Kelly, Dan and I were the first to be dropped. Kelly really didn’t stand a chance but Dan gave it a valiant effort and passed me once, getting probably 20 feet ahead, but then I dug down and dropped him in pursuit of the pack. I think the aerobars help quite a bit as it took the pack longer than usual to disappear over the horizon. Squirrelly Klein guy got dropped by the pack, too, and I blew by him about two miles after I got dropped, putting quite a bit of distance between us.

epon and another Wild Card rider were visible and it appeared I was making up some distance between us. Really threw down a lot of effort trying to catch up and I think I probably got to within 200 yards at one point, but they’re both pretty strong riders and eventually outlasted me. Any chance of catching up to them was gone after a good two minute wait to cross Rt. 130 coming back into Urbana. They never completely faded from my view and the big hill leading down toward Lincoln Ave helped me close the gap slightly, but I never did catch up to them. Got stopped at a traffic light as I crossed Rt. 45 and really let up after that, coasting back toward Burwash Park.

Apparently, Squirrelly Klein guy never gave up, because shortly after I got on to Regent Drive, he passed me in a tornado of last-ditch effort to get to the park before me. Well, I couldn’t have that, so I popped up a few gears, stood on the pedals and coasted by him with relatively little effort. epon was just emerging from the park for his ride home, so we rode together for a mile or so until I turned off on Galen Drive to head North.

All in all it was a nice, relatively relaxing ride, and the end of it gave me an opportunity to put in some strong solo efforts, so I was pleased even though my average speed was pretty disappointing.

No chest pains at all, which was a relief, because I did put in some pretty significant sustained efforts on the return trip.

46.7 miles and a 20.8 mph avg. I could have been over 21 for the first time had I hammered with the rest of the pack, but I’ll have time to get that 21. Hopefully that can happen this weekend in the triathlon now that I’m set up to be a little more aerodynamic. Doubtful, but we’ll see. There’s a chance of rain this weekend in Mattoon. It’ll really suck if that happens.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12461580

Had no chest pain tonight.

It was the virgin voyage with the new Profile Design Aerolite aerobars installed.  I didn’t use them much, but I think they’ll help for extended solo rides, especially with the aero helmet.  I found that pulling back slightly on the end of the bars forces my elbows down into the pads a little and gives some extra leverage for pedaling.  It’s going to take some practice.

I broke off from a very small group of riders on the return home and went up Neil Street a couple miles before turning on Burwash.  About halfway between Old Church and Burwash, three kids in a brown pickup truck crept over onto the shoulder of Rt 45 right beside me and revved its engine, causing a loud engine yell and billowing black smoke.  I’m sure they were disappointed at my reaction – or lack thereof.

Flatville

Did OK, I suppose. Somehow I was pulling again when the spring began and gassed myself right out of the gates, so I was probably third from last to pass the town sign. I have to figure out a way to get in the middle of the pack when the sprints begin. epon finished in the top few, I think. He rode strong tonight. I think he was trying to get me on his wheel when the attacks began about 5 miles out from Flatville but I was out of steam at that point and rode back with Dave and the dude on the Klein. Can’t remember Klein-rider’s name, but when I first started riding with Wild Card he was about as squirrelly as me on the bike. His bike handling skills seemed much better tonight.

The chest pain came back for a visit about 5 miles from home, but I also rode a lot harder tonight and haven’t taken the Coreg since around 6:00 this morning. It seems like the chest pain has some correlation to the last time I took the Coreg. Hopefully a reduction in dosage is just what I need to be able to put down sustained efforts without heart discomfort.

Martin suggested that I do the Lytle Park Sprint Triathlon this Saturday in Neoga. It’s a 300 meter pool swim, 12 mile bike and 5K run, so it should be pretty doable for me. I think I’m going to sign up for it as long as Cindy’s OK with it.