Background:
Some members of the group I cycle with are planning to do the Ride Across INdiana (RAIN) the weekend after next. We did this ride two years ago: it was the hottest day I've ever cycled, and though I actually felt pretty good at the conclusion of the 160 miles, I really didn't want to do it again, ever! It wasn't so much the heat - after all, that was just the luck of the draw that comes with a July event; last year was much nicer - but I don't think the ride is as well supported as it should be, with only three official rest stops along the way.
But when we did it two years ago, one member of our group suffered a fluke accident just a few miles in and wasn't able to complete the ride. She was really disappointed, and I was willing to do this ride again if she needed a team to ride with (it really isn't a good ride to do by yourself, and it's a good idea to have vehicular support, too). So this is her year, but there are enough others from the group riding that I'm really not needed. I did tell the group I'd train with them for it, though.
So, yesterday we had a 100-120 mile training ride planned, starting at 7 am. Last Sunday we'd ridden about 90, and the path was pretty debris-strewn as a result of a storm the previous evening. As a result, three of us had gotten flat tires last week during the ride, including me. I'd used what I thought were my last spare tube and last CO2 cartridge getting back on the road, and completely forgot to replenish my supplies during the week.
As I go downstairs yesterday morning, I'm beginning to feel as if it's a bad idea to ride without being properly provisioned, especially as we'd had storms again on Saturday evening. I thought the decision was taken out of my hands, because when I got to my bike, my front tire was again flat. But the tube wasn't completely out of air; it was more of a slow leak. And it turned out I had an extra tube and three spare cartridges in my supply box.
Now things get odd. I can't call the group to let them know I'm running late, as everyone's phone numbers are in my cell phone. The display has been gradually going out, and it has finally reached the point where I simply can't get it to come up. (Why I haven't had it replaced is its own long story!) But I'm pretty sure they'll call to check on me when I don't show up, as they're expecting me to be there. I pull my phone out and set it on the sofa next to me where I'm working on my tire, so I can grab it quickly if it rings - not noticing that I haven't turned it back on after our marriage encounter meeting last night. By the time I get my tire fixed and pumped back up, I'm leaving the house ten minutes after the group was scheduled to start riding, and it takes me a minimum of six minutes to ride to our starting point. But I know where they're headed, and so I start on my way, pushing my pace pretty well. I know that, by myself, I'm not likely to match the group's pace, though there are a couple riders who are probably slower than I am, so I might catch the rearguard. But they'll probably stop for a few minutes at the first break area, about a dozen miles from my house. I figure maybe I can catch up with them there.
Except they either didn't stop there or were gone already, so rather than stopping I press onward. Now I figure it will be the 25 mile point before I have a shot at joining up with them. But crossing an intersection about three miles further along, I'm surprised to see familiar jerseys and faces stopped on the other side of the bridge ahead. One of my friends is calling out to me to "Be careful! That the bridge is like ice!" which confuses the hell out of me as the temperature is in the 60's. Then I see that a couple of them are bleeding, and one is laying down in the grass beside the path.
It seems that wet algae growth on the wooden bridge had made it extremely slick. One rider went down crossing the bridge, followed by at least two behind him. The guy laying on the ground when I arrived was the most seriously hurt; we found out later that he incurred a broken shoulder blade and collapsed lung. Other than that it was mostly a matter of a few scrapes. If I'd been with the group, I'd have probably been right in the midst of the pile-up.
(BTW, I ended up putting in over 115 miles on the day. And it was a good thing I was equipped for a flat, as I ended up getting another one.)
Lots of thoughts come to mind: The Lord works in mysterious ways. Or, life is timing.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you're OK. Hope your friend mends quickly.
112 miles on a bicycle just to wind up where you started? That seems silly! Just kidding! :) I'm not sure that I'd want to spend 112 miles in the saddle of my beach cruiser.
Hey, isn't the Tour de France coming up? Do you follow it?
I do follow Le Tour, though it's been harder to be excited about it the last couple of years. I read about Team Slipstream back in the fall - I think before they'd picked up Garmin and Chipotle as title sponsors, though I'm not sure of that - and was right on board with their agenda. Now I see there's a German team, Team High Road, with a similar drug-free focus. I'll probably be rooting for those two teams above the rest. I'm hoping the sport has really turned the corner.
ReplyDeleteAs for my own 100+ milers - my uncle keeps telling me to take a look at my license, that I'm too old for such foolishness. And I remember the (other kind of) bikers we ran into at a convenience store during RAIN 2006; when we told them what we were up to, one asked, "Man, did y'all do too many mushrooms, or somethin'?"
I only took up cycling a few years ago, but I'm really enjoying it.
I know what you mean about the last couple of years. But I try to enjoy the spectacle, the views, the strategy, etc., and keep my head buried in the sand re: doping, etc.
ReplyDeleteI used to ride (way back in high school, yes, we had bikes with rubber tires in the old days!) with a group. We would go up and down the coast of SoCal. It was fun.
As you know, age is just a number!