Crusty Cassette

With names like Mt. Challenger and Mt. Triumph the peaks of the North Cascades conjure up a formidable sense of respect, especially if you're planning to approach them without the aid of fossil fuel...

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We had had a head wind riding out in the morning. Fortunately that wind held all day pushing us back toward Winthrop up those long climbs, but near Mazama 15 miles short of Winthrop, the winds switched. "Just when we finally get some flat, we get a head-wind," I griped. Jim and I took turns pulling into Winthrop. He complained a little about the pace, but I'd had enough saddle time and I urged him on. "Your pull," I said backing off. "Unless you don't want to."

"I do," he said leaning into the wind. We were at 125 miles and Jim was hammering.

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Linda's Wearing Nicki's red hat

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"I'm going with you, you know," Linda told me Thursday.

She had wanted to do a century last Saturday but I talked her out of Kamiah to Whitebird and when it had turned off hot, she'd been plenty thankful.

In fact, I wasn't certain I'd feel good riding Winchester myself this week. The cold that hit me hard had kept be off the bike all week but fatigued nevertheless. Neither Jim nor I wanted anything more to do with WhiteBird this weekend(Though Dean says he took 5th and Ben Jain took second).

Jim would've taken be off into the wilds of central Idaho to ride the Greer Grade or some other grueling effort if I'd been willing. No, something easy like the Winchester Century was more like it.

Jim settled for the Winchester century today.

Yes, it is easy if you don't try to hammer. I love the roller on Reuben-Gifford and I figured the spoke cement on my rear wheel would last for one century. I was set.

So, it was going to be Linda, Corrie and Jim. Then Dave showed up--sore throat an all. I hope he doesn't have the virus I had. But the surprise of surprises was Warnock on Wheels. Two weeks in a row for a long ride. Mike's always hammered along for about 40 miles and then turned home. He got 80 miles last week and went the entire distance today. Claimed it was his first century in 3 to 4 years. He did take it easy on the rollers. He kept mumbling about how hard they were but I think he must have tried to ride them with someone like Chris. We didn't push him today.

The forecase had called for SSW winds on the prairie. Turning on Reuben/Gifford road, I felt a distinct head wind our of the north. Not good. I ignored the dark clouds above us. The forecast called for rain on the Prairie late in the afternoon. But the storm got here early. We stayed dry until we left Arrow Bridge. For a spell, I was feeling moisture in my shoes. Then it passed. But it came back as a light drizzle. After finishing at Kamiah in the high 90s last week, that little shower felt pretty good.

I've felt stronger finishing a century but the cold seems to have turned a corner. I might even ride this afternoon if the weather stays dry.

The Winchester century in the spring is my favorite local ride. It isn't fast. That grade, however, provides ever changing views and the rollers are a delight. Riding Winchester was as good a way to celebrate my retirement and Linda's birthday as any I can think of and far better than most.

For the ride of it.

The days of big turn outs for centuries seemed to end back when the average American weight was much less, so it was good news to me that the turn out for this Boise area century is growing steadily with nearly 1,000 participants in 2007, growing steadily from 2002, its first year when a couple hundred participated. The bad news is only about 30 rode the century. (That’s my guess and excludes late and early departures- there were some of both). The rest were on a metric or, I believe, a 30 mile route, but still people were willing to pay $35 for 6 rest stops, one sag wagon, a 100% polyester T shirt (I’m a natural fiber guy firmly held there my memory of the '70's clothing!), and a light lunch for the first 2/3's of the finishers.

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I was surprised the heat did not keep more people away on this ride. I was thinking the night before that if I were not the ride coordinatior I would probably not be doing this ride.

The heat for the most part was bearable. We suffered a bit going up McCormick Ridge but as it was still early in the day it was not terrible. The wall section was pretty nasty but once we got past that and were in the trees we were all fairly comfortable.

As many of you know, I perspire a lot and things were no different on this ride. I brought one 4 liter bladder, a 3 liter bladder and I also drank 3+ water bottles, a total of ten liters of fluid. When I got home I checked my weight and I was still 4 pounds below my normal weight! I took me about 2 days to get my weight back up to where it should be.

I, like everyone else suffered a bit going up the last hill. I cramped a bit going up the hill, so I got off and walked parts of it. Tamra has been borrowing a mountain bike from me this year. When she passed me going up the hill while I was walking, I demanded it back! But she just shook her head and refused.

It was very enjoyable for me to ride with Tim again. Six years ago we used to ride together at least once a week. Now he has three children and I'm married so it's been a long time since we've been able to get together.

Thanks to all who drove the sag wagon.

I was surprised the heat did not keep more people away on this ride. I was thinking the night before that if I were not the ride coordinatior I would probably not be doing this ride.

The heat for the most part was bearable. We suffered a bit going up McCormick Ridge but as it was still early in the day it was not terrible. The wall section was pretty nasty but once we got past that and were in the trees we were all fairly comfortable.

As many of you know, I perspire a lot and things were no different on this ride. I brought one 4 liter bladder, a 3 liter bladder and I also drank 3+ water bottles, a total of ten liters of fluid. When I got home I checked my weight and I was still 4 pounds below my normal weight! I took me about 2 days to get my weight back up to where it should be.

I, like everyone else suffered a bit going up the last hill. I cramped a bit going up the hill, so I got off and walked parts of it. Tamra has been borrowing a mountain bike from me this year. When she passed me going up the hill while I was walking, I demanded it back! But she just shook her head and refused.

It was very enjoyable for me to ride with Tim again. Six years ago we used to ride together at least once a week. Now he has three children and I'm married so it's been a long time since we've been able to get together.

Thanks to all who drove the sag wagon.