These are two things that tend to take over much of my summer. One generally fuels the other but they can always being switched.
Back in Des Moines for a bit. Iowa City beckons so I will be there the first half of next week and then it is off to DC from the 9th - 13th. I'll be returning to Des Moines in between all of that and then back to Colorado on the 21st.
The rain has turned many of the bike trails around here into either mud-ways or are deposited with what looks to be most of the trees overhanging the trails. Can't wait for all the single-track to dry out.
I've been seeing lots of Trans-Iowa posts and my thoughts return to this time 4 years ago when I was sitting in Troy Tellinghusen's (sp?) in-laws' dining room. I was all nerves and could barely hold a conversation with them for fear of my impending punishment Kerkove and Guitar Ted would deliver in the wee hours of the morning. A few short hours later I woke up to freezing temps and a wide-eyed host. I rechecked my checks, all charade to not seem so nervous. Upon arrival, the parking lot looked like any other race - cyclists tweeking this and cranking that whilst the others rode around in circles. It all finally started and the only moment I remember until I stopped are..
1. Drafting a tractor while someone I passed told me that was against race rules - it was a 330 mile massacre and you are talking about rules?
2. Watching people struggle through mud and then have the sense to follow G-Pickle through the weeds on the edge.
3. Praising all the Gods at once everytime my wheels hit pavement and my body stopped rattling.
4. Seeing a bunch of Irwin's rider's better sides. Thanks for the cheeks guys, it made me go faster.
5. Number 4 was shortly after I hit a wall (figuratively of course) with about an hour to the checkpoint. There was only one.
6. Throwing in the towel with my better judgement, and then letting my pride kick me during the car ride home. Then I quickly passed out.
Just before the start of TI-1, April 2005.
Back in Des Moines for a bit. Iowa City beckons so I will be there the first half of next week and then it is off to DC from the 9th - 13th. I'll be returning to Des Moines in between all of that and then back to Colorado on the 21st.
The rain has turned many of the bike trails around here into either mud-ways or are deposited with what looks to be most of the trees overhanging the trails. Can't wait for all the single-track to dry out.
I've been seeing lots of Trans-Iowa posts and my thoughts return to this time 4 years ago when I was sitting in Troy Tellinghusen's (sp?) in-laws' dining room. I was all nerves and could barely hold a conversation with them for fear of my impending punishment Kerkove and Guitar Ted would deliver in the wee hours of the morning. A few short hours later I woke up to freezing temps and a wide-eyed host. I rechecked my checks, all charade to not seem so nervous. Upon arrival, the parking lot looked like any other race - cyclists tweeking this and cranking that whilst the others rode around in circles. It all finally started and the only moment I remember until I stopped are..
1. Drafting a tractor while someone I passed told me that was against race rules - it was a 330 mile massacre and you are talking about rules?
2. Watching people struggle through mud and then have the sense to follow G-Pickle through the weeds on the edge.
3. Praising all the Gods at once everytime my wheels hit pavement and my body stopped rattling.
4. Seeing a bunch of Irwin's rider's better sides. Thanks for the cheeks guys, it made me go faster.
5. Number 4 was shortly after I hit a wall (figuratively of course) with about an hour to the checkpoint. There was only one.
6. Throwing in the towel with my better judgement, and then letting my pride kick me during the car ride home. Then I quickly passed out.
Just before the start of TI-1, April 2005.
Great Western Trail through the golf course.
Looking out at the impending storm, raced this thing as hard as my 42x17 could carry me. Didn't exactly outrun it, but close.Good luck to any Trans-Iowa riders (not the non-use of racers). Hope all goes well and went well.
1 comment:
i was at checkpoint 3 until 1:15 this morning with tony kisch. i have a headache and my eyes hurt. i don't understand why anyone would want to "ride" 320 miles of iowa gravel as quickly as they could (not a race...lol). nothing but respect for anyone who even attempts it. brootal. have fun in d.c.
your secret code word this morning is "thing" hmmmm.....
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