Bicycles Unlimited - Bob Fizzles on Frizzle Hill 7-21

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Bob Fizzles on Frizzle Hill 7-21

Written by Bob Perry

Friday, 23 July 2010

It was a warm and humid afternoon when the group arrived to do our ride to Frizzle Hill. I was able to get my gear and somewhat worn out body out the door at 6:00 to lead the 20 riders over to Turners Falls. I rode across the canal bridge and headed up Third Street where I caught the green light at Ave A. I was really hoping that the light was going to change and half the group would get caught out, so then I would soft pedal up the hill on Third Street. No luck there, everyone made it across!

After getting to the hill I had Chris Williams on my wheel as I began the climb. I pushed pretty hard up the hill to keep him from running me over and I was really gassed at the top. Since I was on the front I was able to slide into the middle of the group after a few riders passed me. I struggled to keep the pace that was now being set by Chris as we headed down Millers Falls Road. Lucky for me that I had Coach and Silko behind me and I knew that they would help out if need be (Tom has been giving me a push up some of the steeper hills.). The group sped along at 25 mph past the airport and pretty soon we were heading down the hill into Millers Falls. I had spoken to Curt and told him that as soon as we hit the hill out of town that I was most likely going to have to drop off as the pace was getting a little too much for me. Curt was good with that and he said that he would stay back and help form the “B” group. So after we crossed the Millers River the “A” group sped off. That left me in a paceline that included Jeremuzzle, Ceil, Billy boy, Sir James, Curt, Coach, Silko, and Kenny. We headed to Northfield with the “A” group right in front of us. We followed them to the hill just past Northfield Mountain where they picked the pace up as we began the climb. A small gap opened up in the line and I got behind with a group of five. I was suffering a bit trying to catch back on when Silko came along and gave me a little push. That was just enough to get me over the crest and pretty soon I was back in the bunch. We rode along at a pretty good clip as we headed for RT.10. I sort of hid out in the back of the group trying to save what little energy I had for the next hill, which was the RT. 10 climb up to Gill. After making the left turn onto RT. 10 we sailed down the hill and across the river to begin the climb. Fortunately for me the group set a nice 16 mph pace up the hill and I was able to keep in the paceline. After getting to the top of the climb I knew that we had a mostly downhill run of about three miles and I planned on staying in the back of the group and recovering as best as I could. I was pretty beat and when we caught up with Roger’s group I almost bailed and joined his ride, but I hung in with my group. We rode down to Bernardston where we caught up with Bonnie and Karen who joined our group. After making the left turn onto RT. 5&10 we headed south towards the big climb of the day. I was hanging in the pack as we made the right turn onto Eden Trail but as soon as we turned left across the brook and the climb began, I went right out the back door. I was suffering up the steep first pitch and all the riders soon pulled out of sight. By the time I got to the top of the last steep pitch I was getting ready to head back to the shop by taking the left turn at the top of the climb. But as I crested the hill I could see Coach, Curt and Silko waiting for me and so I was back in the group for the last climb of the day. I rode with the boys on the false flat and we caught up with the rest of the group that soft pedaled for us at the bottom of the last climb of the day. As expected I got dropped on the steep first pitch but Coach stayed with me and paced me up the hill. We caught up with Curt and Kenny near the crest of the steeper pitch and then we rode up the rest of the climb together. After getting over the top of Frizzle Hill the rest was pretty much academic. Curt was the first to head down the hill and I went down 5 riders back. We started the descent at 35mph and accelerated to about 45 mph before gravity took over and he topped out at 56.8mph and I hit 56.3. At the bottom of the hill we rounded the corner onto Greenfield Road at 35 mph and then hit the binders to slow up and wait for the group to come back together. After we were “grouppo compacto” we then headed down to the last descent (after all this is why we go up…isn’t it?) and again I waited for Curt to head downhill before beginning the descent myself. I hit 48mph on the windy downhill run to Greenfield and when I got to the bottom of the hill I coasted along with Jamie, Curt, Silko and Coach until the rest of the crew came along. The small climb up Leyden Road was taxing for me but I hung in and made it to Silver Street with the group. We rode back to the shop and I, for one, was cooked. It was a very difficult ride for me and I really was on the rivet for most of the way. I am going to need a little rest before I will feel good on the hills.

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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 July 2010 )

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