INAUGURAL POMAN!--After a week delay from work deadlines, attempted PoMan today. Aim was to do free, unsupported Ironman AquaBike. Switched sequence: bike first, then open-air swim. Started with tri club’s Saturday ride, which bumped into high-spirited Tour de Cure ride. Ill omen tho: ride leader eyed us suspiciously, thinking we were bandits in a charity ride. Took the gorgeous Whites Ferry route on a gorgeous day past Poolsville and to Leesburg. You know you’re in rural Maryland when the ferrys are named after guys named Jubal. Things fine until hexed at mile 66 (66.6?), when chain broke & derailleur cracked. About to call taxi when miraculously saved by DCTri clubber, aptly named Joy, who happened by & knew of Green Lizard bike shop 2 miles away. (Green Lizard is about as apt a name for a bike store as Freshbikes.) Cleats hurt legs, so walked barefoot to the shop. Not saying the pavement was hot, but several East Indians, spotting my feet skidding along on sweat, cried out, “Fakir!”--I hotly replied I wasn’t faking it, but my chain really was broke. Derailleur hangers a rare item, so mechanic attached something called an “emergency derailleur hanger” that blocks out some of the gears. Lost several hours, but great shop got me back on the trail. Arrived at Hains Pt. with only 101 miles, but feared pool would close before getting the swim in. Feared even more that legs would be leaden enough to make bullets for the Hains park police. Poor Man pool fee: zippy, even for out of towners, as crack pool personnel were too bored to check ID. Legs turned out fine, stroke smooth, but nauseous in stomach & chest, likely from all the goos & G’ade slopping around. Could just do 3,800 before closing. Cheated of IM AV by 400 swim yards & 11 bike miles. As Shakespeare said of Richard III, who started an innovative Bike to the Battle ride back in the day, and whose royal two-wheeler broke down during a pivotal fight: “My kingdom for a derailleur hanger!” Still, event fee: $0.0, and total cost of drinks & snacks: $19.43, ntm the $35 in repairs. Need to do this again after a good tune-up, for you cant keep a poboy down. https://facebook/PoMan2014
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 01:29:03 +0000
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