Hmmm...This is my first attempt at using this thing so we'll see how it works.

During the Tour de Lentil I was wishing I had a the Bruce (Almighty) Express helping me through the 100K of wind and hills. No such luck though.

This event was supposed to be a non-competitive event, but it sure did not seem that way. In the front it was pure speed and attack from the start to the first fuel stop. Then 2 guys blew by the fuel stop and a third was chasing hard. Well I took this as an unannounced yet clear challenge to all who witnessed it...I heard it clearly announced over the loud speaker in my head,

"Hear ye, hear ye you're all a bunch of slugs - catch me if you can. Ha-ha-ha..."

Now this had just become a huge threat to my mental well being (ego, testosterone, stupidity, call it what you want). The quarter of an apple I was holding when down in a lump and the quarter of a bagel went into a jersey pocket and off I went on the chase. Contrary to Linda's experience, the hills were a blessing since that is where I eventually caught all of them. This song kept repeating in my head: "the hills are alive with music..." I could hear Donna (my wife) and Debbie singing it just plain as the day they actually did so in the Hiawatha Trail tunnels a few years back. Those tunnels make such great amplitheaters. After passing or rather blowing by the 2nd fuel stop in Colfax and passing the last of the unannouced challegers on the STEEP climb I thought now what? The challenge is over. Well maybe not since my bowl of cereal, quarter apple, quarter bagel and 2 water bottles were starting to wear off. The red blinking "low fuel" light was ever present on the way into Palouse. The Palouse fuel stop was a welcome site. I topped off one bottle with PowerAde/water grabbed a bagel not that I would get much benefit from it at this time, but it tasted good.

Lessons learned:

1) Chris does has not mastered the Lance Armstrong look of death hammering past everyone on a steep hill.

2) Going it alone for 47.5 miles in 2:15 with hills and headwinds requires a bit more energy than a bowl of cereal, quarter of an apple, a quarter of a bagel, and 2-water bottles.

3) Always bring sunscreen, even if Lewiston looks like rain.

4) It's lonely riding alone for 3 hours.

5) I hate riding more that 3 hours.

6) All that matters is that you finish ahead of those little voices in your head.

6) Friends are a wonderful thing to have along on a long hilly, windy ride such as the Tour de Lentil (now if I can just get them to leave of my head).