July 31, 2004
Philadelphia Insurance was a
sponsor of this charity ride. Proceeds
benefit the Variety Club that provides programs and services for children with
disabilities in the Delaware Valley.
Employees were permitted to ride without needing to register
individually or submit the required $110 minimum donation. This was the 17th annual event
but the first time for my participation.
The ride began at the Irish Pub on 20th Street in
Philadelphia and ended at the Irish Pub in Atlantic City. Total of 65 miles. More on this event can be found at http://www.varietyphila.org.
 |
As with most rides of my
rides…this also had its share of misadventures. Guess this started the day before the ride. Since this was a one-way event, RePete did
not wish his steed to be ‘trucked’ back.
Made arrangements and drove down to Atlantic City a day early. This to park and leave my car overnight near
the end of the tour. The Irish Pub
does have a web site at http://www.theirishpub.com
that advertises the hotel…and from the info and photos provided, the
accommodations appeared attractive. So
enlisted the help of the Mrs. to drive our second car and we were off. Well…the hotel is located on St. James. Anyone that knows Monopoly is aware this
property is not too pricy. This may be
partly due to St. James is not much more than a block long and difficult to
locate. Yes…RePete with the Mrs.
following behind drove around and around Atlantic City before locating. Once at the destination the worst was over I
thought.
Ah…now simply to inform the
hotel manager that I intended to leave my car parked in their lot. The gent that introduced himself as the
manager was unique along with the hotel.
He was disheveled at the least but cooperative. Advising he could not approve parking in the
lot and suggested that I write my request down. He would pass that along to the owner. With that now done, I joined the Mrs. in her car for the trip
home. It then dawn on me what I had
just done…provided info to this guy of dubious character that my car would be
unattended until the next day! I had
dreams that night of finding my car up on blocks, missing the engine, wheels
and more!!
Awoke on tour day at 4:40 and
put thoughts of my car behind me.
Things went well at first. The
Mrs. drove me to Woodcrest Station where I boarded PATCO for the remaining trip
to Philadelphia. Exited at the 16th
Street station and biked the few blocks to the Irish Pub. Registration started the day…this was
loosely organized. The line for those
that pre-registered was long and slow. Those
that were registering that day, the line was short and fast. I was pre-registered. Not sure what was the problem but seems the
now common liability waiver needed to be completed. Maybe pens were few…maybe the people needed to read the
waiver…whatever the reason, the line moved at a snails pace. Eventually, I reached the desk and completed
this form and received my ride packet.
Except for the ride number, there was little else of value within this
envelope. Some regular bandages which
would have been useless in any type of accident. Emergency telephone numbers that could be used if I had a cell
phone. I had hoped to find a tee
shirt…but none had been included. There
was the ride directions. These would
prove to be useless…but more on this later.
A ray of fortune did shine…noticed three beauties and thought that if I
was only in my 30’s and unmarried.
Regardless, asked one to attach the number to my jersey. She cooperated and now I was officially
#93. I thanked them, wished good luck
on their ride, and put further fantasies out of my mind.
No sooner did the ride start
at 7:45, that new problems developed…the cyclometer was not functioning
properly. A quick stop attempted to
correct the problem. This required a
second stop near City Hall. Success…with
the cyclometer now providing the speed, I believed the last of my evil spirits
had been quelled.
The riders were required to
use the pedestrian walkway over the Ben Franklin Bridge. Those that are familiar know that the Camden
side has a long stairway. This caused a
significant backup as each rider dismounted and took the walk down to the
street below. All went well along
Haddon Avenue and out past the first rest stop. Somewhere beyond, my back started to hurt. Could not get any power into my pedal stokes
and felt generally uncomfortable. It
was not until the second rest stop near the mid-point of the tour that I
noticed the seat was at a 45-degree angle!
Looked for a support vehicle…but none was to be seen. Without a hex wrench, the seat refused to
return to a level position. Could not
believe my steed was misbehaving. I
could remain at the rest stop and let all the rider pass me. Instead elected to head out in hopes that a
support vehicle would come along.
Several miles later found a roadside volunteer and informed him of my
problem. As we spoke…there passing
nearby but just out of shouting distance was the Bike Line support truck. Fortune was really playing games with
me. If I had not stopped to talk to the
volunteer, I would have been on the same road with the support truck. Instead, there I stood as the truck
disappeared in the distance!
Well…perhaps many would realize to simply surrender. But this is RePete…
Once again mounted my steed
with the seat at a 45 degree angle and continued. Mile after mile passed as I gazed into my mirror hoping to see
the support truck. I had nearly given-up. But suddenly there it was…right next to
me. Could this really be??? Was it a mirage??? I began to shout and scream…oh such a wonderful sight to
behold!! The truck slowed and
stopped. And of all things…the mechanic
was a woman!!! Maybe fate decided that
I had been toyed with enough.
With my seat now level…my
steed and I pushed on. What could go
wrong now??? I did not need to wait
long. Began drafting behind a pair of
cyclist and was enjoying my new found good fortune. The rider in front was providing some sorely needed protection
from a nasty headwind. He began to slow
down…a bit too much for me. Decided to
pass…only at this point he decided to release a booger from his nose!! God, I thought, what is next…
I should not have ventured this
thought… now with the temperature around 90 degrees, found that I missed a turn
shortly past the final rest stop and now was on my lonesome. There were no riders, no support trucks and
the cue sheet provided at registration proved useless. Using my own sense of direction, and some
help from a motorist, found my way onto Route 30 and back on the tour. This was a mixed blessing. The wind was blowing in off the ocean at about
20 mph. RePete was forced to face this
for the next several miles without the benefit of another rider. At times the cyclometer dipped below 10 mph
as the wind blew. This stretch of the
highway passes over the marshland leading into Atlantic City. Except for some billboards, there is nothing
to block the wind. Each billboard passed
ever so slowly…one after the other. I
knew there was a small bridge that is just outside of Atlantic City. I simply focused on reaching this bridge and
kept my head down low.
The bridge arrived after what
seemed like days…but then it happened, my left leg began to seize. To stop would probably mean that my leg
would be completely immobile. The tour
would not be completed just a couple of miles from the end. For over 20 years of cycling that includes
well over 25,000 miles, only one tour was voluntarily not completed…the idea of
not finishing this tour was quickly discarded.
Downshifted into an easier gear and kept the leg going. Each stroke brought a new shot of pain. Soon was within the shadows of the tall
casino buildings of Atlantic City. These
broke the brunt of the wind and allowed my leg to recover. Turned off of Route 30 onto Martin Luther
King Boulevard that leads to the final mile and to the Irish Pub.
Turned onto Saint James
expecting to see throngs of riders…none were seen. What was this??? I could
see the Irish Pub but no riders. Was
the party over??? Was I at the wrong
location??? Was my car still parked
where it was left the day before???
Were the tires and engine still in place???? After 65 miles and conquering so many obstacles, what did fate
have in store for RePete????
 |
Ah…there standing in front of
the hotel was an angel of mercy pointing out the party was in back of the
hotel. RePete had simply ridden down
the wrong street. An entrance to the
party was at the end of an alley next to the hotel. The party was in full swing.
RePete headed straight for a couple of hamburgers…then for the
beer. Found a seat in the shade and
began to enjoy my rewards for participating.
Looked at the gent next to me…this was the former Philadelphia police
commissioner John Timothy!!! We chatted
but my beleaguered mind could not really carry on anything coherently. Had a photo taken of us and thanked him. Then went for more refreshments.
Eventually wandered out to my
car…yes, there were the tires and the engine still in place. Once the bike was installed on the rack,
climbed in and turned on the air conditioner to maximum. Thought back about this ride…smiled and
thought…WHAT A GREAT RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RePete
You can now visit Freewheel’n.
These are also submitted and published in the South Jersey
Wheelmen’s monthly newsletter. You can read my latest
release by visiting this site after the middle of each month.
Then there are the Quale sites where topics are varied, like the
highly imaginative Tales of Pauline.
Also visit the Quote site that contain your comments. Here you
will find submissions on Bicyclist Against Helmets and many other
issues and links. Additionally, don’t forget to visit the South Jersey
Wheelmen and the Outdoor Club of
South Jersey web sites.
