Rune and Paul Ries and I rode it this year. Although rain was promised, all we got was a strong wind blowing icy fog into our faces. This was going up the Endless Hills, and down the other side to the finish.
The start was great. Rune and I got to about 50 yards behind the lead peloton, and were moving in to latch on. At 23.5mph, we slowly gained ground -- until the lead group found their pace, and voom! Oh well. Shortly later, I fell back to reattach chain to gears. Rune headed on to follow the leaders, reportedly all the way to the Wall, where they dropped him like yesterdays' fish.
The ride was gorgeous, a bit overcast and cool, but no rain. A pretty good crowd of riders, great veggie soup at the lunch break. No water balloon throwers in Petrolia. Only a stiff headwind along the coast (not like last year!).
I'm pleased to announce that I stayed on my bike all the way up the Wall, and up the Endless Hills as well. My pedaling time was 7 1/2 hours, and total was about 8. Rune finished in 6 1/2. The fastest time was slightly better than 5 1/2. BTW, the second place finisher is 49 years old. The first placed guy, named Tinker, is a bike racer in the Olympics.
A pitcher of beer, some beef and onion rings were consumed afterwards.
The biggest thrill was coming down the last descent, with bright red, swollen and numb fingers. Everything was wet. I could grip the brakes, but I couldn't feel that I was pulling on them. Then a quick rise -- I couldn't bend my fingers to shift, so I was just punching at the shifters with the tips until I got the desired action. That's what it's all about, baby!
Rune reports feelings of great confidence, due to the shininess of his new bike, and the shiftiness of his new Campy transmission. He is Ready! He is Green!
Hope to see you out there.
David
Monday, May 14, 2007
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