"Life isn't about waiting for the
storm to pass....It's about
learning to dance in the rain."
Vivian Greene
Oh, it's raining again, or at least periods of rain are predicted. It must be a week-end here in Kentuckiana. I truly can't remember the last time we had a week-end of good weather this summer, at least if you consider good to mean sunny. This has been one of those years that if you want to ride, you must learn to, as Ms. Greene says, "dance in the rain."
Rainy days have their own charm when you are riding a bicycle, charms such as cooler weather and dramatic skies. Still, had Dave not canceled on Saturday I would not have ridden. Not because of weather so much as because I just could not sleep the night before. But on Sunday, following a decent night's sleep, it is a different story. And the cooler weather is only a bonus. For me, at least, rides are easier when it is not scalding hot outside.
It is not a large group that shows, but it is a group. Twelve people for a century ride is not bad on such a day. Some are riding because they must if they want to be designated a finisher and receive their award jersey. Others ride because it is just what they love to do. Bicycling can become such an integral part of who one is for some. It is a treat, like ice cream on a hot, sunny day or a hug when one is feeling particularly low and unloved though sometimes it takes a day or two off the bike to realize how very much it is missed.
I feel rather silly after approaching one young man that I thought had ridden the previous week, Will, and welcoming him back. He takes it in good humor and said he has ridden with the group before, but it was years ago and not last week. He doesn't look old enough for it to have been too many years ago, but then everybody seems pretty young looking to me anymore. But it is good to have younger people riding.
Dave has modified the course due to road construction. He gives his pre-ride speech and includes such detail that I finally turn to Bob Grable and ask if he can retain all this. I know I can't. But I figure I will be with Dave at the back. It is not what ends up happening, but it is what I expect to happen. Earlier I had asked Dave if he would like me to leave early as I will probably be slow and he says no. So after his talk, I head out with the others.
We split into groups unusually early in the ride. Fortunately, the busy road just outside of the park is not so busy this early in the day. Most people don't work on Sunday and it is too early for most churches to hold services. I wonder if the group would be surprised to learn that this road was where the first TMD Director held the TMD's initial time trial. The time trial was used to establish initial standings. The road, like many others, was just less busy then. It is not now and really was not back then a road to relax and chat on, but rather a road where pace lines are more normal. Still it is a road that holds memories for me, for the club often used to ride out from what was then called Floyd's Fork.
The first and second store stops for this ride are now at Waddy where there are two gas stations. We pull into the older gas station and there are a few people there, but most of the riders chose the other station. I learn that Steve Meredith has a frayed cable that is on the verge of breaking. He decides not to try to fix it on the road but to ride in two gears and not shift. I don't know if the fact he has internal cabling plays into his decision or not. Anyway, if you have never done this, it is quite difficult to keep from shifting because it becomes so automatic. But I assume he is successful as the only other time I see him is at lunch when he stops not to eat, but to fill up water bottles for continuing. By the time I arrive at the end of the ride, he has signed in and gone. Prior to that he spoke of a ride he hopes to do with his son in Alaska next year out of Valdez. The ride is to be self-supported, something that takes on a whole new level of difficulty in a place such as Alaska where there are so few places to stop.
I am riding with Steve and Dave when we pass a few places that hold some memories of when Bill Pustow used to ride with us. For those that don't know, Bill Pustow, along with Mike Pitt, Eddie Doerr, Tim Chilton, Anong Pustow, and some guy named Jerry, last name unknown, were the original Mad Dogs and BMB in winter was their first century. (not to be confused with the Tour de Mad Dog which came later because Mad Dogs existed prior to that invention). Surprisingly, Steve also remembers the exact times I am talking about and we share a smile at the memories. What fun we had back then and how very close we all were. Time has stolen some of that closeness, but not the memories we share. Alas, we have all aged and changed, and despite what people say about the Golden Years, and there ARE good parts of aging, a lot of getting old sucks.
I am surprised at a course change that leads us down Devil's Hollow rather than into Frankfort the normal way. I "think" Dave made this change due to road work. It is still a lovely descent, not as fast because of the curves, but prettier with the trees on both sides and the sound of water. It reminds me of brevets as we often did that descent. One winter I was so cold on the descent I thought I was going to shiver myself right off the bicycle. We then ride by the capitol building. Thomas's version took us around and behind it I believe. Dave's version takes us to the front. For those who don't know, the original short Frankfort was somewhere around 94.5 miles. Nobody that I talked to, including Mike Pitt, seems to remember who first put the course together. I do know Thomas Nance modified it years ago to add the few miles to make it closer to 100.
I keep expecting it to really rain on us as we approach Frankfort, but it does not. The sky is gray and very moody looking. In fact, it mists and spits a bit of rain at times throughout the day, but there are often dry sections of roads and while we do get wet, it never really drenches us like the century the previous week. There is the long climb up to the restaurants. Joel runs over a large piece of glass but somehow escapes without a flat. Dave and Steve want to eat at Qdoba, but Bob has family coming in and I go to McDonalds with him as we expect it will be quicker. We quickly grab something from the value menu eating it outside and then head out. The McDonald's surprises me by having bicycle racks, and they are shaped like bicycles. Joel has joined us, biscuit in hand, from wherever he ate. He told us, but I just can't recall.
Before too long, we see a rider up ahead and when we catch him, it turns out to be Steve Rice. So Qdoba was much quicker than it normally is. When I ask about Dave, he said Dave is behind trying to rustle everyone up. Bob and I talk about how difficult that can be on rides where there is a choice of eating places or on Medora where everyone eats from different vendors and walk around and eat or sit randomly and eat. It makes sweeping a ride almost impossible. Of course, with the original TMD, you HAD to either eat at the designated lunch stop or at least ride to that restaurant or it would have been considered cutting the course and would earn you a penalty or no credit for the ride.
We reach the last store stop and stop at the newer gas station across the road. It seems to have a better selection than the other gas station. While we are there, Thomas Nance discovers he has broken a spoke on his Surly. Bob and I head out expecting the group to catch us, but they never do. Glenn does, however, and finishes with us. I don't know if the spoke is what slowed the faster riders or if there was another issue.
Dave takes us in a way that includes one of Paul's favorite roads and one that I remember Mike Crawford having on a ride. It is much better than the regular road as it is less busy other than the little busy stretch to get to it. When we get in, only Will (last name unknown) and Steve Meredith have signed in. We chat a bit, but then head out.
Normally when I write up a stage, I try to put finishing order and the names of those who rode as I know many people have commented that they enjoy seeing those sheets, but Dave has not gotten around to turning them in so I can't. I remember some of who signed in, but I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by forgetting them and I don't know the order or the groups people finished with. During the ride Bob and I discuss making the decision not to ride and how almost inevitably, one has regrets later in the day. We both agree that we are happy we made the decision to come. What I do know is that it was a lovey ride on a lovely day despite a bit of misting and a bit of light drizzle, or maybe (strange thought) because of it.......There is, indeed, something to be said for learning to dance, or at least ride, in the rain.
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