206 Miles through 3 States in Just Under 1 Day
The Spring
and Summer Before the Day
With springtime came expanding day-light
hours,
Signaling time to
shed winter coats in preparation for that big Day;
Time to sacrifice on
dusty rutted roads,
‘Neath starlit
skies, summer’s blazing sun and oft against unforgiving wind;
Serenity found
atop conquered mountains,
Rosy hued skylines,
sun-kissed mountain peaks and streams passed along the way;
Rolling along pain
abounds as we labored up the hills,
Eyes sting from
sweat, as oxygen deprive thighs throb while turning into steel;
Falling victim to vice,
all absorbed in the sport,
Watching Strava, spending
time and our paychecks at cycling stores;
Poignant moments
shared of friendships forged in the past,
Of a biking
brother with us those his words and deeds still echo in our lives;
Tell-tale signs of
hours spent upon hardened seats,
Sporting farmer’s
tans, pasty hands and hardened derrieres;
Scents bearing
proof summer’s spent as we labor in a line,
Of the roadkill cast
aside and sweet smells of wet dry grass;
Countless hours patient
spouses waited as sacrifices we made in anticipation of that Day,
Saintly forgiveness
they have given of insane persistence and supported us that Day;
Culmination of madness,
frustration, and endurance from spring to nearly fall,
Just for
satisfaction to endure 206 miles and 3 states for the better part of just one Day.
The Day finally
arrived. All the hours spent toiling to
make sure that they could at least finish LOTOJA were about to be tested. The A Team, Messrs. Baddley, Pynes, Nelson, Daines, Ludlow and Bruner were never within the county’s distance of C Team members, Big
Man and Prez. Hale.
Big Man’s antics began at the gate clear
through the long trip home. At the
starting gate he was warned that he would be DQ’d because he was starting an
hour early. With a classic smirk he said
“I don’t care” and took off in the race category with Prez. Hale. It didn’t take more than five minutes before
his next one occurred. He forgot to turn
on his Strava app. Big surprise! There was no way he was not going to get
credit for the ride and suffer heckling by Mr. MBA. So they paused for what seemed like an eternity
as Big Man fumbled for his phone to activate the app. It took just 30 miles of riding before the
next one occurred, which was a detour he insisted upon. He wanted to shed his winter gear so they rode
back, against bike traffic, to Preston to make a hand-off of their winter clothes to their beloved wives. They received once in a lifetime stares of disbelief from cyclists who hinted they were going the wrong
way. But anybody who knows Big Man is
aware that such public opprobrium has no effect on him.
Big Man made his
team members (alright there was really only one other person, Prez. Hale) and
you could not really call that collection of people a team because Prez. Hale
had pneumonia and was often times left behind to suffer on his own. Along the way, Big Man made many friends (at
least in his own mind). He did this
through many means. For example he sang “Bicycle
Built for Two” to many tandem rider participants, “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”
when awesome vistas came into his view and the U of U fight song when he
thought he could get a rise from spectators.
Here are but a few examples of the friends met
along the way:
One was a poor
unsuspecting woman who needed to draft.
Big Man let her, but made her pay the price of singing the Ute fight
song. She did and also sang a Chi Omega Sorority song as well.
A kindred spirit of Big Man! (Mr.
MBA, please help LOTOJA promulgate a rule that only one such person can ride in
a group.)
Another experience was a young
family that encountered Big Man, proud of his UTE jersey, as they crawled up Snake River Canyon. A young mother and her four children ages
approximately 11 to 7 were waiting to cheer on dad. At the beginning of the ride up the canyon, Big Man blurted out as he passed them “GO UTEs!”. They all had looks of amazement on their
faces. Likely because they were surprised that such an old man could ride a bicycle.
Several miles later they parked their minivan by the road side and Big
Man sang the UTE’s fight song to them. Still
later along the way they were again parked along the road and it was clear that
their anticipation was no longer focused on dad, but on Big Man and they shouted
at the top of their lungs as he passed by “GO COUGARS!”. And the final time the riders encountered them they
were lined up by size along the road.
Dad was now out of the picture. All
their focus was all on Big Man, which of course is exactly where he likes it.
They were waiting in anxious anticipation and sang out the Cougar fight song as
Big Man passed along the way.
Finally,
along the tail end of the ride Big Man encouraged a young woman named Kristi,
who was struggling, to jump into the pace line, which she did for some
time.
At dinner that night Big Man spent
an hour visiting with the forgoing or their relatives who happened to be dining
at the same time. That guy sure gets
around. There are a lot of people who
will need deep psychotherapy from over exposure to Big Man.
As Prez. Hale and Big Man rolled towards
Teton Village the sun was setting behind the Tetons. When they crossed the new pedestrian bridge
over the Snake River, Big Man’s pieces de resistance came when he stopped to take pictures of the sun set,
knowing that if they did not finish before it set he would be DQ’d for yet
another reason. Of course, he shrugged
off the threat once again. Riding for some is not about the time and if you're looking for PRs, you might not want to invite Big Man.
Kudos to Papa Daines, who finished with a great time in spite of his prior health setback. And Bruner is an animal too! Last year he was laid up with punctured lungs
and broken bones. We want to be like him if we ever grow up. Ron Hicks, congratulations
to you and your relay team. It’s time
for you to man-up and ride the entire race next year. Mr. MBA, quit wimping out. You could have easily made it, but
not with Prez. Hale and Big Man, because they would have been cast aside due to your penchant to make
too many rules. There was much time thinking
of Kim along the way as the C Team struggled up Strawberry Summit where Big Man went
back to fetch him when Kim struggled on his last ride with them. (We miss you Kim. You are always on our minds.) Sexy Legs, many thoughts were with you and your
family and your father-in-law. He
obviously was a great man. Wishing you could have been with the C Team, which knowing your superior athleticism would have been short lived. To all other PCR biking brothers and sisters, you were missed and hope you will rejoin the group soon someday.
YIPPY SKIPPY
Giddy Up!
Some want to see what the START looks like, because it's going to be early and a little nippy
Sleep well riders
"Why did you forget to turn on your Strava and we had to stop and now we are all alone and freezing?"
If glasses help, this PCR is a ROCKET MAN!
Did anyone see these two mystery riders?
We LOVE our Support Crew
Coke and Choc Milk - Save the Day!
Kim, thanks for teaching us this little trick....
"FEED ME WOMAN!"
Our Ladies are the BEST!
Hurry, take a picture while he's pulling
"I can see them, they have stopped AGAIN!"
... while others finish STRONG!
Can we go watch the UTE game now??? I'm tired
Let's go to town and do some SHOPPING,
while the boys recruit someone that can really PULL for next year
COOL MEDALS
"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike"
~ John F. Kennedy ~
