Cindy does “the triple” or “how to look like a cute drowned rat”

Seems like a lot of my friends are really hot, fit, outgoing blonds. In public they pretty much render me invisible (not that I mind – I like keeping a low profile and it’s *very* amusing watching them in action).

However, Cindy takes the cake with her looks, fashion sense/style, British accent, *confidence* and personality. Sometimes she’s a bit “over the top”. But she is adorable – whenever we are out on the town - the guys *literally* throw their phone numbers at her hoping she’ll call. Pretty much all my guy friends that have met her have fallen in instant lust with her. I’m just glad I’m not single – I’d *never* get a date hanging out with the likes of Cindy and Jeny.

Just so you don’t think I’m exaggerating – here’s a pic – she’s on the right.

So one might wonder how tough a girly-girl like Cindy is…well this weekend pretty much answered that question!

This weekend was The Triple ByPass. A 120 mile road ride over 3 mountain passes for the total of 10,000feet elevation gain. Not for the faint-of-heart or unfit. Cindy has been training hard for the past several months and July 8^th would be the day.

The Day begins early…

Cindy shows up at my house @ 5am on Saturday morning. She was driving Kit’s Honda Element and I brought my mtn bike

thinking I’d ride down Vail Pass and meet her and ride back up with her at the end of the ride. She was in good spirits on the drive.

The Start

It’s cloudy, overcast and cool at the start and we dress her in knee warmers, arm warmers, water-resistant vest and jacket. I was going to meet her in Idaho Springs - the ride over Squaw should take her around 2hours and the descent into Idaho Springs 30 minutes – she started at 6:15am and would be expecting her at 8:45am.

Here’s the last time she would be dry.

Da-dommm!

Idaho Springs

I drive to IS and it starts raining quite steadily. I worry about Cindy being cold due to the fact she doesn’t have waterproof gear on. I see riders descending into IS and they all look miserable. I feel bad because I told her not to take her extra fleece and I know at Squaw tops out at

11,2000elevation it’s freezing and the descent is gonna be brutal. I stop by StarBucks and get her a hot chocolate and wait. She reaches me at 8:40am – 5 minutes ahead of schedule and she’s soaked and frozen.

I get her in the car with the heater full blast. Her teeth are chattering and her lips are blue – I ask if she is going to continue one and she looks at me incredulously – and says

“WHAT?!?! You KNOW I am sistah!”

I won’t let her out of the car until she finishes her hot chocolate and clif bar. We put a vitamin water and regular water on her bike.

LUCKILY she had borrowed a waterproof rain jacket and brought 3 pairs of gloves. I had brought my arm and leg warmers. She strips down, put dry socks, arm/leg warmers, a dry vest, dry gloves and the waterproof jacket and off she goes.

Wow! Am I impressed.

It’s still raining….

Ride time: 2:25

Rest stop: 30 minutes

Georgetown

I drive to Georgetown and here’s what it looks like.

I wring out the wet knee/arm warmers and stuff them in the heater vents. I keep the heater running full blast in order to dry them out.

I expected her in 45 minutes at Georgetown – she makes it in 53 minutes. She stops briefly – we refill her water and off she goes.

It’s still raining…..

Ride time: :53 total ride time: 3:18

Rest stop: 8 minutes

Loveland Pass

I drive to Loveland and wait – it’s cold at the bottom of Loveland. I expect her in 1:30 and she makes it in 1:40. I force her to eat some PB&J – she’s not hungry and gagging as she eats – but she forces it down. she changes out her socks, gloves, arm/leg warmers. She takes her fleece for the Loveland descent. I make her promise me she’ll put it on before the descent. She’s in good spirits and says she is feeling good.

Off she goes @ 12:05 – it’s still raining….

Ride time: 1:35 total ride time 4:53

Rest stop: 30 minutes

Frisco High School

I stop for breakfast at Mtn Lyon in Silverthorne – yum…eggs/hash browns and toast. I think about Cindy while I eat. Man – she’s tough. I find a good parking spot at the High School expect her in 1:45 minutes – she rides up in 1:40. The same routine – switching out the clothes, force her to eat, and get her going. She’s still feeling good and doesn’t seem to be tired. Only 1 more climb left!!!

Ride time: 1:40 total ride time: 6:33

Rest stop: 20 minutes

Vali Pass

Just like clockwork – Cindy rides up.

She says this pass took it’s toll. She’s losing some of her spunk – but is hanging tough. We switch out clothes – I warn her it’s a LONG 21 miles to Avon. Draft someone if she can as there is usually always a headwind. I tell her it will be 1:15 until the finish.

Ride time: 1:30 total ride time: 8:03

Rest stop: 30 minutes

Finish – Total ride time: 9:13.

Here’s Cindy crossing the finish line.

She made it to Avon in 1:10 for the total ride time of 9:13. Amazing considering the conditions. If it had been dry she would have made it in 8:30.

We go to the car and she changes. Damn – after all that riding in the rain – she’s still looks good. How does she do it??

Big kudos to Cindy for riding strong and hanging tough.