the not-so-unknown-coast
Publish Post
It was a hard morning to wake up. I'm pretty sure I didn't wake up until mile 20 or so...
we were off to an early 7 am start. I hung towards the back to avoid being run over by the cycle sport guys trying to break the 5 hours and 13 minute time for the 100 mile ride.
I bet you can't guess which one is me...
the ride? best ride ever. and the purple tutu? let's just say that if you ever need encouragement, and you feel you are on your own... wear a purple tutu, you might just have a hundred new friends who realize you are just as crazy as they are. "interesting choice of gear", "diggin the socks", "smashing darling, smashing", "it's the purple tutu girl!", and my personal favorite: "i'm gonna wear a purple tutu next year, it seems to help on the hills"
At mile 30 my headache got worse and I started to wonder what direction I was going. by mile 40 I was happy again, beginning the 10 mile climb up Panther gap. I met many many new people who had ridden the tour 6, 13, 22 times. they all had advice for me, all offering tidbits about the route, warnings about the downhills and the potholes, strategy, cycling in general, life.
it is a rhythm worth repeating every year. an hour or two with a couple people, a break for some water or snacks, leap frogging within a pack of about 50 riders. another hour or two with new riders, some solo time to contemplate the fields of lupine or the 40 mph downhills dodging potholes, or psyching yourself up for the 18% grade uphill at mile 80 known as 'the wall'. a pack of us strangers took turns cutting through the headwind for the 7 miles of our only flat terrain along the coast line at mile 73. I was almost blown off my bike sideways and backwards, though I couldn't help but notice how blue the water was, how green the grass was, and how amazing it was to be on my bike working together with complete strangers to battle the wind for a 7 mile stretch of road.
a cute boy, the cutest boy, found me near the top of the Endless Hill at mile 90, and told me that I was almost there, that there were more than 150 people behind me at least, and the hill was almost over.
My fingers froze with a bit of rain at the top of the Endless Hill and I could barely shift. I worried about my ability to feel or grasp my breaks on the downhill. they warmed up and I was back to dodging potholes, thinking to myself: 'it is all downhill from here!' with what i'm sure was a ridiculous grin on my face. I rode to the finish line where my mom, sister, nephew, dad, and cute boy were waiting.
that boy? that very same one came to the crazy century bike ride and drove the route backwards to scribe the words 'go melissa' in chalk on the Endless Hill, miles 80-100 so I would see them when I got there. that boy came to the ride even though it meant he had to meet my crazy family. that very same boy held me as i fell asleep that night even though he wasn't tired. and took me to the coast and rivers where he'd been the day before even though he'd already seen them.
It was a hard morning to wake up. I'm pretty sure I didn't wake up until mile 20 or so...
we were off to an early 7 am start. I hung towards the back to avoid being run over by the cycle sport guys trying to break the 5 hours and 13 minute time for the 100 mile ride.
I bet you can't guess which one is me...the ride? best ride ever. and the purple tutu? let's just say that if you ever need encouragement, and you feel you are on your own... wear a purple tutu, you might just have a hundred new friends who realize you are just as crazy as they are. "interesting choice of gear", "diggin the socks", "smashing darling, smashing", "it's the purple tutu girl!", and my personal favorite: "i'm gonna wear a purple tutu next year, it seems to help on the hills"
At mile 30 my headache got worse and I started to wonder what direction I was going. by mile 40 I was happy again, beginning the 10 mile climb up Panther gap. I met many many new people who had ridden the tour 6, 13, 22 times. they all had advice for me, all offering tidbits about the route, warnings about the downhills and the potholes, strategy, cycling in general, life.
it is a rhythm worth repeating every year. an hour or two with a couple people, a break for some water or snacks, leap frogging within a pack of about 50 riders. another hour or two with new riders, some solo time to contemplate the fields of lupine or the 40 mph downhills dodging potholes, or psyching yourself up for the 18% grade uphill at mile 80 known as 'the wall'. a pack of us strangers took turns cutting through the headwind for the 7 miles of our only flat terrain along the coast line at mile 73. I was almost blown off my bike sideways and backwards, though I couldn't help but notice how blue the water was, how green the grass was, and how amazing it was to be on my bike working together with complete strangers to battle the wind for a 7 mile stretch of road.
a cute boy, the cutest boy, found me near the top of the Endless Hill at mile 90, and told me that I was almost there, that there were more than 150 people behind me at least, and the hill was almost over.
My fingers froze with a bit of rain at the top of the Endless Hill and I could barely shift. I worried about my ability to feel or grasp my breaks on the downhill. they warmed up and I was back to dodging potholes, thinking to myself: 'it is all downhill from here!' with what i'm sure was a ridiculous grin on my face. I rode to the finish line where my mom, sister, nephew, dad, and cute boy were waiting.
that boy? that very same one came to the crazy century bike ride and drove the route backwards to scribe the words 'go melissa' in chalk on the Endless Hill, miles 80-100 so I would see them when I got there. that boy came to the ride even though it meant he had to meet my crazy family. that very same boy held me as i fell asleep that night even though he wasn't tired. and took me to the coast and rivers where he'd been the day before even though he'd already seen them.
posted by humble bee at 7:42 PM
1 Comments:
oh sweetie the purple tutu was absolutely the best. I've wanted a green one for the longest time, but haven't ever had an occasion appropriate to wear it to...like a 100 mile bikeride. I'm so proud of you.
AND? I noticed that you're working your way into the boy's clutches just to get your very own rocking chair. bitch.
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