opponent for some challenging literary competition.
You just need to do some proofreading and spellcheck. ;-)
Keep 'em coming! I always enjoy a good laugh.
Beast
On Oct 6, 2010, at 9:25 AM, Barry wrote:
> Ori, another fine tomé as usual. Since you covered the ride, ill
> present other information - the 'back story' if you will.
>
> For the record, Phantom and I patronized the many rest stops along
> the way, mostly out of curiosity. Ham and cheese sandwiches were
> plentiful, but 'no' PB&J - my favorite, hold the PB and 2nd slice of
> bread (just J and a substrate). Lots of energy bars, gels,
> Cytowater and bananas.
>
> Our ride was similar to Loco, Beast and Greg, averaging 15 and
> change. Just cant help feeling that my speed was negatively
> impacted by the 20 or so packets of Clif shots, Bloks and Fig
> Newtons that I accumulated in my jersey pockets, which are now
> keeping my inventory of 'Stok' company.
>
> At the last rest stop they distributed a mini handmixer that looked
> strikingly familiar to an adult toy (dual use perhaps, sans blade)?
> Took one just the same.
>
> Phantom and I felt the course was sparsely marked, and ride
> Marshalls seemed to just be along for the free ride they enjoyed as
> volunteers.
>
> Due to poor markings, we missed the halfway rest stop and had to
> make an impromptu stop to relieve ourselves. Seeking privacy,
> Phantom snuck behind the stone marking the entrance of "Hidden Ridge
> A Private Gated Community". Upscale for sure, but on this day, it
> served as our urinal.
>
> We ran into Jeff Blye, Matt and a 3rd Wheelman, who were broken-down
> with a flat by the side of the rode. We had a congenial chat. I
> offered him help - perhaps one of Bob's spare tubes, but he was
> fine, so we moved on. No mention was made of any specialty
> liquors. We too passed Jon Dobbs, but avoided eye contact, much
> like averting your eyes upon noticing a long lost uncle performing
> gratuitous act of lust on a boy scout. No disrespect to Jon or the
> Scouts.
>
> We ended the ride at the MS Depot and it was pretty empty. The
> food looked plentiful, but not my speed - meat, brownies and such.
> Phantom availed himself of the facilities, only to discover the
> olfactory nightmare that awaited him inside.
>
> We rolled over to the eastside, circumnavigating the Polish Day
> Parade, and made a hasty exit from NYC.
>
> The ride quite scenic and enjoyable. The wind and over 5000ft of
> total climbing made for a challenging ride.
>
> Let's not forget, we ride... because we can, and though it may often
> be grueling, those less fortunate don't have this option. We ride
> for them as well...
>
> AB
>
>
> <image.jpeg>
>
>
>
>
>
> Barry
>
> On Oct 4, 2010, at 9:41 PM, Oriel Mor <oriel61@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> It's 6:10 AM. I'm pumping my tires, intending to be at Base Camp by
>> 6:15. As I pump, my front tire suddenly springs a leak. Now I have
>> to swap it. There's a tear where the stem meets the tube.
>> Fortunately I'm able to reach Locomotive on his cell. No sweat.
>> He'll drive over to pick me up while I take care of my mechanical
>> at mile 0.0. I'm done in about 10 minutes, still have two spares in
>> my seat pack, and actually have to wait several minutes until Loco
>> and Greg pull up.
>>
>> The drive into the city is uneventful, except when I suddenly spot
>> Afterburner in a minivan passing us on our left, giving us the
>> finger. I guess it's a guy thing. Phantom is invisible as always,
>> though I keep hearing ghostly voices coming through during my many
>> phone conversations with AB on that day.
>>
>> Somehow, even though we keep close during the rest of the drive
>> along the LIE, we get separated at the toll plaza. AB and Phantom
>> decide to park on the east side and ride across town to avoid
>> parking hassles. We, in turn, have no problem finding a spot on the
>> streets near the start.
>>
>> As soon as the 3 of us reach the starting corral for the 100 milers
>> — whaddya know? — they let us loose. No wait to speak of. There's
>> no 30 mile loop around Manhattan this year. We head straight for
>> the Lincoln Tunnel, a few blocks away. We're only allowed through
>> in waves of 50-100 or so, from what I can tell. As we wait to enter
>> the tunnel I manage to get in touch with AB. He's not too far
>> behind and we agree to meet on the NJ side of the tunnel. It's
>> pretty crowded inside, with everyone riding at different speeds on
>> the down. Someone has recently crashed in the downhill of the
>> tunnel and the right lane is blocked off. After we emerge we wait,
>> and wait, and wait some more. Riders simply stop coming trough and
>> we figure that the tunnel has been closed for whatever reason.
>> Probably the crash. The sudden bottleneck on the down was actually
>> dangerous. I can't reach AB on his phone and we decide to just ride
>> on.
>>
>> Truly wicked headwind fight us relentlessly as we crank due north
>> along the NJ side of the Hudson. The route takes us onto rolling
>> River Road, where we get some needed cover. On one of the climbs we
>> pass Jon huffin'-n'-puffin' Dobbs and Paul Hammerschmidt, of the
>> Wheelmen. We blow past them so fast on the climb that we almost
>> miss the sighting, never mind saying "hi." Jon hates us anyway.
>>
>> Onto 9W and down through Piermont and Nyack. While riding through
>> Piermont I finally get a call from AB. He and Phantom were indeed
>> delayed by a temporary tunnel closing. They're about a whole hour
>> behind us. We all agree there's no point in waiting for them for
>> that long.
>>
>> After riding through many areas I'm quite familiar with from my
>> years with the NYCC, we get into a new part of the ride that has
>> been mapped just for the MS centurians, roads I've never ridden
>> before. Some beautiful stuff, with many long and steep climbs. One
>> particularly long and steep climb breaks me and I have to stop a
>> few minutes to recover. I can't see the summit and don't know how
>> far it is. My Schwinn is not geared for climbs. After my break I
>> catch up to Greg and Loco at the summit. It's only another 100
>> yards or so. I probably could have made it, had I known how close I
>> was. Next comes the much deserved downhill reward.
>>
>> It has only been about 45 miles, so far. I'm anticipating the pain
>> that usually comes between 50 and 80, but it doesn't materialize.
>> I'm doing better than I expected. We're looking for a deli for a
>> short break because Greg (yes, Greg) needs one. So I finally found
>> his weakness: endurance. I was lucky to have softened his legs the
>> day before with our Triangle jaunt.
>>
>> We just can't find any open deli. It's only beautiful country
>> roads, for the most part. No commercial strips. What were the
>> organizers thinking? We reach the last food+rest stop at mile 80.
>> This is our longest break, about 20 minutes. We had only stopped
>> once before at mile 40, at the farmers market store at the top of
>> the climb near Little Tor.
>>
>> Greg wants a head start because he's cramping and wants to ride
>> "easy." Loco needs to spend some time on his phone with a new
>> client who called him during the ride. Business is business.
>> Eventually the two of us resume. Most of the southbound leg is
>> extremely pleasant, with a strong tailwind and few very manageable
>> climbs. We have to stop for a couple of minutes at a police-manned
>> intersection while a convoy of about 100 Harleys with police escort
>> thunder by. Loco is feeling like a second class citizen by
>> comparison. Yes, vehicular discrimination stings.
>>
>> We're crossing the GWB back into Manhattan and Loco unclips one
>> foot at every chicane around the towers. As we approach the
>> hairpin, I'm perhaps a little too assertive in demanding to see him
>> pulling the turn without unclipping. He dutifully obliges and ends
>> up plowing into another rider on the other side. AKWARD!
>>
>> Riding down Riverside Drive we blow past cars waiting at red
>> lights, Renegades style. At one particular red light, I spot a
>> police car waiting on the side street. An incoming taxi from the
>> same side street has the green, but seeing me approaching,
>> hesitates (sometimes I forget I can look quite intimidating in my
>> skin-tight spandex). Normally I would have just ridden right
>> through, but the police presence compels me to slow down
>> significantly. Actually, I slow down a bit too much, wobble, end up
>> into the side view mirror of a parked car and almost fall to my
>> left. So Loco and I are now even.
>>
>> We both reach the finish line in one piece and make a beeline to
>> the car, just a few blocks away. My computer reads just over 100
>> miles. My average is a poky 15.8. Blame it on the climbs. My rear
>> tire is worn through and there are patches of tread missing, with
>> the underlying reinforcement completely exposed.
>>
>> Greg has only been waiting a few minutes. He was able to catch a
>> ride for a while with a good group. Good for him. We thought we
>> might still catch him on the last leg, but he still beat us. We
>> have barely opened the doors to the truck when a passing motorist
>> is already asking for the parking space. We tell her it'll take us
>> about 10-15 minutes. She doesn't mind and waits patiently. That's
>> parking in Manhattan.
>>
>> After loading the bikes and buying something to drink for the drive
>> back (hot tea for the gals... I mean... guys, cold ale for me) we
>> run into major traffic as soon as we leave. Turns out there's some
>> Polish parade marching on 5th Avenue and the west side is total
>> gridlock. We decide to drive back west and north to the Triboro.
>> Eventually we hear back from AB. He and Phantom had quite a
>> challenge of their own riding their bikes back across town through
>> that mess.
>>
>> Congrats to Dubya on his fabulous time in the Twin City Marathon.
>> Congrats to Thor Hushovd for winning the World Championship road
>> race in Melbourne, Australia.
>>
>> Looking forward to Dubya's Port Jefferson century in two weeks.
>> Hope a good bunch of you can join.
>>
>> Beast
>>
>>
>
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