Thursdy Thursday • The Fellowship of the Wring...

One wring to train them all. One wring to time them.
One wring to sap them all, and on the up-slopes grind them.

This ride is a joint effort between 'LC3' and 'Let's Ride!'. We're starting out of the same venue and at the same time. That way, whatever pace, "wrings you out", you're bound to find someone's wheel (or they'll find yours).
Either way, ride like you're the Wring-Bearer and the Nazgul are on your wheel.

The suffering only lasts an hour and a half, and it'll put your day (possibly your week) into proper perspective.

For those who can make it, our next installment is planned thusly:

Training Ride - Intermediate. This is a drop ride (see Remarks below).

Time - Be at the start and ready to roll at the advertised time, sharp.

Distance - For now - approximately 35 miles.

Pace - A • 18mph average or better. This is an Intermediate training ride. While our actual rolling speed will vary with terrain, it'll generally be above our average.

Terrain - Varied.

Duration - Approximately 2 hours

GPS Routes - One of the following:
30.LC3 • Loco Motive • BCB
30.LC3 • Loco Motive(w/ a Jigger) • BCB
40.LC3 • Loco Motive (Derailment) • BCB

Rest Stops - none planned.

See our Ride Guide for more information.

Remarks

• Guest riders - Non-member guest riders are generally welcome. However, if you invite and bring non-member guests, you're their ride leader. It's your responsibility to marshal your guests and stick with them if they can't keep up. First, it's not cool to your guests to leave them solo at the back. Second, it's not cool to expect the ride leader to focus their attention away from the regular group as a whole.

• Common courtesy - No spit, and no snot from the front of the line. If you have to clear the pipes come off the line, go to the rear, and do what you must. No-one wants to participate in your bodily fluids.

• Self sufficiency - You must be navigationally self sufficient. Download the route to your app of choice, or print the cue sheet.

• Stay with the group - The Ride Leader is the "front", even if they're behind everyone else. If you're off the front (i.e. ahead of the leader) and you go off course, or get lost...that's on you.

• Self support - We're On Our Own. Bring what you need for nutrition, hydration, mechanicals, and punctures.

• Drop - Gaps will open up, and when they do, they'll be difficult to close. We'll keep visual contact as much as possible, but everybody does hammer this ride and it is difficult...It's also fun. There are sections for recovery and we try to regroup before finishing, but such effort is opportunistic and ad-hoc. Whatever happens, we wait for everyone to finish before leaving at the end. Please be prepared to maintain the advertised pace for the entire distance.

• Pace groups - By consensus and based upon fitness, and ability. With enough riders who can lead, splitting into multiple, ad-hoc pace groups is possible. If you want to try this ride and you're unsure if you can keep the advertised pace, message the Host/Ride Leader and discuss your concerns. Sometimes accommodations can be made for developing riders.

• Foul weather cancellation - I'll cancel the ride only in the event of thunderstorms, or torrential rain at the time of the start. The call will be made day of. Confirm status here prior to traveling to the start.

• Safety - Helmets are required.

• Personal responsibility - Ride at your own risk.

• Self-awareness - Know your threshold. In my experience riders who haven't actually measured their average pace, typically underestimate their rolling speed, and overestimate their average speed. To help you decide whether you're up for this ride; be aware that while it is challenging, it's not impossible.

• The Tao of Cycling.