The Final Tuesday Night Club Ride Of 2019- The Watt King Pulleth- -

At Mile 22, the ride passes through the town of Blecker’s Corner . Population 412. One flashing yellow light. One gas station where, in July, the ride stops for Gatorade.

There is no official sign. No banner. But every rider knows: the town line begins at the first mailbox (a blue rusted thing with a missing flag) and ends at the church steeple (0.6 miles). It is the unofficial King of the Mountains. It is a 3% drag that feels like the Alpe d’Huez when your core temp is 96.5 degrees. At Mile 22, the ride passes through the

Then, it happened.

The —a misnomer here, as the industrial park has a grade of maybe 2%—are stretching aggressively. They have the body fat percentage of a praying mantis. They are talking about “openers” and “FTP testing.” No one likes them. They will not win tonight, but they will make the first thirty minutes hell. One gas station where, in July, the ride stops for Gatorade

As we unclipped at the pub for the post-ride debrief, the mood was reflective. Stats Checked : Strava totals for the year were finalized. Winter Projects : Talk turned to indoor trainers and gravel builds. But every rider knows: the town line begins