Wellsboro and back again...

Feeling Strong? Feeling like you can go all day long? No, that's not a pickup line. It's Double Century Time! Around the longest day of the year, the locals ride up to Wellsboro and back. It's about 210 miles round trip. This year our Saturday group has been super strong. We have been doing long miles since early Spring. So a bunch of us were keen to try it. Josh, Allen, Leah, and Glover were willing to start. Rachael and Wee Vicki had also never done one. So the 7 of us joined usuals Thorne, Ferrari, Alcorn, Strauber with Eric Nord, Peter, and Joe Gore rounding out the group.

You start early - meet at 5:15am and ride! I watched the sun come up that was cool. After that things get hazy. We hit Lock Haven, out to Avis and stopped. Then we got on a rail trail for a bit that was awesome but we were going too fast to look around comfortably. We got back on road and saw a sign to ButtonWood. I announced to Rach that I liked buttons and I liked Wood. The rest of day we would laugh at anything we said as we both took a 'dirty' minded meaning!

We took the back way into Wellsboro where a dog bolted into the pack and took out Glover's wheel but not Glover - close call. Lady was cool and even brought out a floor pump to fill the blown tire. Dog and Glover both ok - whew! On the positive we had a great view from up there so we got to enjoy it longer. Down to Wellsboro we ate at the dinner - umm good rice pudding.

Back on the bikes out route 6 I wasn't feeling too peppy. I was burping up lunch. We hit the railtrail and it got nutty. It was a video game of 2 or 3 constantly changing pacelines at high speed while dodging hikers, slow cyclists and gates. What I thought would be the coolest part of the ride was a high stress workout! Another flat so a few of us forged ahead at a more leisurely pace. We arrived at Blackwell and I was glad.

After a brief stop, Pete broke a spoke while leaving the parking lot. This gave us some time to hang out and enjoy the views. Pete's untrue wheel was rubbing but Ferrari remembered I was on a cross bike so Pete and I switched wheels. I still had to unhook the rear brake which concerned me as my fronts were past due replacement. Lucky I ride with mtb shoes so I could Fred Flintstone on stops. Pete also had a smaller cassette so I wouldn't have my lowest gear anymore - no worries we aren't going to climb till Seibert, right? HA!

Off we went on a enjoyable stretch of road. It paralleled the creek and was rolling but not bad. I loved it. We stopped in at Slate Run store and took a break. I was feeling better but just ate an ice cream sandwich. I should have had more. We continued to a decision point. We could new the 'new' Double with 1300 ft of climbing and a waterfall or wussy out and do the old way with 300 ft of horrible rollers. So we climbed at mile 150. It wasn't that bad but it took you to the max for sure. On the plateau we were greeted by SERIOUS rollers - more like hills. GPS confirmed elevation gains of 1500ft ! We finally descended into Lock Haven and I stupidly pressed the limits of my (pete's) rear wheel by taking a few hard lines on the switchback turns.

We rolled into the Sheetz for our final stop. Fruit, chips, green tea, whoopie pie - anything was yummy. State College was within reach! Nourished, we headed out for the final leg. I got the sense that everyone was giddy and just running on fumes. Everyone joined in on the pulls, it would take all of us working together to back. Rach had a great effort on Jacksonville, Wee Vicki paced beside and fortunately didn't cause me too much pain. Into Bellefonte - almost home!

Then we got to Spring creek and I knew we had it. Just the Siebert climb. I thanked Steve for his efforts and leadership on the day. Who would take 7 riders on their 1st Double? Steve!!! I was wishing I had that extra gear on Seibert but it is always bad. Followed pace of Pete and Al while Todd took KOM over Thorne. On top the sun was beautiful and lit up the evening - or maybe I was delirious. Everyone determined we were over 200 miles! Yippee. I waited for Glover and Leah to give them the news. So happy for both of them.

Then we stopped for pics at Rock Road intersection. The group started racing at Toftrees, I learned later that the bridge is the sprint point. We regrouped by Beaver stadium then Al and I turned off to our cars. Back where we started! Double was over! Back home I soaked my leg in the tub and drank cold beer - ahh sweet recovery!

Thanks to everyone along...Rach for laughs, Joe for green tea, Allen for support, the fast guys: Matt, Billy, and Strauber, the Highland Hammer (vicki), Eric the mule, Josh the horse, Todd for everything he does!, Glover for being Glover, Peter for inspiration, Leah for putting me onto this ridiculous endeavor, and Steve for his love of cycling. You guys rock!!!