31 July, 2009: Tim Did It!

Apologies for the delay in updating. I have been busy in Annecy, swimming in the lake, eating apricots and finding a classic Italian steel tandem from circa 1980 for Paige and I to ride to Nice next week. Tim sent the following message to the Stanford Triathlon Team, and I think it works perfectly as a final installment for Rick's Ride 2009:

Chèrs hommes d'équipe,

I'm writing on behalf of Jesse and Federico, who rode Mont Ventoux with me last Saturday.  The base of Mount Baldy was warm and windy, the summit was freezing and so windy that it was liable to blow us right back down the hill.  Ventoux rises 1616m with long portions above a 10% grade.  Obligingly, the roads were lined up with fans to cheer us on; news organizations reported that 500,000 people were present.  They were about 5 people deep on both sides of the road for the last 23km of the HC climb.  

Jesse was riding on knees still smarting from last year's 4100 km jaunt through France with full panniers, I was riding after having done about 90 miles that day with 3 cat 3 climbs and a cat 4 [EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim is a bit modest in neglecting to mention the 750 kilometers and countless other climbs from the previous four stages], and Federico had no excuses aside from getting up early that morning to drive from Nice.  Jesse, as per usual, stopped to have a few beers with admiring fans on the way up [EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim has a point. This is becoming a mid-climb tradition. I am convinced that there is absolutely no need for Gatorade. This time the refueling station was the famous/infamous Dutch Corner, a yearly agglomeration of random beer-drinking revelers from the Netherlands on whatever the most classic climb of that year's Tour happens to be].  The middle section is steep and lined with trees.  The last 6km level off a bit, but it is so windy that it looks like the surface of the moon--nothing can grow.  We all beat Contador and Lance up the hill, though we left in an earlier wave, as it were.  

After descending from the cold summit, we waited for Lance to arrive.  The race caravan came by to toss out schwagg such as polka dot hats, Caisse d'Espargne dry fit shirts, and gummy worms.  All of a sudden the contenders flew past us.  Later, watching from TVs down the hill, we saw Contador counter Andy's attacks and Lance counter Frank's, securing all podium spots.  The riders averaged about 23 km/hr up the hill.  If that doesn't impress you, try to time your ride up Mt. Hamilton twice and see what you can maintain.  Then take all the EPO you can find and see if you can get anywhere close.

Federico says hi, and that he's looking for a way to come back to Stanford, though EPFL in Lausanne may steal him away.  He also wanted to remind Carlos to "push."

You'll see from the photo that we were proudly dropping the S-bomb all over the slopes of Ventoux.  Long live SUTT.

Ciao,

Tim, Jesse, and Federico

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Tim was impressive in completing 860 kilometers in six days, over the toughest mountains of the Tour. He awoke at dawn most days to ride. He never complained once. When we reached the top of Ventoux, it was cold and blustery, and he was out of food and without proper clothing. (I was feeling it, and I had only ridden 22 km that day.) We took a picture, and I could see his arms shaking from depletion and cold as he said, "We'd better head back down. I think I need to stop at one of those sandwich stands."

Tim showed incredible strength and determination in completing his ride. Well done, Tim, and thanks for carrying on the Rick's Ride tradition!

P.S.--Come back soon for updates--and much-improved photography alla Paigerazzi--about the Alpine adventures of the vecchio Italian tandem.]