Joel
11-24-2007, 05:06 PM
While many of us have been riding for quite a while there is something magical about riding with a teammate 25 years later.
Samster and I rode together at Grinnell College last in 1982. We re-connected through this board a couple of years ago. Several years of (at least my) youth were spent chasing him and others across the rolling hills of Iowa. Usually in (my) poorly timed, mad sprints, to city limits and away from evil dogs.
On Thanksgiving morning and then again today we had the chance to ride together.
What's it like riding with someone 25 years later down the road? Well, other than some age, a lack of ability to hit those high rpm's in the big ring (my problem-not his), and a little more caution in turns, not much :)
Of course, since he was in Florida I had to drag him on weird roads, across cattle guards, up hills on chip seal, past more evil dogs etc. But, heck Thanksgiving and out in shorts who can complain! Then plenty of wine and turkey for dinner!! :beer:
Back in '82 we shot a team picture standing in the snow in Grinnell. Last night I found a print of it and passed it so Sam today. What's even better is that I still have the bike that was used in the photo.
So this morning, he showed up, and found me ready to go on my '80 Team Raleigh that I raced in college. Needless to say, it was a crazy fun ride that degenerated into some of Sam's signature mad sprints and very hard pulls on my part.
Never did I think that I could be riding so hard - with my legs hurting so much - with such a big smile.
I hope that it's not going to be another 25 years till we get to do this again, but then again if we're both still riding 25 years from now, that might not be so bad after all!
Best,
Joel
P.S. I will try to attach a picture that my wife shot of us after the ride this morning. I'm sure Sam will add some thoughts and more pix to this.
Samster and I rode together at Grinnell College last in 1982. We re-connected through this board a couple of years ago. Several years of (at least my) youth were spent chasing him and others across the rolling hills of Iowa. Usually in (my) poorly timed, mad sprints, to city limits and away from evil dogs.
On Thanksgiving morning and then again today we had the chance to ride together.
What's it like riding with someone 25 years later down the road? Well, other than some age, a lack of ability to hit those high rpm's in the big ring (my problem-not his), and a little more caution in turns, not much :)
Of course, since he was in Florida I had to drag him on weird roads, across cattle guards, up hills on chip seal, past more evil dogs etc. But, heck Thanksgiving and out in shorts who can complain! Then plenty of wine and turkey for dinner!! :beer:
Back in '82 we shot a team picture standing in the snow in Grinnell. Last night I found a print of it and passed it so Sam today. What's even better is that I still have the bike that was used in the photo.
So this morning, he showed up, and found me ready to go on my '80 Team Raleigh that I raced in college. Needless to say, it was a crazy fun ride that degenerated into some of Sam's signature mad sprints and very hard pulls on my part.
Never did I think that I could be riding so hard - with my legs hurting so much - with such a big smile.
I hope that it's not going to be another 25 years till we get to do this again, but then again if we're both still riding 25 years from now, that might not be so bad after all!
Best,
Joel
P.S. I will try to attach a picture that my wife shot of us after the ride this morning. I'm sure Sam will add some thoughts and more pix to this.