Started the trip towards MQT Friday morning around 8:30 with John driving, Tom in the backseat with myself riding shotgun. Weather forecast looks good slight chance of rain to knock the dust down o the trail. Arrived MQT at Matt's townhouse (thx Matt and Katie for the hospitality) also arriving was the 1st Ore 2 Shore (10 years ago) woman's winner Sarah and her husband Larry and the dogs. Proper carb loading at an itailain joint and we were in bed looking at 5:00am wake up for breakfast at Big Boy. Woke up to light rain and 62 degrees with the radar indicating rain ending before the start, weather is looking about perfect. We arrive at Pier Delights in Negaunee 8:00am for John's 9:00 start for the 28mi soft rock. John starts at 9:00 after a Jimi Hendricks national anthem that seemed to go on forever. With John off, Tom and I head for downtown and for the start of the 48 miler. Gun goes and were off, 2 mile road roll out with all the guys who go like hell and you know you'll be passing on the first hill. Pretty heavy traffic for the first 15 miles then starts to thin out and you can ride your race, my race was to go out pretty easy check my speeds and decide whether the legs were in it today or not @ 33 to go I realized I had not reset my computer at the start and reset then. Did some basic ride as fast as you can til 20 miles to go and see how you sit with average speed and time. Got to 18 to go and had about an hour to stay around 3 hours, plan was 3:10 so I was extra motivated to keep hammering and hope for the best. Legs were great, back was hurting but just keep picking up riders and leaving them, that was my motivation see the next guy and pass him get to the next guy. Was down the last 3 miles and new the wind would be a factor going the last 2 miles of road and wood chips to the finish. Geared guy was sitting on my wheel with 1 to go and did the Tour de France, you take the lead and ride your wheel the finish and try and pass. Rode his wheel at about 23 mph and got him by a wheel at the finish. 3:03:20 15.7 average mph, I was surprised with the result and would not have ever predicted that. Tom was just a few minutes back and was pretty happy with a time faster then last year. John rocked the soft rock to his best time ever and pledged a hard rock start next year. Our hostess Katie was 6th overall 1st in age in the womans soft and returning champ Sarah won the womans single speed soft rock.
Bells flowed almost continuously over the next 12 hours which included stops at the Wooden Nickel, MQT class of 89 reunion and some dancing at the Bells after party.
