This was my view

Permalink | Comment (1) | Share This

For half of my ride I sat on the back trying to stay on, chasing rabbits for about 35miles.

Let me start at the beginning, Jason Hilimire, the Champ (Brandon Furber), Mark and I left the house around 9ish for a ride south down around Keuka Lake, up the infamous Winding Stairs in Hammondsport then head back home. We started from our house and picked up Jim Hogan, then on to pick up Matt Hanggi and Doyle Pruitt. The air was chilly but the sun warmed you right up and with fresh snow it was a great ride.

However, I decided halfway down Keuka Lake that there was no way I was going to hang on to this freight train led by Hanggi for another 45miles or so. I said my goodbyes and headed back. Lucky for me I finally had a tailwind which got me back to Penn Yan without much problem. After climbing out on top of the ridge again I noticed that the wind changed and I would be fighting a headwind on the way home all by myself. This ride definately turned into a soul session. To make matters worse I took a wrong turn which dropped me down next to Seneca lake on Rt 14, with all of the wineries and traffic I decided it was worth it to climb back up to the ridge. Here it is proof that I climbed Earl’s Hill.

Earl also took the last of my water, about 12miles to go still. I really had to dig deep to pedal home now.

Rolled back into Geneva, with about 70miles under my tires, completely dehydrated and bonking (who can eat when you can’t wash it down?) I stumbled into the house leaving my bike outside. Food and water became essential. I had the best pear I’ve ever had in my life followed by a pb&j on the best honey apple oat bread and some yogurt. Two hours later the rest of the crew came rolling in looking more hosed and wasted than I did. We did what every mountain biker would do, went to the nearest pub to grab some eats and drink.