Crusty Cassette

So responsibility is an ugly word. I told Lance I'd sweep the gravel from the the corner about a mile up the Winchester grade. My plan was to leave home about 6:30, have that corner swept and then lounge about the start line for 40 minutes with lots of time to take care of annoying little things like pinning on a number or remembering to put on sun-screen (ow--we did 80 miles today!).

The best laid plans, of coures, go oft astray. Half way up Tammany it ocurred to me that while I had loaded my bike and gear last night, I hadn't put my cyclocomputer on the bike. Look out little birds feeding on the Tammany road, Daddy's got to get home. Can't ride without a computer.

Linda also had a rough start. She wasn't sure where Culdesac was and how to get to the start line. When she got there, she found no restrooms open. No fault of Debbie and Lance who had confirmed the community center would be open. Alas, it was not. Linda, I've told you drinking coffee first thing in the morning is a bad habit. Worse, she drove to the Thunderbird to use the bathroom instead of riding. That meant a return trip through the start formation since the ISP had decided to show up and we were back at the grain terminals. All very confusing.

But thank you to the ISP for clearing that highway for us. And thanks to Lance and Debbie for managing this rolling chaos.

The Mountain Trembled Apparently Craig decided he didn't want to risk another flat this week. He was a no show. Last year he flatted on this course and he flatted last week. Perhaps you should stay with the centuries, Craig. I don't remember you ever having a flat on those.

I managed to take 14 minutes off my tiem for this course last year. That is amazing to me as I felt this hill beat me twice today. About 3/4ths the way up, I found myself dropping back. You know the feeling. Instead of feeling those wheels spinning under you, you find that each turn is a grind--or is that crank. Later on top near 13 miles, I kept praying for the top of the hill. Didn't make it to the top before I once again had to break rhythm and struggle up.

This was Linda's first Bite the Bullet. While she had not planned to ride to Nez Perce with me, she had saved enough that she joined Dave and me for the extended ride. I immediately felt a pull in the backs of my thighs and knew I had done too much. It remains to be seen how I will fair with Chris on our century tomorrow. Linda cooked right along on the way out and the three of us enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Nez Perce Hotel Dining Room.

The return trip, we knew, would be more difficult. There is a modest, but long climb back to Craigmont. Linda did fine until just about Craigmont. Then her legs began to argue with the decision to make this an 80 mile day. It was a good decision, because this was exactly the kind of day we'll be riding on Bike Idaho in a couple of weeks.

A milkshake at the
Highland cafe in Winchester made the difference. She arrived, hot, tired, but pleased at Culdesac.

This was not the usual quiet ride that Steve takes us on. Turns out a Harley Rally was holding a Poker run today. 650 Harleys! Most of them passed us either coming or going to Nez Perce or going down the Old Winchester Grade. . Dave wanted to trade his bike for a hog.

What did Crank have at the Highland Cafe? A picture is worth a thousand words.

So, a day that started a little roughly, ended quite happily. Now, if I can just get up and do it again tomorrow!

No rain in sight, no wind! What's wrong with this picture?

Nothing!

Matt Wyen disappeared up the hill in 50 minutes and 57 seconds for first place. Only Bruce Carroll had a chance of seeing Matt. Bruce finished second in 55 minutes and 14 seconds. These short races just don't give Bruce time to warm up. Didn't even have breakfast before this ride.

Chris finished 5, tieing, I believe, his previous best finish. I didn't get to ask him if 58 minutes and 12 seconds was a better time than his previous first place finish. I'll check the Trib for your name Chris.

Lance abernathy finished 7th in 60 minutes and 29 secs.

Allison was having an off day when I passed her--a very off day if I could pass her. Still she was the first woman in 69 minutes and 32 seconds.

And of course in a category all his own, Cliff took the recliner, um-recumbent, division in 76 minutes and 27 seconds.

For more pictures from the day visit the Galleries. Complete Results are posted at the Twin Rivers Cyclist web site.

I was in Boise for a few days for a conference and had a wonderful time. The bikers where everywhere. They have a nice bike path that follows the river and winds around downtown. We went to a little ice cream place in the Hyde Park district that would put Baskin and Robbins to shame. Truely homemade icecream that was to die for. Corrie made me do this, but I think this will be a nice way to communicate among club members... so give it a try. To make a note type in the little window at the top and hit the create a new message button. You won't see the window unless you're logged in.

Eight Crazy Ladies met at the Southway boat ramp Wednesday July 25 at 8:50 for a scheduled ride up the Spiral Hwy to the Sage Bakery. Sandie (T.M.O.A.C.L.) took off so early no one saw her leave! Just getting a big head start, or was she hurrying to be sure there would still be scones left at the bakery? Sheila, Julie, Carol and Helen (chasing after Sandie) took the 37-mile, very steep trip to Uniontown.

Three of the Crazy Ladies (Pat, Pam, and Leane), with a smaller appetites, wanted a shorter and flatter ride, so they left the hill climbing ladies at the base of the grade and went on downriver road, crossed the river and rode the bike paths into Asotin. In the park on the Clarkston side, the three crazy ladies found one walking crazy lady with a dog, Jeanne! Poor Jeanne had a flat (in her car!) and could not make it to the parking lot in time for the Crazy Lady departure…she knew no one would wait for her since the Crazy Ladies leave on time! Lacking a car, she decided to walk the dog instead.

Next week the Crazy Ladies are planning a ride to Cloverland at 8:50 to look at some pigmy goats. There will be several options to the ride, such as Asotin Creek, Snake River Road, etc for the ones who need a shorter ride or just do not care to look at some pigmy goats.

Remember that Joel is working hard to get all the Crazy Lady jerseys rounded up for the silk screener to print our new logo on and that there are T-shirts available at Idaho Impressions for purchase that can be run at the same time as the jerseys are printed.

23 Jun 03 80.1 miles 6:34 riding time from Mandan, SD to Hazen, SD

A pleasant bike path takes one out of Bizmark and Mandan and up the Missouri a few miles before “merging” onto the highway. I was feeling strong this morning, so I dropped David and Chris. David is usually fast in the mornings. We regrouped at Washburn where Chris wanted to see another L-C Interpretive Center, and we all wanted to see the replica of Fort Mandan (where Lewis & Clark spent the winter before heading up to the Oregon Territory). David decided on a motel there though we hand only about 40 miles in. Chris and I rode on to the planned stop in Hazen.

The tour book had the info wrong on the “RV park”; it’s just that and doesn’t take tenters, but the manager admires cyclists and took us in.

Most annoyingly, we were stopped by a young deputy today. I’m not sure why. He first questioned whether we had mirrors. It was hard not to be sarcastic, since he couldn’t look at our eyes without seeing the mirrors. Then he told us to ride to the side of the road, which, of course we were. When I’m home I’ll probably spend the time to get hold of the sheriff and the SD State Bicycle Coordinator to make my complaints since the stop seemed to have no purpose except to communicate the young man’s personal prejudice against cycling.

24 Jun 03 61.9 miles 5:38 riding time from Hazen, SD to Killdeer, SD

Just outside of “Dodge”, a woman stopped us, gave us a brochure on the S. Side of the Missouri attractions, invited us to stay in her tipi for free outside her motel. We wanted to cycle on to Killdeer, so we stopped, saw the tipi, had a good lunch and rode on to Killdeer. Rain returned as we left Dodge. We got back to the main highway just in time to watch David load his bike onto a passing pickup.

Light, cold rain hit us the rest of the way into Killdeer. We were wet, and it was still raining, so we got a motel. Rain stopped by 6:00 p.m. though.

25 Jun 03 58.8 miles 6:02 riding time from Killdeer, SD to Watford City, SD

Roads were hilly coming out of Killdeer west. We had a few sprinkles hit us, and David was in another pickup- riding all the way to Williston SD this time. No real rain fell, and we didn’t even get out jackets out. We went into “Grassy Butte” for a brief lunch. Some guy bought this business a few months ago and has about $100 of inventory which left us with an inadequate lunch. However, he’s very friendly and would stage mountain bikes riding the Madahae Trail- about 100 miles between N. Teddy Roosevelt Federal Park and the South Unit.

Lots of talk around here about this trail. We stopped at the North Unit but with strong winds from the Northwest, we didn’t want to ride the 28 miles in and straight back out. We stayed in the White Buffalo RV Park. They let us stay in the office building and use their washing machine which we appreciated.

26 Jun 03 Watford City to Williston, SD I haven’t done my daily log yet, so mileage and time aren’t recorded! Chris & I enjoyed the ride though these NW winds are tough! We keep crossing and recrossing the time-zone line here in ND and are losing sight of what time it really is! Lots of North Dakotans ignore the time zone they’re in and use the one they want! I suppose you could accuse me of doing that, but I’ve not found anyone else who will use Mountain Time with me! We’ve set up “camp” at the city park. The library is on the edge of the park! We found David, who will rejoin us tomorrow.

Happy Cycling for Fun, Fitness, and Transportation!

Steve

Steve anticipates being in Lewiston a couple of days arriving on or about the 19th. He'll let me know for sure later. How about having a potluck dinner for the three of them? Any takers to house Chris or Dave? I'm sure Steve would like to put his affairs in order while he is here. Linda and I won't be back until late Sunday the 20th.

Steve suggests they may be coming in from Winchester. We might ride out to meet them at CuldeSac too.

Be sure to read Steve's latest blog below or read them all at Steve's Tour.