TOP: Tom flying down the road, long before the storm came.
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Today Tom and I decided to ride to Buffalo. He had tix to the Bills game with his kids, and I just needed a long ride to clear my head after my birthday bash. We started early morning, with a light chill in the air and not a cloud in the sky. Plans were for me to ride about 2/3 of the way with him, then we would split off, he going on to the football game, and me riding back to our starting point.
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We had a great outbound ride; no discernable wind, almost no traffic except a few farm vehicles, all on a backcountry road with a huge shoulder. It really doesn't get any better than that, and what a great way to start year #51.
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After a few hours, we said our goodbyes and split off. I rode back for a while, and decided to stop in nowheresville (batavia) at a Dunkin Donuts for a coffee and bagel. When I pulled into the store people were in queue out the door. Pickup trucks stuffed the parking lot, most with grills and massive coolers in their bed. It was the Bills tailgate party in full swing, and ya just can't tailgate without some DD coffee!
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Anyhow, after a bit of a wait, I get my coffee and bagel, and go find a semi-quite spot in the parking lot to imbibe. While I'm sitting there, suddenly the clouds roll in, and the temperature drops probably 15 degrees. Holy stormfront batman! I finish up quickly, hop on my steed, and start pedaling back, trying to outrace the storm.
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Of course, as luck would have it, I've now gotten a chill and my legs have seized up after having been standing around for probably 30 minutes. So, I can't get up any speed. Then, a few miles from town, I flat. Now, as cyclist know, you only flat on the rear wheel, so it's a real PIA to change it. As I stop and pull off my rear wheel, the rain starts. Did I say rain? I meant it turned into monsoon season. It was pouring buckets, and here I am on this backcountry road, with literally hundreds of drunk or soon-to-be drunk Bills tailgaters driving by in their pickup trucks, every one of them feeling the need to honk their horn and yell demoralizing crap out of the windows at me. I get the tire changed, check my odometer, and see that there's only 12 miles or so to go...I know I can get through that, even in a monsoon.
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Bad thought on my part; it was time for Mr. Wind to come visit also. It kicked up into about a 20-25mph headwind, so now I'm cold, wet, and fighting the winds. Man, it was one heck of a long last 12 miles back to the car that day. I jumped into bed when I got home, turned on the mattress heater, and slept for 3 hours. But, that's ok, because I'm 50 now, and I need my afternoon naps!
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"Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger" Lumpy out
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