Yah. Was hard to find wind shelter on a few of those stretches. Felt like the wind was blowing right in my face when I was an inch off a wheel, which is what pushed right me off the back. No rain though, so that's a plus.

Don't mean to crash y'all's thread but that wind was crazy! I hit 32mph on a flat thanks to the tailwind at one point.

Quick question: do they normally keep the front road block gate closed as long as they did today? I think it didn't open until 6:30ish...

It's often closed until late, and cyclists have to go around on the grass.

During the regular Mon and Wed am runs there, the barrier is kept deliberately locked--to serve as a steeplechase gate. Given all the rain of late, there's been a nice water trench to land in after leaping the gate and continuing on one's steeplechase run........:)

anyone planning on riding tomorrow?

Yep as long as it's not raining when I wake up.

Gotta prepare for Total 200.

Same. Looks like the rain is supposed to hold off until noon or so.

Assuming I actually get out of bed (I've got the best intentions to do so now), here's what I'm hoping to get done:

1:25h
z1/2 with 2x12min at z4, rpm for the intervals 65-70, about 3min z1 in between

I accidentally (yes, accidentally) got up at 5:30 this morning and though, hmmm.... I could make it to HP if I hustle.... but then I decided I'd try the Conte's Hill Ride tonight instead... and then when I was walking to the metro at 6:25 and the weather was PERFECT, I realized I had made a mistake.

I'm in for Thursday! I will OF COURSE, be either on my own or leading a "B" group, if anyone else is interested in my pace (about 20-21).

Hope you had a great ride today!!
--Abby

Missed you guys on the start and was never able to catch up to the main group. It looks like someone went down, saw a couple park police and only caught a glimpse of a rider sitting on the curb. I hope everyone is okay!

Brady went down after hitting a runner that was jogging down the center line. Broken collarbone. Sounded like a concussion too, because he was in way too good of a mood for just breaking a bone. Other than that, he seemed okay. Paramedics took care of him.

Bahh, thats a bummer...here's to a quick recovery!

I'll refrain from sharing my opinion about those runners/walkers at HP in the middle of an OPEN road...

x2!

Yeah, nasty wreck for Brady. The jogger was mad at him, which was hard to believe since Brady was way more banged up. Not too cool.

I think Brady should take the George Hincapie route and not let the doctors look at the bone till after Le Tour is finished. See you on Thursday Brady?

As for the lesson learned for the rest of us? Keep your head up down there, even when it seems like an open road. Runners and others don't realize how fast the train is coming and don't always get out of the way. Protect yourself from them!!

Man that sucks- Brady get well soon!

Mornings are not usually as bad with pedestrians but lately there have been a ton of runners (even before sunrise which can get tricky to see). I still remember the lady walking out to the middle of the road with her back turned to the oncoming peleton so she could get a photo-- nearly killed us all. Maybe we should get a siren for our train!

Pedestrians really need to exercise better common sense when they're out on the path/road... and the walkers are a lot worse than the joggers/runners. Even if Hains Point & Rock Creek Park are closed to traffic, they're still roads people! (meaning they're still open to cop cars, emergency vehicles, and bikes!) Also, watch out for the kids, dogs, and strollers out on the W&OD trail that are totally unpredictable.

That sucks so bad. Was it the skinny guy with short, almost shaved head that was running in the middle of the street? I remember on the third lap we all had to part for him. What a dumb-ass.

I totally agree.

For those of us on bikes, however, we have a responsibility too and should more regularly practice only passing on the left with an audible warning (a siren's not a bad idea--Curtis does have a bell that seems to work pretty well--and voices work) to warn runners/walkers/bikers ahead of time.

I was near the front, so I don't know if this would have avoided this particular collision, but regardless, as a group it's worth exercising a little more caution as we go bombing down the road. Be on the lookout for sudden slowdowns by the people pulling in front and needing to avoid people/ducks/etc.!

(And yes, I know that I personally should heed this advice as well.)

It was that guy.

And I agree about what Patrick said, but in this situation, the guy was running TOWARDS US.

DISCHARGE and minus the fractured collar bone doing well. Was pretty much in and out of GW in under an hour. Looks like I avoided a bad concussion since my shoulder took the brunt of it, though I will need to get a new helmet.

Thanks Guys for helping scrape me up off the payment, esp Nick for getting my car!!!

Hope to be back on the horse soon...

Dang! Fast on the bike AND in the hospital.

Glad to know you're already on the mend and with only a fracture.