Stage 12 - Great Falls to Bozeman, MT - June 5

Who woulda thunk it? My first Century yesterday. Today? What do I do for an encore? I think to myself: something nice and easy.

A BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING ...

It is a beautiful day. I spend the first forty miles riding at a casual pace. Vik and David are far ahead, out of sight, our two best cyclists flying over the road, enjoying the company of a peer well matched in skill and talent.

I am riding fourth of the Norseman, Jonah in front of me. Jonah is a courageous young man. He is suffering with a persistent shoulder pain that won't go away. The granny gear on his bike is gone. His rear crankset lost its smallest gear, making climbing hills even more challenging. Yet Jonah persists. Putting in the miles day after day, overcoming his pain, honoring the Norseman's challenge. I ride one or two football fields behind Jonah, respecting his desire to be alone, feeling free to ride at his own pace. I drift back, the parent in me not allowing him to ride last.

The sun is warm. The wind is friendly. A river runs alongside the road, gurgling, flowing. I am enjoying the ride. Happy. Content. Free.

At one point Jonah's tire flats. I am there with him; we change his tire and move forward together.

A MOUNTAIN SUMMIT CALLS ...

After 40 miles or so, we catch up to David and Vik who are waiting for us to have lunch. After a delightful meal, we contemplate next steps. I'm debating an end to my day. David mentions we face a 20 mile climb. Damnation, I'm intrigued. Still unsure of my decision, David says: "Would you like to ride with Vik while I ride with Jonah?" "No" I reply without hesitation, an effort to preserve my quiet day. Apparently not hearing me, David says: "great, I'll ride with Jonah". I decide it is fate. I mount my steed and away I go with Vik. I enjoy riding with him. He is an excellent cyclist with patience. We are more equally paired eleven days into our ride. I am much stronger than I was just a month ago yet he remains the superior rider. We work well together.

The top of the summit is a long time coming but the ride is pleasant. Most of the grade is around 2-3%, something easier to maintain. Until the grade ramps up to 6-8% with 5-7 miles to go. I feel yesterday in my legs and draining energy level. Cycling becomes very hard. I am empty. I persist; Vik encourages. Finally, we reach the summit. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. All I want to do is quit. Yet I don't even contemplate it. I cannot. A 25 mile descent awaits; in cycling parlance: "free miles". Downhill we go.

I tire. Vik helps. At one point, I see him gesturing, pointing at his backside. I understand he wants me to ride immediately behind him in his bike's slipstream. The timing is priceless. A trucker passes at the same time Vik gestures. The trucker gives Vik a strange look, likely misinterpreting the intent behind his movement as best Vik could tell by the strange expression in the trucker's face. We laugh about it afterward; a tiny priceless memory.

A CENTURY IS POSSIBLE ...

Vik and I finally make it to White Sulfur Springs, our day's cycling destination. I have ridden 96 miles. There is no way I am stopping. We fly past the waiting van. I catch up to a pickup truck, drafting as we ride through town. Still I lack miles. I blow through town and head I do not know where as fast as I can, just interested in miles. No other thoughts in my mind. The support van passes us, Vik still accompanying me, a true teammate and partner. David and Jonah yell encouragement. At one point, they tell me to turn around and head back into town, confident the return trip will net me the last miles I need. I do as they suggest. It is an unremitting grind. I am pouring everything into these last few minutes. I drain my energy reserves. I am beyond exhausted. When my Garmin finally registers 100, I exult; screaming "YES" as I ease up and coast to the waiting van. Spent but happy. Back to back Centuries.

Last night I said to Vik: "hey, let's ride 100 tomorrow" joking. Vik laughed and said "we'll see". After the first 40 miles, a Century was the furthest thing from my mind. It only happened because I couldn't say 'no' to the possibility of an epic 20 mile climb to a 7,200 foot summit. In my heart, I am a climber; not a sprinter; not a descender; a climber. I do not have a climber's body, just a climber's heart. Slogging up unrelenting hills; riding the best pace I can for miles after miles, is the best I can do. I love it, truly and truly. I doubt anyone is happier or prouder when the summit is attained.

The day's accomplishment was possible because I focused on the journey. Vik as my companion. The sun at our back. Beautiful scenery. The Belt River at our side, talking constantly, a pleasure to view. I wanted to ride up that stupid damn mountain to that far away summit. I accomplished it one pedal stroke at a time.

TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS ...

We end up in Bozeman, MT after a 90 minute van ride. It is after midnight (how much later I do not know). We are staying at a hostel, a first for me. Our room is about 8 ft by 13 ft. Two bunk beds. A twin bed. Two end tables. A chair. Four bikes. Our luggage. It all manages to fit with a little rearranging. Any movement in bed is accompanied by squeaking springs. We try to be as quiet as possible for the benefit of everyone else. It is a typical eclectic moment in David's travel itinerary, something unexpected yet oddly fitting. Another way we bond as a group.

ODDS & ENDS …

The roads of Montana rarely exceed an 8% grade. This makes climbing more doable. Who to thank? The National Transportation Board legislated maximum grades on US roads in consideration of the trucking industry and what was best for large trucks. I am grateful.

Food is fuel. As mentioned before, I am in eating heaven, burning more calories each day than I can replenish. It occurs to me: being an endurance cyclist “requires” living like a hobbit: there is breakfast, then 2nd breakfast, followed by a morning snack, then lunch and a 2nd lunch, with an afternoon snack, followed by dinner, the day capped of with supper. Any meal can be enhanced with desert. OMG! I have replaced the fat burning metabolism of a young man with the calorie burning efforts of an endurance cyclist.