Crusty Cassette

No fireworks or flames except the occasional jab at one another to celebrate this 4th. Instead we gathered at Disemore's in Pullman for a Tour de Lentil Tune Up ride. By Chance Sean and Carol had also stopped on their way to camp at Priest Lake. They had mountain bikes on top and on the back of their car so we're confident they'll celebrate the fourth with a bit of biking.

Wendy had to forgoe the club 4th for an Albion picnic. When Chris, Dave, and Corrie rode through late in the afternoon, there was no picnic to be found nor any water either. Wendy, I think Albion should put in a publc drinking fountain. What'dya say? Oh, and don't forget to blog that Ukiah century. We are all desperately waiting the outcome of the moment of marital strife you mentioned at the time trial.

Dave Henry arrived as well from his night shift on a bike but not in biking clothes.

Debbie, Corrie, and Dave T. had joined Chris in Moscow for the ride over along airport road. Head winds foretold that this day was going to be a rehearsal of the Palouse Odyssey, though today there was no threat of wind and the temperature stayed cool. I doubt it got much over 80degrees all day.

The Palouse is still covered in a beautiful green blanket of grain.

We got to see Steptoe from both sides. The morning was almost chilly at 64 degrees and though we had some head wind headed out, once we turned toward Colfax, the winds were, thankfully, at our backs.

We took lunch at Arby's though some grumbled about eating and then climbing that hill toward Colfax. Nobody seemed to develop gramps, however, and the rolling hills of the Palouse began to take its toll of those who were not fully fueled.

Linda will listen to me the next time I tell her that she needs to spend more time on the bike. She is plenty strong aerobically, but those quads aren't trained for the bike. She plugged right along though. In about a week, she'll have every opportunity to develop her biking muscles.

At Palouse, Chris and Dave suggested that they might not have time to complete a century today. Because the last two times I have set out to do a century I have failed either from heat or weakness, I really wanted to finish a century today given the cool, gorgeous weather. OneDay Dave was heard to complain a bit about the wind but I reminded him of the times we had ridden wearing winter gear and keeping an anxious eye on a threatening sky because getting wet would not only be uncomfortable but dangerous. So Chris, Dave and I resolved to finish a century and not wait for the rest of the group. Turned out that it was Dave and I who kept one another going. Chris disappeared ove ra hill never to be seen again until I knocked on his door.

Because we needed extra miles, we did the Albion loop. Dave and I also dropped down to Klemguard and returned via Wawawai road. I offered him the opportunity to ride the loop again. "Not today," he said.

"One day, Dave," I responded. Dave's one day will be next Saturday as he takes on the Seattle to Portland course in one day. Good Luck, Dave. You're ready. And don't forget to blog.

Happy Fourth of July.

Cycling Links

Reach this page anytime from the Spokes link on the navigation bar.

Women on Wheels is a group promoting women's cycling by helping women find other women who will ride at a similar pace. The Baddlands Cycling Page. E-mail contact wowbabes@baddlands

The Tour de France (Tour de Lance) begins on Saturday and runs 23 days. Follow the tour at

Official tour site in English

Cycling News

VeloNews

RoadBikeRider.com is interesting and has a weekly newsletter to keep you informed regarding road biking.

Bicycle Idaho is the tour Linda and Corrie are doing from July 13th through the 19th.

Seattle to Portland

Our Dave T is doing this in one day. Wish him luck.

A cool day and cooler evening drew club members to Baskin Robins. Nikki and Mike, Debbie, Lance, Corrie,Melissa,Cliff, Sherry, and Sheila met for the 6:30 ride. After several tries fixing Melissa's tire, Mike pronounced it rideable and we were off only slightly disappointed that Helen did show up as she apparently promised several of us.

It was good to see Sheila out again. She has been riding with the crazy ladies and did Winchester this weekend. She planned to turn back short this evening and when the group decided to go West toward Steptoe canyon into a headwind, she had plenty of incentive to turn around.

Despite the wind, it was a cool, comfortable evening. The ride to Steptoe canyon is quite pleasant. Today we got a chance to examine the fire damage. The winds had blown the fire through so quickly that it many places the grass was untouched while in pockets in still smoldered.

I rode my Giant Innova cross bike with the 38C knobby tires. I figured I had to since Linda had it fixed. For $200 bucks, I had better ride it at least once. 'Course now that I have, I probably won't ever again. Amazing to think that was the bike I used for my first century. I used to ride it around, with slicks, like a road bike--it is definitely not a road bike.

When Lance decided we should catch the lead group after Sheila dropped off, I tried mightily but just couldn't match the pace. I had to hustle back with a tail wind just to stay ahead of Lance and Melissa who were cruising at 18 mph. Mike made up for missing trime trials by hitting 28-29 mph on the eway back.

Cliff pointed out that this had not been an easy night what with riding into the wind and pushing it pretty hard coming back.

Still no one complained about the ice cream at the end of the ride. Though, I'm beginning to suspect some people of riding for the ride and not the ice cream. Melissa and Sherri both had something else to do so they couldn't hang out.

Remember why I ride?