Today's ride was a 53 mile haul over many rolling hills and up a few long ones and one very short, steep hill that we actually rode about 5 weeks ago...I walked it that time, this time I made it all the way up every hill. Hopefully, and I'm knocking wood here, my days of walking up the hills are over.
It started to pour as soon as we all got ready to leave, and it didn't stop until about 12 miles from the finish. Then the sun came out and dried a few of the great downhill sections. Dry roads on a downhill make for very fast descents.
Sean got a flat about 12 miles out. Our coach was driving Sag for us today (driving his van up and down the ride route to make sure that everyone had enough to eat and drink, if someone needs to quit, they can get in the van, or even just ride for a while to take a break). He was a life-saver with his big floor pump. We had our hand pump, but the bigger pumps make blowing up the tire so much better. We got back on the road and after about 4 miles, Sean had another flat. We checked the tire again, and finally found a very tiny, but persistently sharp piece of glass in Sean tire. As he rode, it just kept popping his tube. So, Andy showed up again with the pump and within a few minutes we were off.
We caught up to a few folks at a bathroom turn around, then we were off on our own again, chasing the leaders who had passed us with the first flat. At about mile 24, we passed under 6 sets of massive power lines feeding power into the city. The rain was still coming down and the lines were humming like a rushing river. It was very cool, but a bit disturbing at the same time. I hit a rough patch at about 26 miles. My legs were not cooperating with me at all. After a few miles, I got my cadence back and we were back to 19-22 miles an hour over the rollers.
We started up another long hill, and Coach Andy stopped to make sure we were still doing all right, then he went up to see how far ahead the lead group was. On his way back, he told us they were at the top of the hill just as we started our climb. Within a few miles, we should catch up.
And we did, on the next hill. Well, Sean caught up, I caught up when they all took a break at the top of the hill. At this point, we were about 12 miles from our cars, and the sun came out. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. Except for when the kid in a car in downtown Oregon City yelled, "Go Lance Go" as Sean rode past leading the rest of us home. That was pretty funny.
Overall - a great ride. But I sure will be glad when the rain decides to pick a different morning each week to come down. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays - pretty much any other day would be fine for it to rain - just not Saturdays...
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