Cup and Cone ride July 26th

Those seen on the ride include
Josh Carter
Christy Miller
Kathlyn Christy’s friend
Beth Gonzales
Patty Lewis
Nicole Lewis
Nate Poerschke
Barb Hartsfield
Andy Hartsfield
Jeffrey Roussel
Janet gregg
Susan McBee
Tom Plant
Steve Cope
Todd Pechner and his wife Christine
Kevin and Theresa Smit
John Majikes
Jae Brainard
May have missed a few others who were there but did not cross paths.


Each rider was there to accomplish individual goals. For some it was to ride Lystra for the first time. For some it was to complete the distance as fast as possible, for some it was to smell the roses, for others it was to go the distance of 67 miles for the first time this biking season.

The excitement was high with each rider roaming the start area looking for friendly faces, and to solicit riding partners that may have the same objectives for the days ride.

Theresa was not sure who within the group was a match for her pace and desired distance. She was hoping to accomplish the 67 miles with someone who would help her break the wind and the monotony of being in the saddle for 5+ hours. Kevin had made the early decision to help Theresa with her objective. He really wanted her to feel good about going the distance. In his excitement he attempted to sell several of the Roses on the idea of doing 67 miles. None came close to entertaining the idea. This shows wisdom on behalf of those who could not be pressured into going further than they were ready to do.

The start had riders all moving into position with little chance of the group starting in a pack as they do every weekend. Several folks had worked their way towards the start line while others like Kevin and Theresa did not even move towards the start until several minutes after the pack was off.

A slow start soon turned into a smooth 18 mph pace as Kevin and Theresa weaved in and out of the riders. As they did this they found several of the Roses along the way. As each Rose was found they formed a well organized draft line until the group had grown to 7 riders. The group consisted of Kevin, Theresa, Beth, Patty, Barb, Andy, and Jae. All road very smooth and comfortable at the 18 + pace.
At one of the earlier stop lights the Roses all sang Happy Birthday to Barb who turned 21 again on that day.

This group passed Slow Todd as he was pulling himself out of the ditch just having avoided a terrible crash within the group he was riding with. As the Roses passed they asked if he was OK and he waved them on.
Todd was later found at the first stop on the route. The sag wagon had carried Todd and his bike to the aid station since his tire was blown and needed tube as well as new tire. After $60 Todd was ready to chase down any one in front of him.
The Roses also encountered Christy, and Jeff who were riding together in a small pack.

Once the Roses had taken care of Bio needs, filled water bottles, and munched on banana’s and Fig Newtons they mounted their bikes and mentally prepared for Lystra.
Lystra is one of the longest climbs in the area, and is legend in its difficulty.

Within less than a mile from the aid station the Hill rose as if a black board with white paint lines down the middle was placed in front of the riders. “Time to find your GRANY Gears” Kevin shouted to the group. “See everyone at the top once we get to 15/501” he continued.

Kevin and Andy slowly pulled away from the rest of the Roses as each rider found the best cadence to walk the Grany Gear up the hill. About half way up the first incline Kevin approached a young lady who was working hard to turn the peddles but making little if any headway. Just as he closed the gap on her he saw her slowly fall to the left.
Crunch. “Are you OK” he sputtered in between gasps of air.
“yea” the young girl responded still clipped in her cleats as she lay half way across the road.
Kevin crested the hill and turned to double back to see the progress of the Roses. To his delight all were there and accounted for. Andy leading the way with Theresa and Barb close behind followed by Jae, Beth, and Patty. Well done Roses. A short gradual run to 15/501 where the group reassembled into a draft line. “That was it?” asked Beth. “That was nothing compared to the hills we climbed last weekend in Boone” she went on to explain to the group. Clearly last weekends ride had made an impression on this rider by building her confidence on hills.
The group now headed onto roads they have never ridden before as they make their way deep into Chatum County and the next aid station. The route that laid ahead unfolded with rolling hill after rolling hill. Some of the hills might rival UpChuck.

The next aid station had strawberry sorbet from the dairy along with bananas and fig newtons, water and gator aid. This was also the turn around point for those looking to complete the 48 mile route. Kevin took this opportunity to again try and sell any of the Roses on completing the 67 mile route. They all stood their ground and waved goodbye to Theresa and Kevin as they again mounted their bikes after having taken advantage of the stop. The Roses were now missing two from the bunch as they headed back towards the finish on this out and back route.

Kevin and Theresa pointed their bikes in the opposite direction with the expectation of completing the 100k (67 miles). This pair quickly realized they were the last ones pointed in that direction and would be bringing up the rear.

With in ½ mile from the recent rest stop they saw a pack of riders rushing towards them. In the middle of the pack was the angry Chipmunk (Steve Cope) riding comfortably at a 20+ mile per hour pace as his group was well on their way towards the finish line having already covered 43 miles.

Kevin and Theresa were met with more hills, lots of traffic all adding to the wear and tear on their physical and psychological well being.
To add to there struggle they continued to be passed by hundreds of bikers all headed in the opposite direction. Every one of them had smiles and were still turning the crank arms at a high cadence. They saw John Majikes riding solo with a big grin on his face as he swung thru one of the turns. They saw Josh and Christy and Jeff all riding smoothly along in a large pack.

The last stretch of road leading to the Dairy and the turn around point for the 67 mile route felt longer than it was. The sun was now taking its toll, the humidity was at sauna levels, and the head wind was building in anticipation of the riders return from the turn around point.

The rest stop/aid station at the turn around point was picked over with limited supplies of water, and fig newtons. Theresa Hates Fig Newtons. Theresa Hated life at this point. She knew that the ride towards the finish was about to run head first into strengthening head winds, Hills that had multiplied in their numbers and that grew an additional 500 ft each in elevation, mean cars that did not want to share the road, and a husband who does not talk while riding. Little did Theresa know that her husband was also anticipating a death march towards the finish line.

The two riders headed out with no hope of catching a sole on the road ahead. Each rest stop there were fewer and fewer supplies and support personal. The run down Lystra was fun but short lived with speeds hitting 44 mph.

The Sun was now so intense that the sky was a bright orange with UV Rays putting a sun burn on the bikes tires. Water tasted foul. Fig Newtons began to take root in the stomach.

They started the run up Martha’s Chapel. Kevin was in the lead working to maintain a pace that allowed Theresa the ability to stay within inches of his rear wheel. He monitored this by checking the mirror. Early on this section of road Kevin was able to pull Theresa along at a comfortable 16 mph. Not bad for the miles already covered. The average speed at that point for Theresa was a very respectable 15.8 mph.
Kevin at that point could see Theresa easily in his mirror and with a slight tilt of his head he could determine through the mirror that she was within inches of his rear wheel. Kevin continued to concentrate on the pace making sure it did not increase on the flats and would deliberately slow slightly towards the crest of any rise in the road. This was to encourage Theresa to keep the gap within inches of his rear wheel.

Then it happened all at once. The BONK.
The two riders were within eye sight of the crest of Martha Chapel and the pending right turn onto 751 when Kevin saw Theresa BONK. The BONK is easily detected and needs no sound to signal the event.
Within seconds Theresa was falling off the back of Kevin’s Wheel. It had the same visual effect as if she was rock climbing and let go of the ledge. Kevin could see the blank stare in her eyes as she fell further and further from the edge.
In his attempt to rescue her Kevin Slowed just enough for her to recover the gap. This lasted for only a few peddle strokes only to have the same rock climbing effect to take place again, and then again. Kevin watched the falling victim, and his speedometer as if on split screen. The rider behind falling and falling, the speed reading 16, then 15, then 14, now 12, 11, and 9 miles per hour in the effort to reach out and grab the falling rider.
It was to no avail as by now the rider was no longer looking to be rescued. The head was down with eyes looking at the ground, the body was slumped over the handle bars and rocked slowly up and down with each revolution of the peddles. The BONK was now in full force and 11 miles to go to the finish.

OK now we limp along for a while and hope for a degree of recovery before picking up the pace. That is what Kevin was now thinking to himself.

Once on Luther Shop Road Kevin continued to monitor the strength and recovery of Theresa as he worked to edge the two riders past 12 mile per hour.

As they closed in on White Oak Church road the pace continued to climb with constant adjustments by the ride leader in an effort to encourage the trailing rider to match the speed with out realizing they are riding faster and faster.
“What way do we go back?” Theresa asked.
“The same way we went out” was Kevin’s accurate response.
“why do you ask?” he inquired.
“Just trying to spur a conversation, you don’t talk while you ride” was Theresa’s angry reply.

No further words were exchanged between the two riders as they continued to struggle those last few miles to the finish.

At last the two loan riders swung into the finish line. Last ones in the parking lot, last ones to get Goodberrys ice cream, and there waiting for them was the Angry Chipmunk anxious to share stories about the days ride. It was good to have Steve there to lift the two riders spirits and to reflect on the accomplishment of the day’s ride.

Theresa met her goal of 67 miles and did it thru head winds, hills, humidity, heat, traffic, and without conversation at an average pace of 14.4 mph. Well done.