Last year was a pretty big cycling year for me. Not only did I complete an R-12 (about which my readers are probably sick to death of hearing), but I also completed my first "Super Randonneur" (or in my case, Super Randonneuse) series. But for the fact of my baby brother's ill-timed wedding, I would have completed TWO series, but I won't hold that against him. Much. I also managed to clock over 5000 kilometers in "official" randonnées, and just over 7,600 total miles (including commutes).
So now what? Another year has begun, and last year's accomplishments are, well, so 2008. In this new era of hope and possibility, it seems only right that I should set my sights higher. Sure, there's that whole "Why not do back-to-back R-12s" goal, but at this point that's what we in the law like to describe as de minimis. In other words, that's my baseline. The question is, what do I do in addition to that?
And the answer is, I do this.
The third running of the Davis Bike Club's Gold Rush Randonnée. 1200 kilometers with slightly under 30,000' elevation gain in 90 hours. In July. In North Central California. What could be more fun? Yes, that was a rhetorical question.
3 comments:
Good choice! A couple things stand out for me on this ride:
Out near the turnaround they had a great control set up where they were making fruit smoothies. This was the absolute best thing I have EVER had on a ride, mostly because it was very hot.
The control at Susanville on the way out was very bad, At a NG Armory but the county fair was going on at the fairgrouds next door: Imagine trying to catch a few Zee's to the magical music of the Tilt-A-Wheel and the diesel electric generators.
My introduction to 'ice sox' at the foot of the Janesville Grade on the way back. (did I mention it was hot?)
The night riding was fantastic.
The last 100 miles or so through ag-industrial farm country was also over some of the worst roads I've ridden. Bad timing as my butt was a little tender.
Probably my biggest disappointment was not winning the Lanterne Rouge.
It's great prep for PBP.
As May Sarton once taught us, "One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being."
People like you make me get on my bike on days I don't always feel like it. It's not quite a case of "WWCD?" -- I'm not that crazy, or obssessive, about my riding -- but having crazy people for friends does inspire me in all sorts of ways.
You MONSTAH.
Ride on, sister, ride on.
Beth, pulling out the Xtracycle for some serious snow-day cargo-bikin'
Ah, you go girl! Sounds like a great adventure.
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