Ok……The wind is still blowing, I as well as others seemed to have given in and started riding in misery. Or is it misery, it’s hard, it is unpredictable as to which way it will be blowing after the next turn it keeps you on your toes. We have started out going north with a head wind, turn east still have a head wind, turn south still a head wind. Would you believe all in a single mile? We then crossed a major busy arterial street (also designated as a state highway) and a direct head wind, in a predominantly southern direction, for another 15 miles. Working my old fat butt harder then I have had to in a long time made me think, this is why I started riding again………………Hello, it’s exercise. Yes it’s miserable to ride in but as your fitness level picks up you need to think of the wind as helpful resistance not misery. Any good exercise is misery or you aren’t getting anything out of it. So as you swear at Mommy Nature, think of her as, like all moms, she is trying to help you. My tall kid, for example, he rode a hundred ten miles this past week, all in the wind. He did our thirty two mile loop yesterday, before going to basketball practice (Oh to be young again), and averaged 18.4 mph on the windiest day of the week. I guess that is why I signed him up for a youth road racing camp in May. When I look at the big picture and the loss and suffering in the south, I’m glad we only have twenty mile an hour winds to complain about. I will be glad to see if riding in it for the past couple of months has actually improved my speed and endurance, the sooner the better.
The latest catch word or phrase that the magazines are throwing around, as if we are all as in the know as they are, is Grand Fondo or Fondo. Remember when you picked up a magazine to learn not be made to feel you are an idiot, I digress. Anyway after a couple of months of hearing about the “Grand Fondo” without understanding what it is I went to the good old WWW. Found the answer and it appears to be an Italian tradition of a bicycle 100 mile ride (a Century) with a carnival and race atmosphere. It appears that this decade old tradition has come to the United States. I enjoy Bicycling magazine, it caters to those that don’t need the information but they have enough of those of us that are well grounded to gleam some good information that we can adjust to work with our mediocre abilities. That’s for another scribbling though. The June issue actually explained and gave good information on exactly what they are. I would like to plagiarize some of it to give you a simple idea, courtesy of Bicycle Magazine June 2011 (think of that as a footnote or bibliography);
A typical, not counting charity events, Century will cost you approximately $40.00 a person.
A Fondo will cost approximately $100 a person.
A goodie bag you receive for your Century entry fee, maybe socks and or maybe a T-shirt.
The Fondo, socks, a finisher’s medal, commemorative jersey and age group awards.
A Century atmosphere, a mellow club ride that lasts all day.
A Fondo atmosphere, Similar to a race, complete with a mass start (Pros and anyone holding a competitive license up front), timing chips, screaming fans, and cowbells
A Century post race meal offers pizza, pasta and subs with Gatorade to wash it down with.
The Fondo, a meal plus. Artisanal breads and cheeses, gourmet pizza, local wines and handcrafted beers.
If you are interested check your favorite shop to see if one is close, or make one a vacation destination.
Till Next Time
Ride Safe, Ride fast as You Can, But Ride
“G”
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