"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G.K. Chesterton

Monday, April 12, 2010

What I learned at the Ragnarok 105

(or "What my mother never told me, but Tim and Charlie did")
1) Never, ever buy a new geared bike on Thursday after 12,000 + miles on a single speed and expect to race it on Saturday!  (although I did ride it for 39 miles on pavement on Thursday and Friday)
(Tim made it clear to me upon completing Chili . . . he was going to ride it as much as possible, to get used to it.   I guess there was a reason?)
It took 70+ miles of the Rag to remember how to ride . . .  it was kinda fun to play with those gears
2) Never, ever get caught out.  Pay attention to who the riders are, and what they are capable of.  Stay with the break!
(Charlie made this very clear in many strategy lectures.  I should have listened and paid closer attention (read: any attention).
3) Always follow Praman when he is riding a pugsley downhill.  It's kinda like motor pacing.  (I am quite certain those loud "bangs" you heard were actually Praman crossing the sound barrier.)
4) Never let Palmer sneak around at the finish as you slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the Harley rider who is paying absolutely no attention!  (well done Jim!)


Still . . . had a gas . . . can't wait for 2011!

5 comments:

  1. 1. probably a good idea, but it should not happen again, you now have a geared bike.
    2. stay with the break if you can... be smart enough to know if a particular break is real or if it will come back.
    3. ???
    4. :)

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  2. I do feel a little guilty about that. I was laughing, so I don't know if I scared you or HIM worse when I yelled. :) I liked that inside line.

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  3. Rich, here's the secret to riding gears, when it gets hard shift to an easier gear, when you're really spinning, shift to a harder gear. Just kidding. I know exactly what you're talking about. Good job out there and the bike looks great.

    Eki

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  4. I could not believe you didn't round out the top three.

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  5. Bravo Rich...You represent the elders well...:)
    C

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