Columbus Fall Challenge 1999

More than 30 Wheelmen regulars and associates took off from Lancaster in the early morning of October 2, 1999 for the Columbus Fall Challenge. Almost all in Blue MVW jerseys, the main pack of our folks hung together all day. The organizers had managed to improve on the number and grade of hills over last year, with the fast pace (Wheelmen don’t "tour".) leaving many in energy debt by Sunday. But that didn’t slow the pace; Will McLaughlin was seen pushing to 30 mph on the flats on the last leg that day, cruelly punishing some of the other nimrods who had earlier been blasting off the front.

For years now a group of maybe 10 to a max of 17 had happily dined at Marietta’s Levee house Saturday night. This year, having made a commitment for 19, we showed up with 31 and about shut down the kitchen. The long wait for food convinced us not to do that again. Next year it’s pizza and beer in the motel room.

Eric Snider was first in with a story on his ride. Here it is.

Veni, vidi, feci: I went, I saw, I completed. That is the short version of this year’s CFC. I think it is a mistake to say I enjoyed the CFC. The CFC is the most painful and physically challenging event I have accomplished each of the past three years. But there were enjoyable moments, in terms of weather, speeds, and companions, to this CFC.

Weather: it is difficult realistically to expect better weather for this time of year. Even though Saturday morning started a bit chilly in the mid-40s, it was clear skies all the way. By the end of the first stage, vests and jackets were stowed, and by the end of the second stage, most riders were down to shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. By the time one rode into Marietta, it was well into the upper-70s. The afternoon at the motel was perfectly enjoyable for shorts, sitting in the sun, and replacing lost fluids. Sunday started cool and cloudy in the mid-50s. Vests and jackets were not needed after the first climb. Most peeled off tights at the first stop, but it seemed to not warm up as quickly. It remained cloudy for most of the ride. However, by the time one arrived in Lancaster, it was in the low-70s.

Speeds: one can look forward to the CFC for generating one’s fastest speeds on a bike for the year. The past two years, I had reached maximum speeds of 47 and 46 mph. This year on Saturday, thanks in part to a very fast tandem from the Wolverine Cycling Club (on a blue Santana), some of us reached speeds over 50 mph (my recorded max was 51.8). That duo kept pace with most of us on the ascents, and most of us tried to draft off them on the descents and flats (if there were any). On one descent, I did not pedal for over ½ mile, with speeds in the upper 40s. On Sunday’s second section, Matt Thourot, Jon Wright, Roger Kingsberry, and I worked hard to chase down and form a paceline with another tandem (the yellow Co-Motion one). On one descent, which I thought full of too sharp of curves for a tandem, they still managed to pull away from us when we were sailing in the upper 40s. On the roll-out of that hill, an appropriately Appalachian-voiced gentleman in an appropriately beat-up automobile pulled up next to us. We of course expected the worst. Instead he rolled down his window, and giving us a "thumbs-up" said, "Y’all wor gon ‘bout forta-five dan thet heel!" I guess we made his morning! On rolling terrain, the tandem would pull off the front and make Matt, Jon, and I take a pull to give them a break. We’d each pull about a minute, at about 23 mph. I was last in the group, and when I’d pull off and the duo would take over, I’d have to chase the back of the line as the pace increased to over 24 mph.

Companions: in each of the three years I have ridden the CFC I have ridden some of it alone. This year I rode alone only when forced to by being dropped from the group I was riding with. On Saturday, I got dropped during the fourth stage. I lost some contact with the MVW pack on one of the tougher ascents; then some cars passed me and got between me and the pack, and the pack continued to move away. I rode most of that fourth section alone, occasionally hooking up for a bit with a friend or stranger. On Sunday, I rode the entire first section with the MVW pack. On the second section I rode with the folks mentioned above. On the third and fourth sections, I rode with Gerry Davis. On the fourth section, I thought once about dropping Gerry. I seemed to be less slow (it would be a mistake to say "faster"—it is hard to conceive of 6 mph as significantly faster than 5 mph) on the steepest ascents. On one long ascent, I had opened up about 100 yards on him. I pedaled easy for a short distance, looked back, and decided to go on ahead. One minute later I looked back and he seemed to be closing the gap. So I decided to wait for him. We rode pretty close together the rest of the way (except he said I exhibited less fear than he on the descents).

Last Updated 03/19/08