Well sports fans and avid cyclists, the NECS/MRC Non Race series is officially underway with the Chinaman 100 in the books. In keeping with the international theme of the non race the course was just over 100 kilometers as opposed to the American standard of 100 miles.
Braveheart arrived at the NECS HQ the night before to find Mr & Mrs. C-Dubbs in full party mode and pretty much in the bag. Never one to shy away from a good time our fearless Scotsman joined into the fray with all the gusto we know him for. We were all excited as the non race day conditions were calling for sunshine and temps in the mid 60s – very fung shui for the month of March especially when you
recall last year at this time.
Morning dawned with severe fog warnings, made even more severe for Braveheart after translating the course map and directions, but clearing conditions for later in the day. With fingers crossed, our belles full from Bethquitos (
a variant of the infamous Team Seagal braquito) and our Farmer’s Almanac in hand we headed out for drive to the starting point at the Ashokan Resevouir. Anxious to put his driving skills to the test Braveheart had the A3 revved up and was ready to heat up the asphalt over the twisting back roads only to be frustrated by a continual stream of soccer moms and horse trailers. None of this deterred us from being the first to arrive thus allowing Braveheart to make a final translation of the course route.
Rolling out of the parking lot the numbers were very light with the fog putting a damper on the participation. MacGyver was nursing the binky, Fat Chick on the beach in Florida, Infantile Tom at yet another “tent sale”, Obamador joining Mikesquatch as MIA, Muttonchops in Taiwan and Senor Agua in search of snowy ski slopes. Top Chef and Hobo Slayer immediately moved to the lead and set a crisp pace to the base of the feared grinder – the 10 mile slog to Hunter Mountain.
As we started the ascent the damage from last year’s storms was evident with temporary sections of road and a large steel bridge washed from its foundation.
Regrouping after a series of steep short pitches near the bottom we were warned by a toothless local hag to watch out for the speeding 18 wheelers carrying large boulders (when was the last time you saw a loaded semi “speeding “ up a 15 degree hill?). Fearing that she was sizing up the group for possible life of sexual slavery we remounted and set off for the summit with Top Chef, Hobo Slayer and Paul Le Tour leading the pain train while C-Dubbs and Braveheart were off the back. Always one to be prepared for anything that might happen, Braveheart showed his Tibetan Sherpa roots hauling the pack of supplies for the team to the top.
Once over the summit we choo-chooed the man train over the rollers for the descent of 23A through the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. For those that have not made this descent (and this was cherry popping time for me) it is one of the fastest and scariest sections of road with straight sections linked by slight kinks that suddenly become hairpin turns on asphalt soaked from waterfalls. Sherpa Braveheart put on a demonstration that left yours truly in awe, quickly moving from the back to the front and disappearing from sight with only melted asphalt as a reminder that he was still out there.
Hobo Slayer and C-Dubbs, both from the tribe of lesser descending skills, arrived at the base to find Braveheart refreshed, rested and looking like a man that had enough time to enjoy a cocktail while waiting for his mates. Rolling along we suffered a true Chinaman moment at one intersection where no one had any idea what was going on or where to go. With directions sorted we made a pit stop at this “theme establishment” where we caught this candid moment.
Making the final turn for home C-Dubbs encountered shifting issues (gee what a surprise)
while Braveheart was beginning to show the strains of hauling a massive load up the mountain. Losing the middle range of gears I watched as TC, HS and PLT made the break for the infamous MRC espresso stop
where Braveheart rolled in a broken man.
Jacked on some most excellent java we spun out the final couple of miles to the finish at the Ashokan and another successful NECS/MRC non race.
From there is was off to race organizer Top Chef’s casa for fine yeasty malted beverages, hot dogs and hot tubs. Next up on 7/7 – Grand Fondo!
The NECS Grand Fondo/BBQ will retain it's name but under syndication from the MRC. This splendid mid summer event will continue to be run by Mr & Mrs C-Dubbs with C-Dubbs leading the pain train over the course and Mrs. C-Dubbs running the top notch BBQ.
The granddaddy of them all, Beer Cross (the bastard child of Team Seagal's Cxmas) will be passed on from C-Dubbs to the linguistics master/translator and king of partying, our beloved MacBraveheart.
Stay tuned for more details with the Grand Fondo scheduled for Saturday 7/7.
