I've Turned Pro

I've turned pro. Or, at least it seems that way. After 2 straight weekends of riding with members of Team Radio Shack/Nissan, no one can doubt my newly established bike cred.

Let's rewind to the first weekend in June. With Nissan as the title sponsor for the Michigan Tour De Cure, a VIP ride for the top fundraisers is arranged for June 4 in Chelsea, Mi. As a special bonus, 2 Team Radio Shack/Nissan riders are going to attend the event. And who were the honored guests? None other than Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer, fresh off their 1 - 2 finish at the recent Tour of California.

Levi arrived in Ann Arbor on Friday, a day before the event. He had said he wanted to ride once he arrived. It was my friend, and riding partner, J. Schaffer's idea to scout a nice route out. We found one along Huron River Drive on Thursday night. It was a nice route with low traffic volumes that flowed beside the Huron River. The out and back would cover just over 20 miles.

We assembled in the hotel lobby, kits on and bikes ready. After a brief discussion, we set off, 5 riders in a relaxed group. After some dicey maneuvering though the traffic in downtown Ann Arbor, which Levi lead us through as if he'd led the route a hundred times, we found our way onto Huron River Drive. The traffic thinned, the tarmac, save for one very bumpy stretch at the start (which comes into play on the return) was clean and smooth.

We are not sure where the slight took place, or whether there was one. Perhaps Levi was tuning up for his dominating Tour De Suisse TT, but what started out as a comfortable pace suddenly became a very quick tempo. Levi was out front, and cared not about the carnage he was unleashing in the small peloton trailing in his wake.

It was less of a pace line than a Levi line. I don't think anyone dared take a turn on the front for fear that the reaction from Levi would be swift, and without mercy.

On and on we went, at a pace higher than I am uses to. Out past the metro parks and on a little further, until Levi decided it was time to turn around and head back, we had dinner reservations afterall. So madly back we went, only now there was a wind gusting occasionally.

By now I was actually feeling good about my riding. I was hanging in there. Up the small hill, down the other side. 14 miles, 15 miles, hell I can do this, I thought. J and I were floating along, and still managing a nice conversation. 16 miles, 17 miles, 18 miles....

And that is when "it" happened. At the exact time we hit that rough patch of road, a strong gust of wind blasted us for just the smallest moment. That was all it took, a small gap opened between J and I and the other 3 riders. The gap opened, and try as we might, we could not close it. We would not be together as a group again until we met for a quick coffee at Zingermans.

The following day was the VIP ride for the Tour De Cure in Michigan. Chris Horner had arrived while were out for the Friday ride, and joined Levi as the special guests of the event. The 2 of them were fantastic, and gracious, and made everyone feel relaxed. The event offered 20 mile, 44 mile, and 75 mile options, with a single rest stop that everyone could use before the splits.

Levi and Chris sat in the rest area, answering questions, signing autographs, posing for photos, and generally just being themselves; genuine, real, approachable people.

The 2 of them rode the 44 mile option. Levi had a plane to Switzerland (HUGE CONGRATS!!!), Chris back for TDF training. J and I tackled the 75 miler, which only 5 other riders did.

It was a great weekend of riding. J and I rode Thursday night, twice on Friday, the main event on Saturday, and a recovery ride on Sunday.

The following weekend, June 11, was the Harpeth River Ride in Nashville, Tn. I did this ride last year with J., and it was amazing. Last year Nissan brought in 3 pros, Chechu Rubiera, Bjorn Selander, and Mathew Buche.

This years line up had Ben King, Bjorn (he liked it so much he came back), and as a very special guest, Lance Armstrong.

I arrived in Nashville Thursday night, and had a drinks and a nice dinner with J. We talked about the weekend, and that with all the swirl around Lance, there would probably be little opportunity, other than the ride on Saturday, where we would start in the VIP group.

In the celebrity world, plans are, shall we say, fluid. Just as I was settling in for an easy Friday, J informed me that "Lance wants to ride". My marching orders were to assemble various items for the group, there would be 6 of us, and proceed to the hotel at 1pm. I was, under no conditions, "to look like you are loitering". I am not sure how I will do that, but I vowed to do my best. We would depart at 130 for an hour and a half or so.

I arrive as instructed, but J intercepts me in the lobby, whisking me off to a room on the 7th floor. I guess my potential to look like a loiterer was just too high to risk. We get kitted up, and proceed to the lobby.

We gather, and Lance joins our group. It is oddly calm, as we go about pumping tires, making intro's and small talk. I am nervous. I am not sure what to say, but I fumble along. J is engaged, Lance knows him. I am just there, and perfectly fine with it.

After a few ker-fluffles, and a fast trip to a nearby bike store, we set off. Lance is anonymous on the road. For all anyone knows, he is just another rider in our group. As we ride, I was secretly hoping that some yahoo would roll past us yelling "go Lance" like they do to me when I ride in Michigan. The joke being that we REALLY had Lance with us.

Almost immediately, Lance is unhappy with the shifting of his bike. We stop, he plays with it, and we start again. Still unhappy, we pull safely off to the side of the road, and he sets to fixing it in earnest. He produces a small Leatherman tool from his saddle bag, and starts completely re-adjusting his rear deraileur. I stand next to him, holding his bike steady as he works. The scene strikes me as funny. Here is the most famous cyclist on the planet, sitting on his ass in the street fixing his bike. And I am holding his bike. J documents the rare moment with his camera.

Unlike the terrorizing Levi ride of a week before, this ride was very relaxed and enjoyable. Lance was terrific; friendly and very funny.

We did a nice out and back for about 2 hours, including the stop time. On the way back, we made an impromptu stop over at Nissan HQ to see how the preparations were carrying on for the next days event. People were there, enjoying the amazing Nissan displays, or picking up their packets. It was here that celebrity chaos commenced.

No one knew that Lance would be stopping in, but word spread like wild fire, and what started out as a small, manageable crowd was swelling fast. Lance was so gracious with each person. I wondered how he could handle this, day in and day out. He signed as much as he could, and posed for many pictures, always a smile and a warm word for a total stranger. In short order, the plug was pulled before things got totally of hand, but Lance did it all so seamlessly.

The next morning we met for a small pre-event breakfast with Lance, Ben King, Bjorn Selander, and other key people. I am not a key person, just a lucky one.

The final thing: During the early part of the ride, the lead State Police car went the wrong way, Lance and the first few riders, myself included, followed. Within moments the error was realized. There was Lance, followed by Bjorn, Ben and me swing a U-turn. Lance led us through a yard, onto the lawn, between 2 houses, through the backyards, and back on to the correct road. I laughed, because it was so much like the time in the TDF when Lance went off roading to avoid a crash. I wish I had a picture of it, or better, I wish I could have heard what the people in the homes might have said. "Damn, I just saw Lance Armstrong ride though our yard...." "Sure you did honey, have another beer...."

Safe travels today...