Comments on: Seven Perfect Instants

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:31:43 +0000

On the first nice day of spring, especially when such a day comes after a cold, rainy spell… You’ve been watching the weather for the last couple days and the growing excitement that you can ride again is sweeping across the riding community. You head out on the road, alone or with others… it doesn’t matter…. and in the course of the ride, you pass other cyclists coming toward you in the other direction. You suddenly realize that every rider you’ve passed has been grinning from ear to ear, just like you.

By: John Daigle

John Daigle — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:23:06 +0000

In high school, I was riding this century for some charity or another with the bike club. And for this huge distance it was all slightly uphill, against this hellish headwind. The rotation at the front was pretty much instant, you would pound against this thing like you were pushing a ton of wet concrete and then just disappear in an instant to the back of the pack. We were going about 10 miles an hour, if that.

Then we turned around. And 3 guys got dropped. Then two more. Finally it was just me and one other guy left with this insane tailwind at our backs, taking these monster pulls and practically coasting on the back.

We rode for almost 20 miles at about 30 miles an hour, over 34 at one point. And it felt practically effortless. So, my perfect moment is having the perfect tailwind on the good side of a false flat, with a decent paceline and home in sight.

By: cloud19th

cloud19th — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:47:53 +0000

Lanterne Rouge–
a-yep, I’m in again this year. I don’t even start at the front to be dropped, I’m that uncompetitive :-P so chances are better that I’ll see you. I hope the road construction isn’t bad. I’ll be in pink, though not sure if the FC pink jersey’ll be here in time.

By: Congo

Congo — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:46:37 +0000

When you and the (road) chain gang pull up to your favourite cafe, lean the bikes outside and click-clack inside on your cleats (don’t slip on the tiled floor – that is not a perfect instant). The actual instant is when you take the first sip of that expresso or machiatto (no soy milk grande decafs please, we’re Colnago and Bianchi riders).

By: Rick S

Rick S — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:21:56 +0000

When you are chasing a carrot up a steep climb (Suncrest) and you get close enough to see that it’s a 60 year old guy in jeans riding a mtb. The moment you catch, stand up, and stomp on your pedals while flying by him.

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:20:28 +0000

Al, I almost put something to the effect that the Loughrigg Terrace section is unridable in the summer due to all the bloody hikers! If you’re ever over and need a MTB guide, give me a shout.

By: SpikeBlue

SpikeBlue — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:23:51 +0000

Hurtling down a particularly long and steep downhill, glancing at your speedometer which says “55 mph”. Nothing sweeter.

By: Susan (another one)

Susan (another one) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:05:35 +0000

David, I have a little tunnel where I lose reception, but wires haven’t interfered thus far.

By: Taocat

Taocat — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:21:05 +0000

I had a “Disaster Converted” similar to yours on one of my first night rides. I was flying down the trail, got high on a bermed corner and grabbed way too much front brake, sending me into an endo. I hurdled the bike, landed on my feet an in a strange (and perfect) instant of reflex managed to reach behind me and catch my bike by the seatpost. The guy I was riding with came up and asked “what happened” – I was after all, standing in the middle of the trail holding my bike by the seatpost…I wish I had it on film…

By: David

David — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:58:59 +0000

Susan (another one)

I have a Garmin as well and I was wondering if you ever have lost satellite reception under high tension power lines? I road a trail that all but a section showed up where my tracks were laid on the map, and because I did not have it mounted on my handle bars at the time I was not sure where I lost the reception. All the rest of my tracks show up on the map but not a small section.

Barry: Sorry did not mean to creep anyone out or give the wrong impression.