After a delightful jaunt in a motorized carriage, or ten hours of mind-numbing driving, we've all arrived in Hood River, OR for the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic. Its a week long stage race and its going to be amazing. We pre-rode the stage 3 individual time trial today and it is one of, if not the, most beautiful courses I've ever seen. It rolls along the Columbia River Gorge and includes a snaking switchback climb, a no-brakes descent and a stretch of bike path converted from highway that goes through a tunnel carved through the cliffside. Amazing!
The race kicks off tonight with a flat 4 mile prologue on the motor speedway at the Portland International Raceway. Bomb! Its going to be a wicked fast run and you can bet your britches the winners will be averaging well over 30mph. Go hop on your bike and try to hit 30 mph on flat ground and you'll have at least a tiny bit more respect for bike racers. Not much, but a little maybe. Just be sure to ask a physician if its safe first.
Its a twilight race (my start time is 8:52:30) so Phil's already whining about how his start is after his bedtime. It is a late race, and we have to transfer all the way back to host housing in Hood River an hour away after we're all finished. Report says its already raining so this should be one hell of a ride, or in all likelihood the most painful 8 minutes of my life.
This blog documents my travails as an amateur a professional cyclist racing around the US world.
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