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Jim Explains the Universe
Okay, it is true I never have managed to count to eight as the lakes go flying by on the annual Lutheran church Eight Lakes; Leg Aches ride. They got the leg aches part right but how about the lakes?
Soome years back they had a jersey that displayed and named them all, but I never learned the names.
Someone sayid, "That's five." I got the impression he was telling me the oranization had put up signs for the riders to prove there really were eight lakes. I never saw a aingle sign, though.
700 riders raised about $60,000 toward sexual-assualt services--whatever that means. This ride started out pretty small and started at Coeur d'Alene Park in Brown's Addition in Spokane. Time was the entire start pack scarcely filled the street.
Today, Gary, Donna, Linda, Paul, Marilyn and I cheated about 4 minutes starting early. The most dangerous part of any of these organized rides is always that mass start. Many such events have gone to "window" approach which is what we've seen others doing this year. Of course, if everyone does it . . .
Paul had signed up only in the last few days and announced we should save him a spot. I told him fine but that he'd have to keep to an 18mph pace. He never flinched.
Paul has only been riding this season and has already purchased two new bikes. He's discovering what he can do and it turns out that's quite a bit. He took about 7 minutes off his time trial PR on Thursday. And today, Gary and I set a pace calculated to get us back to the 18mph we had done last year.
I've ridden this event most of the 13 years it has been in existence. Only last year did I actually get to 18mph. And yet Paul was always right there and not always at the back. When we swung out on to the highway to Cheney, we had several other riders with us. We had caught them but they were pushing us taking the lead from time to time. I pulled for a bit and swung off to let Gary pull, then back when he pulled aside. Paul was behind me now so I figured to give him a turn.
"Take a pull, Paul," I called back as I swung out of line and eased up.
Paul is new to this pace line thing and he took my offer to take a pull as an opportunity to blow us all off the road. I couldn't get back on and faded back to the pack to let them pull me up. Paul was happy and smiling.
The pack hung together as we left Cheney but between the Turnbull rest stop and the next, the route turned into the wind and presented some of its worst rollers. When Paul pulled into that next stop, he was breathing hard but still smiling.
At the finish line, Paul checked his computer. "18 right on," he reported.
Just wait until he gets fit.
We found Jim and Wanda enjoying pasta after the ride and just as we were leaving Jennifer Bloch and a friend showed up. Jennifer had started from Pullman late. But she had decided to do the long route any. She hardly looked like she had ridden 75 miles.
Everywhere we met people we knew from one ride or another. You might not ever see or hear from such friends but if you have ever suffered up a steep pitch or put in sweltering miles together, you will remember one another.
Today's ride was another memory-maker offering clear skies, temps between 60 and 80, and just enough wind to make the rollers hurt a bit. I'll remember it always, but how many lakes did we actually pass?
For the Ride of it
Corrie
Eight Lakes 2012 few more pics
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