Bike Life · RIDE/RACE REPORT · Feb 17, 2018

I NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF POWER

WE HAVE THIS LITTLE RIDE GOING ON SATURDAYS NOW, and we keep getting new guys showing up. They don't all come back. I'm not sure why, well I am, but let's pretend I'm not.

The name that seems to be sticking for this ride is The SHOP Ride. SHOP is an acronym for Saturday Hour of Power. It's actually just over an hour, and it requires crazy amounts of power.

That's the profile above.

The start of the hour is at the bottom of Laguna Canyon where Forest intersects. We leave there at 730am, sharp. But, none of us live in Laguna. Most of us have been riding a fair number of miles when we get there. Which means, at 730, it's full gas. We average over 24mph, up a 3-4% grade and typically with a headwind.

Those strong enough to hang on up the canyon are then faced with multiple 2-6 minute climbs, back to back to back to back.... the pace is relentless, and oh so sweet - if you like the taste of blood.

Today was particularly hard for me. I'd had the flu for about 3 days. But, when I woke up after 8 hours and no alarm clock... I figured that was as good a sign as any. Time to either kill this bug, or have a big relapse. I managed to make up the canyon, and was able to take every single short cut possible to not finish too far behind the gang.

The virgins were aghast.
Mouths hanging open.
Eyes crossed.
Collapsed on their top tubes.
Jorge threw up these words:
I never seen power like that.

Is this ride for you?

Maybe.

It's for anybody that wants to give it a try. It's only an hour.

____

Jorge's power numbers... I'm not sure what it means, but I see red.