Checking in for Pelotonia 2019! Year 11 for me, year 5 for R4, year 3 for Sky!
Sweet swag bag this year!
Stage is set-up for Friday night's opening celebration!
Boards where people could write who they ride for.
R4's list.
At the expo on Friday night.
Saturday morning, just before the start.
Off to the starting line!
R4, ready to roll.
Plenty of water at the first stop.
And plenty of food!
Even found some Honeystinger. This stuff sits well in my stomach on long, hot days on the bike, so we had some at the stop and took a few with us.
Obligatory first stop group selfie :)
Sky, contemplating grabbing a PBR from a guy on the side of the road. Uh, no Sky, no. But yes, there is a guy, actually a whole group with a tent, music, food, water, and yep, Pabst Blue Ribbon. As I road past he said, "It's nice and cold, too!" He's been at this spot for probably about 10 years. One of these years I'll stop...
Yes, that's the Masi. In a bike stand. And a mechanic working on it. As I pulled into the rest stop, Robby said, "Hey, dad!" I stopped, I thought he was eating because he was under a tent. Then I saw what was going on with the bike. Robby said he wiped out but was o.k. The mechanic did a great job checking the machine over and made sure everything worked before Robby got back on it.
Couple of scrapes, nothing major. But just wait...
Back at it after the spill.
Robby and I cruising along.
And Sky and I cruising along.
Coming into the 45 mile finish!
Lunch time!
This poor guy. We finished lunch, Claud took Sky back home, and Robby and I headed out to finish the rest of the day (100 miles). Five miles down the road (so we're now 50 miles in), Robby says we need to pull over, he doesn't feel good. So we stop and I ask what's wrong. "Well," he says, "I thought I could do it, but I just don't feel good. I thought I was going to black out at mile 35."
"Hold on," I said, "that was before lunch. Why did you keep going?"
"Because I thought I could do it, but I just don't feel good."
Me: "Did you hit your head when you fell?"
R4: "I don't remember."
Me: "Shit."
I looked at his helmet and it wasn't cracked, so that was a good sign.
Then he says, "Hey dad, you just go on, I'll call mom and just wait here. You go ahead."
Me: "Yeah, like that'll happen. Go sit in the shade. I'll call mom AND I'll wait here with you."
Claud had just arrived at home with Skyler, so she hopped back in the car and came and got Robby. When I talked to him later that night, his knee was a bit swollen and sore and stiff, but he was feeling better.
It got very hot later in the afternoon. I'm sitting in an air conditioned tent. I did not want to leave. When I went to go fill up my bottles I was told they were only giving one cup (about a 10 oz cup) of ice per rider. What the hell...
16 miles to go.
Finished Day 1!
Obligatory Day 1 finish line photo.
Dinner was really good!
White Castle food truck arrived later in the evening. Um, no, that would not sit well, so I passed.
Get a good night's rest, it's going to be another big ride day tomorrow!
Ric Noland, owner of Cyclist Connection, and one of his mechanics, Chuck, looked over my bike and many others Saturday night so everyone would be ready to ride Sunday morning.
At the Sunday morning start. Rested and ready to roll!
Stopped at the top of one of the early morning climbs. Looking forward to this descent. Beautiful day to ride!
How do you mix 5 gallons of Gatorade? With a power drill, of course!
It was hot enough that the volunteers were even putting the Ho-Hos on ice!
I latched on to a great group. Here we were cruising along at 23 mph.
65 miles in!
Last rest stop, 20 miles to go!
Day 2 is done!
Everyone was there at the finish for me on Sunday!
