I ran up to my bike, pulled it off the rack and trotted out the transition gate. 6:01 transition. Not great, but better than my 7:45 last year. “Don’t fall over mounting!” I thought. I didn’t and was soon powering along Lakeshore drive on the out and back, avoiding newly mounted riders who were not up to speed and moving across the road. I spotted Sherry at the Lakeside Hotel entrance and yelled so she saw me and could tell me, “Go get ‘em, Bear!”

Then it was a quick turn-around, back through the crowds and out Main Street. The cheering was terrific and I gave the crowd across from Hog’s my usual thumb’s up, further energizing them.

The ride to McClean Creek Road consisted of trying not to draft, as the riders were thick and we all were jockeying for position. I was passing many more than were passing me. Some riders as usual were blocking, so I had to yell at them to move over so I could pass.

Climbing McClean Creek seemed hard, this being the steepest section of road on the course, but not as hard as usual. I remembered my conversation with David Jones about not burning all my “rocket fuel” early in the ride, so I tried not to go at max pace up the hill, as I usually would. Nonetheless, I climbed well and was soon over the top, now wide awake!

The mostly downhill to OK Falls was fun—I tended to stay on my pedals longer than most people and then tuck more, so I was overtaking most of the way. This was great!

Then it was the road to Oliver and beyond. I got down on my bars and cranked. Not flat out, but close. I knew this was where “un rouleur” from flatland Illinois had the best possibilities of making time.

Up Richter, cranking hard all the way, passing people. I encouraged the slower people I passed and congratulated the better climbers who passed me. As the hill ebbed and flowed I was passed and then I repassed, so that it seemed that I was part of a horde of riders who were taking turns leadng and following.

Finally we went over the fifth hill that makes up Richter, after seeing weird green mottled Spotted Lake. Then came a fun 40 mph downhill whieh led into the riollers—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (But aren’t there just seven hills? No matter!) The rollers? In the past this was where I really started crapping out. Not this year! They just did not seem so high and hard. I took them in style, spurred on by Tony’s Bear signs. The out and back in the past had seemed endless and hard. Not this year, maybe because of the elimination fo the out-and-back in the out-and-back (Armstrong Road? In any case, where I flatted last year.) Then it was up the road, where on the course drive I had observed to my car full of newbie’s not to think you were climbing Yellow Lake too soon. I bided my time, pushing but not getting anxious. Finally it was truly up Yellow Lake, cranking all the way, passing people. Legs starting to object, but not so much that I had to let up. The crowds of people sitting on and across from their cars parked in the road and cheering were amazing, as always. After the steepest part and Yellow Lake itself I spotted Rhonda outside Tony’s van and yelled, “Hi Rhonda!” She cheered and waved big time. A real boost.

Finally up one more time and then past Twin Lakes. Here’s the crest and now the downhill. I did it! Wow! It’s down a bit, gaining speed and flatter and finally one more smaller climp. I relish what’s ahead—the real downhill! Here goes! Spin spin, spin, faster and fastest, to 40 mph, then can’t pedal any fastest, so I get in the tightest, lowest tuck possible and fly down even faster, close to 50 mph. This is the biggest rush I ever get! What a thrill! Let the bike run and steer through the turns, taking care to maneuver around slower riders. “Move over” I yelled at one who was out on the left side of the lane, blocking. Idiot!

Too soon the down flattened and then a little more uphill. But this fun was not over yet! After navigating a tricky intersection and a little bit of rough road the down continued along Skaha Lake, the beautiful high vantage point affording great views of Penticton, the channel and airport and, in the distance, the hotel at transition. What a great ride I was having. “Ugh!” Oops. That was a cramp. I unclipped one leg and one-legged it for a little while, shaking out the unclipped one. The cramp faded and I resumed pedaling, a little more gingerly. No problem. We resumed the downward flight, soon swooping right along the Skaha beach, where I flatted two years ago. Vanquished that one! Then it was back left and on the longert somewhat uphill grade back to the center of town. Soon enough I was cresting the up part at the high school and starting down to the hotel. “Thump thump” went each brick crosswalk as I flew toward the finish. “Thump thump” and cheers now. The crowds were getting thicker, cheering for me coming in and runners going out the other way on the road.

good start for the run until the wheels came off on the hill at mile five (cramping for me). The cycle was then mostly jog, try to run, cramp and then walk. Finally I picked it up 1.5 miles from the end when a member of the age group tried to run by me and I decided the hell with the cramps, just run, which I did, cooking it up to about 8 min. per mile pace with only one cramping episode to interrupt my finish line charge. 12:25, 10 of 64 in age group. If I could have run somewhere nearer my capabilities (~4 hours versus 5:05), Kona would have been mine.