The forecast called for increasing winds throughout the morning with 25-30 MPH gusts. The next three days will be rainy.  The temp was a near perfect 58F and mostly sunny for my 8 AM wheels down. Same route as yesterday, but a whole different feeling.

Yesterday’s ride was a slog.  It usually takes me a mile or so to get into a comfortable rhythm. That never happened yesterday.  The hills really got to me so bad that I cut the ride short.  You see,  the route I took has two options, the “Rochester Long and Rochester Short”.  The bail out is around 7 miles into the ride.  The feeling good turn around spot is at the 12 mile mark.

Today I got into the zone.  Twice when I emerged from my “highway hypnosis”,  I was already beyond those hills.  My average speed was up quite a bit and the whole ride felt…well I didn’t really feel anything.  My mind took me to places other than where I was on the bike.  I was on the home stretch much sooner than I realized and as I though about the last climb, I realized that I had already done it.   That’s a good feeling.

I had heard about this ride for a couple of years and decided to give it a go.  Eleven of us began the ride in Somerset, MA all looking forward excitedly for the hills to come when we made the turn and rode through Fall River.  Everything about the city is hill related.  The high school nick name is “The Hill Toppers”.  The businesses are called “Hill Side”,  the “Hill Top Cafe”,  “Seven Hills”, and on and on.  It’s challenging to say the least.

A couple of rides broke away from the group and I tried to organize a paceline to chase them down.  There was only one taker but together we caught them pretty quickly.

I hung back with the slower riders  for a while to get some video footage.  When I decided to chase down the faster riders, the general consensus was “good luck, there are too far ahead”.   “I’m riding a Felt” was my response.  It didn’t matter.  The five of them were waiting in the parking lot at then end, showered, changed and sated.

Much of the group opted for Mexican after the ride.  I declined (I don’t eat after 5 PM), but was only 30 minuets away from my fridge and cold beer.  Bikers love coffee and beer.  Mexican food? Not so much. Not around here anyhow.