Crusty Cassette

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