Yesterday started great, but ended terrible. As some of you may know, Craig Bruner had a terrible fall coming out of Weber Canyon. As the team was working hard to beat a head wind while riding down the canyon, Dr. J had just moved to the back of the line and Craig took the lead about 1 mile from the cross section that heads back to PEOA. As he always does, the pace increased from 21 to 24 mph and he went to signal the pace line of some rough road ahead and hit a chuck hole (see picture below) With one hand on the wheel for a split second, he lost control and went down.... OUCH!
We want to thank the locals for jumping in and helping with traffic control. They were AMAZING! Craig is a little beat up, but made the following comment as Dr. J, Prez Hale, Professor and the BIG MAN visited him today, "Dr. J., I'm glad it was me that went down, because I'm not sure you would have wanted to get back on the horse"
Craig, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Heal quickly....
It was a
collective effort on the ride today from Wanship up Chalk Creek to the Wyoming
boarder and back – 65 miles. Prez. Hale won stage 1, followed by Dr. J, Bruner/Biggest
Loser Coach and Professor Glauser. Even little man Lloyd with his recently
repaired back beat BIG MAN Wood on his ride to the mouth of Brighton Canyon – BIG
MAN was nowhere in sight. The day was “0” for “7” for the BIG MAN.
Getting beat
down can actually be a positive experience. It gives us a chance to reflect on
our values, goals, character, and commitment to training. Will BIG MAN decide
he doesn’t care about the shellacking and accept his role as a sold mid-level domestique
who tells good jokes, runs the camera and writes the Blog? Or will he come back
like a charging bull that has seen red? You will have to join the ride next
Saturday to find out.
One positive
outcome from the day’s ride was the team stayed together in perfect formation
from the Wyoming boarder to Coalville. When the Professor took one of his turns
out front the song “Let’s Work Together” by Canned Heat came on his iPhone. When he
looked back and saw the line as straight as a pencil it brought tears to his
eyes… :’) This may become a new trend for this typically unruly crew.
It's amazing what can happen when you put your mind to something. After watching the Tour of Utah last week and seeing some of the bikers of the Tour of Park City fly by as some of the PCRs prepared for their Saturday ride in Coalville, the BIG MAN thought, "wouldn't it be cool to win ALL 5 stages today" The first stage was to the bridge on the way to Evanston. What a beautiful morning, where the air was cool and riding two a breast was a treat up the frontage road. As the bridge came in sight, the BIG MAN waited for the right moment and FLEW by the pack to taste the victory of his 1st WIN.
Refueling. a quick visit to the bushes for some, and they were off to Henefer. Could the BIG MAN do it again??? He knew there might be a chance to win the second stage, due to the fact that little man and Prez. Hale were a NO SHOW! BIG MAN, anxiously waited in the back (where he spent most of the day) to see if anyone was going to make a move. As they went over the bridge and started their downhill towards Grump's gas station, the BIG MAN said, NOW! He shot past the field like a cannon ball and was once again smiling as no one could catch him..... WOW, two in a row, could he win three???
The next stage was a shorter stage, but had some intervals as the group took the Henefer loop. As the locals came out to cheer on the BIG MAN, he was also cheered by his fellow riders, "YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT", and YES another electrifying finish brought a close victory for the BIG MAN!
Stage 4, the mountain stage to the Morgan County line, was going to be almost impossible to keep the streak going, by the BIG MAN still had hope. As he was left in the dust by the other 3 riders, he realized that his dream of winning ALL stages in a single day was not going to happen. The temperature was rising and the distance between the smaller riders was also increasing. All of sudden out of no where, Burner - The Biggest Loser Coach, shows up. "BIG MAN, is this all you have, now get off your butt and let's stop feeling sorry for yourself and get riding" Then all of sudden the BIG MAN had the strength to left his head and sees ahead the leaders, Dr. J and the Professor, are pulled off the side of the road with what looks like mechanical issues........... AND Dr. J is trying to fix something, which means it going to take a LONG time so DON'T STOP to help, just fly by and take another WIN.... ;-)
Could the unthinkable really happen? Could the BIG MAN really win ALL stages in one day?? One more to go and it had a lot of down hill. Chances were slim, but the BIG MAN, with the help of the the Professor had a strategy, stay in the back and don't let anyone know where the finish line is. IT WORKED! The team made it back to Coalville and Burner - Biggest Loser Coach, took off thinking that the car was the finish line, but in reality, NO, we had to make one more loop around town to reach 60 miles and Dr. J, put worth an effort to take away the win from the BIG MAN, but didn't realize that back to the car was the finish line and just because you see a STOP SIGN, doesn't mean you have to STOP!..... :-)
YES, it was a historic day and one that will live long in the memories of those that saw something unbelievable happen.......
