alone was really good.

The first stiff challenge was Pennbrook Road (a.k.a., Jacob's Ladder), and this time, Linda didn't sing! Jacob's Ladder is a series of short, 16% grades interspersed with low intensity grades. This is one mean climb. We found Team Bird waiting for us by the time we reached the top, just as Team Nicolich/Snope passed us. (They had stopped mid-way up the climb). The first big obstacle had been conquered. It was really hard and Linda kept telling me that something was wrong but we didn't know what it was or why we were having trouble until a bit later. The downhill section was okay until the road tilted up, again, to the intersection at Mountain Top Road, where I turned left instead of right. Being a bit too narrow to negotiate a tandem-U-turn, Linda got off the bike and I started backing the tandem back to the correct side of the road. That is when we heard that little squeak of the drum brake just touching. Aarugh! We'd been climbing not only against a series of 16% grades but a slightly engaged drum brake! Okay, I usually use the drum brake early in every ride to heat up the pads and drive off any moisture buildup, but not today! Second tactical error. Legs screaming for mercy, we made it to the top of the next climb and I really worked the drum brake on the downhill side. Now everything, except our legs, was running smoothly.

As we came into Mendham, we found Team Bird waiting for us on Hilltop Road with Team Kimmel coming up shortly after when we stopped for a break. Now we started making our way towards Horizon Drive. (If you go over the cue-sheet, you will find all kinds of road names that include words indicating height and climbs.) Team Wells took a moment at the foot of Horizon Drive to make sure that the rear wheel was running free, took on some additional fluids and food, and give the legs a bit of a rest. Horizon isn't as difficult as it is long. Horizon goes up, then a slight downhill, followed by another up, then a slight down, and then up, again. Yes, it does crest but it takes some time to get there. Then the reward comes in the form of an overall downhill run for more than a few miles.

There were a few climbs yet to come, but, by comparison, they were easy. We made it to the final crest on Pleasant Hill Road and had a nice, fast descent crossing onto the street where Team Isherwood lives. Going up their street, Linda noticed the home of a dyed-in-the-wool Jean Shepard fan. How did she know? Well there is this lamp in the picture window that just happens to be a woman's leg with a frilly shade (just like the one in "A Christmas Story") -- the things you see from the back of a tandem! (Okay, the captain only sees the road in front...) (Note: If you want to know a bit more about Jean Shepard, just ask George [for those already Shepard listeners: Excelsior you fathead! -- Seltzer Bottle!])

Even from the back of the pack, on a bad day for us, this was a fun day out with the DOGS. In our seven years with the DOGS, we've learned that nobody is judged by their ability to keep up with the Alpha-DOGS or completing the course in a prescribed time. The club rides are all about gathering together, finding people who ride at your pace and sometimes helping somebody who is having a bad day (like the Bird's helping us, last Saturday--Thanks, Guys!) Not to forget Tracy and Barbara who soldier on and still love, and are beloved of, the club. These rides are just as much fun from the back as they are from the front. Everyone who runs a ride shows us interesting roads with various levels of challenge. And, if you want an easier ride--host one! We are sure all of your fellow DOGS will appreciate it and come to share the day with you and participate in your favorite ride.

Linda & George Wells
Leaders - Doubles Of the Garden State (DOGS)


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Last modified: 7 Sept 2002