TREXLERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
This would be my last “training” ride before France, although training occurs over months and not a day or two before an event. This was just meant to be a fun day on the bike.
A FULL NARRATIVE WILL BE ADDED LATER. FOR NOW HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS
The Hincapie Gran Fondo Lehigh Valley was set to approximate a Spring Classic route. “We’re rolling the short climbs of Flanders, the smooth dirt sections of Strade Bianche, and the iconic velodrome finish of Paris-Roubaix all into one epic ride.”
It had short, steep, punchy hills (I saw 20% on one climb), 18 of them at least. It had gravel and dirt – none too dangerous for 32mm tires, and a finish on the velodrome. And being spring, it had rain.
It rained all night before the ride and was still raining when we lined up at 7:45 a.m. The rain ended at 9:45 a.m. The course was harder than I expected probably because I didn’t study the course. It had 4400′ of elevation gain over 55 miles (1351m / 89km).
After the ride I saw George Hincapie. He saw my jersey and aksed if that was the Alpe d’Huez on the jersey. I told him I didn’t know but that I was going over next week to the Pyrenee and will be climbing the Col du Tourmalet. He paused for a second and then said, “That one is tough.”
Indeed, George, Indeed.
