The targeted direct email advertisement read,
“Damaged cyclist looking for 200km ride, preferably on the back of a tandem with a most excellent captain -- Interested captains please email me. I am an experienced stoker. While, I am a little over weight, my legs are still good. (Perhaps, I shouldn’t say that. It may not be true.) Any takers for my want-ad???”Three weeks earlier, I had misunderstood my doctor and instead of having a CT scan of my right scapula on the Tuesday before the 200km, I was instead on that day coordinating a CT scan for later in the week, on Thursday, with a follow up reading of the CT scan for the Monday following the 200km. I was disappointed that I must be patient for another week to learn how well my bone is healing.
On the Wednesday night before the 200km, Mark sent a message to me asking if I will attend the chili feed at Greg & Mary’s after the ride. I replied stating that I had secretly planned to ride the 200km. However, now I felt reluctant because of the uncertainty with the status of my scapula healing. Either he responded with the suggestion of coaxing someone in particular to ride tandem with me, or perhaps I just had that impression. In either case, the next day I received a response to my ad.
With a little bit of coordination to transport two tandems (another tandem couple had automobile problems) and replacement with my saddle & pedals, Amy would captain for me. I love my friends!
A few vignettes of our day . . .
Early morning before the ride -- Robin and I returned to the house to find Amy sitting in their breakfast nook after we had loaded their golden tandem onto their Subaru’s tandem rack. Robin and I burst into vigorous laughter. How else could we explain how Robin, with his fractured clavicle and wrists, and me, with my fractured scapula, managed to lift the tandem up onto and secure it into its rack?
Riding a tandem is all about partnership. We both have our strengths and weaknesses and must find ways to adapt to these differences and other challenges on the road. Positive attitude, patience, teamwork and creativity provide the answer.
Having ridden this course three times previously and having left the tandem’s custom route sheet holder at home, I became our navigator. All worked well. We did take another person off route with us when I missed a turn. However, we recovered quickly when Amy spotted the Military Road-Peasley Canyon connector.
It had been four weeks since I had broken my scapula; four weeks off the bike; four weeks without exercise; four weeks of muscle atrophy. You get the picture. After riding strong for the first 50km or so, my leg muscles weakened. Amy asked to stand. Usually, I am all for it. So, we stood. Funny thing happened – my thighs started to cramp. This was going to cause us to become more creative in how we adjusted during the ride. We took rest stops. Later, we learned if we kept an even tempo as we stood, I could avoid the cramps.
We both enjoy riding in the big ring on the flats and descents. Early on, we struggled to move the chain up onto the big ring. We learned to slow our cadence and apply pressure to the crank arm to ease the chain into position.
Normally, we bomb the descents. This day wasn’t a day for fast descents. Amy masterfully maneuvered the tandem on the slick Dash Point descent and the sandy Mud Mountain Dam road, where our good friend Bob had once met a car face-to-face, which had drifted into the on-coming lane. Amy took good care of me.
We each just about touched our physical strength limits on the last climb out of the Green River valley. Eamon Stanley kept tempo with us and offered encouragement at just the right moment.
Amy and I enjoyed seeing our many friends on the route. Many of them passed us at some point. A few rode with us for a time and many crossed our path on the out-and-back to Greenwater. Speaking of Greenwater –- how about sitting on the pavement in the sunshine? When was the last time we had such nice weather on a spring 200km?
No matter the conditions, from the joys of seeing and chatting with friends and the conversations with Amy to the pains from strains on our muscles, I enjoyed every minute. Amy is an awesome captain! I trust and respect her. She is strong both physically and mentally. Her up-beat positive attitude is contagious. Amy, thank you for sharing the day with me!!!
Thank you to the volunteers who pre-rode the course in the rain so that we could have sunshine. Thank you to the volunteers who met us at the controls and photographed us. And especially thank you to the volunteers who prepared the delicious chili feed at the finish.
Yes, Mark I will attend the chili feed!Finally, thank you to Robin for sharing his spouse and tandem. Keep both of them. They are the best!!!
p.s. Amy, yes, what happens on the tandem, stays on the tandem.
