So many of my worlds came together today and made it one I will never forget.I saw lots of friends, made others and watched the best riders in the world climb "my hill"–Lookout Mountain.
To have a race of this magnitude on roads I ride, going through the neighborhood I grew up in, passing my old high school somehow makes me appreciate my home even more. These riders can ride anywhere in the world. This race could've been anywhere, but they chose "my backyard". Can you imagine the super bowl being played in your neighborhood park?
People of all kinds came to watch. On Lookout, most rode their bikes up and were there early to draw signs on the road and cheer people, especially kids, riding to the top. Presumably some School of Mines engineering student wrote huge numbers for about a mile up the road–it was Pi! Cyclist watching cyclist all marveling at something different, there for various reason, yet watching the same race. Some to cheer a favorite rider, some to see just how fast they climb, others just to see the entourage. I just wanted to be there. I had no agenda. I was thrilled to "share" my favorite ride with the best and dreamed what it would be like to climb through the hysteria of people screaming and running beside me.
My mom, not the most mobile person, walked a few blocks to watch and was amazed and she told me how it really helped her understand my love of cycling. It's not the cycling I love, it's the love of cycling I loved yesterday.
