What if everything was easy? Would it still be as much fun? Aren't there times when overcoming an obstacle makes the reward that much more pleasurable? I'll take the challenge and obstacles of everyday life knowing that on the other side are glorious moments.... Oh yes I will! And on Saturday I joined in on a group ride in Mass. And how can you possibly ride in the northwestern part of Mass with out heading up Mt. Greylock. I believe it's the highest peak in Mass? Still not the wonderful 14,000+ foot climbs that are out there but for southern New England I'll take it...
So... We began the day at the Berkshire Mall. Not a bad choice seeing as McDonalds was offering free coffee for the day... And on a day when there was a chilling crispness to the air, it was more than welcomed. (though yes, I stuck to Diet Coke, I think I need intervention)...
What do I wear oh what do I wear. That wasn't just my thought but I believe everyone elses thoughts as well. It's cold, it's going to warm up, it's going to be cold at the top and it's going to be warm at the botton... All in all I think we all made out okay. So heading out with clothes on, I mean after all, that's a plus right? Let's go...
Up on two wheels we're ready to go... PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTT... Flat tire. A flat tire before leaving the parking lot. But if I were to mention Rodolfos name it just wouldn't be fair. Especially if I mentioned how the flat tire came from pumping up said tire and with his super powers he ripped the stem right off the tube!!! Damn, I would have almost thought he had a pink cape hiding under that jacket. So we'll leave names out, sound good Rodolfo?
Take two, we're off... I don't know who decided starting out on a mile long climb was a good idea. Thought it's always nice to start out with a little burn. On the road... We go. Hey, I think I've seen that gas station before??? Okay, continue rolling along taking a right hand turn. Mt. Greylock ahead...
The side we decided to climb was not as technical and longer than the North side. But it starts out steeper and then begins to roll out nicely. Up we go, a flock of Antelope in the field to the left. Made sense since it was after all to the left of the wildlife viewing area. Though if I had go-go gadget eyes, they probably would have seen a flock of geese. (I'm sticking to Antelope)...
Already strung out but sure there are smiles on everyones faces. I pull up along Ester with a comment about the view and just keep pedaling. Rudy ahead and cruising along. I'm thinking to myself, I could sit on his wheel the whole way up and work 50% less... Especially since he's about 7 Feet taller than I am. Talk about drafting material. I pull up behind him and sit there for about 1/4 mile and well, I won't lie. Me sitting on a wheel on such an awesome climb is EXTREMELY hard. Pulling to the right I just continue on my own pace. A short conversation and then it stops. Looking back I realize he's not quite on my wheel anymore. Do I wait? Again, I just didn't have the will power so I continue on, building a steady rhythm to take on the road ahead. 8 miles from this point... The climb continues and on the way up there are such awesome views... A few sections where 35 miles per hour happens before pitching back up. Those are not the times to drop a water bottle. Can anyone out there guess where I dropped my water bottle? You got it. So slamming on the brakes I turn around to grab it before heading back up. More views and some hairpin turns which I actually enjoy climbing up and through, just as much as leaning into on the downhill...
This is one of those points where I look over the edge and hope that everyone else is enjoying each pedal stroke as the next. I wonder how close Rudy is. Should I wait and ride with him for the conversation? Is Little b up out of the saddle climbing his way past all? Are Charlene and Ester pushing up together? Has Rodolfo gotten another flat? DOH! Sorry, I strike the name of the flat tire from the record.
And here comes the top... OMG! These two guys are cheering me on!!! Who are they? I don't really care! All I know is that they're cheering me on and I'm almost to the summit... Okay, riding up to them I find they're part of an MS Society ride. I welcome the applause anywho.
Sitting down I begin to realize that while the sun is so welcoming, the cold breeze is not. Already I'm thinking about heading down. Dealing with the cold wind to get to the warm bottom. But I wait. Here rolls Rudy, the ummm... Then everyone else. Sorry I can't recall the order guys... All I know is that we all, well, all but one of us made it to the top. But he was eaten alive by a Flunky K-9 Police dog. More on that later. maybe??
At the top for about 40 minutes. Just about frozen cold it's time to get a move on down.
Down... DOWN.... DOWN!!!!!!!
What a great down hill, fresh pavement, dry pavement and someones great (completely idiotic) idea of carving out rumble strips with every hiker crossing!!! RiDICULOUS!!! Attempting to dodge them, bunny hop them or just cruise over them at ridiculous speeds. 40 mph and a car ahead riders behind. What is Tim's great idea??? Let's pass the car! Zoom Zoom, felt like a Mazda commercial as I zoomed by the car. Thinking everyone else would follow I got a move on. 45 miles per hour some hair pin turns a rock in the road and sliding off the road I go... Looking back I realize no one else is near so I again have to turn it into a race against myself. How fast can I go... Yea, probably would have pushed hard had I been wearing a helmet. I had one on but a Yeti jumped out of the woods and beat me with a stick, ripped it off and laughed while running head first into all the trees. With my helmet on of course.
The bottom is here. From there the entire reason for the ride is over. Well, not the entire reason at all but it's what we'll go with for now.
A fun cruise down the hill. Rory decided to take a jump off the front. I continue to cruise the down, passing Rudy and reaching for my glasses when my glasses (
optic nerves) <-- shameless plug, decided to take a first class trip. Hearing them hit the road I slowed for a minute only deciding it was too late. Their fate had been chosen and my face wasn't in their future...
Now it's time to catch Rory. Taking off right about the same time Rudy asks if Rory has a meeting to get to. I guess I was late for the same meeting.
Down down down to Route 7... Or 2? Or 8? Or something. Anyway, we get down and are waiting and waiting and waiting. Only to find we were missing a rider. Edmund, where in the world is carmen sandiego? I mean, Edmund??? More time passes. Not like Edmund. Or so we were told. Now it's adventure time. It's Edmund season and we're going hunting. Lucky for us he was wearing 1980's circa fluorescent yellow. I know, I know, it's a safe colour. Anyway, we found that the same Yeti that stole my helmet jumped out while Edmund was going 35 miles per hour and while reaching for him, grabbed his cable and ripped it from the bike, just about pulling his handlebars off and sending him arse over tea kettle... In reality, there's a chance that a screw came out of his cable guide sending his cable in all sort of linear and non-linear directions almost taking him down. But see, we knew all of this was going on which was why we stopped in the hardware store parking lot. We're not stupid see! No matter how colourful elf'ish some may be dressed..
Anyway, it's a nice cruise back. A great headwind that makes for a long 10 miles of false flat and uphill... But none the less, all good. We'll leave out the extra flat tire that may have taken place, Rory taking off and having a mile head start which made for an interesting one man chase (though he was reeled in), all of us managing to find our own way back to the mall and being lost'ish... An awesome King of the Mountain Jersey being handed to the first rider to summit Greylock and a relaxing ride back to Ct. where the evening was spent with the kids at the movies for Maya's Birthday. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...
A long rant that could have been longer and also summed up in less time but a rant none the less worth sharing... What it comes down to is quite simple. One, if you're a cyclist in New England, go ride Greylock... Two, we can act like everything is easy because in the long run, it's really not that difficult. But in acting like it's easy it becomes more fun, interesting and rewarding. Take a climb, and work through the pain and it's just wonderful! Take the meeting in the office that no one wants to attend and know that when it's over some individuals will have the needed direction to get the job done. That really wasn't hard was it? Accept the Drs. appointment that you're not looking forward to one bit. Maybe it's a procedure you have to go through or maybe even a tooth drilling. Just know that it's not really that hard and in the end that tooth just won't be bothering you anymore...
All I'm trying to say is that if something is difficult or causing grief doesn't mean it's got to be hard or miserable. Look at the future and what will come after the fact and keep your eye on that prize. In doing so, I believe you CAN act like everything is easy. Okay, now I'm really done. I just made the long rant, un-needingly longer... And at this juncture I depart...
Oh, and yes, Steve was attacked by a rabid dog. He's doing okay though, Brandon chased the dog down, grabbing him by his tail and roasting him for his post-ride bonk meal. Something about how it was healthier than McDonalds??? (no dogs were truly harmed in the making of this ride, But Steve was mauled...)
