Gear Masher Ride (WC), Saturday morning, October 10th, at 9am
J Soper
Gear Masher Ride (WC), Saturday October 10th @ 9:00 am
Start Location: Little Miami Scenic Trail, 426 Zoar Rd. South Lebanon 45065
Ride Rating: Intermediate+ / Advanced
Group Size: Expect from two to six riders. Ride is still new so group is usually a mix of new [to Gear Masher] and repeat riders.
Ride Leader: Jay Soper cell 513 293-9538 e-mail jcs.g...@gmail.com
Ride Description:
This week: 51 miles, 2200 ft gain. Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10680539
This will be a hilly ride in and around the Little Miami River valley but with fewer climbs than usual. Yes, a bit less mashing as we wind down the season. Average target speed will be in the 18-19 mph range (not including top-of-climb regroup rest breaks). Pace: expect to hold, pull and draft at 21-23 mph on the flats. Group size can vary, see 'Prior Weeks Ride Summary' at bottom of this email for what to expect.
If anyone needs to refuel or if it is a hot morning, we can make a quick stop at the bait shop. Bring a few bucks if you need something. Otherwise, pack all food and drink that you will need.
Note: We will regroup at the top of any steep or long climbs. Not a problem; I enjoy the break and am thankful when others wait for me. BUT, everywhere else, If you are struggling too much to maintain the pace, there will be opportunities to get on the bike path and take a shortcut back to the car lot. No one will be left behind without a clear way to return to the start location via the bike path!
After the Ride:
I will have some post-ride beverages and some snacks for anyone interested. Carbs and protein will be well represented (usually: beer, milk, chocolate milk, clear soda, nuts, and pretzels).
Cancellation / Additional Info:
Any cancellation will be published at least 75 minutes prior to ride. Rain, snow, high winds, or temperature below 30 F cancels ride. Feel free to give me a call/text with any questions.
Approved bike helmet is required. This ride conforms to the policies and procedures of the Cincinnati Cycle Club (CCC). All are welcome to ride, but only current CCC members are covered by the clubs's insurance.
Prior Weeks Ride Summary:
Saturday, October 3rd: Went to CCC Pumpkin Roll Ride. It was wet and cold. We did 75 miles. The food and company was great!
Saturday, September 26th: OK Weather (a bit windy, but no rain and cool). 5 riders started; 5 finished. This was and will be the hilliest of the season; we will start to cut back at the next Gear Masher ride in two weeks. The route was very nice and definitely a keeper for next year. There was a bit of road work that we opted to avoid so our route totaled 51 miles and 2700 ft of elevation gain. Fellow pain seekers in attendance were Tim, Bruce, Ray, out-of-town Nate, and myself. Afterward: great conversation and protein/carb reloading.
Saturday, September 19th: Great Weather. 8 riders started; 6 finished. A hilly route with only one hard climb (Wilmington-east side), but we had quite a few late-in-the-ride shorter climbs in the Morrow area that wore us out a bit more than I was hoping for. The route was good, but, for the future, I will redo the end to be a little more friendly. But, even with all the unfriendly rollers, Vince still showed us up on his SINGLE speed and Chris with his (why isn't his legs as tired as mine) climbing. The ride was 50 miles with 2500 ft of elevation gain. Our average today was 18.5 mph (not including top-of-climb regrouping rest stops - there were a few more than usual). Afterwards, we downed some beer and chocolate milk pretty quick because rain was starting to look imminent.
Saturday, September 12th: No Gear Masher Ride today; I went to Arcanum to participate in the Tour de Donut. It was a 62.5 mile course with rolling hills and no real climbing. Most intersections had volunteers/police controlling traffic and letting bikes burn through. There were over 2000 people at the event (including a few CCC members) and 1080 DOZEN donuts were made for the event! So, for me, 62.5 miles + 10 donuts completed in 3 hours and 14 minutes (which includes donut stops; not allowed to ride and eat at the same time). The winner ate 44 donuts!! Your placement was based on combined time. Your combined time is your total time minus 5 minutes for each donut. But, maybe even more impressive... The guy who came in second completed the 62.5 mile course in 2 hours and 10 minutes (which included at least one stop, maybe more, to eat 4 donuts). It was a pretty cool, well organized event; had a lot of fun, and I never got sick.... I know, I know... I should have gone for two more. I HIGHLY recommend it next year for anyone interested. By the way, they also have 32 mile and a 16 mile course.
Saturday, September 5th: Good weather; just a bit hot. 6 riders started; 4 finished. This was the first Gear Masher ride for four of the guys. This route was not one of my best; it had three pretty big climbs for the area and two riders (smarter than the rest of us) decided to bail. After the three climbs we did stop at the bait shop to refuel. The ride was 46 miles with 2200 ft of elevation and included Wilmington-west, 350-east, and the east side of Oregonia. we had a great ride, but we did slow it down a bit today. So, in spite of a late-in-the-ride surge, our average was 17.8 mph. Afterwards, we enjoyed some well deserved chocolate milk, pretzels and nuts.
Saturday, August 29th: No Gear Masher Ride; I attended CCC ride/picnic.
Saturday, August 22nd: Great weather. 4 riders start and finished the ride; me plus three new guys to the group. A hilly ride with some good rollers and six climbs, but only three that really stood out (Anderson, Hollingsworth, & Wilmington-west). Ray smoked me on every hill. Ray, I hope you come back; I'll be ready next time. We stopped for a well deserved rest at the Bait Shop by Caesar Creek. The ride was 50 miles and 2300 ft of elevation. Our average today was 18.7 mph. Afterwards, we hung out for some conversation and enjoyed some chocolate milk, beer, pretzels and nuts.
Saturday, August 15th: I'm traveling this weekend so no Gear Masher ride today.
Saturday, August 8th: Great weather. Just me and one other brave rider. A hilly ride today that included climbs up Strout Rd and Gard Rd and a stop for some spring water (Vince's holy water) on Pekin Rd. The ride was 50 miles and 2600 ft of elevation. Our average today was only 17.3 mph. I do like to keep it above 18, but we made an exception today since it was just the two of us. But, do note (for anyone new reading this) that you run the risk of getting dropped if the group wants to maintain 18+ and you are not up to it. If so, I will always offer direction back via the bike path. On the other hand, if it is just the two of us, I'm fine with any speed. But be warned: I just talk more when the speed drops. Afterwards, we hung out and had some beer, chocolate milk, pretzels, and nuts. Actually, I had two beers to make up for those absent today (ha ha).
Saturday, August 1st: Good weather - a little hot. 6 riders start and finished the ride. A pretty hilly route overall for sure, but with only two climbs that really stood out and only one of them was over 10% gradient (west side of 350). Average speed for this route was not fully collected, but the ride was 49 miles with 2500 ft of gain (per ridewithgps.com); total elapsed time was right at 3 hours, but we did stop to refuel in Clarksville and, given the strength of the group this week, we did have to regroup a little more than usual and maybe we went a little less hard as well. So, our moving average was probably right at about 18 mph (maybe even a little less). But, it was a great ride; hope to see everyone again. And, we all gathered afterwards for much deserved chocolate milk, beer, soda, nuts, pretzels, and candy and conversation.
Saturday, July 25th: Great weather. 5 riders start AND finished the ride. This week I accidently made a wrong turn so our planned 48mi ride turned into a 64mi ride. Fortunately, one of our riders got us to a refueling spot so all was OK. FYI... major wrong turns are NOT typical; won't happen again. So, back to our stats: 19.3mph avg (yes, we had a good day in spite of getting lost); 64mi; 2300ft (per ridewithgps.com); One big(ish) climb up Olive Branch and a few other smaller ones (yes, fewer climbs than usual = higher average). Afterwards, we all gathered for some well deserved, Ride Leader supplied, chocolate milk, beer, soda, nuts, pretzels, and candy; and bragging rights for our unplanned metric century.
Saturday, July 18th: Hot Hot day. 6 riders start, 5 finished, 1 (smarter than the rest of us) took a short cut back before we climbed 350. Stats: 18.1mph avg (ouch); 49mi; 2300ft (per ridewithgpps.com); 5 climbs total including east side of 350. I'm embarrassed to admit it but I suffered some rare, nasty cramps towards the end of the ride and nearly got dropped! Thanks everyone for waiting (eventually, ha ha). And afterwards, the 5 of us all enjoyed some chocolate milk, beer, soda, nuts, and pretzels.
Saturday, July 11th: Great weather. 7 riders start, but group broke into a lead group of 5 and a slower group of 2 at about the 8 mile mark. 18.8mph avg; 48mi; 2400ft (per ridewithgps.com); 6 climbs (but only one at 10%+ gradient). And, we all gathered afterwards for some milk, chocolate milk, and beer (a little something for everyone) for some post-ride carb loading and conversation. Thanks Roger and Tim for some great late-in-the-ride pulling. Kurt: welcome to CCC.
Saturday, July 4th: Great weather. 3 riders start, 1 rider split off at 17miles for the bike trail. 18.6mph avg; 46mi; 2300ft (per ridewithgps.com); 6 climbs (two of which at 10%+ gradient). All three of us met up afterwards to enjoy some post-ride carb reloading and conversation.