Ride for Karen - WOW!

Ride for Karen....WOW!!

This was going to be the big one and it didn't disappoint. I was witness to
unbelievable feats of courage, strength, kindness, generosity,comraderie and
felt an overwhelming sense of pride...and all from four of our coleagues:
Emile, Jeff, Dave and Steve.

I knew their was going to be hell to pay on Saturday evening when Mr.weathernetwork.com threw up a map with Toronto covered with green and blue.
The call went out to scrap the bike racks and transport our two wheel drives
inside the vehicles. We assembled at Loblaws 0630 in a miserable downpour
that was going to be our constant companion for several hours. The drive up
north was peaceful enough...little did we know what fate lay ahead. We were
so anxious to dig into this ride that we arrived before the registration
tables were even set up! So you can just imagine the five of us chewing the
fat for over an hour in a school parking lot . At least the rain had let up
while we dithered about but the clouds weren't empty yet....just a brief
respite.

Finally the start time came and after some solemn words from the organizers
(which later morphed into words of inspiration) we were off. We had decided
to start with the fast group and for the first 25 km or so all was well. We
were in a large group of probably 70 or so...maybe more. The rain made the
roads slick and the varous turns and slight inclines made for some accordian
like action in the back half of the peleton. That's when disaster
struck.....a sudden slowing of the group and a touch of wheels and Steve and
Jeff were on the deck!! I witnessed the whole thing and although it
happened in a fraction of a second it also appeared to be in slow motion.
Steve took the worst of it but was up right away. After remounting and one
quick turn of the cranks the damage to his ride was evident. His Giant's
rear derailleur was in a very immodest position. Comments from passing
riders were very discouraging when they saw the mangled gear changer. Jeff
suggested making him into a single speeder and with that the support vehicle
swooped in and out bounced a serious wrench on a mission. Park tool box in
hand he attacked the mess and although it took some time he had the chain
off....chopped to the correct length and remounted. But alas, the chain had
become twisted.....more work...this guy was fast. Despite all his efforts
he couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. A second support vehicle
arrived and someone asked tongue-in-cheek if he had a new chain. With a
deadpan expression he responds in the affirmative and a few minutes later
Mr. Cool had the new chain on what is now the most expensive single speed
frame you'll ever find. After some "comportement incorrect" we were off.

All of the groups had passed us by this time so we knew we were in for a
world of hurt to try bridge back up so off we went. We weren't up the road
for long when it became obvious that Steve's ride was an unwilling
participant and he had decided to abandon. None of us wanted to leave him
at the side of the road in that wretched weather but there was no more that
could be done. A few "good lucks" and "hang in there's" and we said adieu
to our friend and set to the task at hand of trying to get on terms with the
lead group.

The weather was brutal. A relentless cold to the bone rain and what felt
like a cross headwind coupled with roller after roller made this an
interminable slog. Eventually we picked off some of the debris of the final
group and in the distance we could see the four way flashers which meant we
will soon be in the relative confort of the groupetto. I got dropped here
(not for the first time I might add) but found refuge behind the motorbike
videographer and drafted back on....kind of lame but kind of cool too!
Finally into the bunch and a huge sigh of relief...no problems from here
forward.....except what the hell is Jeff doing?!?! He's off the front and
he ain't coming back anytime soon. There was no way Jeff was content with
limping around with this group. A quick calculation and the decision was
made that I had better get with the program or arrive back at the cars
wearing the mask at shame. More teeth gritting and the four of us were up
the road stamping the Cycle Sloutions authority on this parcours.

I only remember parts of the next section....lactic acid does funny things
to my brain. Dropped again and the boys had to sit up for awhile ust as we
entered the Holland Marsh. This was a seriously flat but windy section with
Jeff yet again off the front...and long gone. I had no answer for that and
as luck would have it Emile found a friend in the small group we caught and
turned off the gas for a bit. But then the Emile and Jeff railroad took
over and stretched the group out single file. I remember being fifth wheel
when I witnessed first hand the Emile & Jeff RR crack the two riders in
front of me. The dying cackle of "I can't do this anymore" and the matching
Trek's blew big time and shot backwards in a whimper. Afer that I glanced
back and to my horror we were only four again!! These two cats had ridden
everyone except Dave and I off their wheels!! There was no attack...just a
constant steady diet of high tempo pain....impressive.

Finally lunch and we had found our quarry...the lead group was there. We
elected to let them go and take a well deserved break. Dave inhaled a "wrap
thing" that reminded me of a late night shawarma and I had to look
away....Dave is a strong rider and obviously has a strong stomach. I stuck
to the cookies and bananas. We figured it was downhill from here but nearby
riders just looked at us and shook their heads. At least it wasn't raining
anymore. We missed Steve but to do all those hills on a single speed would
have been a truly Herculean task. 50 km to go.

Dave's burrito was visually disquietting to me but Dave's performance was
simply sublime. Dave rides with quiet confidence and never a complaint
about the weather or anything else for that matter. He took his turn at the
front and flattened those hills withwhat looked to be apparent ease. He
gets the award for the best phrase of the day..."my thighs feel like
meatloaf".

Back into the teeth of the easterly and heading towards last week's
route...Warden Ave. I did have fleeting thoughts of just keeping my machine
heading south until I hit home and try to explain where my wife's new
vehicle was...needless to say I took the hard right onto VanDorf. A tail
wind!! We swept westward in our little Cycle Solutions gaggle passing
recognizable roads....Woodbine....Leslie...Bayview. It was here that there
was a sonic boom or as Chuck Swirsky would say "KABOOM". Emile was gone.
We were about 25 km from the end and he was out there ploughing a lone
furrow. It wasn't long before Dave, Jeff and I were swept up by the
charging peleton...we could hold them fo only so long. We charged across
Bloomington to Keele and somewhere around 10 or 15 km to we headed south
for the run home. Emile was out of sight and representing the Orange and
Black well. This was a serious run away train with speeds tipping 45
km/hour...we may have been in the 50's at times but I was too scared to look
down at my readout!! Eventually Emile's orange figure could be seen up
ahead tapping out a perfect cadence and never looking down or back. This
was a seriously proud moment for me. If I were watching this unfold on TV I
would be jumping up and down screaming "GO EMILE GO....HOLD EM OFF!!". As I
was in serious oxygen at the moment I expressed my thoughts telepathically.
With about 2 km to go he was caught but true to form Emile stayed in the
top three or four riders along with Jeff. This last stretch was nothing
short of exhilarating and made me fiercly proud to be witness to such a
supreme performance.

But, wait there's more.

Arriving back we were surprised to see Steve's vehicle still there and no
bike in the back. We surmised he was picked up by the "voiture balai" and
was still out on course. We hoovered some chow, left a message for Steve
and headed out. My cell rang as Dave and I drove home and there was Steve.
At first I didn't undersatand what had happened since he said he had decided
against the sag wagon. Then it sunk in and I had to ask for
clarification....did you actually RIDE the course?? Yeah....and then words
to the effect that the sag was going to take too long! I was/am floored. I
am listening to Steve recount his day and I ended up missing my turnoff. He
claimed it was the worst day of his life but I submit it was one of his
best. HOLY SHIT!! There is no other way to put it. Steve W hauled his
carcass over all those hills, through a bitterly cold rain, alone. 100
miles....having to stop every few k to put his chain back on his SINGLE
speed. EPIC!! That is true grit. Steve doesn't pack a suitcase of
courage...he has a trunk load of that stuff. There is no doubt if I were in
his shoes I would have packed it in and headed home. I often try to conjure
up motivating accomplishments at times of difficulrty and this now holds top
spot on the inspirational menu.

All in all an unforgettable ride with lifelong memories welded to the inside
of my forehead. Thanks to everyone help me finish and sitting up for and
acting like you didn't mind!!

James Young


This is an addition by Dan as a tribute to Steve for being so Hard Core!

Here are his computer Stats:

T: 5:41:03

Dst: 159.09kms

Avg: 27.9km/h

Max: 57.9km/h

*Note: This was done on a Single Speed!!!