Casual 4th of July Century

Saturday I decided to join in the 4th of July Century. This year the route was back to the original RB Winter ride. I showed up at the Creamery at 8am to see the usual suspects. We were already trading barbs and dropping f-bombs while we waited. This would foreshadow the days events. We had a strong crew of 10. 7 regulars plus Fred, Sparky and James. I'm thinking the big group would mean an easy ride.

So we take off and have the wind and start out fast. An hour later, we're still fast. I tell Allen not worry we always start out fast, it slows up. Famous last words. The pace wasn't killer but it didn't let up. We sprinted to every sign, pushed the hills, and kicked it in general. We usually average 18-19 but the first 50 miles was 21!

It will slow down once we turn. Yes that was true, we had a good headwind in some spots but that just brought the effort up! Now whoever was on the front wouldn't give in to make this a more friendly ride. Once you get used to pushing it, then it is hard to stop. A flat slowed us after coburn. A stop at the Spring Mills store yeilded the most humor of the day. A guy came in sporting long hair & black t-shirt, late 30s - music blaring. Grabs smokes at the store. Backs up and pulls across the street into the Frosty Hook parking. Like 40 ft. Music blaring. Hops out and goes in the Frosty. Only in PA!

After 100 miles you'd think we'd be tired but noooooo! The pace kept up over the rolling hills that mark the last part of the ride. And of course we KOM every one of them. Finally we get back to Linden Hall. Recovery time for the last 10 miles? Why change now? I added to the mix by splintering the field on a poorly timed breakaway to the Tin Man. Chasers and more attacks ensued. Finally it was over and the we went our different ways. Al, Josh and I still had to climb up Orchard rd. Man was that HARD!

Final stats were a shade under 120 miles, 19+ average, 5K of climbing. Probably the toughest ride of the season. That evening we convened at the Glover household and wondered why we had ridden so hard? We laughed about it over some good cookout and all powerful recovery beverages. What a day!