Normally I would have posted this morning’s ride much sooner, but I had hopes that I could get some video footage edited and put here with it. Nope, not yet. I’ve gotten a lot better at actually shooting the video while riding; I know how to keep the bike steadier, where to point the camera, and what sort of shot looks best (basically, get some other cyclists in front of you so you don’t have just a jumpy video that says nothing about the experience of cycling but makes a great sales tool for Dramamine). I’d have the videos posted sooner if Adobe Premiere Elements was easier to figure out!

Unseasonably warm, no clouds, but I’m ready for daylight saving time to end because it’s not much fun waking up when it’s dark! Eric, John, Kevin & Ludo out there with me today, and for the first time in months a truly “casual” ride with an average speed below 16mph. A sign of things to come as the pace gradually decreases at about the same rate that, if not careful, our waist increases. I’ve never really tracked when rock-bottom is reached, but it’s definitely related to temperature.

I’ll work on getting the video stuff going shortly, and maybe look at past entries when I get a chance and compare the pace of the ride with average monthly temperatures. It would be interesting if it turned out to be a direct relationship.

Sure, it’s a bit cooler this time of year, but with just a couple clouds in the sky and dry roads, what’s not to like? Almost makes it worth getting up early to ride.

Nice group, with Kevin (the pilot, whom we haven’t seen for a bit, must be that work thing?), Eric, Ludo, Bob and new-guy Jarret. Nice guy, Jarret, even though he might be a bit too fast. Different backstory than most, being a cross-over BMX/roadie. Who knew? At first I was thinking that’s unusual, you’d expect a BMX/mountain biker mix, but there’s at least one outstanding example of a BMXer turned road phenom, Mark Cavendish. And dang if it’s not the case that Jarret can sprint.

On the way up the hill Kevin thought he saw someone a bit ahead of us, and around one corner I thought I caught a glimpse of… something. I wasn’t so sure, until seeing Chris at the top of the hill. He was probably close to idle and riding away from us on the climb. If he wasn’t such a nice guy, I’d think him anti-social. Me? I let Kevin go on ahead while I checked up on the rear of the group (when everyone’s taking it easy, I can do that).

Nothing earth-shattering today, or at least I’m pretending I don’t mind that I was marking Chris in the sprint at Sky Londa and didn’t realize Jarret was coming around me until too late. Hate that! I knew a bike was there (I heard the sound on my left side) and didn’t think much of it, because it wasn’t Chris, whom I’d passed, and the other guys wouldn’t be able to pass me. I wasn’t thinking about Jarret! Too late, and from all indications he’s strong enough that the only way I’m going to be able to take him is by going tactical. The game’s afoot.