The was the last story that I have written about the Tour de Cure. After the changes, the event was no longer an option for me really
Greetings Goofball-ers’ & Friends
Introduction
With a dry, cold front blowing into Colorado, the smell of smoke on the air and the promise of a spectacular sunset caused by the fires in the Rocky Mountains my thoughts are elsewhere....
Grab your coffee, beer, lemonade or whatever and pull up a chair and let us begin a journey into the last week of Spring 2000.
Before actually starting I want to give a big, and I mean huge, thank you to Jeebus 2 and NewfieNutt for letting me stay the past weekend at their abode in Loveland. I felt part of a family again, which I really do not get to experience anymore. I played N64 with Matthew, I watched Ashley try to twist her head off, but I was able to talk some sense to her ::laughing::, and Courtney wanted me to go swimming in the backyard. I said nope - I could not imagine on how cold the water might be. I also shared the house with a cat, three kittens, a rat and only one "Miller" moth that I saw.
Sunday, June 11, 2000 Loveland, Colorado - Elevation ?,??0
"I got the job done! What the hell do you want?!"
Lethal Weapon
Note: Before reading further readers - No disrespect is intended to any religious parties. My apologies to anyone who is offended. Remember you do not have to read anything you do not want to. All views expressed are mine. Thank you.
June 11, 2000 - 5:30 AM - I woke up with the sun about to break over the horizon. Minutes later the sunrise broke over the Eastern Plains of Colorado. Maybe being in Loveland, away from the city of Denver, I forgot what the sunrise really is supposed to feel like, for me anyway. This calm, warm morning is what every rider hopes for. Almost one year ago to the day, I wrote an entirely different morning. I was glad I did not have a morning like that again.
Then again, I could have tried to attempt to break my world's record last year.::evil grin::
The morning was near perfect, but the truth was yet to become "snake eyes"
The day before when I was biking up to Loveland, I got three flat tires and had had used all my spare tubes. My ability to ride was entirely depending on if there was a bike shop on wheels at the start/finish line. So, long story short, there was a shop and I was able to get a new tube and a new tire. No "snake eyes" once again.
One a side note, when the owner of the bike shop on wheels saw my bike, the Motobecane, he proceeded to tell me he had one in his youth and thought he would never see one again. To the casual customer, he did not look happy nor did his eyes give any gleam of happiness, but he gave my Motobecane, the most tender care. He also told me a short story, but I am unable to share with you Goofball-ers'. Yes, personal, but I think, it is a story that is meant for the "right" person to be told to. Let me say this - that when I get older I hope I experience the same feelings, emotions that man felt when he saw my Motobecane. My opinion - tis the little things in life that makes the world go around.
7:10 A.M. - My bike tires were good and he even fine tuned my gears, bike gears. =) I was in business. I left the start/finish line at Loveland High School and proceeded to pedal west to the Devil's backbone. I once again chose the 75 mile route, same as last year. We riders had a nice little two mile warm up through the streets of Loveland on Sunday morning. Very sparse traffic here and there.
This is the second year I am riding in this Tour. Last year, I chose this tour as my new charity to help out for the year. Most of you should know I help out any charity I find... find that catches my attention... however I only choose one new charity a year. Last year was ADA - American Diabetes Association. Most of you Goofball-ers' know that one (That I know of personally) of our own Goofball-er has Diabetes and to do the tour last year was for me, but for her and the rest who have Diabetes. I was able to match dollar for dollar on her contribution to my tour ride. When I heard there was going to be a 2nd annual ride - I did not think twice about not riding again. Yes, I had an awful experience last year which you Goofball-er's read about, but not enough to keep me away.
When I left the city limits of Loveland I put on some live music of the Scorpions and got ready to get serious. I position myself behind one rider and used him as a pace setter. Five miles later my pacer ignored a turn and proceeded to head the wrong way. For a split second, a second, I thought of yelling to him, but I was in my serious biking mode and thought "hey - his loss" and one less rider I have to worry about beating to the finish line. This year I was out for blood and I had no time to help the people who... who...::smiling:: ... how can I say this... ::light bulb over head turns on:: who are not paying attention =) Nope, I never knew what became of that rider, but I did ::smug look:: damn good without him.
Mile 10 - I reached the first Aid Station (10 miles) and let me say that the yogurt did not sit well for me. After, I had a couple of oranges =) and I immediately remembered my Santa Fe Century Tour two weeks ago when I expressed on how I gob... ::laughing:: I... whew... ::wiping brow:: I am getting an image... navels and navels ::Homer Simpson drool:: navels. ::uggghhh:: and navels. =)-
Mile 15 - I began the big climb up Big Thompson Canyon. This climb was cake and decided to put some heavy metal - WASP - music and pedaled with a purpose. Halfway up the canyon I saw a rider, A woman rider. =) This is one of those moments - a moment that separates the boys from the men. As I mentioned before, I was riding in my serious mode. Anyway, with less than a yard to go to her, She asks at the last possible moment - "Do you have a pump?"
Readers. I was in limbo. Argh?!!?!?! ::a pissed off feeling beginning:: I was riding for time, for me and I had no room for anything else. You might say I caved in, or I have a heart, or she was pretty enough for me to stop for, but what I stopped for was generosity. If Jeebus 2 and NewfieNutt did not show their kindness to me, then I might not be writing my adventure.
Emily, Damn straight I got her name, had a flat back tire and she had no pump. What kind of Goofball, no pun intended =), would ride without a pump in a bike tour?! ::laughing:: That is like me biking to work and forgetting my work pants. ::laughing:: Shit. That is another story Goofball-ers' ;-). Give me a sec. ::deep breaths:: Ok, so I gave her my pump and she started to pump her tire. Her tire was not filling up with air. Meanwhile, I was losing time and she noticed I was getting antsy. I said let me pump... 'lo & behold - I was once again da man. I pumped for a bit, then she pump and we finally both ran out of air and were sweating - literally. ::laughing:: This is starting to sound maybe like a Jackie Collins novel. Me and Emily got her tire inflated and she apologized for making me lose precious time. I, of course, said no problem, but I have to admit ::serious look:: I was mad for stopping. Unfortunately, the truth hurts. I hope that my generosity to her will be able to return the favor to someone else ::sigh:: BTW Emily had all sorts of nice views, smelled good and had a cute voice, but no phone number. I did not ask for one either, maybe I should have =)
Except, getting dates during a tour is not a thing I think about.
The town of Drake was Aid Station two (22 miles). I looked for Rachel, Emily's friend, and told her what had happen and what I did for Emily. Rachel then sent the SAG wagon down to look for Emily ::shaking head:: No no no, I did not leave Emily behind. I stayed for a mile or so with her then I resumed into my "take no prisoners" mode and put some distance between me and Emily. I filled up my water bottle and ate more oranges and waited for 5 minutes and still no sign of Emily. I turned my back on Big Thompson Canyon and Emily and started my climb through Devil's Gulch. The Devil's gulch is a fairly steady uphill climb and relatively easy until you reach the town of Glen Haven.
Glen Haven was Aid Station three (39 Kilometers, I think) I filled up my water bottles again, had some grapes, clif bars and stood next to two Llamas. I also had the best damn lemonade of the year, so far. My mouth went crazy with the first taste. ::eyes rolling in ecstasy:: wow. I polished my cup of lemonade off and asked for another and said thank you once again. I wanted to have more, but hell was waiting for me.
Note: Before reading further - No disrespect is intended to any religious parties. My apologies to anyone who is offended. Remember you do not have to read anything you do not want to. All views expressed are mine. thank you.
"I saw a hill climb which I knew had to have taken some souls (riders)..."I was ready, mentally and physically, to dance with the Devil once again. I saw four riders ahead in the distance already climbing and I dare not look back. I switched down to the second easiest gear ratio and started my climb to Heaven. To refresh the old and to describe to the new readers, the climb was practically straight up and the grade had to be at least 15% - there were two switchbacks, but the switchbacks were only 15 yards long - not much of a break. The climb was a mile and a half to two miles long. ::Standing tall:: I am proud to say I did not get off my bike and had no thought of quitting and walking my bike to the top. After the Heart Break Hill incident, I had a good fucking reason not to give up this time. During my ascent, I saw two souls walking with their heads down. Nothing. I mean nothing! Would make me stop and help out on the way to the top. The Devil's Gulch and Hill is what I came to ride for and to beat the Devil and the "hell" of his gulch is my redemption for my failure at Heart Break Hill.
Daryl aka CalSeti 6-13-99
I got my picture taken at the top which I will get scanned ASAP. No snow around Estes Park, but up in thar hills above Estes Park there was quite a bit of snow on thar caps. I took a better picture of the Stanley Hotel and then headed back to the Eastern Plains of Colorado.
I had a 22 mile descent and I reached speeds of up to 47 mph. A little headwind was blowing up the Canyon, but nothing compared to last year.
Mile 55 - I stopped at a store for.... ---- yes =) --- not one, but two cans of Coca-Cola. I had to get ready for the final act in this play. ::huge smile::
Mile 61 - Aid station 6 - the last station before the finish line. I had some peanut butter sandwiches and basically left right away. To me - this is where I began the sprint to the finish.
The last 14 miles I can say not one rider past me. Woo hoo. Two tandem bikes did pass me, but I do not count tandems for/against me. I rode hard and surprised myself on how hard I was pedaling. Eventually, I rejoined the 25/50 miler group route, but I gave them no chance whatsoever. I set a pace which was pretty fast and noticed one rider was matching my pace, but sooo sad for him. I... ::laughing::. I actually made him waste any remaining stored up energy he had left. Yes, I was mean, but one does not learn until he/she has been bitten. I bet he will not talk about being beat by a guy with stickers of Scooby Doo, Ernie, and a young woman with an amazing midriff on his helmet. LOL. Shit, I would be too embarrassed to bring up a defeat like that ::shaking head:: Mess with a bull you will get the horns.
I officially finished in 5 hours 45 minutes, but unofficially 6 hours 10 minutes. Thirty-five minutes faster than last year. There were people (5 or so) cheering at the finish line, I got an all-you-can-eat lunch and the 75 mile ride was... "A walk in the park"
Epilogue
Tour de Cure aka Tour Diablo was sponsored by the American Diabetes Association
I am still able to accept sponsorships until 4 weeks after June 11, 2000. If interested, please make a check / Money Order payable to American Diabetes Association. Forward to me then I will forward to ADA with any additional sponsors I collect. My address: PO Box 512, CastleRock, CO 80104 If you need any information please email me. Two tours completed four more to go.
w-i-t-h-u-t-m-o-s-t-s-i-n-c-e-r-i-t-y
Daryl
aka CalSeti
Author's Note
January 10, 2001 - To Clear up any confusion. Tour de Cure is also, and I WILL REFER ONLY, as Tour Diablo. I was wondering why they renamed the tour so I called them up. The answer I got was that if the name was change to Tour de Cure they would get more sponsorship. Selling out is what I call it. Why change a perfect name like Tour Diablo?! When I talk about my Tour Diablo, people almost get a surreal image of a hellish grueling tour. Even my favorite jersey does not do it justice. Speaking of jerseys. I tried to buy a bike jersey, but none were available. I asked about this also. The answer I got was that there was a bike jersey, but only available for riders who turn in the required amount of pledges to "earn" a jersey. That is bullshit. I do not know if I am in the minority, but I like having the option to buy a jersey. Believe me that every jersey that I have bought I wear everywhere. I also get questions and inquires about where I got my jersey(s). A jersey to me is a medal of honor. I can not speak for everyone or anyone, but having a jersey indicating that you raise 500, 1000, 5000 or whatever amount of pledges doesn't mean a great deal to me. What matters is the unique design and logos on the jersey. Sure, I see and read some of those 500 or 1000 dollar level pledge jerseys, but... but... I am going to stop writing about this. Long story short make the jersey available for everybody to purchase. In the long run, you get free lifetime advertising. If there are people who are thinking what I am thinking, we could easily deter other future riders to your tour. Then again maybe not. Word of mouth is more powerful than you think. I guess besides the Tour's name change and no more bike jersey available to buy, the ride was great. Looking forward to this year's tour. Crossing fingers, but not holding my breath, for no other "unnecessary" changes.
Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete
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