Monday, January 29, 2024

BEST PICS OF 2023 & J.T. MEMORIAL

“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too truly to be fearful of the night.

What, my boy, you are not weeping? You should save your eyes for sight;

You will need them, mine observer, yet for many another night.” --Sarah Williams

    During 2023 the PCRs had many highs and one cavernous rock bottom low. Highs included, among others, MBA paying a king’s ransom to participate in the Tour de France. Of course, he was so far behind the pros that his only brush with greatness was inhaling the dust their bikes kicked up hours earlier.  TR cruised the coastal shores of Carmel beholding its and Cleone’s beauty. Max blasted down back mountain slopes well before the dawn’s early light no doubt triggering many avalanches.  Big Man destroyed his helmet when he tipped over in front of his garage. He was awarded countless U of U frequent emergency room visit awards by healthcare providers who now know him by his first name. And GP proved he has a heart when it fluttered irregularly in front of the U of U football training facility. His heart nearly raced as fast as when he’s in the presence of Lia. Archie gets the medal of honor for riding his bike in Italy with his arm in a cast. Please don’t spread the story of how he broke it while sitting on a picnic bench. Craig wins the best imitation of a “low rider” award when he lost his back wheel in a Grand Canyon sized crevasse on a Holladay Road. And hope springs eternal with the new crop of PRCs seeking the pleasure of their forebearers from exploring the greatness of creation, whether in or on water, on a mountain’s peak or snow packed mountain sides.  Here’s to another epic year of exploring the boundaries of our abilities in the great outdoors.


"FAMILIES THAT RIDE TOGETHER 

STAY TOGETHER"










Hang On Tight


Riding creates great relationships... A BROMANCE!

























"BEST SOCKS"




"LOTOJA 2023"
I'm looking for a bunch of Utah fans, you seen any?







"TOUR DE FRANCE 2023"






"GROUP RIDES"










Anyone have an extra pair of bike shoes?








"CARMEL, CALIFORNIA"













"WE RIDE & RUN IN ALL SEASONS"




BEST YOGURT IN TOWN




































"STAY HEALTHY AND STRONG"
If your heart starts to beat a little fast, STOP and take a rest

While waiting for the slower riders, do a little workout

If you faint and break your helmet, design something you can wear 24/7


Fueling with BACON is KEY!




If you get tired while running 100 miles,
pull over and take a power nap



Jodi has new hardware which makes her stronger and faster



Watch out for that manhole.... OUCH!



J.T. (JOHN EDWARD TWITCHELL) 
1955-2023
WE LOVE YOU BROTHER!
    The all-time low of any year was the loss of JT.  He is our rock-solid champion.  He always showed up when he said he would.  He relentlessly pushed the group to keep up with him.  Ever “the good shepherd” he looked out for the wellbeing of the PRC flock, fixing flats, sharing Smarties and Hot Tamales with famished riders, fixing bike mechanical problems, looping back to tend to the lost sheep struggling at the end of a pace line, regaling us with stories of sailing adventures to keep our minds off of suffering.  JT showed uncommon devotion to the love of his life, Merrianne.  As a couple, where there was one, the other was close behind.  It was an awesome sight to see those two together.  As a team they created beautiful objects of art, rode bicycles countless miles, skied mountain slopes and sailed vast bodies of water.  We all tip our hats to him and Merianne and pray that the anguish she now feels will soon be softened by the choice memories she had exploring the world with the love of her life.  Merrianne, we love you and Paige. You will always be in our hearts and minds and are eternal members of the PRCs.  We look forward to meeting you at Gate B with him someday.  Because of his love of sailing, it is fitting to share this poem written by Henry Van Dyke:

Gone from my Sight
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
 
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
 
Gone where?
 
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
 
And that is dying...”






An expert flat fixer






Always game for a little chilly morning ride


Did you know that "orange" is the happiest color?








Who's the crazy that wanted to ride to Tabiona?
1st and only time J.T. bonked







No wonder he always had so much energy

"Woody, where are you taking us?"

Homemade armies for the Halloween season



Someone told me if you put bubble wrap inside your jacket
it will keep you warm... :-) 

J.T.'s ❤❤❤ -  Merrianne, Biking, and Sailing

J.T., you will be sorely missed.
Wait for us at the B Gate!