One of the reasons I started riding in the summer of 2004, I had started (OK... OK I was well on my way) to
So it was very early, on a cool June morning I head off to Niagara Community College to Ride the Buffalo - Niagara regions TDC. This is a fund raising event for the national organization. There is a $150.00 minimum that each rider must raise, seeing as I participated in 2 events, that ups my minimum to $300.00. With the tremendous support from many friends, family and colleagues, I did meet these goals. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL.
Arriving at NCC, I proceed to the check in, then the start area. With a big hoopla we are off.
This course is relatively flat. It starts out meandering towards Old Fort Niagara. In the beginning I hook up with the lead group, and these boys are hammering. I manage to hang with them for the first 27 miles before I'm spit out the back of the pace line. We cover that distance in 1h 9m., now that's moving right along. One of the great features of this ride is there are marshals at every intersection, stopping traffic so we riders did not have to stop. Gives you the feeling that we are in one of the major races/ ours held with the big boys !!! The next 30 miles follow the coast line of Lake Ontario with a slight tailwind this is a nice stroll. 
I have ridden this route many times, yet always enjoy the sights. At the 50 mile mark, there is a rest stop at Golden State Park. This is a beautiful little state park that has a lighthouse there that was built in the mid 1800's. Also in true TDC flair, lunch is served. 
Originally I felt that leaving Golden State Park by 11:30am would put me on a very good pace for the day. Well I'm out of there before 10:15.......Having reached the lowest elevation point of the day, its time to start working a little harder. Not only is there a slight uphill climb for the next 50 miles, the tailwinds have become headwinds. Seems all I've ridden in this spring has been nasty headwinds. I hook up with another pace line that is a more reasonable speed. We start clicking off miles
...then disaster strikes. One of the riders made some type of mistake, and flipped ass over teakettle. Landed squarely on his back, and destroyed his helmet. I cannot stress enough the need to where a helmet when you ride. Especially after witnessing this crash. The rider was dazed and in a mild shock, having suffered a mild concussion. Who knows how more severe this would be if not for the helmet. One of the great benefits of organized rides is the abundance of SAG (support and gear), and medical help. A SAG wagon happened upon us within 3 minutes of the crash, and took the rider to the next SAG stop in Royalton. I did see this rider in Royalton, and he was overall ok(nothing broken) he was very , very sore and had a massive headache.Next on to Rapids fire hall, where I had to wait out tornado warnings last year. Nothing of the sort this year. We are blessed with sunny skies, cool temps. I meet a rider there who was sporting a TOSRV jersey from 2007. He is shaped like how I was two years ago and pretty tired.I invite him to draft me the rest of the way. So I pull him the last 20 miles. There is a huge difference being in someones draft. You use 40% less energy and power sitting behind another rider out of the wind. There are a couple of bumps we go over, then arrive at NCC for the finish,
complete with music, food, and a beer & wine garden. A pretty good ride overall, my time is a personal best for a century at 5h47m.Sunday Morning comes a little to quick. I'm a little sluggish getting up, yet my legs feel good and ready for an adventure. Today's ride starts and ends at Mendon Ponds Park. Cheryl and I arrive , get the bikes ready, then check in.
She will be riding the metric(100 Kilometers...62.25.miles) and me, the century. The same hoopla as yesterday sends us off on our way. Charyl's route heads off in a different direction at first, then with routes merge on and off for the duration. The route heads thru Rush to the Genesse river , then turns south. We meet up at the rest stop near Avon, 26 miles in. Then ride together to the first climb after that we separate and ride at our own pace. Now we are in the area where I train often. West of the river , south of RT 20. In Genesseo, there is a steep climb up into the College. Then a pleasant ride north on RT 39 to Avon, were the
Avon FD always makes you feel so welcome. After this I turn south on Pole Bridge Rd. This is a new road added this year. I liked it tho others complained bitterly. Pole Bridge keeps rising, and rising, and rising. There are 3 short steep (over 10%grade) climbs that really grab your attention.Once you reach Rt20A, its a quick decent into Lakeville, where lunch is served. I must say Buffalo has better road Marshals, but Rochester has the best food of any ride. Tom Wahls had fantastic wraps and salads for all. 
Now time for a spin around Conesus Lake. I stop back in Lakeville and top off with water,for there are only 30 miles left, and I fell pretty good so this is my last planned stop. It's basically down hill to Avon, and a slight tailwind. This makes for a good pace. Coming out of Avon, there is a climb where the DEC is located. A few where struggling up this. This is also where the 40 & 62 mile routes join together for the finally push back to Mendon Ponds. The 40 mile rides have a large variety of bikes. there are many comfort, mountain bike types, a few Walmart specials mixed in. There are two hefty climbs after Honeoye Falls, on Clover St, just before the new traffic circle at 251. It takes a little more than usual to get over these, but that's expected seeing as I'm nearing 190 miles in two days.Mendon Ponds Park is a welcome site. There is the same Hoopla as
yesterday at the finish, along with live bands and dinner catered by Outback Steakhouse. Like I mentioned earlier...Rochester sure knows how to put on the feedbag.Time for the ride 6H27m
Total miles for the weekend...103.6m
Total time.........................11h14m
Total elevation .................6726 ft
Not bad for an old fart
Well I was able to complete another double century in consecutive days, and raise a fair amount of money for a good cause. This is the only time each year I solicit donations for a ride. I feel it is unfair to all to be asked a couple times a year for funds. I know I would grow tired of it if someone asked me 3-4 times a year for charity fund raisers.
Tale of two rides.
Niagara Falls Profile.
Elevation gain 1960 ft
Rochester Profile
Elevation gain 4766 ft
I would like to once again thank all who contributed to these rides, and hope that you will continue to support me in the up coming years.
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