Life On Two Wheels

Along the river and toward the mountains a morning shadow shimmers across the road. The rays of the first light jet through the trees and across a figure gliding upon the road. His breath trails in short spurts, petrified as it hits the icy air. All is quiet except the slight sound of the athlete as he summons himself for yet another days work. Soon the rest of the world will bustle with life as well and the brief simplicity of cyclist and nature will disappear into the everyday struggle of life in full motion; the errands and intervals, the appointments and intersections, and the deadlines and finish lines OutPaceTheRace

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Preview: Stage 3

ToC- Stage 3: Stockton, CA to San Jose, CA
Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Today’s stage is a very interesting one. It starts in this flat agricultural area near Davis called Stockton. The first ~20 km are absolutely flat with a chance of harsh crosswinds and gutters straight from Belgium. Then the course winds through the scenic rolling hills on the way to San Jose. Most of the climbs along the route are fairly steep kickers that “stair-step” to the top. The first one out of Stockton is new; the other two are the same as in last years course culminating with the final and super steep Sierra climb. I think it’ll end up being the biggest climb this year too…
Since there was a little drizzle today in Davis we drove most of the gutter section & jumped on the bikes at the foot of the first climb. Then just about everyone got a flat tire including Allen in the Subaru. If you know Allen then you know that a flat tire in a car leaves him stranded, his life in absolute peril… fortunately Pat and I were there to expedite the process- introducing the intricacies of wrenching lug-nuts and basic car sustenance…

posted by Tom Peterson @ 7:19 PM