7HR Tuesday Night Richmond Rampage - 6:15pm
Grant Szabo
We had a turnout of around 8 in the parking lot last week and picked up another 8 riders along Kellogg on the way out. As the weather improves, I expect turnout of this ride to grow considerably as it has in the past – where we have had upwards of 40 riders. There still wasn’t enough light to include the hills. We’ll play it by ear this week.
Last week we experienced a splintering of the pace line due to one rider accelerating off the front instead of drifting off to the left (slow line) after his pull. This caused a gap to form in the pace line – as the rider behind him couldn’t hold his wheel -- which was then filled by stronger riders in the slow line. This caused all of the riders in the fast line to get trapped behind a slower wheel and burn a bunch of matches to get caught back on. The end result was that 3 riders ended up forming a “B” group because it was impossible for them to catch on.
Please, when you reach the front of the fast side of the pace line, drift to the slow line and back off the speed a little to keep the pace line flowing properly. Save the accelerations for the sprint points.
Rain at ride start cancels.
Grant “ZZZZ” Szabo
All are welcome at this ride, but you ride with the group at your own risk and understand cycling is an inherently dangerous activity, taking place on traffic-maintained roads, that may cause injury or death. By participating, you specifically release and indemnify 7HR, its members, sponsors, friends and leadership from any responsibility for any incident resulting from your actions, or the actions of others, or behavior before, during, or following the ride. You warrant you will wear an ANSI-approved helmet, and that you maintain valid health insurance. If you are under age 18, you warrant you have parent or guardian permission to do this ride, and that the person that granted you permission understands the risks.
7HR Tuesday Night Richmond Rampage
Departure: 6:15PM Corner of Wilmer and Airport Rd. in the parking lot in front of Lunken Airport Terminal
Total Distance: appx. 40+
Return Time: around 8:30PM
The emphasis of the Rampage is race training and pace line technique. Expect the lead group to reach and maintain speeds along 52 in the 26 - 31mph range. Hill climb out of New Richmond is long and steep but we regroup at the top in the school parking lot on the right.
THE HOOLIGAN'S ROUTE
Kellogg east through California to (single file from Salem to I-275 overpass)
52 east to new Richmond to
right on front street. (along the picturesque river front), to
left on western ave. to
right on old us 52 until dead ends. to
left across Kellogg highway. to
left on Greenmound rd. to
right up Bethel-New Richmond rd. (steep, wait and regroup at school on top), to
left on Jett hill to
left on 12 mile to
left on 132 and quick right up Fagin's run road (long and gradual, watch out for hillbillies), to
left on Grays Ln. to
right on old 52 (wait and regroup before proceeding on west 52)
left on pond run and quick right on 52 to home.
SPRINT POINTS “If ya got it, bring it!”
1. On outbound, sprint begins at sign in median that welcomes you to New Richmond (about ½ mile before Front St.). It ends at the yellow diamond shaped sign on right hand side depicting a stop light. The sign has two orange flags sticking out of it. You can’t miss it.
2. On return, past Marathon Gas station, sprint to SECOND LARGE RIVERBEND SIGN on left side (about 400m before the light)
3. On return along Kellogg, sprint to the large ODELLS SPORTS BAR sign on the left.
** If you have suggestions for additional sprint points, let me know. **
ABOUT THE PACELINE
· The paceline ALWAYS goes in a counter clockwise direction, no exceptions. I don’t care what direction the wind is blowing.
· Quick, gentle pulls. You should not be on the front for more than a few seconds. When the paceline is working properly it is a single flowing chain of riders. When it is your turn to pull, DO NOT ACCELERATE. Just maintain your speed nice and easy does it so you aren't creating gaps in the line. When you are in the slow line, please do not slow down too quickly as this makes it harder to get back on the fast line when you become the last rider. The fast line should be moving about 1-3 mph faster than the slow line at all times. IF you get tired and need to rest, try to stay at the back of the paceline (behind the slow line) and let riders who are coming off the slow line know that you are sucking wheel so that they will know to get back onto the fast line.
· If there are more than 20 riders, take the right lane of 52. There are rumble strips after 10 mile now, so the paceline should move inside the rumble strips at this point no matter what.
OTHER IMPORTANT TIPS (things I’ve learned over the years doing this ride)
· If there is a gap in the line, it is OK to fill it if you are coming back on the slow line. Just be sure to COMMUNICATE what you are doing so you don't take out someone's wheel. YELL OUT YOUR INTENTION loudly.
· When climbing, if you are about to stand up, YELL OUT "UP!!" so that anyone behind you won't roll into your wheel as you decelerate momentarily. If the person behind you isn't paying attention, s/he can run into your wheel causing you both to crash.
· If there is slowing in your line in the paceline, YELL OUT “SLOWING!!” so that the guy behind you doesn’t go crashing into your back wheel and take down half the peloton.
· If you puncture while in the paceline, try to hold your bike straight and steady and start yelling out that you punctured. This means everyone around you needs to slow down so that you can safely exit the paceline and fix your flat. Do NOT try to swerve out of the line. Not only might you wipe out, but you will take other people down with you. Yes, this might mean you damage your wheel. It’s easier to pay for “crash replacement” than dealing with medical injuries.
* We stop at ALL Red Lights and Stop Signs. We're not out to give cyclists a bad name.
THE GRUPETTO
The Gruppetto is the name given to the group of cyclists who fall off the back and form a group behind the main peloton.
If you aren't sure if you can do the speeds, come out and try anyway, you may surprise yourself. It's not hard to maintain high speeds in a large group. But, if you fall off the back, you won't be alone -- a Gruppetto (slower group) always forms. In fact, if you aren't sure of your ability, chat up some of the riders before the rollout to find out who is planning on joining the Gruppetto.
Here's the Rampage Shortcuts for the Gruppetto from our very own Kippy...
~~~~~~~~~
Kippy's guarantee:
I guarantee, after 6 weeks of consistency on the Rampage, you will stick. No matter how you did on the first try, you will stick by week 7. Promise.
Here are the shortcuts to get ahead of the hooligans when you get dropped:
1. If you can still see the group at the first light in NR, just go straight on 52 til the next light. Then go left up Bethel New Richmond road, and wait at the top in the school. The thugs will be along shortly.
2. to avoid the second climb up Fagins run, stay straight on 132 down to rt 52 in New Richmond and return home. (you'll prolly run into the Ramsey Marauders if you don't dawdle).
3. Of course, the quickest is turning around in New Richmond and heading back on 52.
Unlike other hammerfests, we invite, and encourage all to experience the rush. Even if it's fleeting. It's still "the perfect ride" as most say. And you'll always have someone to ride with. and many short cuts to regroup if you want to. And, if you come out every week, you will get faster and faster.
that's it, now come out and get into some trouble.
~~~~~~