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The ride I did this weekend I‘m calling Larry’s Memorial ride. Memorial rides are usually named for people that have passed away and need remembered. Before we break the internet, our Larry is alive and well. There were many items that occurred that I will tell you about that made me think of Larry.
The event is Big Jays ultra challenge in Illinois. http://fatass12hour.com/ I asked Larry for some recon on this ride a week before the ride. He gave me some good information. He linked his Strava ride, a map of the route with warnings, and told me about his experience. Kudo’s Larry. I liked what I read and I planned to make the 2.5-hour trip to Mahomet, Il.
Driving over, I get about 10 miles from the town, the sky is dark with lightning. I am wondering if this is a wasted trip. I got there a couple hours early. It was sprinkling. I looked at the radar and is seemed like it would pass soon.
At the start of the 6-hr. race the sprinkling had stopped and the sky was overcast. This was wonderful because I prefer not to bake in the heat. I even started using some white tights on my legs to limit heat exposure. Larry has been known to wear these.
I had not ridden the route and the streets were still wet. When I had riders in front of me it was easy to stay on course. When I passed everyone I then need to rely on the painted arrows on the shiny wet street. It was a little challenging on the first lap.
About 10 miles in, I turned to the west and began heading toward a thunderstorm. I knew that in 2 miles I would head south and possibly miss the storm. I rolled the dice. When I started my south leg and the storm was still west of me and I thought I dodged the bullet. A mile later lightning was all around me. I was still dry so I continued. When I thought I was in the clear riding away from the storm. A shower came upon me. Started as a sprinkle and ramped up to a full-blown rain shower. I rode in heavy rain for 2 miles. I knew the route enough to know that I didn’t have a turn for a couple miles. I just kept the pedals turning not worrying about going off course.
A couple of turns were treacherous with fine gravel. I slipped a little on one, straightened the bike up hit the brakes and slowed just short of a grass ditch. Mental note, slow down for that turn next time.
I made it back to town. Thought I was on the wrong road. Changed roads and then knew I was on the wrong road. That only cost me a ¼ mile. That was the close of an eventful first lap. I thought things would settle down. Only to find out it was just the beginning.
The second lap began and I thought this should be a fast one. I don’t expect it to rain and I know the route. I turned it up on the downwind run. There was a 4-mile segment that I cruised at 27 mph. It was a good feeling. About half way through the second lap I went around a turn and entered an elite Cruzbike Club. One that Larry could be a charter member. This turn had a few little dips with some fine loose gravel. Before I knew it, I was sliding into second base. All I could think of was, make it stop. My butt, forearm and bike were sliding down the road for about 10 feet. I got up, checked my body out, then checked the bike out. I ripped my pants and sleeve. The handlebars were twisted. I manhandled them back to normal position. It seemed everything else was fine. If a little road rash is fine.
The third lap was going to be the one. No rain, no crash. I’m going lay down a fast one. I stopped in the pits to refuel my water bottles. Then away I went. I was doing well till I got back to the crash site. I thought I would swing a little wide to avoid any bad Ju-Ju that still could be in the area. There still seemed to be a little around. As I rolled through the apex, for a half second, I slid in the gravel. I didn’t go down, but it had my attention.
There was one other recumbent at the event. Someone on a blue Bacchetta. I passed him on the course and said hey as I rolled by.
Sun was out and it was getting hotter.
As I finished my 3rd lap, I began to think about the finish. I had 2:26 left. Energy level was still pretty good. I thought I could get two more laps in before time expired. I took 4 water bottles and hoped to do two laps back to back. This lap the I wanted to have a good lap to confirm I can complete two laps. Since I had a long pit to get water, my friend on the Bacchetta passed me. A few miles down the road I passed him back. As I rolled by, I said hey, and he replied Go Larry. I don't know if he calls everyone on a V20 Larry, V20 with leg tights or V20 Leg tights and road rash. I don't know what made him think I was Larry. I assume we are talking about the same Larry.
I finished the lap with 1:10 left on the clock. I spoke with the ride organizers and made plans to keep track of time and my distance. At 6:00 I was a half mile from the completion of a full lap. I was tired as I rode back to the pits.
I rested in the pits for 30 minutes prior to packing up. There was a pitch-in dinner following the ride. I was reluctant to stick around because going to get home late. I’m glad I stuck around. There was an awards presentation. I received a bottle of wine for second place riding 122.8 miles. https://www.strava.com/activities/1704951099
One thing that is different about this ride. It is free. They do encourage riders to donate to the Rotary club. There was over $1000 raised.
It was a good event. I may talk to Jay and see if he would change the event name to Larry Memorial Ride. He seemed to be in my memory a lot that day.
The event is Big Jays ultra challenge in Illinois. http://fatass12hour.com/ I asked Larry for some recon on this ride a week before the ride. He gave me some good information. He linked his Strava ride, a map of the route with warnings, and told me about his experience. Kudo’s Larry. I liked what I read and I planned to make the 2.5-hour trip to Mahomet, Il.
Driving over, I get about 10 miles from the town, the sky is dark with lightning. I am wondering if this is a wasted trip. I got there a couple hours early. It was sprinkling. I looked at the radar and is seemed like it would pass soon.
At the start of the 6-hr. race the sprinkling had stopped and the sky was overcast. This was wonderful because I prefer not to bake in the heat. I even started using some white tights on my legs to limit heat exposure. Larry has been known to wear these.
I had not ridden the route and the streets were still wet. When I had riders in front of me it was easy to stay on course. When I passed everyone I then need to rely on the painted arrows on the shiny wet street. It was a little challenging on the first lap.
About 10 miles in, I turned to the west and began heading toward a thunderstorm. I knew that in 2 miles I would head south and possibly miss the storm. I rolled the dice. When I started my south leg and the storm was still west of me and I thought I dodged the bullet. A mile later lightning was all around me. I was still dry so I continued. When I thought I was in the clear riding away from the storm. A shower came upon me. Started as a sprinkle and ramped up to a full-blown rain shower. I rode in heavy rain for 2 miles. I knew the route enough to know that I didn’t have a turn for a couple miles. I just kept the pedals turning not worrying about going off course.
A couple of turns were treacherous with fine gravel. I slipped a little on one, straightened the bike up hit the brakes and slowed just short of a grass ditch. Mental note, slow down for that turn next time.
I made it back to town. Thought I was on the wrong road. Changed roads and then knew I was on the wrong road. That only cost me a ¼ mile. That was the close of an eventful first lap. I thought things would settle down. Only to find out it was just the beginning.
The second lap began and I thought this should be a fast one. I don’t expect it to rain and I know the route. I turned it up on the downwind run. There was a 4-mile segment that I cruised at 27 mph. It was a good feeling. About half way through the second lap I went around a turn and entered an elite Cruzbike Club. One that Larry could be a charter member. This turn had a few little dips with some fine loose gravel. Before I knew it, I was sliding into second base. All I could think of was, make it stop. My butt, forearm and bike were sliding down the road for about 10 feet. I got up, checked my body out, then checked the bike out. I ripped my pants and sleeve. The handlebars were twisted. I manhandled them back to normal position. It seemed everything else was fine. If a little road rash is fine.
The third lap was going to be the one. No rain, no crash. I’m going lay down a fast one. I stopped in the pits to refuel my water bottles. Then away I went. I was doing well till I got back to the crash site. I thought I would swing a little wide to avoid any bad Ju-Ju that still could be in the area. There still seemed to be a little around. As I rolled through the apex, for a half second, I slid in the gravel. I didn’t go down, but it had my attention.
There was one other recumbent at the event. Someone on a blue Bacchetta. I passed him on the course and said hey as I rolled by.
Sun was out and it was getting hotter.
As I finished my 3rd lap, I began to think about the finish. I had 2:26 left. Energy level was still pretty good. I thought I could get two more laps in before time expired. I took 4 water bottles and hoped to do two laps back to back. This lap the I wanted to have a good lap to confirm I can complete two laps. Since I had a long pit to get water, my friend on the Bacchetta passed me. A few miles down the road I passed him back. As I rolled by, I said hey, and he replied Go Larry. I don't know if he calls everyone on a V20 Larry, V20 with leg tights or V20 Leg tights and road rash. I don't know what made him think I was Larry. I assume we are talking about the same Larry.
I finished the lap with 1:10 left on the clock. I spoke with the ride organizers and made plans to keep track of time and my distance. At 6:00 I was a half mile from the completion of a full lap. I was tired as I rode back to the pits.
I rested in the pits for 30 minutes prior to packing up. There was a pitch-in dinner following the ride. I was reluctant to stick around because going to get home late. I’m glad I stuck around. There was an awards presentation. I received a bottle of wine for second place riding 122.8 miles. https://www.strava.com/activities/1704951099
One thing that is different about this ride. It is free. They do encourage riders to donate to the Rotary club. There was over $1000 raised.
It was a good event. I may talk to Jay and see if he would change the event name to Larry Memorial Ride. He seemed to be in my memory a lot that day.
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