In a land far, far, far, to close and time not so long ago two Marian College Sophomores thought it would be a good idea to take everyone on a ride called the Hilly Hundred. Except they would be going the week after the real ride since the real ride had fallen on the colleges fall break and everyone had dispensed for the break. This one ride would become one of the best adventures of my whole college cycling career and would become what is now known as the
Breezer True Hilly Hundred.
Brian Vaughn and Jake
Rytlewski as freshman had rode the hilly hundred as freshman and had so much fun doing it that the following year they wanted to take everyone else on the ride. They were two proud men who though it was no problem that they had never had ridden down there since that ride, and had no maps. They figured they would be able to find their way around by using their memory and the markings that should still be on the road. Which of both turned out to be no good and washed out.
One of the earlier stories began the night before the ride with a few riders catching an intoxicated Tucker Brown
roaming and finally sleeping in the hallway into wee hours of the
morning. I truly certain he was the happiest when the day finally ended.
The ride was going well for the first 3 miles and was very familiar. To this day I still have no idea where exactly we went wrong, where we ended up, how we got where we were, even where we were for that factor, and how we even got back, but it all ended up working out in the end.
This ride had to highlights, well I guess one was a low light. First the low light. I wish I knew what road we were on at the time because I wouldn't mind
revisiting, but like I've stated before I have no idea where it is. From what I remember we were cruising down this hill fast, and the only people that knew they were lost were Brian and Jake, and everyone noticed a sign they have never seen before 'Road Ends in Water'?? What could this possibly mean? Well we continue to fly over this little riser and right in front of us a few hundred meters is the road we are on that just so happens to turn into a boat launch. Everyone immediately slows, of course except for Brian who many of us that was going, until he finally decided to hit the brakes and stop resting his front wheel at the edge of the water.
So Brian and Jake admit they are totally lost and ask some locals getting ready to go out canoe. I don't think they were from around there either, but were happy to give us their map of Indiana. You know the kind that you know where I-65 is in relationship to
Bloomington. The smallest roads on the map our state highways. Anyways this was all we need to continue on our ride and for Brian and Jake to go oh yeah, not a problem we just have to go this way and like this and we will be done.
So of course back up the hill we just bombed down which was the first of a few hills we went down just to go back up again which led to some unhappiness, or at least misery for the hung over Tucker.
The highlight of the ride as finding 'The Dirt' Road Climb. As we are heading down a pave road we notice a farmer on the right he tells us that we aren't going to make it up that road. That sounded like a challenge to us and we screamed straight up that road. It was an awesome dirt road climb that we all loved, and luckily enough found it again a few years later and have enjoyed it ever since.
Some how we meandered around the country side for a bit longer back tracking only a few times and finally made it back to the car. Ever since we have tried to get down and have a fun enjoyable ride. That is why I created the Breezer True Hilly Hundred. I take roads that many of us don't ride a lot, make it a challenge with the distance, and just try to have a good time during it. So come and join and maybe you will have a story or two to go back with.
Breeze On
