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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Michael Green
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
Spring Training
 | | The 4 Bikemen |
In the spirit of baseball, this year I ventured south from Michigan to South Carolina for some warm, sun filled days and get some high mileage and hills. I got together with 3 others from across the country, packed our bikes, and with excitement (and dread) boarded several planes and headed for the sun.
The trip started perfectly, our planes landed within half and hour of each other, our bikes arrived, we got out brand new rental and headed to “base camp”. First day forecast seventy degrees and clear skies – and the weatherman didn’t disappoint. AWESOME – just what we left the snow filled roads and frigid days in Michigan for. A fun filled 48 miles of rolling hills, sprints and tempo. Re-hydration and eating followed, plus a few movies and laughs.
Day 2 – thunderstorms and an inch of rain – I wasn’t riding in the rain, and nor were the others. We lazed around, eyes glues to Weather.com with expectation. Sure enough, rain stopped; by 5pm we had nailed another 52 miles, hitting the 50 mile a day goal. A humid ride post storm, meant the need for more hydrating. That evening we watched “The Flying Scotsman” – perhaps my new favorite cycling movie – although Dave Stoler is still hard to beat.
The next day brought 20 – 25 mph winds and 40 degrees – this was my first trip to SC, I thought it was supposed to be warm! We had scheduled 75 miles for Saturday, but the wind chill was brutal, as were the 13 mph pulls straight into the wind. We all suffered, two quit early, but the tough ones continued until mile 53, and then we quit too. We were beat! Dinner was awesome – big plates of pasta AND pizza and of course more hydrating!
Next morning, was our last, the flights left late in the pm, so we had to ride early. I was first to rise, and look and the thermometer – TWENTY FIVE DEGREES – Michigan was warmer?!?! We all put every piece of clothing we had on, no-one had winter clothes. Some experimenting with Saran Wrap between layers of socks, others just complained – well actually, we all did. Twenty miles was all we could handle, the cold to too much without the right gear, plus the 30 mph down hills just….plain….sucked.
Back to the house, packed the bikes, HOT showers and we headed home, again with the same dread as before – will my bike make it?
Tom, Frank and Matt – good rides, great laughs and re-hydration. See you next year.
Michael
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; "The 4 Bikemen")
