Moving On

The original purpose behind The Fourteen Percent Ride has long since been fulfilled. So, I've decided that Mighty Proud will be the last posting. It just seems right.

But, don't worry. Or maybe you should. In any event, I plan to continue. I'll keep riding. And writing. Click here to come along in my new blog ~ The Long White Line. <-- check it out!

Thanks

As I've ridden for the last two years, I've picked up on the fact that Shirley, my darling wife, has been more worried about my safety than impressed with my "accomplishments." How do I know this? Well, when I'd come back and tell her, for example, that I'd hit 53.6 mph going down FO, she'd reply, "I don't want to hear it." Being the sensitive sort I figured out, after many such comments, that just maybe we were not on the same page here. But last week, she told me that she would "greatly reduce her focus on the 'fear for my safety' issue." We talked about the tour, looked at some maps, researched nutrition suggestions on the internet, and so on, just enjoying the idea of the ride. How nice is that? Thank you, Shirley!

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Milestone and Fast Eddie

A century with Bill today. What a ride, or, as he observed, two rides. It was cold, damp and windy on the way to Tomah. Rain threatened to drop out of the slate gray skies on the 61 mile trip out. Into a stiff "breeze" all the way. We did dodge a couple of rain showers, riding on recently dampened roads, but missing the main event by just a few minutes. On one stretch a yellow dog built like a tank bolted at me as I violated his territory. Let loose every bit of adrenaline I had! Fast Eddie you know about, if you are familiar with the movie American Flyers. A dog that two brothers used for "motivation" as they trained for a ride in Colorado. Much to my relief, this guy didn't have Fast Eddie's legs and he gave up the pursuit as quickly as he started.

Ride #2 was the return from Tomah. Now, the wind was at our backs and we got a big push. Flying along Highway 16 on the way to Sparta, speeds seldom less than 22 mph. This is the way it's supposed to be! Around West Salem, I cracked...I am not making this up...the shifter on the Bianchi. I was in the big ring and we had planned to ride into La Crosse on County B and Highway 16, so I really didn't need the lower gears. But, good grief!

What else happend on the ride? Well, I had to yield the right of way to a turkey crossing FO. And then there was the manure spreader doing its thing in a field near Cashton. Man, I did not think I would be able to hold on to my breakfast. And the process - the truck was spraying its load from the TOP. Did any happen to fall back onto the truck? Well, yes. Now there's an innovative design.

Oh, the milestone. Today's 108.2 miles is longer than the longest leg of the Seattle to Missoula ride. Progress.

Total ~ 864.6 miles

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ahh, great milestone! Is it windy there like it is here?

May 6, 2007 at 4:55 PM

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