A noon start? What can Steve be thinking? Simple. Mark Schmidt's birthday ride. Steve and Mark and Chris have traditionally celebrate Mark's birthday by riding at least as many miles as Mark has years. It is getting tougher but we've got a few more good years in us.

Mark lives and rides in Pomeroy. We seldom get his company. He is an accomplished rider though having done several double centuries. Marriage and job responsibility has cut into his riding time recently. He requested the three peaks ride.

I didn't figure we'd have time for all three, but that was fine with me. Yesterday's century wasn't weighing too hard on my legs but I wasn't anxious to push them either.

Chris is both cruel and sly. Bitterly stung my barbs about not having done a century yesteday, he snuck down the Lewistion grade at 9:15 this morning and did the Lapwai loop on his own. Didn't suggest anyone join him--just wanted to make sure that he had a enough miles for his first century today.

He had a good day for those extra miles. Cold but bright and with a steady East Wind, the day grew steadily warmer. I found myself in the lead at the Rose Garden and looked about for the wolves I knew were lying in wait at my back. Fortunately the wolves went for the weakest first. Steve lay claim to that distinction and though he engaged Mark in Bank/Grocer palaver, he was unable to keep Mark from making a run at us.

I can say "us" since Chris had burned his legs with 44 miles at 18mph and because Eric had kicked back before the oasis and let us catch up.

Of course, cycling speed is relative. We entertained ourselves at the top while waiting for Steve by trying to guess who that cyclist raging up the grade was and whether he'd catch Steve. Turned out that cyclists was Rusty. Claimed he was sick, though. At the bottom he headed for the bike path looking for chicks. Ah youth!

The plan was to do all three grades, Lewiston, Cloverland, and Anatone. We hoped we catch up with the 2pm start under Lance's stewardship. We saw no way to catch them at the boat launch so we went around Evan's road and down Critchfield.

At Clemens Road we found Lance, alone. He had lost his flock. He was riding around trying to find them. He had stopped to help John Arland fix a flat and had sent Linda and Jan and a couple of cycling friends from St. Joe on to Asotin. John had been testing the Devil's Slide course and decided one flat was enough. He headed back.

Turns out Jan had interpreted Asotin as Asotin Creek. We stopped at the store in Asotin to fuel up for the climb and Lance headed up the road to find his ride.

The ladies returned to the boat launch and Lance climbed Cloverland with us. He's been running foot races and not spending enough time on the bike. Now that the "projects" are over, we expect him to up his distance and really, Lance, you have to keep better track of your riders. Sheesh.

So a birthday ride, it turns out, comes with an added benefit. Dinner. After the ride, we met at Fazzari's and enjoyed pizza. I guess the Polar Bear ride never quite made it to Polar Bear.

On a sadder note, Chris reports that he is worried about Green Bird.

. Seems she has liver problems. Chris claims it is because he's fed her too much pasta. Personally I think she's been hitting the sauce out of loneliness on those days Chris sneaks out early to do an extra 44 miles.