Crusty Cassette

"I'm thinking of adding 35 miles and making it a century."

Doug was doing what I asked, letting me know when he was ready for a century. But would I be ready? I suggested we start and finish the Tour de Lentil in Uniontown. Sounded like a good idea a the time.

But my mileage has been down and I haven't done a century since June 23rd. I figured I could do it but I'd be beat. Doug, I knew, would skip through it just as he skipped through Deary to Deary.

For his first ever century ride, Doug hadn't gone looking for the easiest opportunity around. The mind tends to blur all those hills and rollers into one blended image. On the bike, however, each one is distinct and requires renewed effort.

Uniontown was setting up for the flea market making it tough to find a parking spot. Doug and I found each other and took off into the morning chill. I thought about putting on those leg and arm warmers but I'm glad I didn't. The day never got into the 80s but I like short sleeves at 60. To help keep us cool a breeze came up while we waited at the ball fields in Pullman for the official ride to begin.

I looked about for cycling friends and so onlly strange faces. Finally Jim and Wanda appeared and then form out of nowhwere, Wendy. On a bike. She asked about Debbie and Linda. Sadly I had to tell them I dddn't think anyone else was coming up from the valley.

By start time that breeze was a wind out of the north west. That meant thet easy part on Almota road riding toward Wilbur Gulch was not easy. Doug didn't seem to mind the wind. We passed a couple of groups and were passed only twice before the Church stop. After that I don't think anyone passed us. We found ourselves on the Colfax-Palouse highway pretty much all alone. I misremembered the route thinking I was closer to Palouse than I was. Instead I found we were on a long slight incline. Doug took the lead at 20mph. I tucked in behind and hung on.

By Palouse I was beat. We had 65 miles and a pace over 17 mph. We had stopped only briefly. I was ready for a Largent nap in the park. Doug was ready for a break as well.

I did manage to get him to lie down for a second or two by modeling the behavior but he was up bouncing around again in moments. And I could never get him to slow down like Steve.

We traded pulls for awhile back to Pullman. But he almost lost me on the last hill. We were catching a small pace line and at first I thought he'd tuck in on that hill, but he didn't. So I had to go around too. We managed to stay with the leader who had dropped his group and then Doug was off again. but now it was downhill into Pullman and a break.

We opted to skip the ball fields in favor a stop at DQ where I got a break and a Pepesi. I needed the caffiene.

The head winds were still with us when we left Pullman and I expected to have them until Johnson Hill where the road turns a bit more easterly. A mile or two out I spotted another cyclist closing fast. He was freshly minted grad student spinning out to Colton and back. The winds became tailwinds but it was still all I could do to stay with Doug and the fellow in the Montana GrizzlyHe rode on to Uniontown with us before heading back. My computer said 100 miles, but Doug's GPS needed another 1.5 miles. We headed out Thorncreek road to give him his miles.

Today was not only Doug's first century, an impressive effort under 6 hours--no wonder I was beat, but also Doug's birthday. Happy Birthday, Doug.

Mike and Nicky make a climb together on the Deary to Deary ride through the White Pine Scenic route on beautiful Sunday morning.

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Doyle Kimball, Roy Stevens & I went to Spokane for the 8 Lakes Leg Aches ride on Saturday. It was the first time any of us had done this one.

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