Wednesday, July 7

Day 2 without Rich and still no attacks or surges (though a brisk pace overall). Funny, but both Jim J and I found ourselves looking back over our shoulders each time we started up a grade.........

Now any statistician worth his/her salt would tell us that 2 days is too small a sample size to determine if there is a correlation, but I'm going to go out on a limb and posit that things have eased off a bit without the 'old man'.

Tuesday, July 6

Rich is out this week and things stayed quite sedate this morning:

Could this be a coincidence?

It's PLAY TIME!

6:30 AM Saturday morning, hot . . . sultry . . . windy . . . off we go . . . 

five boys and their bikes.

Suddenly, out of nowhere . . . a sixth rider appears.

"gee . . .  you guys really do leave on time" he says

Trying in vain to confuse us, he tells us his name is Pete.

But, we already have a Pete with us today.  How can that be?

The pace escalates quickly . . . this is going to be a fun one 

I think to myself.

play time!

30 miles out, my tongue dragging from repeated sprints,

this self described "Pete" looks at me and says:

"so can you accelerate on a climb?"

"huh . . . I'll show him . . ."  I wait a few seconds, then hit the gas.

The boys are dropped in one second flat.  I back off . . . and then

Pete drops the hammer . . . game over!

Astute readers may recall, over the last several days 

I have concluded that riding fast is all about

either a red or blue jersey.

Today I learned otherwise;

It's all about tall, black socks!  

I know Lance wears em 

(funny, I only wear black socks. . . why don't work for me?)

The mood changed just a bit when one brave rider who followed me to the gravel, apparently spent and worn .  . . hopped off his bike

and slashed his own tire with a nearby rock

Mocha Moose and duct tape to the rescue!

"nothing planned" for Sunday or Monday.  Tuesday back on schedule.

Use the Google Group 

to organize something!

FURTHER CONFUSION!!!!!

Apparently our instructions are just too complicated 

It seems this rider

thought the letters:

C H U R C H

actually meant

"corner of Superior and Lester River RD"

(to learn the identity of this confused rider, read the whole darn blog)

These people can actually read

and marshalled at the C H U R C H at the appointed time

Started out great

until someone hit the gas

I have concluded, the secret of going fast is:

is to wear either a red or blue jersey

Anybody got one I can borrow?

Today was a blast . . . we spent 30 miles chasing

these guys . . . never caught them, even with red and blue jerseys!

Upon our return . . . who should we meet?

who apparently thought

6 : 0 0

meant 8:00 (that's OK, she gave it her best!)

note: gravel road

You will not find this on the pavement!

(selfish and shameless plug for gravel riding)

We have had a request from an unnamed rider

for smoother roads.

In the spirit of true accommodation and concern

may I suggest the following

This is the newly paved street in front of my house

Given that an average city block is 300 ft long 

(I'm too lazy to actually measure it)

We can ride up and down these two blocks a mere

270 times to equal 30 miles

What say You?

AND NOW, THE IDENTITY OF THE CONFUSED RIDER

Tomorrow, 6:30 AM

at;  the CHURCH

Lakeview Covenant Church

located not on Superior and Lester River Rd

Early morning and Superior Vistas!

Apparently it was a bit early for Jeff this morning!

Wake up Man . . . it's a long way to coffee!

Next time I will try to get a photo of his Bike.

I think Cannondale makes the prettiest bikes!

Fortunately for us, Jim is technologically savvy and prepared!

One of the reasons I am so slow (and there are many!) is

I try to check my electronic communication device while I ride.

I think I like Jim's idea better.

No more daily photos . . . now to the Superior Vistas Bike Tour 

of last Saturday!

FOG!!! WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

READY . . . SET . . . GO!

These are only some of the riders from Duluth.  I think we had over 15!

You actually have to "know your colors" to ride here.

No wonder I get lost every year!

Dave knows his colors!

Sure . . . two minutes out and I am already behind!

Joe and Dave made the right call in the cold fog

We headed for coffee in Cornucopia

While the others headed for Delta and the Delta Diner

Peter, easily confused . . . 

thought it was a dance contest, not a bike ride

and proceeded to do the "Funky Chicken!"

Finally Joe and I catch up with

"the Fast Guys . . ."

Couldn't follow them for long, this New Moon guy's shorts were see through!

Joe bolts ahead and into the lead . . .

I'm happy to report that not only did Joe drop these guys on the final climb

He was I think the first rider to finish the 100!

He finished in about 5:15!  Well done Man!

on the other hand, since he chose to look at the map after he was finished,

it is not clear that he really rode the entire 100 (hmmmm)

Since these two have awards, we know they can be trusted.

Of course they paid for the awards . . . (hmmmm)

Even though we were all a bit tired and sore,

We can't wait for next year!

Tomorrow, 6:00 AM Lakeview Covenant Church!

Long ride on Saturday

the EARLY BIRD . . .

THE EARLY BIRD

 CATCHES THE DAY!

OK, I'm impressed!  NINE people showed up at Lakeview Covenant Church this cold June morning at 6:00 AM for a 30 mile spin through Gnesen Township!

Although we managed to avoid the dreaded fashion faux pas of yesterday . .  . 

 two of us obviously shop at Bonktown . . .

I think we my be getting just a little too friendly . . .

back to work boys

 Thank You . . . that's more like it

In fact . . .

This would be the last we saw of the "Boys in red"

after the first hill

Yup . . . they were gone

The rest of us "dropped like a dirty shirt, 

our tickets punched"

It was simply a splendid morning to be out!

From now on, no more bone shaking rides on my street

We love you guys (well, kind of . . .)

Remember:  Tomorrow we meet at 6:00 AM at the corner of 

Superior St and Lester River Rd. 

 Friday at 6:00 AM at Lakeview Covenant Church

When Rich says "let's ride some gravel!"

here's what he really means...... (click to open the video)



Now I know why he has those knobby tires!