Review: Mock Tour de Cure #2

We would've had 15 on the ride, 4 more showed up a bit
later and I was behind the camera.

 

 

Well, it wasn't meant to be.  The universe did not want us to ride our 2nd Mock Tour, which was to cover the outer 35 miles of the 63 mile 2012 Tour de Cure route.  Just when we were preparing to roll, the skies darkened.  As we debated whether to go or not, lightening cracked just over our heads - that made our decision.  So, we nixed the ride ad all went home.  Some of us drove in from Pottstown!  Oh well - can't control the weather.

But it seemed it only rained on Doylestown because when I got back home to Conshy, it was clear.  Hck, I was ready for a ride, so I did some miles on the SRT.  I saw some other folks from our mis-fated rde also did some miles after the fact.  So, at least I got some training in.

Stokin' Joe Niszczak

I have to tell you, though - something really did not want me to ride that day.  I cracked my rear training road rim last week and the Doylestown to Frenchtown ride, so I had to use my racing tubulars all last week for training.  Very finnicky - racing wheels, I don't like to ride them too much.  They're the type where the tires glue onto the rim, and the rube is sewn into the tire.  So, to fix a flat, you have rip the old tire off and re-glue a spare.  To fix the flat, you have to cut open the stitches, fix the tube, and sew it back up.  Very laborious.  Plus, good tubular tires can easily run over $100 each! 

Anyhow, I last used these tubulars at last year's Tour de Cure and flatted at about mile 52 with a sidewall cut.  I booted the sidewall and fixed the flat and it held air well.  I rode it all last week to train.  But wouldn't you know it, the morning of Mock Tour #2 when I was toppping it off with air - PFFFFFFFFT!  The sidewall blew out.  Oh well - no time to change the tubular.  The clinchers are cracked.  What the hell, I grab the mountain bike and head out to Doylestown.

L to R: Vic Patalano, Lou Montella, Joe Niszczak

I pull up at the Del Val Farmer's market and I hear Joe Niszczak say, "What the hell?  What's with the MOUNTAIN BIKE!"  Long story, Joe.  So there it is.  ; ) 

Probably best that the skies opened up, because it was going to be a long, long ride w/ the MTB. No way I could've kept up with the others - pretty hard core looking group that day.

Another chapter in Team Red training rides.  I should have my new road rim in today - time to build my new rear wheel for the Tour on Saturday. 

Well - gotta run, gotta do 35 miles today... on the mountain bike. 

See you on the road.

Cheers,
k

Ryan and his dad - Ryan's saying, "Tut-tut, looks like rain."