The big ka-TNUA
After a day of mostly sunshine and near-record high temperatures (60°F, 16°C), I expected a good turn-out at the Tuesday Night Urban Assault ride tonight. I was not disappointed. Sixty-six riders rode out from the Adams St Recreation Center tonight. It was a blast. Tonight was my favorite TNUA yet.
First we terrorized Corn Hill and the fringes of the ‘hood. We went up and back on Exchange St (past the world’s smallest crit loop from last week) where one guy on his front porch kept hootin’ and hollerin’ at the ride. Those of us with bells rang them back at him.
We crossed the river on the Ford St bridge and headed south on Mt Hope Ave. We regrouped for the second time at Mt Hope Cemetery. The more riders, the more often we have to regroup, because the ride gets spread out, then broken up by stoplights, or waiting to turn in traffic and such.
We also regroup on the roll. As we ride, we’ll loop through a parking lot, or up and back on a side street, which slows down the front of the ride so the back of the ride can catch up. Back riders can cut out the loop or up and back to move up as well.
Tonight, BTW, the bike’s engine (me) was feeling in tip-top shape. For most of the night I was in the first of the three packs. Front-of-the-ride riders get a bit more distance in due to looping, but we also get to rest. I learned a few rides ago that back-of-the-pack riders never get a rest.
When we stop and regroup, we get to wait for the stragglers. As the last rider rolls in, the first takes off again. So now I try for the front so I can get an occasional rest, rather than trying for DFL as I did on the rides earlier in the season.
Part of Mt Hope Cemetery to the left, parts of Highland Park center and right. We rode the trails south of the reservoir and south of Highland Ave. At the right edge, follow S Goodman St north two or three miles to N Goodman St and my apartment.
Tooling around on the paths through Highland Park was the most fun I’ve had on the bike. The paths are narrow, hilly and meandering. It’s a good place to turn Gs into Gees! We spent an equal amount of time on the north and south sides of Highland Ave, with a few traverses in each direction on Highland Ave itself.
On the first run through, somehow the ride deviated off the path, through a mud hole and up a small hill. I was in the middle ring and after sputtering about getting mud on my nice, clean bike, there just wasn’t enough power to get up the hill. Curses! I pushed up, out of the lawn and dropped to the small ring. The ride stayed on the paved paths after that, and I stayed in the small ring for rest of our tour through the park.
After another count-off, we headed further east on Highland Ave. My little mind kept speculating. Are we going to Cobbs Hill next? With each rolling regroup and each stoplight it seemed so. Finally, we crossed Monroe and, yes! We turned left for the climb to the top.
Cobbs Hill, part of one of my regular commutes, is the highest point in the city and one steep MF. The “short” route to Presbytery is on Monroe Ave in the lower left. The “medium” route comes down Culver to Norris, to Hillside, to S Winton. If I’ve had my Wheaties, I’ll occasionally use Cobbs Hill Dr for some hill training.
We counted-off again after a few loops around the pumping station, then it was down the other side of the reservoir, right on highland, down Monroe, down Culver and into the lot by Lake Riley. That whole run is a descent and I made the best of it. With the looping and stuff, I’d wound up at the head of the third pack. By the time we reached the lot, I was in spitting distance of the leaders.
We sort of crashed a party in the Lake Riley parking lot. It was full of “ricer” cars with their stereos blasting, neon lights glowing underneath and all that rot. They did not know what to do about over 60 cyclists invading their space. Mostly, they just looked with mouths agape. It was one of those empowering moments when the cyclists intimidated the cagers.
After the stragglers caught up, we pulled out on to Norris Dr heading east. It was at this point I embarrassed myself a bit. Several riders looked at me in astonishment when I said out loud, “Hey, Bike. Lookit this! It’s just like riding to work.” Yes, I talk to my bike.
To save face, I used my home court advantage to its fullest. I know every speed bump, pothole, puddle and grade on that stretch of road. I know where the wind whips around the hill, where I can hammer, and where I should take it easy. In no time, I’d left those riders who had looked at me strangely, way behind.
We did several repeats up and down Norris Dr. A few times riders passed me where I knew it was better to take it easy. Then they were tired when it came to the places where I knew it was good to hammer. And I was the only rider who knew that the speed bumps end at the white line, but that there are six inches of pavement to the right of the bump. Hehehe…
Counting off again back at the Lake Riley lot, Scott announced the next set of repeats would be paceline and then we’d head home. I told one of the “A” riders, “I’m still getting used to riding in a group. I’ll be dangerous in a paceline. I can’t hold either a pace or a line.”
“Whoa,” he replied. “That’s one of the smartest things I’ve ever heard anyone say on a TNUA.”
“Yeah, well, I’d rather not cause a crash. Take my number, 32, and I’ll see you next week.”
And with the wind at my back, I hammered down Culver Rd, hung a left at Park Ave and hammered that too. One car hesitated then pulled out in front of me at the Park Ave Laundromat.
Had I not been hammering, it would have been fine. I scared the bejeezus out of him when my halogen shone straight through to his dashboard. He stepped on it, and so did I. You could practically see the thought bubble form over his head, “WTF? That’s a guy on a bike?” Cars have a hard time making it to the speed limit on Park, especially at night. I was on his bumper for several blocks until he turned.
I don’t often terrorize drivers, but all pumped full of adrenaline from such a nice TNUA, I couldn’t help myself.
By the numbers
- 66 riders
- 3 flat tires
- 1 crash
- 0 injuries
- 52°F, 11°C
- 17 MPH, 27 km/h SSE winds
- 01:56:54 ride time
- 23.46 miles
- 12.0 avg MPH
- 30.8 max MPH
Cadence magnet slipped in on the crank arm again. I need to glue it in place or something.
