American Cancer Society Century
7/16/2007 – 10:10 pm#1)It was difficult. but no Nockamixon. That was an unpleasant century.
#2)Lots of crashes. Dumb crashes. Secondary crashes caused by people slowing down and rubber necking.
The first long ride like this one I did was the MS 150 in 2005. I remember being so psyched to be surrounded by so many cyclists. The more experienced guys I was riding with looked stressed out for the first 20 miles, until things got stretched out. Now I’m that guy, the guy who is mortified by people riding 4 wide, zipping back and forth, unpredictably. Sigh.
#2)Crossing the Ben Franklin bridge on the road was kind of cool. Just into Camden on the Admiral Wilson Blvd, I saw a guy who had written in sharpie across his leg ‘Dad’.
That actually choked me up. Alot.
#3)Past Mayor Street. He seemed to be entourage less/ rode solo.
When I first rolled up on him, I was like ‘Hi Mayor Street…’
He seemed pleased to be recognized.
moving by him, I asked ‘Did you get your iPhone?‘
‘Yes’ he replied with enthusiasm, ‘And its a great phone…’
A pleasant exchange. Its hard to believe the guy used to be such a firebrand.
#4)At 70 miles, there was a finish, and then a 30 mile loop added on for the rest of us. I went in and grabbed a reload for all my bottles. And dumped a considerable amount of bottle water on my head. This was a good idea as the last 30 miles was on unshaded, deserted farm roads.
I also grabbed a rock star energy drink, which I nursed from mile 72-80. Halfway thru I really wished it was a beer. Drinking a beer in the last quarter of a century should be required.