Sunday was the start of the big race. I joined 160 other JDRF riders for the Tour de Tahoe rally which circumnavigated the lake. Two thousand other “civilian” riders were along too but the JDRF riders received a 15 minute head start. At 6:45 AM the air was still and crisp and there was just a hint of the dawn light. We were off. I worry that I will be too cold but I have prepared adequately with arm and leg warmers and a jacket. The first quarter of the route culminates in a steep 800 foot climb, but since it is early on my legs feel fine and I am able to charge up at a good steady pace. I do not really feel the need but I stop at the rest stop anyways.As the saying goes: what goes up must come down. The second quarter of the route is downhill. Without any pedaling I accelerate to over 40 mph. I have never been that fast on a bike before and I got a little nervous so I feathered the brakes slightly. Other riders tucked down and zipped by me going 50 to 55 mph. With these type of speeds the second quarter of the route goes by quick and I find myself at the halfway point before I know it.
The third leg is the most challenging. This leg comprises the long 1000 ft climb up to Spooner Junction. I head out with a steady pace moving at about 6 to 8 mph up the hill. Moving that slow has its benefits. You have time to look out to the right and see the deep blue water of the lake and the tree filled mountain sides. At these times you feel at one with the environment, breathing and pedaling in sync with nature.
I reach the top of Spooner Junction and stop at the rest stop. I call my dad who has been leapfrogging the riders to photograph the event. I did not see him pass me in the car up the climb. He has made a miscalculation on my speed and did not realize that I was so far along. He has to really hustle to get in front of me for the finish as I am on the top of a mountain and it is only downhill the rest of the way…I plan on flying down.
The last leg is a blast as I zoom down at 20 to 25 mph. I opt to stop one time on the side of the road to soak in the Lake’s beauty from a good vantage point and take a final picture. I roll in towards the finish where I am greeted by a handful of cheering supporters. Dad is there too snapping pictures as I triumphantly raise my arm in the air as I pass the finish line.I would normally expect to be exhausted but I feel surprisingly well. I feel that I could have easily ridden farther. I completed the 72.5 mile route in 4 hours 45 minutes (on the bike) with an average speed of 15.1 mph. I think the route felt easy because you were all there with me…my wife Stacey…my kids Lance, Seth, and Lexi…my family, friends, and coworkers…all part of Team Lance-a-lot helping me crank those pedals to move us closer to our goal on our Quest for a Cure.
