September 04, 2004
Saturday Gap Ride
Some of the GTC gang met at Turner's Corner at 8:30ish AM for a 60+ mile ride over Hogpen, Jacks, and Unicoi. Riders including John, Carlos, the Stephanies, Paul, Bud, and more, the Stewarts (they posted the ride on the website) were conspicuously absent. The group headed south from Turner's Corner and turned left on 75 heading toward the base of the Hogpen climb.
At the turn onto Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy, Bud, Paul, and Dan had rolled off the front of the pack and started climbing together. Eventually Bud and Dan were off the front suffering in unison. Near the top Dan had a small gap, slightly extended it over the top and began the descent solo. Halfway down the mountain, at about 50 mph, Dan heard a sound like a SCUD missile and then Bud "the scud" blew right by him.
On the Flat section before the turn toward Jack's Bud sat up and Dan motored on. The plan, discussed in the parking lot, was to re-group at the top of Jack's. Pedaling up the road solo with fantasies of Richard Virenque dancing in his head, Coy went for the KOM points.
Sitting at the top of Jack's for 50+ minutes, Coy asked all the passing cyclists if they had seen anyone else coming. Maybe they changed their minds or something had happened to turn them back. Ultimately Coy joined forces with a strong-looking triathlete, Mike G., and continued on with the route.
The two time trial specialist traded pulls all the way down Unicoi and turned right on 75, before Helen. A brief "refill stop" at the church faucet and the two were off again. Mike G. headed up the Hogpen climb and Dan eased on back to Turner's Corner solo.
What happened to the rest of the riders in the group?
Dan's HRM data
[click to enlarge]
Posted by dancoy at September 4, 2004 04:25 PM