Just "Plain" crazy?

[email hidden] (Smitty) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

A friend and I once arranged a car shuttle event we called, "Cycle Down Oregon I," in honor of the
popular "Cycle Oregon" annual ride. We dropped one vehicle off in Hood River, then hauled our
bikes up to Timberline Lodge, on Mount Hood.

The lodge is at an elevation of 8,540 feet ASL. The town of Hood River is approximately 154 feet
ASL. The equates to a vertical drop of almost 8,400 feet over approximately 50 miles. In truth,
the roadway dips up and down around the mountain, then runs through a few river canyons, do it
isn't all downhill by any stretch. It was, however, terrific fun with many breakneck downhill
stretches.

Smitty, you've duplicated (mostly) the Summit to Surf charity ride that's held at the end of July
(see www.summittosurf.org ). On StS, you have to ride *up* to Timberline, but that just warms you up
enough to freeze on the way back down!

Two years ago my wife conked out after getting dehydrated on the climb. She got sagged into Hood
River (the support is excellent- food, mechanical, and medical are covered), leaving me to banzai
down from Bennett Pass alone. One upright rider tucked in behind me (I was on my Tour Easy) and
stayed on my rear wheel for about ten miles. When the road flattened out, he pulled alongside and
said "I tried to come around you, but every time I did I went backwards!" Pretty pleasing feeling,
if I must say so myself.

Jeff

[email hidden] (Smitty) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I would submit that Mr. Dolan (of pancake-like Minnesota) is the one who's "Plain" crazy.

A friend and I once arranged a car shuttle event we called, "Cycle Down Oregon I," in honor of the
popular "Cycle Oregon" annual ride. We dropped one vehicle off in Hood River, then hauled our
bikes up to Timberline Lodge, on Mount Hood.

The lodge is at an elevation of 8,540 feet ASL. The town of Hood River is approximately 154 feet
ASL. The equates to a vertical drop of almost 8,400 feet over approximately 50 miles. In truth,
the roadway dips up and down around the mountain, then runs through a few river canyons, do it
isn't all downhill by any stretch. It was, however, terrific fun with many breakneck downhill
stretches.

My suggestion to cyclists who abhor climbing, descending, cold, heat, moisture, or any other
natural condition is to buy a trainer and stay your hovel.

Smitty is the classic cheater. To get a lift up a mountain and then to ride your bicycle down it for
free is not sporting at all. No, if I am going to ride down a mountain, then I will ride up it too.
Then it is earned and I am not cheating.

The mountain ski resorts of the West are full of characters like Smitty who like to get some thing
on the cheap without working for it. I have no respect for them at all. My suggestion to Smitty is
to take up the "sport" of jumping out of airplanes, with a parachute of course. He apparently
worships at the altar of falling fast, whether on a bike or any other way I suspect. But that is
because, like I said before, he is crazy!

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

Edward Dolan said:

Smitty is the classic cheater. To get a lift up a mountain and then to ride your bicycle down it
for free is not sporting at all. No, if I am going to ride down a mountain, then I will ride up it
too. Then it is earned and I am not cheating....

"Downhill Racing: I consider this fad to be bad for cycling, and contrary to the spirit of cycling.
It is effectively just a variant form of motorcycle racing, since the power is provided by the
machinery that carries the rider and bike to the top of the run. Bicycling should be a human-powered
activity, or it is not bicycling." - Sheldon Brown

<http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_d.html#downhill>.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities

"Downhill Racing: I consider this fad to be bad for cycling, and contrary to the spirit of cycling.>>

Crosscountry skiers originally felt the same way about downhill racers.

Same goes for skiing.

Smitty:

I once ran the first leg of the "Hood to Coast" relay, which started at Timberline. Fastest 10K I
ever ran. (About a 6 min/mile pace.) And I wasn't even trying. In fact, I was holding back for fear
of injuring myself. Just about wrecked my quads and my knees though. I ran two more legs after that,
but the last one was pretty slow. That has to be about the most insane foot race on the planet.

--
--Scott
"Smitty" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I would submit that Mr. Dolan (of pancake-like Minnesota) is the one
who's "Plain" crazy.

A friend and I once arranged a car shuttle event we called, "Cycle
Down Oregon I," in honor of the popular "Cycle Oregon" annual ride. We
dropped one vehicle off in Hood River, then hauled our bikes up to
Timberline Lodge, on Mount Hood.

The lodge is at an elevation of 8,540 feet ASL. The town of Hood River
is approximately 154 feet ASL. The equates to a vertical drop of
almost 8,400 feet over approximately 50 miles. In truth, the roadway
dips up and down around the mountain, then runs through a few river
canyons, do it isn't all downhill by any stretch. It was, however,
terrific fun with many breakneck downhill stretches.

My suggestion to cyclists who abhor climbing, descending, cold, heat,
moisture, or any other natural condition is to buy a trainer and stay
your hovel.

Brian Broomer <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Same goes for skiing.

"Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face."
- Dave Barry

Ed Dolan - Minnesota