Tuesday I hit the local TT on a new course for me, Hurley Mt. Road up in Kingston. We have 4 courses in a rotating schedule, and this one is new for 2007. I’ve been TTing full aero in prep for Fitch, but got beat by 5 seconds by a tri-guy with only a helmet and clip-ons. Ouch. Well, he’s the damn strong athlete who runs this place. Note the advertised hypoxic sleeping room. The TT course is basically at the end of his driveway. He claimed a major advantage from course knowledge, but really I just wimped out after I saw I was pretty far ahead at the turnaround. He used 60 more watts to get that 5 seconds. Fun course, kinda flat, twisty tree-covered road.

Normally Wed. is just 40 endurance miles, but I hooked up with the group ride leaving the Bicycle Depot. Dig the music. We crossed the Gunks on 44/55 and then back on 52 at Ellenville, where I left them to head home to Beacon. Riding up here by myself all the time I often get the idea that I’m the only fast guy around, but last night I was dragged around by 2 super skinny guys pushing it hard up both climbs. The ride back home was a race against the sun, which I lost but survived. 60 miles after work?

I forgot how it goes on rural group rides. Everyone yells out every time they see a car. People swerve around pot holes. Fun stuff.