DAY THREE -- The next morning’s Wilson ride started at 8, so Terrie and I packed up early, and the four of us went to IHOP for a pre-dawn breakfast before driving out to Wilson. We started at the Railroad Hotel, and there were a couple options for this ride, because it was hilly – an out/back 15 miler or 22 miler, or a circle 24 or 32 miler. We went for the full banana – not realizing what we were about to find… but I knew there was at least one 8% and one 10% climb out there.
After a nice long downhill a few miles in, the first big climb was definitely tough and long, up past the point where you had the option to turn around or turn left. We made the climb successfully, though! This was followed by another excellent long downhill down to the dam on the north end (which we were obviously going to have to climb back up!). Once we got there, there was another 8% optional climb up to the lookout point, which we passed on, although most others climbed up there. I was already glad that I had put Accelerade in my drink bottles – I was gonna need it!
After a break, we started the climb back south – another tough one, about 9% and long, but again, we made it up, definitely in the lowest gear we had! By this time, the wind was kicking up from the south, adding a headwind to the climb. After this climb, there was an option to head back south to Wilson, or turn west, down a big downhill to a bridge. We turned west, as most people did. Then commenced a really tough 8 miles, with big downhills and 6-10% uphills – MUCH tougher than I had expected! However, Terrie was amazing – she kept those pedals turning on those climbs, and didn’t freak out when I let the tandem coast downhill at 30+, even hitting 40 at one point (without telling her)…
We made it up climb after climb, although it got to a point where I almost called a stop on two straight before reaching the top, but we completed them. Then at Mile 21, I could see a real monster in front of us, and I just said “We’re not climbing this one…” We went partially up it, then I stopped the bike, both of us getting off. We started walking the bike up the hill, and Michelle appeared in her SAG truck – so I told Terrie to get in the truck, and I’d see her at the top! I walked a bit further, then got on the bike and pedaled it up the rest of the climb, passing another tandem couple who had lower gearing, and were moving about 3 mph. It was truly brutal…
At the top, Terrie got back on, and we continued on through the last few smaller hills, including powering through a short 8%er right at the end. We paused for a break, and I let out a loud belch from drinking the Accelerade – and Terrie started laughing and couldn’t stop… that’s when I knew she was truly OK… and I am still amazed that we were able to climb all but one of those hills!!!!! Tell you what, if you rode out there a couple times a week, the TTTT would be NOTHING!!!!
The rest of the ride south and east back to Wilson was uneventful, although into a stiff south wind. We took a bathroom break at a local city park, and finally made it back to Wilson, not QUITE being the last ones to finish – and Dave and Lynn had ridden out a couple hundred yards to meet us.
Lunch was a buffet at the Railroad Hotel, with fried chicken and waffles… mmmmmm….. but we were all so sweaty and tired that Dave actually rented a room so we could shower and clean up before making the drive home! VERY nice…
And the 8-hour drive back from Wilson went smoothly, and listening to a book-on-CD espionage thriller helped keep the drivers awake on the way. We dropped Lynn off at her place, said our goodbyes, then got back to Dave’s at 10:30PM, exhausted but happy.
It was an excellent trip with good friends and good riding. There’s a possibility they will combine next years bike rally with their airplane fly-in, which would make it even MORE unique! And Terrie can still walk, and is still smiling! I’m very proud…. My wife rode 120 miles in three days, including some VERY tough climbing on the third day... I'm amazed... Tandems are a GOOD thing....