Crusty Cassette

Rain. The forecast for Friday was 60% chance of rain and more on Saturday under cloudy skies.

I love it when mother nature decides to cooperate. Two Saturday's in a row in February dawned to blue skies.

Okay, it was 33 degrees at my house but the day would warm to 55 degrees and I'd be riding without my arm warmers. You couldn't have planned it better than that.

Jim McCracken took on a big jump from 50 to 100 miles. Both Doug and I had far more miles than Jim and had planned this first century for a week. I usually get my first century in late February. Steve already has 3, probably four if the weather was as nice in Boise as in Lewiston.

These early rides are problematic? Will the weather cooperate? Who has the miles to do this. Doug and I knew we'd be adding miles back in town unless we left the valley and neither of us wanted to climb out nor ride in the more inclement weather of the Palouse. We added Clarkston Loop at 8 before heading up Tammany to Lapwai, Arrow Bridge, and Kendirck--a repeat of our ride last week.

Sean met us just after 9 under Southway Bridge. Carol's been in Cambodia and he needed to be able to pick her up at 3:45 at the airport. He wouldn't be going for a century but would he go to Kendrick?

Jim stayed with Doug forcing me to keep up for the first loop. I took a little break to fix a flat in the port. This made us late for the second start but no one waited for us under the bridge.

With Sean, we pushed pretty hard up Tammany. The pace began to slow Jim but we stayed mostly together until Lapwai.

Jim pointed out a bald eagle sitting in his tree on the old road from Spalding to Arrow. I had my camera but was unwilling to stop to try for a shot, so you'll just have to visualize that regal bird 30 feet in the air, white head glistening in the bright winter sun.

Jim and I dropped off the pace to Kendrick where we both felt like enjoying a Largent Lunch. We settled for cheese burgers and fries. Sean had pie. Doug was unable to resist and had his p3e while Jim and I ate our burgers.

Sean was getting nervous about his time and pulled off for Lindsay Creek and home just after 1. Doug wanted his few extra miles here rather than in town so we headed up the trail toward Deary turning off past the Sothwick road. We would still be a bit short, so Doug said he'd go around Red Wolf. That wouldn't add much to my mileage so I joined him.

Jim wanted his extra miles closer to home and headed off gaining a five mile advantage on us. We figured to catch him at Arrow, then the Casino, but he was no where in site. Of course the flat Doug had near the Casino and our brief stop at the Casino didn't help us make time on Jim. Still we were running 19-21 mph nearly all the way back to town.

And there was Jim just ahead climbing the Lewiston side of separator grade. He was at 86 miles when we caught him and planned to add miles toward Steptoe. If he'd wanted to do Evans road, I might have gone with him.

I felt that good. Yes, my knees hurt some and my butt, but my energy was good. Doug claimed to less energetic than last week but it didn't seem to slow him down.

So, three centuries logged by TRC--Lewiston. How many were logged today by TRC-Boise? Gotcha there, huh, Steve.

Really, riding a century is a small thing compared to say participating in the winter Olympics, but it is, nevertheless, strangely satisfying in a way that even 95 miles would not be.

So, here's to small things. May there be many more of them.

For the Ride of It. Corrie

"You warmed me up," I told Gary when we hit Southway. I took off the windbreaker I had started in figuring I wouldn't need it again. the forecast was for 51. I'd be fine with just a vest. Shoot. I was already sweating. Gary really was pushing it.

I expected clouds and a sunbreak or two. Instead the day dawned to blue sky and stayed that way.

Doug, Linda, Donna and Gary joined me for a Lapwai Loop. I did this route a week or so ago but didn't want to call for more since I figured most of us didn't have the mileage base.

But it was Doug who suggested we might add Kendrick. I knew that even with my 9:30 start at home, I wouldn't have time to add on at the end of the ride for a century. I might have done it but I'd have been riding right to sunset. I settled for 83 for the day. Doug should have something like that as well having added eight miles before we started.

Donna and Gary had never done Lapwai. Donna had 100 miles for the year which makes Lapwai a tough enough ride. This was only the second ride of the year for Gary.

You can't fault his enthusiasm. I was worried when I had trouble keeping up from Critchfield to the boat launch. But it turns out the Lrgent training plan has a flaw. We had a pretty stout east wind in our faces going up Tammany and that took a toll on Gary.

Donna and Linda had about 30 minutes head start on us but we caught them at MacIntosh. We regrouped at Web Ridge and 95. The sign at Lapwai Grocery read 53 degrees. We had a tailwind headed north and hoped for a strong wind to push us back to town.

At Arrow Bridge, Gary opted to head back. Doug and I headed up 3 toward Kendrick into a head wind.

A quick bite at Archie's had us headed back to Lewiston by 2. No tailwnd! Well, we must have had some from Arrow to town since we were holding 20+ but it just felt like a breeze in our faces.

Doug headed home from Hahn Supply. It was 3:30. Would I go around Evans? It looked like I'd get 82-84 miles just head home. Evans really only means 3 or 4 more miles. Not worth it.

Next week. If the weather holds, Doug and I going to shoot for that first century next week.

Steve reports this is guard weekend but he has Monday off and claims Bosie is enjoying fine weather too. Will he have three centuries before I get my first?

Thanks to Donna and Gary for joining us. You two have been regulars. Linda says you're interested in the Lilac Century. My favorite ride last year, but I've considered skipping it this year. What fun if we could get a good TRC group together for this year.

For the ride of it.

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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