I Entered a Race and Won a Trophy

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

 

 

My son-in-law and one of his friends signed up to do a short race - basically a hill climb with grades of 9% and 11% in certain sections.  Son-in-law is just starting to cycle, and his friend has a habit of taking off and leaving him to ride alone, particularly on difficult sections.  His friend doesn't do it out of malice or competition; they just have different levels of fitness.

So my daughter mentioned the race to Mrs. TK.  Mrs. TK mentioned to me and I asked Son-in-law if he wouldn't mind if I tried to tag along and keep up.  He was happy to have me meet them at the start and ride the race as well.  Once I'd opened my mouth and committed, I looked up the route and nearly regretted it because the route was almost entirely made up of climbing.  And I don't climb very well.

The route started on the flat.  Son-in-law's friend was off like a shot, and neither of us tried to keep up.  As the grade picked up I managed to stay with Son-in-law.  As the grades got even steeper, Son-in-law slowed a bit and I found I could match his pace.  At a couple of points I could tell he was working pretty hard so I started chattering to help keep his mind off the climb.

At one point he said 'You're trying to distract me, aren't you?'  I laughed and said 'There's no fooling you, because that's exactly what I was doing.'  He said 'I set myself a goal partway up the hill, and didn't realize I'd already gone past it because of your story.'  To his credit as tired as he seemed to get he never stopped, never put a foot down, never quit.

The course topped out on a hill (what else?) with a small downhill to the finish.  As we came to the last crest I told him ' I'm going to pull in front and you get right on my wheel.  I'll accelerate and you stay with me.  Then I'll pull off to the side, and you slingshot around me toward the finish line.  Got it?'  He got it, and we barreled down the hill. When I pulled off I shouted 'Go! Go!' and let him by.  I did have to feather the brakes a bit so I didn't cross the line before he did, but his sprint and my braking created enough of a gap that he clearly crossed the line ahead of me.

We were standing together when they announced the awards, and when I came back with The Lantern he said 'Thanks for letting me cross the line first so I didn't have to come in last.'  I grinned at him and nodded, because I remembered my starting days in cycling when I'd ride to the ends of my abilities and still come in last of the group - and how frustrating that was.

A good day, I think.  A good ride, good company, good food at the end, and the bonus of a trophy to commemorate my effort! 

[donkpow]

What a lovely trophy.

[Ralphie]

Cool!  I want one!

[smudge]

So you tricked him so YOU could win the lantern rouge?

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

1 minute ago, smudge said:

So you tricked him so YOU could win the lantern rouge?

There's no fooling you either, Smudge! 

 

 

 

Pictures from the ride

 

 

 

[smudge]

Don't try placating me with pretty pictures! (Though that second one is really nice!)

Good to know I'm not the only one who takes pics during a race! Ha!

[Guest]

  And I don't climb very well.

liar! I've climbed with you, or should I say watched you climb while I grunted uphill.

[JerrySTL]

Congrats. The lanterne rouge is a big deal in the Tour de France.