The MRC/NECS non race season has officially started
with the Bear Mountain Beatdown in the books. With the Amy Freeze inspired forecast calling for mid 40s with morning showers (of the
non-golden variety) giving way to mostly cloudy skies there was a strong chance
that only the most hardened of the troops would muster for the call to battle.
It was a clear signal participation would be light when the CDC arrived at the staging area looking to quarantine the group due to a severe case of Manginaitis sweeping the Orange County riding community. When presented with the our therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Rifmancyclene the boys in the NBC Protective Suits put in the call to Pat McQuaid who officially signed off on the events UCI sanctioning.
It was a clear signal participation would be light when the CDC arrived at the staging area looking to quarantine the group due to a severe case of Manginaitis sweeping the Orange County riding community. When presented with the our therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Rifmancyclene the boys in the NBC Protective Suits put in the call to Pat McQuaid who officially signed off on the events UCI sanctioning.
Making the grade were El Obamador, C-Dubbs, Senor
“if there’s beer at the end of the ride I’m in” Agua, Brian and John. For those
that have paid attention to the ramblings of this venue of superior attitude
and superior state of mind you are well versed in the antics of the 3 amigos but need to understand the mindset it takes to
ride the Beatdown. Brian, along with El Obamador make up the Marine contingent
of the group and you know El O has the ability to withstand hardships
(Wilderness 101/Dark Horse 40 weekend of racing) but Brian, well he is a whole
other animal. With temps hovering the the low 40s, damp/raw conditions and a
good strong gusty wind out of the northwest that had us all slathered in
embrocation and warm clothing this is how Brian rolls –
Brain running from our massive one-eyed trouser trouts
And this stop is critical for shedding every last gram of weight as just down the road is the sharp right onto Lower Mountain Road/Boulevard/Maple and the never ending, lung searing grinder to the summit at Storm King School (one of those fine private institutes of academia that welcome with open arms the offspring of Mercedes driving parents). Moving with the trend to gravel road riding El Obamador swapped the double climb/descent on 9W for a section through the Black Rock Forest.
Our version of the Strade Bianchi included multiple
stretches of Item #4 quality gravel that assured one of a taint massage like
only Criss Angel would happily offer.
from the fine Borough of Queens (yes the same place Prince Akeem sought out his queen) doing maintenance on a Carbon Flux Capacitator.
The
first question they asked – “are you riding 23s?” (seriously we can’t make this
shit up).
Surviving a downhill section better suited to a
mountain bike (John was truly feeling at ease here) it was time for a pair of
high speed winding descents to the town of Fort Montgomery where speeds topped
45mph. The big smiles at the bottom soon turned to looks of suffering as the
Bear Mountain summit lay ahead. At the
base Senor Agua, El Obamador, Brian and C-Dubbs set off to inflict maximum pain
while John smartly held back to conserve for the later half of the ride. The
turn on to Jenkins saw Senor Agua and C-Dubbs off the back with Brian finally
popping near the summit.
After regrouping at the summit, enjoying the view
for awhile we realized John was MIA.
riding El Obamador’s wheel to the summit and ensuing descent into the US
Military Academy at West Point where we encountered troop movement exercises
and army grunts coming out of the woods in full battle gear and firearms.
Roadway climb.
Normally at this point everyone gives a high five
as the climbing is over and it is a fast run to town and a well deserved beer.
This time, just to make sure you got the beatdown you signed up for, another
climb to the Storm King School was served up but this time it was straight up
Mountain Road. This has to be about a 2 mile climb that is littered with
sections (and not short ones) hitting close to 20 degrees. Brian “I’m so tough
I eat glass for breakfast” crushed all comers, C-Dubbs (even with a brief rest
in a driveway) managed to eek out second with Senor Agua and El Obamador
carrying on a casual conversation the entire climb. John, well being new to the
road was hitting PRs for distance and climbing, summited with a big shit eating
grin.
At this point there was near mutiny when El
Obamador suggested we head back down via Maple/Boulevard which included yet
another short steep section that was sure to hurt the vertically challenged.
Instead we opted to race the cars down 9W where cars were blowing by at 50-60
while we were in the mid 40s. Taking the exit at the bottom we arrived back at
the parking lot with warm temps, sunny skies and the appropriate post ride beer (provided by our esteemed organizer) that summed up the day.
A debriefing on the days ride was held over burgers, pulled pork sandwiches and double IPAs. If you weren't there you missed another great one. See you at the Gran Fondo.
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