This is the Perkiomen Creek. The ride loop crosses it 3 times, and if you see it, you have nowhere to go but up.

One of the many horse farms on my warmup loop. See that ridge? Yep - over it we go.

The road gets steep, and narrow, and tiny. Why?

Oh, that's why.

These were the roads I trained on this Spring for Battenkill-Roubaix.

The next 2 miles are just dirt, mud, rocks, and now (because of all the rain), runoff gulleys. Whee!

This is the Yellow Springs Inn in Historic Yellow Springs. This was a getaway for the wealthy of Philadelphia in the late 1700's.

We're 15 miles into the 22 mile loop, and the next 3 miles climb easily, but steadily, along Pine Creek. Some of the homes here are also nearly 200 years old.

Not quite France...more like Route 86 in Lake Placid. You wind and climb, following the sounds of water rushing against you on the right. The shade of these trees is a big help on hot days.

The climb stops being gentle for the final mile, and averages 10% to the summit. When I run this loop, it's usually my "last big run," and this climb comes at mile 18. Yeeeha.

You descend 2 miles, then turn at the base and climb the same ridge all over again at the same place you started the loop. See those towers? Yep - thats' where we're going.

Flat Road. The only flat part of the entire loop. 1 mile back to the Corporate Center now. It's 5:49PM - I have 11 minutes to spare.

The usual crew was already there waiting for me.

6:00PM. Someone clicks in, and away we go.

We rolled out gently for about 100 yards, and then 4 guys from Iron Hill attacked. This is looking down the frontstretch, with the uphill turn 1 off in the distance.

We're on lap 20. Heading uphill on the backstretch, I'm at the tail end of the field. You can see the guys on their TT bikes - we all hang at the back.

See that big guy? That's Steve. The only guy I can get a decent tow from. He's like 6' 4".

Front Stretch - Lap 22. Current speed at the top, average speed on the bottom.

This is where I usually ride, watching the show from the last row.

This is what it looks like at 30+ going uphill. The field ahead gets skinny, and all the TT guys are tucked out and looking for clean air.

This is coming out of the climb in turn 2. You're at the high point, so it's easy to see when a break gets away heading into 3. Once again, it's those f'ing Iron Hill Blue Jerseys...

Just after the last lap, self-portrait.

I was just playing now.

I like the new Atmos. I think it gives the dome a nice, vented roof.

Took the shades off for the no-handed shot. Total for the night - 55 miles, 2:43. The crit itself was 31.1 miles in 1:09:25, or 26.75 mph. Until next week!