Riding with Lance… But He Wasn’t There

This was my 3rd LiveStrong Challenge. The last two in Portland included riding with Lance at the start (at least for a few seconds till he was out of view). Today was the first one in Seattle… replacing the Portland Nike Campus location. It started and stopped at Seattle Center. It was a very different ride from the Portland ride or last weekend’s Flying Wheels Summer Century. At least for the 100 milers, there appeared to be a different breed of rider. Flying Wheels 100 milers were mostly riding pacelines of about 20-21 mph. Today’s pacelines were more like 23-26 mph. It was quite exhilarating, but tiring. Especially the climbs up Tiger Mountain and Cougar Mountain. These were harder than the Flying Wheels hills (at least for me). The most heard comment during the climbs: JESUS CHRIST!. I guess it did get to be a religious experience… near the top of the Newport (Cougar) climb was someone dressed like the devil urging us to go the final 25 meters to the summit (he lied, there was a lot more climbing to do.

Posted a couple videos. One of the paceline going 26 on a 2% grade, and one at the start showing some of the 100 milers lined up. Started at 7am and got to ride through downtown with the streets closed off for us. Very cool to buzz (legally) through all those lights! We then took the I90 express lanes (also closed off for us). We then did a Mercer Island circuit, explored part of Bellevue, saw Tiger Mountain, went through Issaquah, went all the way around Lake Sammamish, then Cougar Mountain, Newport, thru Newcastle, around Lake Washington by way of Renton, along Lake Washington Blvd. during bicycle Sunday, up, up, up over the hill to Yesler and back thru Seattle downtown to the Center. Unfortunately they only served Michalobe Ultra at the beer garden… but any port in a storm.

Speaking of storms, weather wasn’t bad. Cloudy all the way with rain on Tiger and around Lake Sammamish… squishy shoes. All in all, work the effort of fund-raising for a great cause and an amazing organization. Lance is still my hero even if he raced in Nevada City instead of cruising WA state. Readings from computer: Distance 101.46 miles, Elapsed time %:49, Calories 8595, Avg cadence 80rpm, Ascent 5412 ft, descent 5351 ft