Today is Tuesday. It is February. I love to state the obvious. I was determined to go for a ride outside today. I just needed the mercury to read 20 degrees and the winds to be less than 10 mph. The conditions were close enough so out I went.
I decided to ride the Tuesday Night Worlds course. This is the course we use for our Tuesday night hammerfest. Today is Tuesday. And, it is February. We won’t fire up the “worlds” ride for another 6 weeks assuming the weather cooperates, but why not take a ride on the course anyway and ponder the season ahead.
The course starts out gently rolling as the ride heads south from S. Burlington, in route to Ferrisburg, where we make the turn to head back. As with most hammerfests, this ride usually starts out pretty mellow. Maybe a rider or two launches off the front, but most sit in and wait to see what happens. Once we pass through the town of Shelburne things start to heat up a little. The course is still pretty flat, so the group stays together. A few breaks may happen, but they are usually caught.
Once we reach Charlotte via Lake Road and Greenbush, there is the first official town line sprint. Usually only a few folks contest it. This depends on who’s there of course. It also depends on what has happened up until then. The group usually comes back together after the sprint and then relaxes. The turn is near and with it an incline that most always obliterates the pack.
It is important to be positioned well when making the turn. If you are near the back and not a strong rider you will get left behind. Even if you are a good rider there is the danger of getting dropped. The incline (I dare not call it a climb) is short, but it is enough. Another small hill follows making it really difficult to get back on.
Once these two small hills are over, packs of chase groups form. Sometimes the chase can hurt more than the hills. If the chase groups are well organized, it is possible to catch some riders ahead. This is the hope anyway.
Most of the chasing happens between Ferrisburg and Shelburne. Back in Shelburne there is another decent hill that breaks things up again leaving small packs or solitary riders to navigate their way back to the parking lot where it all started.
Most of these hammerfests have left me both exhausted and exhilarated. I have had success and I have suffered. It is fantastic training. I push harder than I would otherwise. That’s what these rides are for.
I love the fact that I am riding this course in February. I feel strong. Motivated. Determined. And, of course cold! I look forward to the upcoming season and to riding hard with a few less layers on. Find your local hammerfest and give it a go this year. Maybe you will suprise yourself.