CNC Day 8 - Right If By Land, Left If By Sea

Saturday 10/9 - Washington to Oriental, 64 miles

The Final Morning

Today's ride includes an optional ferry ride on the Bayview Ferry across the Pamlico River. Our cue sheet says that the first ferry leaves at 9 AM, the second at 9:30, the third at 10:15. There's a land-only option for landlubbers who don't want to venture onto the river.

Most folks are getting an especially early start today to catch an early ferry. Camp is bustling early. Breakfast for those on the meal plan is usually right at camp. Today it's about 4 blocks away in a local church. This adds to the early morning hustle.

I am satisfied with a delicious cup of Becky's Columbian coffee and a muffin at Harold's Coffee Detail. Dave and I had agreed to get an early start to ensure that we will make the 9 AM ferry. We plan to target being ready to start at 7:00, figuring that that way we'll be on the road by 7:10. The ferry terminal is at mile 27.7.

It's not quite raining this morning, but it's very wet and misty. I see Dave and suggest we get photos with Bubba before we go. I heard that Bubba and his crew had been placing bets on how much I weigh. Bubba lost the bet with his guess of 110 lbs - I weigh just about 140. I hand Dave my camera and stand next to Bubba. He towers over me. Just before Dave snaps the photo Bubba grabs me and picks me up! Dave snaps the photo. I get one of Bubba and Dave - Bubba doesn't pick Dave up, though.

Bubba warned us that he wouldn't get to Oriental until 1:00. Dave and I put our bags on the CNC luggage trucks for the first time this trip. That way we'll be able to shower in Oriental before Bubba arrives. Dave's wife Georgia is driving to Oriental to give Dave a ride home - and I'll tag along.

Race to the Ferry

Dave and I are ready to head out at 7:05. It's so misty that my sunglasses quickly become fogged and covered with water. A couple of times a minute I have to use my finger as a windshield wiper to clear them. We ride along at a fast pace taking turns leading. I am feeling strong and fast today. It seems as though we've only been riding a few miles when we reach the decision point - turn left for the ferry or right for the land route. Without hesitation we turn left.

We soon pick up another cyclist in our tiny pace line - Jian who is originally from China. He keeps up with us and takes his turns at the front. We're riding between 18 and 22 mph. We pass Jeanne. She's riding happily along and should make the second ferry - if not the first. We get to the first rest stop in the historic town of Bath. We make it a quick one - we should have plenty of time but want to ensure that we'll get on the first ferry. I push the pace faster whenever I'm in front. We're passing quite a few people as we dash to the ferry. We haven't seen Bob. Shortly before the ferry we pass a small group. They tell me that they started riding at 6:45 - we gained a full 20 minutes on them in 26 miles! We're passing signs for the ferry terminal. There are probably 40 people in front of us. It's about 8:50. We made it in plenty of time. We see a ferry schedule posted that says the first ferry is actually at 9:10. Earnie is there. More and more people arrive and the line of bikes behind us grows long. Bob S finds us - he was one of the first people to get there! He started early and rode fast, worrying that he'd miss the first ferry. Jeanne arrives a little while later.

It's about 9:20 when we start to board - the few cars and pickups drive on, then a long stream of cyclists. They stop the line right when Dave, Earnie, Jian and I are ready to board! Whew, they just filled the right-most lane and were now sending us to the left-most lane. We're in the front of the boat. We lean our bikes against the side. I go upstairs for a cup of java. Jeanne is in the upper cabin playing bridge. They have probably never had so many people on the ferry - there must be a couple of hundred bikes - at least. They ask us to leave the upper deck and go downstairs - I guess they're afraid that the ferry will capsize with so many people aboard!

The ferry finally leaves at about 9:40 and the ride lasts 25 minutes or so. Soon a mass of cyclists are on the road. We form our pace line and start flying past the masses.

It's a Record

A few more fast cyclists join our pace line and we flying along at a steady 20-22 mph. My average speed climbs to 18.5. As I recall, my all-time fastest ride, which was on the final day of CNC 2002, was 19.1 mph. I'm starting to think that I can break that record, and I tell Dave that I want to go for it. I really push the pace. Whenever someone slows down I suggest that they take a shorter pull and then rotate!

We reach 19 mph, then 19.1. One of the guys in the pace line drops his water bottle. Luckily no one hits it and falls! He drops out of the line to retrieve it. His buddy slows the line down to let him catch up. Minutes go by, my average speed drops back to 19, and I'm getting antsy! I suggest to Richard from SC, who was in front, that we pick up the pace. He does. Soon we're back above 20. Georgia passes us in her car when we're about 20-30 minutes from Oriental.

After a while Dave drops off the "train". By the time I realize that he's no longer with us he's quite a distance back. I want to check to be sure he's okay, so I drop out of the pace line and slow way down until Dave catches up. Just before he reaches me he tells me he's fine and I should go ahead. He knows I'm shooting for my personal record - and he likely burned himself out helping me get there! Now the pace line is way ahead. I push my speed up to 25-27 mph - which is difficult when riding alone! I'm pedaling for all I'm worth. I finally catch up with Jian at the back of the line. I had pedaled at full effort far longer than during the dog chase; I feel like my heart will explode out of my chest. I tell the guys that Dave is okay and that it almost killed me to catch them. They politely drop the pace to 18 for a few minutes until I can speak again and tell them I'm ready. We push the pace up to 22-23 again. My speed increases to 19.1 then 19.2!

The Bridge

As we reach Oriental we see a big bridge in front of us! The guy leading our line says he can't push up the hill and he drops back. I take the lead. I push hard up the steep bridge, not wanting to lost my record speed. I finally slow near the top. At the crest I stop - way ahead of the rest of the pace line - and catch my breath. Then I fly down the other side and through the streets of Oriental until I reach the Rubber Ducky shower truck. I made it! Almost 550 miles in 7 days! My speed is 19.3! At home I'll check my records and find that 19.3 was actually my record speed from CNC 2002. I tied my record - but this was a longer ride! My top speed for the day was also higher (27 mph). I have completed the fastest long ride of my life!

Dave soon arrives. We find Georgia. We find our bags, get clean clothes, load our bags in the car, and hit the showers. Clean, happy, and hungry we make our way to the shrimp boil. It just so happens that the live band is playing "Margaritaville". The shrimp, beans, cole slaw, and rolls are delicious!

Bob's wife and daughter are there. The mood is some mixture of pride, happiness, and sadness at having our wonderful week end and leaving our wonderful new friends and old aquaintenances from previous CNC rides.

Some folks will stay overnight in Oriental and drive or take the bus back tomorrow. Some will take the bus at 4 PM back to REI in Cary. I see Bubba and his son and thank them again for a wonderful week. We say our goodbyes and head for the car.

Closing Thoughts

CNC is a challenging event, but one that people of all ages, shapes, and sizes successfully complete each year. I believe the average age is around 52, so as Joe Miller of the News & Observer says, I'm one of the younger riders at age 43. I am absolutely amazed at the people in their 60's, 70's, and even 80's who complete this ride! And the kids on the tandems who ride with their parents all weeks.

Why do we ride? Because we can. Because we enjoy it. Because finishing an endurance athletic event of this magnitude is an accomplishment that we can be proud of and that we will always remember. Because of the wonderful people we meet - on the ride and in the towns. Because of the wonderful sites we see. Because we love cycling and cyclists, and food and drink. Because we love being around other people who share our love of cycling. CNC is a celebration of cycling, of accomplishment, of life. We had great weather this year - not a lot of rain like the past 2 years.

Mike, Amanda, and crew did a superb job of planning this year's event. The route was wonderful. The overnight cities and our camping facilities were terrific. Most of the roads were smooth. The rest stops and the volunteers were absolutely wonderful. The PB&J sandwiches at rest stop 2 really hit the spot. The Gatorade kept us going. Bubba and his crew turned it into a real vacation.

This was my third year in a row doing CNC. Will I be back next year? Hard to say. I thought this would be my last year, but it was so wonderful that I may reconsider. Let's see what the route will be. Or perhaps I'll do another state's ride - one that Bubba will be Pampering at. Bubba says that the Tennessee ride should be really good and challenging next year. But maybe I'll do CNC again with Bob, Dave, Jeanne, Earnie, Jian, Jim, Tim, and others - they all had a great time and most will likely be back in 2005. Dave hopes Georgia will ride next year. Perhaps some of the Nortel MS150 cyclists will join us next year, too. Regardless of whether I'm there, I hope that CNC 2005 will again enjoy wonderful weather - and that the route and facilities will be just as good as they were this year.

See you on the road... "On Your Left!"

CNC Day 7 - 2nd Century B.C.

Friday 10/8 - Rocky Mount to Washington, 70 miles (100 for me)

The Pamper Zone

Since the talent show was cancelled last night, some of Bubba's customers decided to gather everyone staying in the Pamper Zone at 8:30 to enjoy Bubba's stories of his days as a cop and his cycling adventures. Bubba is one of those larger-than-life characters who is always fun to be around. Starting at 7 AM, Bubba is known to play a tape of songs like "Zippidy-Do-Dah" and sing along loudly. You'll hear him call out "It's All Good". When a Pamper Zone customer expresses surprise or delight that Bubba bought their favorite beer or offered to do their laundry or any number of other things, Bubba will ask "What part of Pampering don't you understand?" Bubba's Pampered Pedalers is definitely the way to go! When others get up early in the cold and dew and pack up a soaking wet tent, we just dress and leave. When others search for their bags among a massive pile of 1,500+, ours are right there in the Pamper Zone. Hungry or thirsty after your ride? Bubba has chips, nuts, and sweet treats plus a variety of sodas and beer. Stuck with a camping spot near the porta-potties or near a loud generator or overnight street light? Bubba gets to camp first and picks out a great spot for the Pamper Zone. Can you tell why I've done CNC with Bubba for 3 years straight?

The Other Zones

I already mentioned how the wind noise cuts drastically when you are positioned properly in the slip-stream of the cyclist in front of you in the pace line. Today we have some cross winds, so Earnie of Indiana organized our pace line in an eschelon with each rider just behind and to the right of the rider in front - in the shadow of the left-to-right cross-wind. Earnie rode the center line with the last rider near the right edge of the road.

The third zone is the one you enter when you're in a great pace line with a favorable wind, feeling strong and gliding along nearly effortlessly at a fast pace (for me, 20+ mph). There's just no feeling like it! The minutes and miles just slip by as the well-oiled-machine of a pace line gracefully moves through the countryside. I got to experience this several times on CNC 2004!

Second Century B.C. (Before Camp)

For the past 2 years I've established my own little tradition of doing two centuries during the week. I've done the planned optional century on Tuesday, then added my own second century later in the week once we're on flatter terrain. I upheld this tradition in year 3!

Today's 70-mile ride has 3 rest stops. Talking in the morning over Harold's Coffe Detail coffe with Robin and Doug, tandem cyclists from Cary (Robin is the sister of former Nortel TOPSter Denise L - formerly Denise F), I planned to reach 100 miles by riding to the 3rd rest stop, doubling back to the second rest stop, then turning and riding back to the 3rd stop and on to the finish. (The distance between the 2nd and 3rd stops was 15 miles). But that's not quite how things worked out.

I started out riding with Dave L and Bob S. After a few miles of easy warm-up, we settled into an excellent pace line riding steadily at around 18 mph. Along the way we picked up Earnie from Indiana - a strong cyclist who's ridden cross-country - and an excellent addition to our pace line. We were definitely "in the zone." We passed what was apparently a serious pace-line accident with a state police car and ambulance. We think they hit a large hole in the road. Riding in a pace line is probably the most dangerous thing you can do in road cycling. Most accidents are bike-on-bike. A rider momentarily loses concentration, gets too close (we typically ride anywhere from 6" to 2' behind the wheel in front of us), and touches wheels with the rider in front, hits a bad defect in the road (or a turtle), etc. Down he goes - likely taking with him the cyclists in line behind him.

The Voice of America and the Big Bang

We pass the accident and travel on. The third rest stop is at the huge "Voice of America" antenna array. It looks like a radio tower farm ready for harvest. While we're drinking Gatorade and eating bananas, apples, fruit bars, and Little Debbie treats, we hear what sounds like a gunshot! Just as one of the CNC cyclists pulls into the rest stop his tube pops through a cut in his tire sidewall. Great place to get a flat if you have to have one! REI has bike mechanics at every rest stop for the entire week! They also have a full repair shop and retail store at camp every night. They do an excellent job of supporting CNC!

The pace line is running so well that I decide to alter my century plan and continue on to the outskirts of Washington before turning and going back to rest stop 3. Bob is a crispy critter from the fast pace we've been pushing and decides to rest a little longer and go it alone for the last 17 miles - enjoying the scenery along the way (something difficult to do in a pace line). Earnie, Dave, and I push on. Dave pulls us into a headwind at a rabid pace. We turn onto a big, busy road (286?) and Earnie savagely cuts through the wind in front. These guys did a great job of getting me to my turn-around point with an average speed for the day of 17.6. I bid them farewell and retrace my route back to Voice of America and rest stop 3. I see lots of people I know as I ride "against the current." Champion age-group triathelete Sharon R. Mary and Barb from Chapel Hill (MS150 planning committee). At the rest stop I see Scott and Kathy D from the Tarwheels. Another gun-shot as another cyclists tube pops!

I've now gone almost 85 miles and it's time for my second ride to Washington - to finish my 2nd Century Before Camp. About 8 miles from town a pair of very fit cyclists from Kill Devil Hills ride up behind me, then pass me. I jump on their small train. They toy with me and push the speed up to 22 or 23. I hang with them as we fly down 286. My speed had dropped a couple of tenths, but as we enter Washington I hit an average of 17.7. We ride through the waterfront area as a series of floats are being prepared for the Homecoming Parade.

My odometer reaches 100 miles just as I pull into the Pamper Zone.

100 miles in 5 hrs 39 min. 17.7 avg, 24 mph max.

Falling off the Peanut Wagon

I learn that yesterday a CNC cyclist was passed by a peanut truck, and the truck snagged his bicycle. Unaware, the driver dragged the cyclist and bike for a while, then the cyclist fell off the bike continued to be dragged along behind the truck for a while! The cyclist fortunately received only minor injuries. The bicycle wheels needed to be trued by the REI guys.

And the Winner(s) is (are)

All of Bubba's customers gather in camp chairs in the Pamper zone by 5:30 for the Big Drawing. Bubba is giving away a certificate for $100 off future pampering! You must be present to win. Each of us writes our name on a scrap of paper and places it in a bag. While the bag is passed Bubba gives us his farewell speech. The Bubba crew has done a great job turning our tour into a real vacation. Air Force Annie wins the $100. "How about one more $100 certificate?" Bubba asks. Yeah! we yell. Another winner is drawn. It's not me or Dave, Robin, or Doug. Bubba draws yet a third winner. Nada. Oh well!

Walking to Bridge

Tonight's camp is in a run-down section of Washington. Dave, Bob, Jeanne and I decide to walk to an Italian restaurant about a mile away. You know you're in a depressed area when even the tattoo parlor has closed down! A local woman stops along the road to say hi. She tells us that the restaurant we're heading to is not that good, but we're committed. As it turns out the food was okay. I had a slice of pizza with spinach and onion and a chicken parm sub. Bob and Jeanne have parmagiana - chicken for Bob and eggplant for Jeanne. Dave opts for spaghetti with clam sauce. Jeanne will only give the shuttle 5 minutes before she insists on walking back. She wants to get back to camp to enjoy a game of bridge. On the first night in Sparta at the all-riders meeting, Jeanne had Mike (the tour coordinator) announce a call for bridge players. They've enjoyed quite a few games since then.

Bob and Dave walk back to the Washington waterfront where a Beach Music band is playing for the CNC cyclists.

I have my second massage appointment from 8:00 - 8:30. This time it's with Joyce. Joyce gives a much kinder and gentler massage than Dana. Relaxed, I hit the tent, hoping for a warmer night tonight.

CNC Day 6 - The Rabbit in the Relay

Day 6 - October 7 - Hernderson to Rocky Mount. 68 miles.

At 6:20 I reluctantly rise from my sleeping bag. Lights have been on in the gym for 20 minutes, but I thought about the cold outside and stayed warm just a bit longer! No rush to get started on such a cold morning - especially when it's supposed to warm to 77 degrees! I leave the gym and find lots of people sitting around in the building lobby - and Becky of Harold's Detail Service is there with the Coffee Detail! Excellent - I can have some coffee and postpone venturing out into the cold.

I grab a cup of Columbian (man is Becky's coffee good!) with milk and Equal, and a bear claw danish. I sit and chat with Joe (who was in the Pamper Zone last year) and a couple of other Bubba customers. I refill my coffee when it's 2/3 gone and grab an apple danish. Let it warm a few more degrees. At 7:10 I finally brave the cold.

Layers

The Pamper Zone is not far from the building. I carry my rolled-up sleeping bag quickly to my Bubba Dome. It is soaked with dew as though it had rained. I quickly get inside and zip up. The temp is already slowly rising, but it's still quite cold. I decide to try my knee warmers which I've never worn before. On my bottom half - cycling shorts and knee warmers with toe-covers on my shoes (to cut down on the wind). On top - cyclist jersey, arm warmers, and a light nylon jacket. On my head - coolmax helmet liner and ear band - and helmet. Swap out yesterday's cue sheet for today's, drag my duffle to Bubba's trailer, top off the tires with air, pull on full-finger gloves, and I'm ready to go at 7:45.

The Rabbit in the Relay

I tool around the parking lot to look for Bob, but I don't see him. I ride out to the community center entrance. No Bob. I wait a couple of minutes and they decide that he probably has already left. At 7:50 I head out, riding slowly to let my sore muscles loosen up. I take it easy. I catch up with a couple from Asheville and exchange greetings. I pass them. My buddy Nick C can ride all day in his aero bars. I use mine primarily for downhill. Today I'm pretty much riding in my aero bars because the roads are not really hilly. There's a bit of a tail wind or cross wind - no headwind. I'm riding along at a pretty good clip - about 18 on flat road. I see a pair of dogs inside a fenced-in yard on the right. One of the dogs, a trim, fast-looking white dog, is running along the fence barking at me. Suddenly he jumps right over the fence and bolts toward me like I'm the rabbit at the dog track! I accelerate for all I'm worth. We're heading up a long, gradual slope - perhaps 1% to 2% grade. My heart is pounding for all it's worth. I finally outrun the white dog when another dog takes up chase. I didn't get a moment's break from the first chase. I see the Asheville couple way back, and hope they'll be alright. Just as the second dog gives up a THIRD dog takes over the chase. Just my luck - not only am I the rabbit at the dog track, but the dogs are running a RELAY! When I think I just can't fly any further, the third dog turns back. Thankfully it was just a 3-dog relay - I don't think I could have survived a fourth! Now I'm riding really slow to recover my breath. I'm doing 11 mph on the flats! It takes me a full 5 minutes to recover to the point where I can push myself a bit. Finally I reach the first rest stop at 19 miles. After several minutes the Asheville couple shows up. She says she couldn't believe how fast I went to outrun those dogs, but that I had tired those dogs out and they didn't bother them at all. Well, glad I could help!

A Good Riding Partner

I catchup with a guy wearing Once cycling shorts and a blue jacket on a Trek carbon fiber bike. I ride behind him for a minute to rest. I then pull up beside him and introduce myself. He is Alejandro C from Wilmington, NC. He has a nice accent, so I ask where he's from originally. He's from Argentina. Moved to Wilmington with his wife several years ago. Without any formal discussion, we begin to take turns leading a 2-person pace line. At first our transitions are awkward. One of us would offer to lead and bolt past the other. After a while I decide to get us better organized and pull off to the left and fall back. We get into a good rotation. Pull for a while - perhaps leading us up a hill - then pull out to the left and fall back. We're doing 18-21 mph and my average speed for the ride is gradually rising. We decide to continue riding together after the second rest stop. Shortly before the third rest stop, a pace line of about 7-8 cyclists passes us and we decide to join. They're going 20-23, but they are not really smooth - there's too much speeding up and slowing down at the back of the line. Soon we reach the last rest stop. We depart while they're still socializing. We're doing really well and enjoying our ride. Depending on wind direction, we're riding anywhere from 16 to 23 mph - mostly around 18-19. My average speed reaches 17.3 when we reach the outskirts of Rocky Mount. I take the lead and push our speed for a half-mile or so to get my average up to 17.4. Then we ride a leisurely 18 into camp.

Today's ride was fairly flat - just gentle hills now and then.

70.1 miles, 17.4 mph avg, 34 mph max, total time: 4:01:30.

Alejandro is staying at the Days Inn. He'll ride his bike there (3 miles). I invite him to join us (Bob, Jeanne, Dave, Tim?) for dinner. We exchange cell phone numbers and agree to ride together in the morning starting around 7:45-8:00. Perhaps Dave and/or Bob and/or Tim will join us.

Tonight's talent show at the camp ground has been cancelled due to a lack of talent. There's no piano, so I have no talent to offer, anyway.

It's off the library.

CNC Day 5: The Shuttle (Updated)

Wednesday, October 6, 2004. Mebane to Henderson. 70 miles.

I'm very tired today. My legs don't have much in them. I see Bob at about 7:30 near the campground exit and we ride off together. We join a small pace line lead by Jack from Charlotte. He wants to lead, so we become "cling-ons" and follow. He pulls us to the first rest stop. We find Tim and Jim and ride with them out of the second rest stop. Tim and Jim take turns leading. Bob and I are fine with tagging along behind them. When you're riding along at 22 miles per hour on the flats, the wind roars in your ears - unless you're in the pace line. It's amazing how much quieter the wind is when you're in the "zone" right off the wheel of the bike in front of you. Fall back a couple of feet or move out to the left or right and the wind roars. You can tell when you're in the zone! You can hear the difference.

At one point we decide that Tim and Jim are going too fast, so we drop off. Bob says "There go Tim and Jim, riding off into the sunrise!" We ride together; whoever feels fresher leads. The hills are rolling - not too bad. Our average speed is slowly dropping. We catch up with Jim and Tim at each rest stop.

Second Wind

After 60 miles of taking it easy, I now feel fresh! I take the lead and push the speed up and up. Bob is mostly behind me, but sometimes falls off the back and I let him catch up. Our average speed is rising. We fly through the last 10 miles and get to camp.

70.1 miles. 15.3 avg, 33 max, 4 hrs, 32 minutes.

Dinner and Movie

Jim leaves camp shortly after finishing the ride to head to Pennsylvania for his high school reunion. I invited Tim to join us for dinner. Since I want to go to the Henderson library to edit this blog, I want to go to a restaurant in "downtown" Henderson - near the library. We invite Bob and Jeanne to come. Tim, Jim, and I have a history over the past 2 CNC's of going to see a movie or two. We've seen Transporter and Kill Bill Vol 1. We invite the gang to do a movie.

I call Doug A to check in on things back at Nortel. All is well. While I have him on the phone, I ask Doug to check on movie theatres in Henderson. He gives me the list of movies and start times. Just like Enhanced Directory Assistance service! All of the movies start between 7 and 7:15. The last shuttle leaves camp at 9 to make the final rounds. We agree to meet at the library at 5:30.

I get on the first shuttle when service starts at 3 PM. The drivers seem confused and disorganized. They radio one another to find out where various hotels are. It seems like we're going in circles. I'm the next to last person on the bus when I finally get to the library at 4 PM!

Dave and Tim arrive on separate shuttles and we decide to eat at Wildflower. I'm really hungry, having eaten nothing after my ride (Dave had 2 hot dogs). I order a veggie quesadilla as an appetizer and a Tex Mex chicken wrap. Oh, and a New Castle Brown Ale. The food is good. We head outside to wait for the shuttle. Lots of other cyclists soon come out of Wildflower and congregate at the corner to wait for the shuttle. I later learned that back at the camp ground, the caterer for the evening's meal had the wrong date and didn't prepare any food! When the CNC folks realized they hadn't shown up, they called and the caterer started working frantically. Dinner finally got there after 7 PM instead of the usual 5 PM!

After about 10 minutes we see the shuttle. I tell Dave and Tim that we should make sure we're at the front of the line since we were the first ones waiting. It just so happens that only 3 people get off the bus, and there are only 3 open seats. We get on - but everyone else has to wait for another shuttle. (Unlike some towns that allowed standing passengers, this bus company in Henderson does not. That's really unfortunate since they are so disorganized and take so long to get folks where they want to go.

The very next shuttle stop is "Double Bubbles" - a laundromat and car wash. It's about 1/2 mile from the movie theater. Since the shuttle was going right past the theater we asked the driver to drop us off there, and he did. We get there in plenty of time. I stop at the grocery store to get some NyQuil - I'm fighting a chest cold.

The Shuttle

We see "Mr. 3000". It's an enjoyable comedy. The movie ends at 9:03 and we rush out. We walk really fast back down the road a 1/2 mile to the shuttle stop at Double Bubbles. We know the shuttle travels on this road, so we figure we'll flag it down if it comes before we get there. We get there before the bus. We stand outside by the road in front of the laudromat (to make sure the shuttle sees us) and wait. It's getting quite cold. We're still waiting at 9:40 when a shuttle bus flies by. We wave, but it doesn't even slow down. I take out my cell phone and call the CNC Headquarters number. No answer. I call one of the two SAG phone numbers. I reach Amanda - one of the coordinators of CNC - and tell her we need a shuttle. She says she'll send the next one. At 9:55 a shuttle finally shows up. We head back to camp. When we're almost at camp our driver radios another driver who says that he thinks there might have been some people at Bojangles trying to wave him down earlier. Our driver offers to go check it out. It turns out that Bojangles was right around the corner from the movie theater! We drive all the way back past Double Bubbles and the theater. We cruise very slowly through the Bojangles lot. And Wendy's. We double back and try again. No cyclists frantically waiving us down. The driver finally heads back to camp.

Too Cold for Me!

We finally get back to the Aycock Community Center at 10:30 PM - a half-hour after lights out! All is very still and quiet. I feel like I have broken curfew. It is very cold and everything is wet with dew. It's supposed to get down to the low 40's tonight. I'm fighting a chest cold. I hate being cold. I get my headlamp and my sleeping back and walk over to the Aycock Community Center where there is "indoor camping", find an open spot of the gym floor, and spread out my sleeping bag. The NyQuil I just took soon has me sleeping - even with a very thin sleeping bag on a hard gym floor.

CNC Day 4 - The Deadline

Last night Bob, Jeanne, Dave and I had some decent Mexican and shared a lots of chips & salsa and a pitcher of margaritas (the perfect recovery drink!). The band at the campground was really good. I feel bad for the musicians, though, because no one goes out the field where they are playing. It looks like they have no audience, but everyone is listening in their tents or sitting is groups in chairs near their tents. Folks are pretty much turning in early as the riding in the mountains and hills wears us down. I heard one guy comment "now I know why people train for these rides!" ;-)

If it's Tuesday on CNC then it must be Century day! We have a choice of 65-mile or 100-mile routes from Eden to Mebane. Bob and Dave play it safe and go for 65 as do Tim and Jim and Jeanne. Well - someone's got to check out the Century route! I guess it will have to be me. I'll take one for the team.

The Deadline

On a good day I can do a century on rolling terrain in 7 hours (I'm not fast!) plus rest time - maybe 8 hours total. Today, however, follows a hilly 63-mile ride from Sparta and a tough 70-mile day with a climb up Hanging Rock! And, we're still in some hilly terrain. Plus - we're heading off into some pretty brisk headwinds! As I'm getting ready in the morning I'm thinking about the Deadline. On Saturday I signed up for a massage from 4-5 PM today. That means I really need to get into camp in Mebane by 3:30 - certainly no later than 3:40 - to have time to shower and get to to the massage table. I'm afraid that today could easily take 8 1/2 hours with the hills and headwind. I rush through the morning routine and hit the road at 7:20 AM.

Dog Days

We start with several tough climbs and generally more uphill than down. A few miles into the ride I spot a medium-sized white dog standing in the left lane ahead - trying to look tough. Although it's uphill, I accelerate hard to blow past him. Being busy watching him and pedaling, I didn't notice the bigger black dog behind him. I spot him just as he starts running at me. I reach down deep for every ounce of power I have and shoot by him safely. Whew - I'm panting! A spin easily for a few miles and recover.

I'm on a slight uphill and I see more dogs - 4 of them standing off the left side of the road. I decide to use a triangulation strategy. With no cars ahead or behind, I angle off slightly to the left, heading toward the left edge of the road near the dogs. I gradually pick up speed. The dogs start running to intercept me. Shortly before the point of interception, I turn sharply right and hit the gas. The dogs end up behind me and I have enough speed to leave them behind, frustrated.

At about mile 12 I see a pack of 7 or 8 dogs standing all over the road! It just keeps getting worse! As I'm pondering a strategy for this situation, I see a County Police car coming up the road behind me. I pick up speed as he reaches me and the dogs scatter as the car and I approach! A police escort through Dog Gangland. Three dog chases survived - and I'm not even at the first rest stop.

Headwinds

Since the start we've been heading mostly into the wind. There are stretches where it's all I can do to go 12 mph on fairly flat ground! Usually when I'm riding alone and catch up with another cyclist, I relax and ride behind him/her for a minute or so to get my heart rate down. Today, however, when I catch up with people I just pass them, calling "On your left!" It's bad enough doing only 12 mph - I certainly don't want to ride behind anyone I catch up with going this speed!

The Turning Point

At mile 34, just before the second rest stop, we have to decide whether to take the century route or the 65-mile route. I turn left at the "100" arrow, skipping rest stop #2. Right into a strong headwind! The century route adds a 35-mile loop that meets back up with the main route just before the second rest stop again. I push into the headwind, alone. The route is really quiet - and pretty. I see a car only every 5 minutes or so. I ride over 20 minutes without seeing another cyclist or a CNC sign. I start to wonder whether I missed a turn. The century route is not on the cue sheet, which is in front of me, but there is a map on the back. I pull off the road and position the century loop map in my map holder. Just then 3 cyclists ride up behind me. One is dressed as a devil with horns on his helmet. He's leading the others down the road. I jump on the bike and join the devil and his followers in their pace line.

The Devil exhausts himself and pulls off the front to rotate back. Dennis from Durham is now leading. He pulls for a while and then rotates back. A woman is now leading with me in second place. We're now in a cross-wind, and she pushes the pace up to 22. Bealzabub couldn't keep up on his mountain bike and falls off the back of the train. I'm quickly realize that this woman is not a good pace line leader. I notice some holes, etc. that she's not calling out or pointing to for the riders behind her. In a pace line you rely on the leader to not only cut through the wind, but to point out and steer us around obstacles. I'm inches behind her back wheel, so I don't see things until I'm upon them. There are big tobacco leaves and small tree leaves here and there. We pass a small brown mound that I think is a tobacco leaf. Suddenly the woman asks what happened to Dennis. I thought he was right behind me, but I don't see him in my rear view mirrow. She said she thought she saw him fall! We stop, and sure enough, Dennis is sitting in the grass on the right side of the road. We circle back. He looks like a scarecrow, covered with grass - as is his bike, but he's okay. Turns out that wasn't a tobacco leaf, it was a turtle! The devil has caught up with us. The woman asks the devil to go move the turtle off the road as I help Dennis get his chain back on and his bike in working order. The devil tells us that the turtle didn't survive the encounter with Dennis. Fortunately, Dennis did survive the encounter with the turtle! I decide I'm best off riding on my own, and continue on.

Lunch in Milton

About 2/3 of the way through the century loop (mile 55) I reach the tiny town of Milton. I stop at a gas station/grill at the same time a big pace line pulls in. While we chat and enjoy the Elvis shrine with the continuous Elvis documentary playing, I order a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and get a big PowerAde. There's carbs in the bread and plenty of salt in the ham - don't mention the fat from grilling! It really hits the spot. The pace line faster than I can go, so I head out alone. I'm now on the tailwind leg.

The Middle Ring

For the past 3 days I've either been in my "granny" gear (the very small front chain ring) doing single-digit speeds uphill, or in the big chain ring flying downhill in the 30's to low 40's. Now I'm shifting back and forth between my big chain ring and - the Middle Ring. I'm on the big chain ring doing a steady 24 mph on flat land and in the Middle Ring doing 16 up hills thanks to the tail wind! The Middle Ring is good.

Rejoning the Group

At mile 70 I rejoin the main route. I stop at what was the 2nd rest stop - the one I skipped earlier when I turned onto the century loop. I savor a PB&J sandwich, hit the PortaJohn (there's several at every rest stop), and hit the road. I'm tired, but there's still some tail wind or cross wind (no headwind). I tool along at a decent clip. All day I've been calculating and recalculating my Expected Arrival Time at camp. During the headwind century leg I was worried about getting to my massage on time. Now it's looking like I can finish by 3:15. Knowing that a good, long climb can come along at any moment and add 10 minutes to my ride, I figure that I should finish at 3:30.

Radar

I'm now riding with the back-of-the-packers - the last few stragglers on the 65-mile ride. To motivate myself to get to camp I play little games. I see a rider or group way up the road - they appear on my radar. I try to guess how many minutes it will take me to pass them. I'm blowing past folks every few minutes. I pass Scott D from Durham (on the MS150 Planning Committee) and his wife. I come up to the last rest stop. It's a right turn, downhill, into a park. It looks like it's set far from the road (can't see it), and there's an uphill ride back. A rest stop would be nice, but a hot shower would be nicer. I continue on. I'm making good time. I think I can finish by 3:10. I pick up speed as we head into town. It's only 2:45! But... it looks like they're taking us to the far side of town. I reach the campground at 3:00 PM, 104 miles after I left Eden.

104 miles in 6 hrs and 45 minutes. Avg 15.2 mph, max 36 mph.

Family Night in Mebane

I shower and get to my massage appointment in plenty of time. The massage therapist focuses on my quads, which are screaming. I'm almost screaming, but I know that it will really be better when she's done. When I get off the table I've really been worked over. I feel like I've been through a meat tenderizer!

Dave's wife Georgia is in the Pamper Zone. They've already been to the wine tasting in camp. Bob's wife, Kathy, his daughter Meghan, and Meghan's friend are due to arrive soon. Bob already programmed our camp site in Mebane into the natigation system in his Toyota Prius - so Kathy doesn't need directions - she just lets the Navigation system direct her. Meghan shows her how to use it - after Kathy finally figures out how to start the car (push power twice!).

Jeanne's husband is there - also a cyclist. Jeanne is going to dinner with a local friend. Bob's family piles in the Prius and I join Dave and Georgia in her Accord and we head out for a Barbeque dinner. As we walk in, a woman at the bar asks me questions about bicycles, so I spend a few minutes telling her the difference between a mountain bike, a hybrid, and a road bike, and what to look for. I then join the rest of the gang. The place is crowded so they have us at separate tables. There's a big group of ladies in fancy red and pink hats at the back of the restaurant. Georgia tells me that they are the Red Hat Society - a social club of women over 60 (the "trainees" in pink hats are only in their 50's). They arrange themselves for a group photo. Bob decides to secretly take his own picture of the group. His flash gives him away, and the ladies laugh. We head back to camp.

CNC Day 3 - Creeping up Hanging Rock

10/4/04 - Day 3 of CNC - Mt. Airy to Eden.

A Late Start

Yesterday I started moving about at 6:30 and we hit the road at 7:45. It's hard to sleep in on CNC. Starting at around 5:30 AM you start hearing the zzzzzzzzzZZZZZT of tent zippers being ripped open. It's amazing how sound travels in dense, foggy air!

I had signed up for breakfast for today, and I know there's always a line at meals, so I start dressing at 6:00. I should have been in line 10 minutes ago! It's much colder this morning than it was yesterday! Tights, Windstopper pullover, headband, full-finger gloves - and even a raincoat to wear around camp (but put away before starting to ride). Long line for breakfast - 20 minutes wait! Breakfast was not great - a country ham bicuit (okay) and a chicken biscuit (very dry and no flavor). Milk (don't cry, Nancy). Coffee from Harold. Load my big rolling bag into Bubba's trailer.

My cycle computer isn't working! The display is stuck on avg speed and the mode and reset buttons won't work. The rain yesterday must have fouled it up. Oh well, no computer today! I'll be riding all day without any feedback on how fast I'm going or how far to the next rest stop. I'm supposed to meet Bob at 7:30 to start rding. I finally get to the start at 7:45. I wait a few minutes on the off-chance that Bob was also late. I finally hit the road at 7:50.

Dehydration

The scenery is beautiful. Everything is thickly coated in dew. I see shimmering webs scattered all over the tall grass on the side of the road. It's really pretty. There are lots of tough climbs. Today is harder than yesterday because we have no altitude drop. I pass Jeanne and she said that Bob started out at 7:40. He figured I'd catch up with him.

The water in my camel back tastes like garden hose! Yuck! I only drink 3 sips in the first 20 miles. I finally get to the rest stop and dump it out and fill it with bottled water and drink some Gatorade. I'm slightly dehydrated. I see Bob and Tim and Jim. They all leave before me - I want to rest and drink and rehydrate.

Hanging Rock

Today there's an optional climb up to Hanging Rock. I heard that it's very tough (13+ % grades), so I have to do it. At mile 30 I turn right to start the climb up to Hanging Rock. Most people turn left. They are sane.

The grade starts out not too bad - maybe 6%. Then about 8%. 10%. 12% I'm creeping along (my cycle computer still says 0 but I suspect I'm going slightly faster than that). The grade is so steep in the switchbacks that I choose my line to minimize the angle. I go right up to center line on right turns and hug the outside on left turns. I navigate one switchback and the road gets even steeper. It's got to be a 16% or 17% grade! I'm in my granny gear. I'm sitting back on the seat to get more power. With each pedal stroke my front tire actually lifts off the ground! I'm afraid I'm going to flip over backward, so I stand and ride.

Finally the road flattens outs and my speed shoots up as I breeze past a scenic lake. Before I know it I'm at the top. I take a photo to prove it. I'm getting ready to head down and I see Bob! I knew that Dave wasn't planning on the Hanging Rock climb, but I wasn't sure if Bob would. He made it! He got up there a few minutes ahead of me with one stop along the way to rest. Bob! You da man! Great job!

I FLY down Hanging Rock. I barely touch the brake. I don't know how fast I'm going, but it's got to be over 45. I left Bob way behind - he's using brakes.

We rejoin the main route and start up a long, hard climb. I ride slowly and Bob catches up. He drops his chain and I wait. We ride together the rest of the day - but not in a pace line. I'm not pushing myself because I want to do a century tomorrow and Hanging Rock was tough. Bob goes faster on the climbs and I go faster on the descents.

Peanut Butter and Jelly!

The "lunch" stop is mobbed! Because of our detour to Hanging Rock we're now in the middle of the pack instead our normal place toward the front of the ride. Lunch is the same as always: PB&J. Yum! We take a long break and then head on together. For a while we really enjoy some small rolling hills where you can get enough speed on the downhill to get up the next hill. That spoils us, but it doesn't last long. Soon we're back to long, grinding climbs and fast downhills.

We pass a cute little town a few miles from Eden called Stonewood (?). Some folks stop for lunch. I'm fueled by PB&J.

No Garden Tour

Lots of police out controlling traffic for us. Bob and I roll up and down as we make our way to the Eden YMCA. At camp it's hot and sunny and everything that got soaked yesterday is finally drying out - including my cycle computer!

Bob says we rode 70 miles and averaged 14. Sounds good to me. It was the toughest day of the week for most people. A few of us will do the century tomorrow - we'll see if that's harder or easier than today.

At camp each day there is a welcome tent with local town information, a list of restaurants, and a shuttle bus route map. There are a couple of factory tours offered in Eden - one to the Karistan rug factory and another to a beer brewery. I am disappointed that they don't offer a tour of the Garden of Eden.

Dave and I enjoyed grilled chicken sandwiches being sold outside the YMCA after showering and settling in. We found Bob and discussed having Mexican tonight around 6 PM. Jeanne hasn't finished riding. Bob's still setting up his tent. Bubba does Dave's and mine! Dave and I head off to the Eden Public Library - so I can write this.

CNC Day 2: Wheeeeee!

Day 2 - The ride from Sparta to Mayberry - I mean Mount Airy.
62.4 miles

Look, Ma, I'm Flying!

It's actually warmer than it was when I went to sleep! No tights today. The only "extra" clothing is a Gore Windstopper pullover and headband for my ears. I figured that today would not be incredibly hard because the finishing altitude is about 2000' below the start. All downhill, then, right? Ummm... right out of the chute we get hit with some hard climbs! They come one after another for the first 15 miles. The first climb was the worst. Thank goodness for the "granny gear" (the small 3rd ring) in front! I spent the whole day either in the granny gear or the big chain ring - with my speed either in single digits or in the 30's!

Just after we entered Surry County, at the 23-mile mark, there was a sign warning trucks of steep descents for the next 2 miles. Now that's my kind of sign! I even took a picture! I flew down that hill going in the upper 30's to low 40's - with a high of 45. Nice smooth, banked, sweeping turns meant no brakes at all! Wheeeeeeeeeee! I started the hill with an average speed of 15 and got to the bottom with an average speed of 16.6! I asked a guy how he liked the hill. He said "I'm glad we weren't going the other way." Amen. They say that climbing hills build strength, character, yada yada, yada. But going fast downhill is what keeps us coming back!

No Wine for You

Rolling hills for a while. There's a stop at a winery about 2/3 of the way through the day. On the way to the winery I find Tim and Jim - two of my favorite pace line buddies from the past 2 years at CNC! We have fun riding in a pace line to the winery. We get there at 10:45 AM. It's Sunday. The entrance gate is very ornate and pretty - but locked! Sign says Sunday hours start at noon! We could hang around and wait an hour and 15 minutes. Or we can ride.

We ride. It starts raining as we get to the last rest stop. It starts raining pretty hard the last 10 miles. My shoes quickly fill with water. Squish, squishing with each pedal stroke. At least it's not cold out! We finish at 12:20. Dave L finished about 20 minutes ahead of me.

62.4 miles, avg 16.0, max 45.

Coffee in Mayberry

The rain lets up, but it's threatening to start again. After showering in a brand-spankin new shower truck and settling into my Bubba Dome, Dave and I walk to downtown Mayberry - uh Mt. Airy. We find a cute coffee shop called Good Times Cafe and enjoy java and panini (well, Dave had a chicken salad croissant). We chat and relax. I think Dave's having fun.

It's In the Details

Had Nancy's bike detailed by Harold's Bike Detail. I hate riding with a dirty drive chain - it causes lots of extra wear. I keep my drive train so clean you could eat off of it. Harold does a great job - it looks like new. I also purchased Harold's morning coffee and muffin service )the "Coffee Detail") and cell phone overnight charging service (the "Cell Phone Detail")

Bob, Jeanne, and I take the shuttle to an Italian restaurant and I enjoy eggplant parm and spaghetti. Then we shuttle back to camp.

Live music in camp - I like it. I'm being anti-social and rather than hanging out in the Pamper Zone I'm in my tent reading. At 9 AM the big lights lighting up the field turn off and everything immediately gets quiet. Quiet hours are supposed to be 10-6, so I'm suprised that the place is dead at 9. I even check the time on my arm-band radio to see if my watch is wrong. It's not.