WildRide 64-mile Bike Rally

Do you remember Saturday May 16, 2009 when it was constantly raining and generally dreary all day long? Well, that's when I put in my 64-mile ride as part of Richardson WildRide Bike rally. A couple of my colleagues bailed out due to the weather and several more people in the parking lot before the event reconsidered their involvement at the last minute due to the rain. I estimate less than 500 riders ended up participating in the event that expected over 2000.

Despite the weather, the event was well organized and well planned out. There were police officers or firemen at all the major intersections to stop traffic so that the riders did not have to stop. The route was relatively straight and did not have many jogs, which was much appreciated on the slick streets. And there was plenty of snacks and drinks at the rest stops due to the decreased number of riders.

I broke my ride into three sections with a rest stop at each 20 mile junction. The first 20 mile leg (19 mile actually) was smooth sailing. There was a distinct pack that I tried to stay in the middle of. The pace was brisk...averaging a little under 18 mph for this leg.

After the rest stop I tried to mingle in with a small pack leaving about the same time as me. They quickly out-paced me and I found myself alone navigating through the hilly city of Josephine which is east of Lake Lavon. It was eerie traveling alone on these back roads with no other cars or bikes around and only a scattering of farm houses in the distance. At times I wondered if I may have taken a wrong turn and gotten off course. The hills of this section fatigued me and I welcomed the rest stop after the middle 25 mile leg.

I took a fairly long rest here and drank plenty of water, ate my Cliff bar and other provided snacks, and tried to rest my legs. I departed for the last 20 mile leg. I began pacing with another rider which was good to have someone to talk to. He would distance from me on the flats but I would catch up to him on the hills. At the interim rest stop he veered off and I kept going…just 10 more miles to go.

By then I was riding in familiar territory around my house and my tension eased a bit. The last part of the course was relatively flat but it felt like lead weights were strapped to my ankles. It could have been the extra couple of pounds of water weight soaked into my socks and shoes that were to blame. I made the turn past the finish line. There was no white ribbon to cross and no cheering crowds but I felt good at my accomplishment. I averaged 16.1 mph in some pretty adverse conditions…(queue Rocky theme)…getting stronger…

The Coffee Incident

When I was 12 years old or so I bought a book with my own money called “The 10-Speed Bicycle”. I loved this book. It was copywrited in 1979. I used to read the chapters to learn and understand the workings of the derailers , brakes, and gearing of the bike and to figure out how to do the required bike maintenance. Yes, I was destined for engineering at a young age.

I used to read this book in the car as my Mom drove me to school in the morning. She drove a red 1980 Honda Accord. (Later I inherited this car after the Love Mobile fatally broke down). Mom used to drink her coffee on the way to school. She placed her Styrofoam cup on the dash right in front of me as I rode in the passenger seat. I stared at this cup, certain it would tip over and fall on me. I remember her telling me that it would not fall, but I tensed up at every turn.

One morning we were driving as normal and I was reading my bicycle book. A car swerved in front of us and Mom had to slam on the brakes. That coffee cup jumped off the dash and landed straight in my lap. I was drenched. Mom was so concerned because I was wet and possibly burned by the hot coffee but I did not care about that. My beloved book was soaked and ruined! I was very upset. We went home so I could change and we set the book out to dry. After a couple of days it did dry out but the page I was reading that day was irrevocably coffee stained.

What made me think about this story? Well, I had to do a tune up on my new bike and I thought that I would break out my trusty 10-Speed bicycle book. Wow is that thing outdated! The super-light frames which the elite racers used are steel frames with single butted joints. No aluminum. No carbon. Clipless pedals? Didn’t exist. Helmets? Optional. Heck, even the name of the book is outdated. Road bikes don’t have just 10 speeds anymore. 16 speeds minimum and some up to 30. (mine has 18 by the way). I found the book not too helpful in my tune-up but it did remind me of the funny coffee incident. Mom, I forgive you.

Bicycle Humor

A husband and wife were riding a tandem bicycle. A police officer pulls the man over and says, "Sir, do you realize your wife fell off a half mile ago?" The man replies, "Thank goodness, I thought I'd gone deaf."

Why did the bicycle fall over? It was two tired.

Did you hear about the vampire bicycle that went round biting people's arms off? It was a vicious cycle.