When the call for a 4+ hour ride with intensity appears in Slack on a Sunday, for the next weekend, before our weekly Cycle Smart call with Mr Fetty, you know that the ride will definitely be a spicy one. With the duration, intensity and coach approval sorted, all that is left is to work out a start time and location, easy right? Well after 120+ Slack messages, Liz came through in the clutch and made the executive decision to start at 7am with 4 race pace efforts during the ride.

The first effort would take place on 9W with a pace line forming for the inevitable State Line Sprint with a quick re-group and re-fuel at the Market.

After a flat and fast first effort it was time to look to the hills. Russ lit it up with the early attack before being caught with Travis then unleashing a multitude of vicious attacks (the first one got rid of me) to try and shake a very fit Colin. I’m not sure who won the bragging rights, it looked like a draw from my vantage point off the back. With interval 2 done, it was into Nyack to grab some water on what was quickly becoming a very hot day.

The final two efforts were done in reverse of the first two with MVP of the second climb going to Russ for his daring descent and perfectly timed finishing sprint. I don’t have any photos of the efforts as my mind had already drifted to coffee. A spicy morning was finished with a perfect coffee stop and we could finally catch our breath before braving the hot morning sun on the commute home.