Tour de Palm Springs
The pace at the start and on the initial climb was pretty sedate. By the time the second climb started at the second rest stop the front group had pretty well coalesced. There were at least 30 riders and perhaps as many as 40 riders in the group on the rollers going into the 50 mile rest stop. Most riders stopped but I chose to continue on with Michael “Giant Factory Team”. (Michael “won” it last year.) We rode alone until we picked up 4 riders who had started a little early. They provided some assistance and company, but Michael kept attacking them after they had pulled. They dropped off at the 70 mile rest stop and Michael immediately dropped me on the climb after the rest stop.
I rode alone until about 14 miles to go when Kristen Armstrong and one guy caught me. As soon as I pulled he attacked and they were gone. (I think I muttered a certain word that I will not share here.) A solo rider caught me with 10 miles to go. With 4 miles to go the “whole” front pack caught me at a light. They allowed me to ride in at the front of the group.
Joe, Sue, Craig and Rory rode the event together with Joe doing “all of the work” with some relief provided by Craig. Vicki and Shelley rode together. Vicki was nursing a sore back so she took it easy and took time to smell the roses. To quote Vicki, “It was absolutely GORGEOUS weather (you can quote me on that!). I wish more folks from the “club” would join us…it is always such a fun, fun experience. We all got together for dinner Fri. night, and that was really fun.”
Joe, Sue, Craig, Bruce and Carol (Bruce’s current interest) had “lunch” at Las Casuelas after the ride. The food was fantastic and the stories were entertaining.
Ride times: Bruce 4:45 (total elapsed time 4:58 and average speed 21.4); Joe, Sue, Craig and Rory 5:15; and Vicki and Shelley 6:48. Miles: 102.
At dinner on Friday evening: Shelley, Rory, Vicki, Craig, Sue and Joe.
Bruce at the finish gasping for air.
Recent Member Comments