Thread City Cyclers

I really recommend trying the Quabbin rides. It's a really beautiful course. It's the 2nd time I've done Quabbin but the first time I did the double metric. You get to go to the Quabbin Reservoir, which is gorgeous, and increases the amount of time you're out (if you choose) because you want to stop and look at the reservoir, take pictures, climb the tower and see all the way to Hartford and all over the place!!! The double metric is the same as the century for the first 47 miles, so I'd done the route before. One of the things I'm happy about is that with all the hills up and down, my descending skills have gotten much better! Descents that used to spook me are now a joy. John H, remember when I used to climb hills faster than I'd go down them???

So anyway, the ride started and everyone left togther at around 7 am or maybe a little after, I didn't check. Dave Waldburger, Steve and Judy Borrman and I were all supposed to ride together, but the Borrmans decided to get their freak on and hang with the A pack in the beginning. Dave and I conservatively hung in the back, he because he didn't want to get splattered with damp road-stuff and I because I wanted to dole out my effort, not even knowing if I could complete the ride! The first 10 miles or so are literally downhill, it's really fun, and we stayed together for that time period! There was a rest stop at 22 miles, and then we managed to MISS the 2nd rest stop...so our next one was at like 75 miles!! I was feeling bonky at mile 72, not realizing that the rest stop was only a mile down the road. When I got there, I decided it was time for my secret weapon, Coke (shout out to Dianna H). The rest stop was at a store, so I went in...and realized it was the Leverett Food Co-op...a health food store!! No Coke!! They DID have Boylston natural soda, so Dave and I split a natural cola with real sugar. I fueled up, and then we carried on to the last rest stop in I-forget-what-town; by that point the double metric has rejoined the century. Then you leave the rest stop, go screaming down a really cool hill, and then climb a really steep grade, with no chance to warm up, ugh!!! One thing I'll say about that ride, there are some harsh climbs in the last 25 miles, and the last 2 miles is a nasty upgrade!!! **sigh** So, Dave and I have some photos of us and the Borrmans and reservoir and waterfall, which I'll have to share at some point.

Thanks to the A group for warning each rest stop and the staff at the school to look for me, that they'd know me by my bright pink bike. So at every rest stop, the staffers said HI FRAN!!! And when I finished, at the end the staffers said HURRAY IT'S FRAN!!! And thanks to John and Beth for cheering us on as we approached the school at the very end! And thanks to Dave for staying with me the whole way...looking forward to P2P!!! your Queen B, Fran