Despite the proliferation of rain gear, it was still raining at 10:20, and didn't look like it would stop soon. With no remaining excuses, Team Bikeaholics hit the road. Then they started to ride their bicycles. Almost immediately, the rain retreated in defeat. The ride soon settled into the typical routine of four abreast pacelining. There had been talk of investigating the rumored benefits of in-line pacelining, but the proliferation of rooster tails apeared to dampen any latent enthusiasm for that.
The weather continued to improve as the ride progressed. By the time the intersection of Union Road and Highway 25 was reached, there was a bit of sunshine, and it was time for some food and tandem adjustment.
The quick turnaround at the midpoint got derailed when word spread that the general store had a lit wood stove inside. The presence of various food and drink that wasn't Powerbars or Cytomax clinched it, as did a front porch with full sunshine and no wind.
After deciding to give Ultra Precision Racing a try, all valve stems were aligned, and the ride back started. This proved fateful when the triple tandem paceline with various singles in tow roared through Paicines. The vibration from the valve stems rotating at high speed in unison induced a ground motion that resulted in the entire hillside covering the road a few days later, cancelling the 1998 MegaMudster.
As usual, the ride finished just as the sun set behind the coastal range.
768 furlongs, 0.024 fortnights, 60000cm
No valve stems were (deliberately) aligned during the actual ride. Place names have been modified to protect the anonymous and to enhance the humor. The ride took place. The hill slid.
The last image was lifted from the
Calfornia highway department's 5th district's web site, just in case they
ever delete it. As far as I know, the term MegaMudster was coined by Bikeaholic
Don Bennett in reference to a proposed farewell ride for Thomas Maslen.
This page was last updated on 1998 April 26.
