Crusty Cassette

"You warmed me up," I told Gary when we hit Southway. I took off the windbreaker I had started in figuring I wouldn't need it again. the forecast was for 51. I'd be fine with just a vest. Shoot. I was already sweating. Gary really was pushing it.

I expected clouds and a sunbreak or two. Instead the day dawned to blue sky and stayed that way.

Doug, Linda, Donna and Gary joined me for a Lapwai Loop. I did this route a week or so ago but didn't want to call for more since I figured most of us didn't have the mileage base.

But it was Doug who suggested we might add Kendrick. I knew that even with my 9:30 start at home, I wouldn't have time to add on at the end of the ride for a century. I might have done it but I'd have been riding right to sunset. I settled for 83 for the day. Doug should have something like that as well having added eight miles before we started.

Donna and Gary had never done Lapwai. Donna had 100 miles for the year which makes Lapwai a tough enough ride. This was only the second ride of the year for Gary.

You can't fault his enthusiasm. I was worried when I had trouble keeping up from Critchfield to the boat launch. But it turns out the Lrgent training plan has a flaw. We had a pretty stout east wind in our faces going up Tammany and that took a toll on Gary.

Donna and Linda had about 30 minutes head start on us but we caught them at MacIntosh. We regrouped at Web Ridge and 95. The sign at Lapwai Grocery read 53 degrees. We had a tailwind headed north and hoped for a strong wind to push us back to town.

At Arrow Bridge, Gary opted to head back. Doug and I headed up 3 toward Kendrick into a head wind.

A quick bite at Archie's had us headed back to Lewiston by 2. No tailwnd! Well, we must have had some from Arrow to town since we were holding 20+ but it just felt like a breeze in our faces.

Doug headed home from Hahn Supply. It was 3:30. Would I go around Evans? It looked like I'd get 82-84 miles just head home. Evans really only means 3 or 4 more miles. Not worth it.

Next week. If the weather holds, Doug and I going to shoot for that first century next week.

Steve reports this is guard weekend but he has Monday off and claims Bosie is enjoying fine weather too. Will he have three centuries before I get my first?

Thanks to Donna and Gary for joining us. You two have been regulars. Linda says you're interested in the Lilac Century. My favorite ride last year, but I've considered skipping it this year. What fun if we could get a good TRC group together for this year.

For the ride of it.

Back in 2005 when I still owned my house in Lewiston and spent most weekends there, Corrie somewhat inadvertently challenged me to ride a century at least once in each calendar month. I enjoyed meeting that challenge the first year, and have continued it. Of course, the challenge in this comes mostly from the December and January weather, but this year is a bit different.

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Rain! The paper and Klew promised me rain on Friday, so I did 110 miles over three days anticipating a day off.

But Friday morning the thermometer said 49 degrees when I got up at 6. By 9 the sun and light wind persuaded me to go out to beat the wind.

You've tried that haven't you. You know what happened. I fought a wind down to 10 miles but counted on and got a great tail wind back to the Corps. I had hoped it was a southwind and I wouldn't face a head wind headed toward Evans.

No such luck. Even truning back Southeast to go up Evans didn't get me the anticipated help.

Saturday was calm and sunny. I had to go out once more time. This time I ran into Roy on the bypass near the railroad bridge and turned around to ride back to his place up Tammmany. Beautiful day. Good Ride.

But Sunday dawned grey and stayed that way. The promised 53 degrees probably never happened. At ride time, I doubted anyone would show.

But Gary and Donna showed up in their red pickup followed by The Riddles and their Tandem--Nicki complaining and wearing her Joseph Booties--and on bikes, Jim McCracken and Bill Arnold.

Couse Creek near Buffallo Eddy became the goal. I'd taken off my wind-breaker and stayed pretty comfortable though on the edge of chilly.

A drop of rain fell in Asotin but no one suggested we turn back.

We had a lively health-care discussion to make the mmiles go by.

No flats for the day unless you count the front on my bike in the garage before I left.

Next Sunday? Weather permitting, we'll ride from Nicki's place. She doesn't want to ride, but she promises oven-fresh cookies. And she says rain cancels but cold doesn't. Put it on your calendar.--Yum.

Corrie

After last Sunday's five flats in a group of 10 riders, I've been watching the shoulders and edges of the bike path more closely than usual.

I did get one flat this week but it was a piece of glass I picked up somewhere between the Casino and the weigh stations. It had rained pretty good in the morning and may have stirred up some debris.

With high winds during the week, I was concerned that we'd have a poor turn oujt for our Sunday ride, but instead we had as many as 11 cyclists, though we didn't all go the same way.

Mike, the Callahans, Linda and I, Scott Whitely, Lee Bauer, Tamara, and Helen showed up at the boat launch. Jim McCracken called to say he was meeting Roy at Swallows Nest at 1:30.

I agreed to push the group around the blue bridge to meet them. Roy and Jim were early and ready when we arrived. We decided to use the west wind to blow us up Tammany but Roy begged off saying his hip was bothering him again--he wanted to stay flat.

Linda, Helen, and Tamara joined Jim and Roy to ride out to 10 mile. Jim and Roy also spun up Asotin Creek.

The rest of us enjoyed a tail wind all the way to McIntosh. Donna and Gary had never ridden it. I told Donna it was fine to walk it which took some of the pressure off. She made it 3/4s of the way up before getting off "before I fell off.""

Mike lead us down Lindsay Creek. Once past the steepest descents Scott and I tried to catch him. It was all we could do taking turns pulling downhill. Mike said, "I should have put it in gear."

Lee points out that the Sunday rides end on the calendar with October, but we'll be out so long as the weather allows

Doug, Scott and Jen, and Sean did a fat tire ride from Bogan's to Flora and back on Sunday.

Lots of cyclists out on a fairly warm November afternoon. We didn't have a single flat which kind of makes up for last week.

Corrie

"I followed you," Jennifer said. She was still smiling. 6 or seven little green oozes showed on her cruiser tire but it wasn't flat.

Our Sunday Cycling Society had a surprise turnout for a cold Sunday. Linda and I, Gary and Donna, Helen, Sherry, Bill Arnold, Lee Bauer, Jennifer, and Scott Whitely showed up for a casual ride. Debbie came prepared to walk.

From the start we had trouble staying together. Donna took off like a shot and suddenly we were two groups. Helen, Sherry, Linda and Scott got left behind. Scott soon closed the gap. We regrouped at Red Wolf and again at the top of Evans.

After Jennifer complained we checked our tires. Mine seemed fine but Linda rolled up with a big goat head hanging out of the side of her tire. The whssh of air told us we'd be changing a flat but she opted to ride the two miles home. She had to quite early anyway.

Helen also had a prominent goat head which also gave us a satisfying whssh. I changed that flat and we were off.

Someewhere on Critchfield Bill decided that extra sponginess in his ride neeed some attention. He stopped and gave me a call. "My spare tube's shrader," he said. "I'll meet you somewhere on the way up Asotin Creek," he said.

"I can bring you a tube," I offered, "but it'll likely take me five minutes to get it to you." He figured he'd have his tube nearly patched by then.

Bur Gary said he'd go back and so the two of us climbed Critchfield to find Bill still fiddling with his tube. I gave him a presta tube and just as we were ready to start rolling again, I noticed my rear tire had softened. Not certain that it wasn't just lost air, I pumped it upu and we set out to catch the group.

I needed to refill that tube at Asotin and again at the end of the pavement. Air seemed to be escaping faster. Another pump-up at the Y and finally a new tube (I carry two) at the park and I was good to the boat launch.

I ride Evans nearly every day and haven't had a flat for months. Suddenly we managed five in one day.

Brother can you spare a tube?