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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Joel Liefke
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
Race: Chilly Hilly 2008
Date: February 24, 2008
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
 | | Photo Courtesy of Marathon Photo |
Looking at this ride on my calendar, I usually get excited as it is a great ride and gets your legs pumping with the vertical astuteness and the short steep climbs. Although after last year’s rainy and dismal conditions I honestly was not that excited to get out and trudge through that again; however, upon waking up to sun….I was as excited on a kid on Christmas!
The Chilly Hilly has been kicking off the cycling season in the Northwest for the past 35 years. The 33-mile route around Bainbridge Island starts with an early morning ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle or you can join the crowd directly on Bainbridge Island. With Chilly February weather and 2,675 feet of Hilly climbing, the name says it all!
This year started off as most, cold and with a ferry ride across the beautiful Puget Sound., although as previously mentioned, a beautiful glowing object in the sky! I was geared up perfectly for the ride in my Champion Systems Bikeman.com gear, with the best item being the Team Bikeman vest to repel the slight chill and the wind. So after the ferry docked, I mounted my noble Giant TCX and headed out on the ride.
The first half of the ride was pretty uneventful…just nice rolling hills and an average speed of around 21mph. The country side is beautiful, as you get to not only see downtown Seattle along the beach drive, but you can also see the Cascade and Olympic mountains, which make this one of the most picturesque rides you’ll ever go on. We completed the two very steep hills around mile 17 and stopped for the signature portion of the ride….the Chilly Hilly Chili Feed. Each year they have a plethora of Chili and Hot Dogs for the riders, and every year I opt for the baked potato, as chili and biking just don’t seem to be a good match.
The second half of the ride is the hiller of the 2 halves, with a pretty massive mile long hill climb ~2 miles after the chili stop. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, and I won’t even go there. This year, as in most years, there is a renegade group of riders who dress up like pirates and crash the Chilly Hilly with an organized race on the exact same course. This year was no exception and as the group made its way through the 4000+ riders, all kinds of pirate barbs were on display from “Arrrghh!” to “Ahoy Matey”…all in all pretty hilarious.
The legs and overall form are coming around so I’m really looking forward to the season which I hope to throw in a slew of criteriums and yes, even an off-road triathlon in preparation for the core of my biking life….cyclocross!
Another great ride put on by Cascade Bicycle Club and thanks to all of you who supported the ride, another great display! I also want to thank Slick Willy and the Slick Willy Slush Armor Lube that made my bike drivetrain hum like always, best stuff out there! Also to Greyhound Juice for their Super Strength Juice which kept my legs nice and toasty in those early hours of 35 degree weather!
Until next time……
Joel Liefke
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; "Photo Courtesy of Marathon Photo")
