For me, this Saturday came pretty darn close to being about as perfect as you can get. I hear you asking now "So Chris... tell us, what made it so great????" If you'll hold on and stop talking I'll tell you. To start off I was wearing my super cool new helmet which perfectly matches the color scheme of the Kharma, a beautiful blend of red, white & carbon! To further enhance the day was the amazing weather. I was actually out of the door & pedaling across town with no sleeves or leg warmers, and I was loving it. But the real kicker is that I was headed across town to meet up with my best friend Martino, one of the other founders of Gruppo Loco. And to top it all off, in spite of the claimed "Hogan Factor" (see previous post from Martino for the exact equation), I was right on time!
After a brief bit of chit chat and a quick trip to the loo for Martino (apparently one of many that day) we were off to Piermont for a nice Saturday ride. Now of course, a little back story is needed to fully appreciate the day. The week before, I had tweaked my back and I was feeling extra stiff this morning. Couple that with Martino working off a Tito's Friday and it is safe to say we were both operating at less than 100%. Be that as it may, it seems there is no cure like a few miles on the road with a clear sunny day above, and 18 lbs of pure carbon bliss below.
We took the "new and improved" route up toward the GWB. Although this route does lack the skull crusher hill that takes you up into the barrio, it also has the benefit of not taking you to the barrio. I do believe that if you stayed still long enough at a red light you might find your Shimano kit gone, and your bike up on cinder blocks ;)
You want to know how I knew the day was going to be a good ride? As I am following Martino, he doesn't stop at the classic meeting spot before the GWB. He doesn't even blink at the rest stop on the other side, which is a popular place for people to chat and check gear before pushing onwards. Nope... he just motors straight on through until we reach the superbly positioned bike shop there in NJ.
Now this bike shop.....talk about location, location, location. If you can think back to the 50's and imagine a classic car hop then you will have an idea. You know, like something out of Happy Days. Now... take out all the hot rods, jalopies, etc and replace them with Cervelos, Treks, Pinarellos and a rare Tomasso. And while we are at it strike the poodle skirts, guys in jeans, leather jackets, letterman sweater, etc and swap with skin tight riding shorts and cycling jerseys in all kinds of crazy colors and sponsors. So now you have an idea of what this place is like. They are doing business hand over fist, and have every cycling amenity necessary, except of course for some Advil for my aching back, but that is another story all together.
So, off we go and the miles seem to melt away. The day is good, but unknown to us was about to get great. Up from behind us a tiny little nothing of a girl on a Cervelo tri-bike pushes ahead of us and sets in a good pace. As if buy instinct, Martino settles in a bit behind and me right on his draft. Being taller I am just able to see her, Martino, and the road in front of the group. That is when I had my "zen cycling" moment. I was getting a great pull from the group and it seemed like there was no effort in my strokes. Just move the legs in circles and magic happens. We tucked down and seemed to fly. Up hills, down hills, even the flats, we just seemed to have the best pace I've ever ridden. I took a quick glance down at the Cat-Eye and noticed we were just shy of 35 mph on a nice down slope and it seemed like we weren't even trying.
Alas, all good things must come to an end as we reached Piermont and decided to go downtown for a bite to eat and a little relaxation. A slow cruise into the heart of the quaint area led us to some shops, cafes and delis with an army of hight tech bike gear parked out front. The deli offered up two low fat tuna fish sandwiches and fresh fruit for dessert. We parked in front of what appeared to be a courthouse of some kind. All I know is it had comfy benches that were in the shade. Did I mention it was sunny???
So, with lunch in our belly, and some rest in our legs we headed back home. I wish I could say that the miles went by with little effort, and we hit another group to ride with, but that would be an outright lie. And here at Gruppo Loco, we keep the lies to a minimum. Unless of course if one of the team members asks "Do these shorts make my butt look big??" Then of course a little white lie never hurt anyone...
Yes the hills back were tough, and pushed us pretty hard, but in the end nothing gained easily is ever valued highly. Of course once I get that compact crank and a better cadence... but again, a story for another day. Before you know it we are back across the GWB bridge and then onto Riverside drive and then the Greenway, which is where this story began.
All told, about 6 hours of riding, 50 miles, a few rests and a ton of fun. Don't you wish every one of your Saturdays could be like that??
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