4th of July, Old Pros Ride
Scripps Ranch Old Pros - 4th of July Ride
Every 4th of July the Scripps Ranch Old Pros host a 10k race/ fun run and a bike ride. This event has become a tradition in the Roup household whether we partake in the 10K run, which The Boss has done several times, or 50 mile ride now our fancy. The start and finish for the ride are in Scripps Ranch, about a mile from the house, making it a convenient event to ride.
The 50 mile ride can be very fast ride, the streets our usually pretty empty on the 4th at that time of the morning and the event draws some very fast riders from of area due its' relatively small entrance fee and free beer garden at the end. The Boss and the Motivator had two goals this year; stay with the front group until you're dropped and finish under 2 hours and 45 minutes. On July 3rd, ride bibs were picked up, bikes were prepped, and gear was laid out, to make the 7am start easier.
The event as told by Fabrece:
Early start at 5:30 to make sure everything was in order, have a quick breakfast of oatmeal, and the necessary caffeine boost. Rolled over to the start line at 6:30 and enjoyed the empty streets, devoid of cars. At the start, I meet up with the Boss, Jack (friend of the family), and several others from Team in Training. Wanting to get a prime starting location; Jack, the Boss, and I moved closer to the front. The National Anthem played and then we were off! The start was fast with a lot of people spread across the road. I lost sight of my two compadres, but I knew they were fine moving up through the group. The peloton blasted down the road as I kept an I eye for any sketchy riders or erratic riding. On cue someone accidentally dropped their water bottle and it skittered through the group causing several to swerve. I think everyone knew that the hills separated the "racers" from the "enthusiasts." At the end of the day it was made clear, all three of us were enthusiast. The Boss and I dropped off the group on the small climbs going north on El Camino Real, while Jack lasted longer and was dropped on Del Dios. We finished the first 25 miles in just over an hour, the second 25 miles weren't as fast. The Boss and I kept a nice tempo, but I decided to give one final effort on the last climb going up Pomerado. I later paid for that effort with a nice cramp in my left hamstring. I slowly pedaled one legged to the finish tired, but ready to do it again.
The event as told by Rolly:
The start of this event is always fun for me as I usually see old ride buddies from season past. This year was a bit different as several of my TnT riders were doing the event. The start is always exciting as the peloton goes flying down Mira Mesa, a road that you usually would avoid on a bike due to the limited shoulder. But at 7:00am on a holiday morning, the traffic is very small. This year the riders stopped for the lights, which hasn't always been the case. The ride for me really starts as you attack the downhill just before the 10 mile mark and head north. It is the downhill and the hills as your turn north the thins out the peloton. I was dropped quickly, but knew if I stayed close I might be able to re-attach at the stop lights and possibly hold on until the 22 mile mark. I worked with another rider to join the peolton, but was quickly dropped as the peloton went up El Camino Real. I was able to catch them at Del Mar Heights where I rode up next to the Motivator. We were both already feeling as "enthusiasts". The Motivator and I continue to ride together with various groups. The climb up Del Dios did me in as the Motivator slowed to stay relatively close to me. We skipped the 2nd SAG stop, seeing where we were, time wise, bottle wise, and want to make our 2:45 goal. We knew what lied ahead and were also eager to beat the impending heat. At the bottom of Pomerado, heading up into Scripps Ranch, the Motivator attacked the hill. I simply found my own rhythm to make it to the top. I knew that the Mom was gong to be at the top to cheer us on. Stats for the day show that the fastest riders made it up the 1 mile plus hill in about 3:40, the Motivator was 5:20, I much slower. The Motivator was waiting for me at the top. I wasn't feeling to bad as I led us for the final 5 mile or so. The Motivator started to cramp and we slowed the climb up one of the final hills. I don't think I have ever seen the Motivator in that sorta condition. As he said, the effort up Pomerado had impacted him, but he was going to finish. At the final climb he told me to go ahead and finish, I crossed the line and stopped the clock at 2:43. I had made our goal. The Motivator was slightly behind, but he too finished in 2:45. Now all we had to do was the 1 mile climb back to the house, ugh.
Every 4th of July the Scripps Ranch Old Pros host a 10k race/ fun run and a bike ride. This event has become a tradition in the Roup household whether we partake in the 10K run, which The Boss has done several times, or 50 mile ride now our fancy. The start and finish for the ride are in Scripps Ranch, about a mile from the house, making it a convenient event to ride.
The 50 mile ride can be very fast ride, the streets our usually pretty empty on the 4th at that time of the morning and the event draws some very fast riders from of area due its' relatively small entrance fee and free beer garden at the end. The Boss and the Motivator had two goals this year; stay with the front group until you're dropped and finish under 2 hours and 45 minutes. On July 3rd, ride bibs were picked up, bikes were prepped, and gear was laid out, to make the 7am start easier.
The event as told by Fabrece:
Early start at 5:30 to make sure everything was in order, have a quick breakfast of oatmeal, and the necessary caffeine boost. Rolled over to the start line at 6:30 and enjoyed the empty streets, devoid of cars. At the start, I meet up with the Boss, Jack (friend of the family), and several others from Team in Training. Wanting to get a prime starting location; Jack, the Boss, and I moved closer to the front. The National Anthem played and then we were off! The start was fast with a lot of people spread across the road. I lost sight of my two compadres, but I knew they were fine moving up through the group. The peloton blasted down the road as I kept an I eye for any sketchy riders or erratic riding. On cue someone accidentally dropped their water bottle and it skittered through the group causing several to swerve. I think everyone knew that the hills separated the "racers" from the "enthusiasts." At the end of the day it was made clear, all three of us were enthusiast. The Boss and I dropped off the group on the small climbs going north on El Camino Real, while Jack lasted longer and was dropped on Del Dios. We finished the first 25 miles in just over an hour, the second 25 miles weren't as fast. The Boss and I kept a nice tempo, but I decided to give one final effort on the last climb going up Pomerado. I later paid for that effort with a nice cramp in my left hamstring. I slowly pedaled one legged to the finish tired, but ready to do it again.
The event as told by Rolly:
The start of this event is always fun for me as I usually see old ride buddies from season past. This year was a bit different as several of my TnT riders were doing the event. The start is always exciting as the peloton goes flying down Mira Mesa, a road that you usually would avoid on a bike due to the limited shoulder. But at 7:00am on a holiday morning, the traffic is very small. This year the riders stopped for the lights, which hasn't always been the case. The ride for me really starts as you attack the downhill just before the 10 mile mark and head north. It is the downhill and the hills as your turn north the thins out the peloton. I was dropped quickly, but knew if I stayed close I might be able to re-attach at the stop lights and possibly hold on until the 22 mile mark. I worked with another rider to join the peolton, but was quickly dropped as the peloton went up El Camino Real. I was able to catch them at Del Mar Heights where I rode up next to the Motivator. We were both already feeling as "enthusiasts". The Motivator and I continue to ride together with various groups. The climb up Del Dios did me in as the Motivator slowed to stay relatively close to me. We skipped the 2nd SAG stop, seeing where we were, time wise, bottle wise, and want to make our 2:45 goal. We knew what lied ahead and were also eager to beat the impending heat. At the bottom of Pomerado, heading up into Scripps Ranch, the Motivator attacked the hill. I simply found my own rhythm to make it to the top. I knew that the Mom was gong to be at the top to cheer us on. Stats for the day show that the fastest riders made it up the 1 mile plus hill in about 3:40, the Motivator was 5:20, I much slower. The Motivator was waiting for me at the top. I wasn't feeling to bad as I led us for the final 5 mile or so. The Motivator started to cramp and we slowed the climb up one of the final hills. I don't think I have ever seen the Motivator in that sorta condition. As he said, the effort up Pomerado had impacted him, but he was going to finish. At the final climb he told me to go ahead and finish, I crossed the line and stopped the clock at 2:43. I had made our goal. The Motivator was slightly behind, but he too finished in 2:45. Now all we had to do was the 1 mile climb back to the house, ugh.
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