It was a Friday. I received unsolicited intelligence from an undisclosed source that Floyd Landis was in town. A few minutes later that intelligence was independently verified twice by two 4th-hand observers. Yes indeed "Floyd Landis is in town". My suspicion started to rise that Mr. Landis would show up at a local ride the following day. So my peeps convened via mobile-cellular technology (texting) and we decided to discretely rendezvous at the non-disclosed location the following morning at O-10-hundred hours. We arrived and waited and looked around. No sign yet. Then and after a while the one and only, 2006 Tour de France champion, Floyd Landis arrived at the location of the ride departure. There were about 20 cyclist gathered. There was no "star-struckness". I remained cool.
We were off. At times he was on my wheel. At other times I was on his wheel. We stopped at stop signs and red lights together. I heard the same voice in the paceline that I have heard on OLN and VERSUS interviews during the Tours de France. My friend (codename) "Butterscotch" unknowingly tried to run him off the road as we climbed up the short and steep Potato Gap. Floyd was boxed in as we were climbing more slowly in front of him. I blurted, "don't let him out!". We chuckled. Ha ha. There goes Floyd up the climb ahead of us. I can't hang with that. I am hurting. I hoped that I would not get dropped on this rare-opportunity ride. I dropped my chain. Oh, the team car is waiting on me. I hang on to the car as we go up a few of the short climbs. I wasn't going to get dropped. There were no officials, so pull me all the way up. Thanks! ...again, over and over....thanks!
It was like a normal ride.....a normal ride with Floyd Landis. It was pretty cool. He had yellow shoes on. He once wore a yellow jersey. Outside of Marshall, we raced a locomotive going down the tracks beside us. I witnessed Floyd waving at the train conductor. The train conductor waved back. Oh how cool, "he is normal" I thought to myself. The train blew its horn loud. I was getting dropped. I got dropped. Behind me the team car was closing in with several other cyclist drafting behind it. I "got on" and was saved from getting dropped all-together. We rode at 32 mph drafting the team car up the slight grade to catch Floyd's group. This ride would have been fun even if Floyd wasn't here. This is a good day.
My bicycle recording device gathered this elevation-distance profile. I did not take any pictures to protect the innocent. I have memories and some sore legs. It was a great ride. Now I can say that I rode with Floyd Landis. That is cool. Just another day in the Life of Frank. Let me be. Over and out!
Rory Sutherland was on the ride too. The 2008 NRC individual winner.
The Turkey Day ride consisted of 3 hours, 37 miles and 3,862 feet of climbing.
The post Turkey Day ride consisted of 4 hours, 49 miles and 6,043 feet of climbing.
Yeah, I'm ready for the GobbleDays! I have my 5 pounds of Ethiopian Coffee straight from the Yirgacheffe's! Lets Worka!
We were off. At times he was on my wheel. At other times I was on his wheel. We stopped at stop signs and red lights together. I heard the same voice in the paceline that I have heard on OLN and VERSUS interviews during the Tours de France. My friend (codename) "Butterscotch" unknowingly tried to run him off the road as we climbed up the short and steep Potato Gap. Floyd was boxed in as we were climbing more slowly in front of him. I blurted, "don't let him out!". We chuckled. Ha ha. There goes Floyd up the climb ahead of us. I can't hang with that. I am hurting. I hoped that I would not get dropped on this rare-opportunity ride. I dropped my chain. Oh, the team car is waiting on me. I hang on to the car as we go up a few of the short climbs. I wasn't going to get dropped. There were no officials, so pull me all the way up. Thanks! ...again, over and over....thanks!
My bicycle recording device gathered this elevation-distance profile. I did not take any pictures to protect the innocent. I have memories and some sore legs. It was a great ride. Now I can say that I rode with Floyd Landis. That is cool. Just another day in the Life of Frank. Let me be. Over and out!
The cement is poured! The rush was to get this in before the winter set in. Just in time, it was freezing cold this weekend when I visited the cabin site.
To stay warm, I set up my tarp as close as possible to the fire. It was forecasted to easily be in the 20's! I was prepared.
I built a big fire! This thing kept me very warm and it was a peaceful, clear and cold night. The moon was very bright. Made it easy to get around at night without any lights.
What a collection of strange shots. 
Gotta go? This is where you go!
The forms are set.
The cement mix is ready.
The mixing and pouring begin.
