teamroll: columbus: Ride for World Health (R4WH)

Ride for World Health by fdaugherty at Garmin Connect - Details

The organized team photo, yeah that's my sweet BMC in the middle

For the third year in a row, teamroll: rode in the Ride for World Health event. This is an event sponsored by our primary sponsor roll: bike shop in Central Ohio. The route takes us from the roll: store at Easton Town Center. Up Sunbury Road and out into the country, loops around the north east side of Columbus and then takes the bike path back from Westerville to Easton. There was a ton of food when we got back and ice coffee from Starbucks. There is nothing like ice coffee after a bike ride.

teamroll: gathers before the ride

We had good weather for the ride, it was overcast with 30% chance of rain and temperatures were in the 60s. A lot of the conversation was around "let's make sure we do not get lost this year." We didn't necessarily didn't get lost as much as we just took a different route. Let's face it we live and drive/ride this area all the time, so its hard to get lost. Off the route? Yeah that happens daily, but we still know 'where' we are most of the time.

Mike is starting to review the route

A big thanks to Panera, Chipotle, Starbucks, and P.F. Chang's for their donations. Breakfast and lunch was great and we received coupons to P.F. Chang's for a free lunch or something.

Ya think they're looking for the big red X that marks the treasure?

The route was all familiar roads, but it is interesting just how much five bridge closings in something like a 20 mile radius can change traffic patterns. In the state's superior wisdom, they decided to repair or replace about five bridges at the same time. This construction will continue throughout this summer. So this cycling season will present some more fun.

Vicki is ready to ride and as usual smiling

As a group we are finding our way riding together. We have riders are various fitness and skill levels, which can cause the group to break up and have to regroup. We are getting better at the group dynamic, but we have room for improvement. Typically, the thin fast guys get up front and start to run. This causes the group to stretch out and we lose the benefit of drafting. Working in a peloton the goal is to conserve energy and work more efficiently. Riding in a peloton there is a delayed reaction when the pace picks up, much like a rubber band. It stretches out and then contracts, allowing the group to ride in a tighter pack. The problem is when the group starts to expand and contract. The motion tends to cause stress for the riders in the back, because there is typically a delayed reaction to increase in tempo. This increase in temp always leads to tapping the breaks only moments later. So you are constantly accelerating and decelerating, which is wasting energy.

Ever notice how Julie always knows where the camera is? :o)

We are talking more and more about the need to slow these events down, because they are not races. I have noticed an improvement over the past couple of years. We have declared Tuesday nights as Hammer Time. Thursday, charity, and other rides are for social / recreational riding. We are starting to ride by this credo, but there is always room for improvement. Typically, things get better with good dialogue and we are having better dialogue. We really do have a great group of people and we generally support each others efforts. Oh they will bust your chops, but it is in a big brother way - where I can say it, because I'm wearing the dots, but you cannot.

Kevin is ready to go and looking fast

The weather in Ohio this spring has been a little rough as far as the wind goes. However, this weekend - both Saturday and Sunday have been fantastic. Little to no wind with lots of sunshine has finally made us feel like spring is here. Less wind has made the riding this weekend much more enjoyable.

Amy and Amanda

Here are a couple shoots from the road. Even with a little overcast it was a great day, because we were riding with our team in little wind at a comfortable pace and for a good cause. What more could you really ever want?

Lots of dots

Moving up Sunbury Road in a long thin line

I've noticed that everyone is always smiling behind me. Why?

Here are a couple shots of the college kids riding across America for R4WH. Unfortunately, I didn't see them gathering for the shoot until almost too late. These guys/gals are riding 3300 miles across the country.