Bill’s WoW
August 18th, 2005
Basically I have to agree with Michele - the whole thing was a hoot (other than the begining issues) and the weather could not have been better.
Basically we started out in cool temperatures under cloudless skies. Then we did about five big hills in the first ten miles. I am lead to understand that any hill that you hit 50+ MPH going down is defined as “gently rolling”. The look on the crew’s faces after the first few hills was not good 
For some odd reason (they say I am crazy) I seem to enjoy hill climbing. I think it is revenge for all the times I got owned by hills when I started biking. After Michele told us to leave her on the roadside (now that was difficult for me), I rejoined Eric and Scott for the ride into Elmwood. We waited for Michele at the rest stop in Elmwood - she was averaging 4 miles an hour faster without us - hrmmm. So continuing out of Elmwood on the “big hill” we ended up on some of the most pleasant roads I have biked on. We had one close call with a hay truck. I was spitting hay for several miles. Other than the hay truck I do not think I have dealt with consistently more pleasant drivers - they all waved and would wait to pass until they could see around you enough to give you lots of space. They did this even if it meant idling up a 1 mile hile at 8 or 9 miles an hour behind a bunch of bikes - very nice.
At some point on the first loop Eric started to poop out. We started leaving him behind on hills. Once we finished the first loop we took a break at the nicely provisioned rest stop for lunch. Eric decided that he felt better and was going to join us for the second, less hilly, loop. On the way out of town we hit an amazingly steep hill. Not very long but incredibly steep. Scott ended up off the road (don’t ask) in his granny/granny gear. As he pedaled furiously trying to get back on the road he got passed by Eric - who was walking his bike up the hill. Scott has really REALLY low gears! After getting to the top we passed the street the our hotel was on and Eric decided that sounded better than doing another 40 some odd miles with us.
The second loop was much better. Scott and I both did start to poop out towards the end though. After we finished we had to bike back to the hotel as we had told Michele to take the car back. Guess what, remember that really steep hill? Well that was the best way to get there. Ouchie! So overall - two flats, one broken spoke, and 103 miles with either 4700 or 6500 verticle feet depending on whether you used a wrist mounted altimeter or Topo USA.
Cold beer has never tasted so good 