06 November 2006
First Stop, Iceman!
BIKE RIDE
It was a cold Iceman this year. ~27F when we left Kalkaska for the 28 mile bike ride to Traverse City. It stopped snowing a little ways out, and turned into a really nice ride. It took me about an hour longer to ride it this year than last, but I had a great soundtrack and was just lovin' life. I didn't cramp, no serious back or knee pain. I just put my head down on the hills and did my best. The Fat Girls class took off with the Beginners, who were a dizzz-asster in the sandpits. Once I got around the least technical of them the ride got better and faster.
They called my name at the 17-mile mark, Williamsburg Road, and that's always a nice pick-me-up. I was also announced at the finish line. I saw Nick and Marco as I was coming up the hill, through the gates. I was just all tired and done at that point, 3:24 minutes of bike riding and I just wanted to drop the bike and drink some Supertang. Warm clothes, cookies, and beer made it all better. That, and about an hour soaking in the tub back at the hotel.
BEST COMPLIMENT
After warming up and cleaning up, before the awards ceremony, I got the nicest compliment. Nick, Marty and I were standing in line for dinner, and Marts said, "I've got yours too. When we get to our table I'll tell you why." I was surprised and interested to hear.
A bunch of our friends didn't show up for the race. They hadn't been training enough, their pinky fingers hurt, or whatever. Point being, they didn't come up for the ride or the parties. Me, you couldn't say that I've been training. You could say that I've been drinking my ass off, and ride my bike once a month or so.
Marty said, "You just came up here, put your clothes on and got on your bike. And you beat me. That took grit." Girl's got character. Maybe someday I'll be less self-involved, and will give great compliments like that. Don't hold your breath, but maybe.
AWARDS CEREMONY
My pal and coworker, JOberon, bought the first beer of the raucous evening. We waited through awards, and I got my medal for third place Fat Chick, and my $50 drinkin money, and we wandered out. As we were leaving, John hollered after me, "Get real drunk and don't kick anybody's ass" I love it. It's going to take a while to establish a rep like this in Europe.
AFTERPARTY
The Bells party at Union Street was very fun this year. The Studiotones did good cover songs, and there was plenty of drinking and dancing. It was fun to spend time with drunken coworkers and drunken mountain bikers. I was pretty happy about the whole situation.
It was nothing like last year's debacle, but it was a good start to the going away parties.
It was a cold Iceman this year. ~27F when we left Kalkaska for the 28 mile bike ride to Traverse City. It stopped snowing a little ways out, and turned into a really nice ride. It took me about an hour longer to ride it this year than last, but I had a great soundtrack and was just lovin' life. I didn't cramp, no serious back or knee pain. I just put my head down on the hills and did my best. The Fat Girls class took off with the Beginners, who were a dizzz-asster in the sandpits. Once I got around the least technical of them the ride got better and faster.
They called my name at the 17-mile mark, Williamsburg Road, and that's always a nice pick-me-up. I was also announced at the finish line. I saw Nick and Marco as I was coming up the hill, through the gates. I was just all tired and done at that point, 3:24 minutes of bike riding and I just wanted to drop the bike and drink some Supertang. Warm clothes, cookies, and beer made it all better. That, and about an hour soaking in the tub back at the hotel.
BEST COMPLIMENT
After warming up and cleaning up, before the awards ceremony, I got the nicest compliment. Nick, Marty and I were standing in line for dinner, and Marts said, "I've got yours too. When we get to our table I'll tell you why." I was surprised and interested to hear.
A bunch of our friends didn't show up for the race. They hadn't been training enough, their pinky fingers hurt, or whatever. Point being, they didn't come up for the ride or the parties. Me, you couldn't say that I've been training. You could say that I've been drinking my ass off, and ride my bike once a month or so.
Marty said, "You just came up here, put your clothes on and got on your bike. And you beat me. That took grit." Girl's got character. Maybe someday I'll be less self-involved, and will give great compliments like that. Don't hold your breath, but maybe.
AWARDS CEREMONY
My pal and coworker, JOberon, bought the first beer of the raucous evening. We waited through awards, and I got my medal for third place Fat Chick, and my $50 drinkin money, and we wandered out. As we were leaving, John hollered after me, "Get real drunk and don't kick anybody's ass" I love it. It's going to take a while to establish a rep like this in Europe.
AFTERPARTY
The Bells party at Union Street was very fun this year. The Studiotones did good cover songs, and there was plenty of drinking and dancing. It was fun to spend time with drunken coworkers and drunken mountain bikers. I was pretty happy about the whole situation.
It was nothing like last year's debacle, but it was a good start to the going away parties.
