This was my first time riding the Jedermann Grand Fondo. I signed up for the 100 miles. The first 40 minutes went great. There was a long double pace line and we were moving right along. Fortunately I brought two water bottles because I lost one.
After getting a drink, I told myself, "Don't drop the bottle because there's a buttload of riders behind you, Hank." I looked down to make sure I was putting the bottle in its cage, thought I had it, and then let it go. Off it went to my right side onto the shoulder.
Cries of, "BOTTLE!" cascaded behind me.
Things changed after we turned onto Williams Lake Road and we hit a couple of climbs. The strong riders pulled ahead and I straggled behind. Just to make it interesting, a strong wind was in our faces for the first 50 miles until we got to Harrington. What a relief it was to turn and go with the wind.
I slogged along solo until the Edwall food stop at the 75-mile mark. I connected with Larry who I had been chatting with earlier on the ride. We finished the ride together, making the last of the miles much more enjoyable than suffering in solitary. Almost all of those last miles were with the wind, which helped our damaged psyches a lot. We finished just under seven hours.
Thanks to Emde Sports and all the volunteers for putting on a great ride.
The t-shirt.
The food.
The pancakes!
The first 40 minutes.
The last six hours.
Somebody flatted.
Same somebody flatted again.
The EPO gods denied me.
Third flat's a charm. Fixed with a for reals $5.00 tire patch.
Found me some beach front property.
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