Keeping with the European spring classic fashion. This years Shasta – Roubaix started five minutes late, in the rain with a stiff tail wind. What a start it was, by the time the bend in the road at Mussolini Point was negotiated the stripes were set in the back of the jerseys and all was wet. Things were looking up by the turnoff to Cram Gulch. It had stopped raining and I did mention that stiff tail wind. No dust on these roads. The views were fantastic with the clouds in full bloom. The spring showers started again and the descent was a cautious affair, through the light mud. The rooster tails left more than a fine patina on face and clothing. Flying downhill onto dry asphalt, sunny shadows and warmer temperatures. Making the turn and heading back towards Grenada nice and sunny, did I mention the stiff head wind. To borrow a phrase from another rider “Oh yeah baby, oh yeah!!). A-12 was pretty as always, I still appreciate the new asphalt Thank goodness the Big Springs stint was short, you got it, “head wind”. Noon coincided with the turn onto E Louis rd. which actually was in good shape. There were no complaints at the mandatory rest stop on the bridge. I remember thinking that I should contact “Home Land Security”, they may want to hire me to keep an eye on the bridge for them, truly bucolic. Turning onto Slough rd started the hardest section of the day for this rider. With the jarring of the pot holes, gravel, gradient and did I mention “HEAD WIND”, yep it was pay day for that great downhill start in the morning, the legs were burning. The good news is, it only lasted till the golf course loop off of the Edgewood rd.. I could not bear the thought of leading the homeward charge to Pete and Bonnies up from the freeway into the head wind, so it was onward through town and out College ave. where once again the ride took flight down hill with a tail wind and plenty of sunshine. Now that’s a classic spring ride. For those that missed it, sign up early next year.

Sol Ameen