For 10 years, my wife and I organized a ride we called the 100/200, which was 200 miles from the Canadian border to the Massachussetts border on Vermont 100. In the heat of the day, at 130 miles, you get to clinb the appropriately named Terrible Mountain (really!) I keep telling myself I'll do it again, but a century ride will usually serve to remind my how ugly miles 130-190 always were.
One year, we were grouping at the tiny Canadian border crossing around 5 a.m.. We had been there about 15 minutes when one of the group decided to use the facilities in the US border crossing station. When he walked in the door, the customs agent, who had been napping in his chair, jumped up in total shock to see 25 people in very strange attire milling about. I happened to be watching through one of the large front windows, and I have never seen anyone look more shocked. Guess he was tuned to notice the noise of cars, not freewheels. Things have sure changed at the border since last September.
Steve Barner, Bolton, Vermont
> From: "Jim Merz" <jimmerz@qwest.net>
\r?\n> To: "'Classic Rendezvous'" <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
\r?\n> Subject: [CR]What is your most challenging ride?
\r?\n> Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 17:25:09 -0700
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\r?\n> Can we get some stories? What is your most challenging one day ride? Has
\r?\n> to be on a luged steel frame bike of course.