“To P, or not to P. That is the question.”

On the one hand, I mean no disrespect to Will not only for mangling lines from Hamlet, but for taking them completely out of context to suit my shameless lowbrow purpose.

But in my defense, it was sort of an existential question that we were entertaining earlier in the week: whether to ride. Janis, MikeH, and I wanted to notch another monthly P-ride, and we were keeping a close eye on the weather.

In the balance: Mike’s P-9, Janis’ P-12, and my P-24.

The early week forecast was calling for rain. As the week progressed, the rain was out, but headwinds on the return, gusting at 22—25 mph, were in. As it turned out, this was a complete exaggeration, too, although we wouldn’t know it until after we’d committed.

We were smug in our initial game plan: let the wind blow us to the turnaround control at Sherry’s Bakery in Dunn, warm ourselves with coffee, while feasting on apple fritters (frittering away the time), and then somehow deal with the wind on the return.

We find inspiration from another misquotation from Will, this time from Macbeth, an exhortation to storm the bakery and gorge ourselves on pastries!

“Lay on, MacMike, and damn'd be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!"

We had a great December ride today. Congratulations to Janis today not only for eclipsing 6,000km for the year so far, but for notching her first P-12!

At least one other Tarheel rider, JohnO, has earned a P-12 this year!






MikeH, readying to storm the bakery! Janis (lead-in picture) ready to celebrate!

Let’s ride!

Benson Mule Pull Populaire, Valentine's Day, 2010

The kernel for this route was planted a couple years back when Mike D, Bob O, and I did a 40-something-mile January training ride from my house to Benson for lunch and back. I added just enough miles to turn it into a 105km populaire, stretching the start/end points from my house into Garner at the conveniently located Forrest Hills Shopping Center just off of US 70.

Creative wordsmith Mike D is credited with providing a catchy route name based on the fact that Benson is widely known for its annual Mule Days celebration the fourth Saturday each September. Among the many festivities are mule-pulling contests and mule races.

Sridhar suggested that we do the inaugural ride of the newly approved populaire this past weekend on Valentine’s Day. The thinking was that some of our local randonneurs might enjoy the option of a “short” weekend ride to match their upcoming brevet ride schedule but also avoid the bad weather the day before. It turns out that this was the case as a half-dozen riders participated.

An occasional snow creation was spotted now and again along the route. But the road surfaces were not only dry but clear of ice even in shaded areas.

Snow runoff was evident, particularly passing the mill located on Massengill pond.

Since the populaire is billed as a “Rolling ride from near the state capital to the mule capital” of North Carolina, I thought this cute little guy hanging out with his big buddies on Massengill Pond Rd would make a nice mascot.

Never mind his indifference to the fact that a group of brightly clad cyclists just rode past.

We soon catch up to these fresh cyclists awaiting a group photo at the Willow Spring control at the edge of Wake County. After just fifteen miles into the ride they don’t look too beat down.

Picture courtesy of Bryan Rierson (l to r): Bryan, Maria, Alan, Mike, Dean, Sridhar.

Riders took turns challenging themselves and each other on the ten-mile stretch of rolling terrain just after the first control.

The lead changed hands several times on the not-too-steep but extended climbs: now Maria, now Bryan, now Sridhar. Riders regrouped on the flat section just before heading into Benson.

After some refreshing moments in the sun,

everyone left the Benson control together.

When we turned left onto Benson-Hardee Rd off of NC 50, we met the wind head-on and immediately formed a paceline with Sridhar in yellow doing the honors of pulling.

Soon we turned north and the westerly wind became inconsequential.

There always seems to be less climbing on the return on this route in spite of the elevation gain from Benson back to Raleigh. Maybe it’s because the ole horse, or mule in this case, knows he’s headed to the barn.

The horsing around wasn’t finished. Bryan leads off the front all the way to the next control. Just how far ahead is a topic that remains in dispute. Alan distances himself from the rest of us in time to win the Wake County line sprint. Just before the Willow Spring control, Maria and Sridhar point out road names which happen to have “fish” in their name for my benefit: Fishhook, Turner Fish. It was one of those days when everyone seemed to enjoy being on the bikes and the recent bad weather that had prevented us from riding was but a memory.

Reaching Garner in the early afternoon meant that there was still time in the day for other things like valentines!

Thanks guys for the great training ride!

Moonshine 100km, November 21, 2009

As part of a year-end celebration that included an evening get-together and awards ceremony, NC Randonneurs could start the day with either a 100km or 200km brevet, both leaving from and finishing at the Natty Greene Pub and Brewing Company located in downtown Greensboro, NC. Just a block from the pub stands its namesake: a tall statue of General Nathanial Greene, an important Colonial figure who figured centrally in the theme of this year’s ride (lead-in picture). Greene was known as George Washington’s “most gifted and dependable officer” after whom many places are named, including Greensboro.

By the title of my post, you can decipher which route I chose. But that still leaves some explaining. Could I have deviated, as the title might imply, a bit off course? After all, wasn’t this supposed to be the Natty Greene 100km? What’s this moonshine monkeyshine business?

Cyclists gather just before dawn for our sunrise start.

Our small splintered group managed to get out of town after a few false turns. For whatever reason, our cue sheet was in English. But the two guys “leading” our splintered group were P-B-P anciens and I think they must have still been thinking in French. They were able to save us though when, at mile 2.7, they spotted something in French: Lafayette Avenue. We were back on track! After finally reaching one of the few level portions of the scenic course—that wiggled from side to side and up and down up to Madison, NC, before returning to Greensboro another way—I was able to pull out my camera and catch a picture of Chuck riding into a slight headwind.

After crossing the Dan River Bridge at the outskirts of Madison, I turned onto Market Street, a few blocks from the control. But my direct progress was thwarted, since the street was cordoned off and a throng of people was gathering in the downtown area one block ahead. The look on my face when a passer-by informed me of the nature of the hullaballoo must have confirmed her suspicion that I was not from around there. The first clue may have been the fact that I showed up at the annual Moonshine Festival dressed in lycra with water bottles on my bike. But luckily, giddy with promise, no one was paying me any attention.

Blend in or not, I just had to gratify my curiosity and conduct some cultural research. A task made easier, since I was obliged to find my way to the control to get my card signed for ride credit! Off my bike, I threaded my way along the barricaded street past pedestrians admiring antique vehicles. Could they have been involved in bootlegging at one time or another?

The sweet aroma of home-cooked stew led me directly to the control. Though not yet ready, the cooks offered me a taste as I stood nearby admiring their work. I didn’t want to disappoint and relished their local version of Brunswick stew. Upon my inquiring what ingredients they used, one of the cooks rattled off a list of known common ingredients and then with a twinkle in his eye added: “And for taste, a little rabbit, squirrel, deer . . ."

The sweet aroma of Brunswick stew!

Inside the Dan River Coffee House (control), I ordered—surprise!—coffee. I sat sipping by the warm fire looking out the window mesmerized by the steam liberated from the cauldron that tantalized helpless passers-by.

I was awakened from my momentary reverie by the arrival of RBA Tony Goodnight and additional riders.

Diligent Tony stopping in and taking a moment to see that everyone is accounted for and doing well.

One of the riders, Bill, from Tennessee had the coolest jersey of the day, at least from my biased viewpoint as a physiology instructor. Not only, that, Bill shows us the proper way to drink coffee—in a cup and saucer!

He even has the pinkie finger thing down, or is it up?

The Republic of Anaerobia jersey replete with coat of arms and motto in Latin. I’ll get you started on the Latin lesson. Just fill in the blank. It reads, “I came, I saw, I _______ .”

Gotta get going. I almost forgot that the clock was ticking!

We spot more cool vehicles as we leave town.

Hey, let’s sneak a peek inside this jewel!

“Hey, somebody throw the ‘fresh’ ‘possum in the stew that's under Jethro's left front tire!”

Climbing out of the Dan River basin and then crossing several tributary creeks made riding on the return interesting. Sort of like visiting the Republic of Anaerobia again and again. I think I’m a naturalized citizen.

A little later, as I approached one intersection, I spotted a couple of cyclists who didn’t appear to be just taking a break. A road sign was missing.

Good old-fashioned navigating with a map! After a team meeting in survival orienteering, we were soon on our way, all the more confident we were on track. I’ve noticed the scenery is much better when you know you are on the right track!

First things first. When I arrived back at Natty Greene's . . .

I got my control card signed.

And then sat down where I wouldn’t stink up the place on the veranda outside . . .

to a post-ride bowl of hot, hot chili and a cold, cold glass of water in the shadow of General Nathanial Greene standing guard.

I’m celebrating the fact that today’s ride put me just over the 5,000 RUSA km mark, my publicly stated goal for the year.

Thanks to all my riding buddies this year and to the RBAs, Permanent owners, and ride volunteers for making it possible!

Oh, yeah, back to the question of whether or not I deviated off course. That’s what I was told by two cyclists who finished after me but who were in front of me leaving Madison. But then they said they were joking. They’d stopped for a break at a convenient store, setting up the leap frog. What are riding buddies—even newly found ones—good for if they can’t pull your leg? Interestingly, my new friend Steve said over our bowls of chili that of all the types of cycling events in which he’s been involved over the years randonneurs are the friendliest cyclists.

With that, I guess there’s nothing more to say, other than . . .

Let’s ride!