Mike Dayton's Back

I can't tell you how many miles I've spent following those broad shoulders.  For nearly every challenging ride that I've done over the past 15 years there has been one constant, sucking Dayton's wheel.  He's got a big motor and pushes through the wind.  I tell jokes and keep us on course.  We're a tandem team that forgot to fasten the couplers. In February 2016 that changed in the time of a pedal stroke.  While riding a 200k permanent midday in Johnston County four NC randonneurs were plowed down by a 1992 Crown Victoria.  Mike Dayton hit the windshield and sustained life changing injuries.  He spent time in a coma and was ventilator dependent for a week.  His recovery continues today and the reminders are all around in his house.  Dots and a stick are taped to the walls and lines are on the floor for balancing and vision exercises.  He now wears corrective glasses so that he doesn't see two of everything.  He and Kelly have been through a lot in these past two years.  Kelly has been amazing in her devotion to Mike as he works his way back from injury.  I've missed riding with Mike.  I've missed spending the night over at their house before the Morrisville brevets.  I've missed the banter of our next big ride that we were always planning or trying to one up one another with how out of shape we were.  Of course when I say I'm out of shape it's true.  Dayton is never out of shape. The 200k that he was riding would have continued a streak of 169 consecutive months of riding a century or more!  Let that sink in. 169 consecutive months of riding a century.

Since February 2016 I have only ridden with Mike a handful of times.  The first time was a short ride to and from UNCA from my house after attending the NC Bike Summit in September 2016. He was not ready for more than a few miles at that time.  Since then he has been lifting weights, swimming regularly and riding on bike paths around Raleigh.  In March 2017 we gathered with some friends for a 100k of Mike's Buggs Island Lake Loop in Clarksville VA.   The ride was his first lengthy one back on the road and followed familiar roads of his childhood.  Just a few weeks ago he rode the Morrisville 200k as a pre-ride with Kevin McClain.  That was a big step and brought up discussions about what might be next.  We exchanged a few texts and came up with a possible date for a 300k pre-ride.  Mike has not really done any significant miles in the dark in the past 2 years.  How would the glasses work at night?  Could he sustain an effort for a long enough period of time for a 300k.  I had no question, but he had a few.  We would answer them.

I drove down and as typical arrived fairly late around 10pm.  He and Kelly were waiting in the living room with the pups.  They welcomed me and we sat around catching up.  A few hours later and we were tossing and turning just like usual.  Mike was nervous about the ride.  I tried to be reassuring but felt a little on edge myself.  I'm not sure why.  It all felt very familiar but new also.  I was up before my alarm at 5:45 and headed downstairs to warm up Miss Silvia (the coffee machine) and get a jump on breakfast.  We had Mike's delicious lattes just like always.  We ate Thomas' cinnamon raisin bagels just like always.  We had plenty of time to make the start and then we were running behind, just like always.  Well it didn't really matter because we were pre-rinding alone, at least that's what we thought.  When we got to Big Al's house he also had a card for Martin who would be manning the 300k the following Saturday.  After checking out Al's futuristic custom beer making set up the three of us rolled at 7:30, already 30 minutes behind schedule.

It was a cool morning with temps in the upper 40s.  My fingers were a little chilly but by the time we hit Jordan Lake a strong warming sun was upon us.  Martin tailed off a bit coming up from the lake and by the time we finished Jack Bennet Rd. he had disappeared off the back.  He had told us that he was planning on dropping us off the front and he was true to his word.  We would see him one more time just after the turnaround in Seagrove.  He was riding fine, just taking it easy.  I was a little nervous about extended night riding since Mike didn't really have an idea of how the dark would affect his riding.  We tried to keep on a schedule that would minimize night riding.  We took a quick stop at mile 50 at Snow Camp for a honey bun and a Maple View Dairy chocolate milk.  The next control is only 12 miles later in Siler City and that serves as the turnaround for the out and back 200k that Mike and Kevin had completed 2 weeks earlier.  We didn't even have the second foot clipped in as we left Siler City when we began talking about the cheeseburgers and fries that would refuel us at the turnaround in Seagrove.  The early morning sun was now hiding behind a mid level layer of non-threatening clouds.  We dodged dogs and some traffic near Seagrove as the potters were having an open house weekend. We stayed focused on a Hardee's cheeseburger.  Mike was mainly riding behind me on our trip out but hey after 15 years I owe him a few pulls.  Dayton has always been fast on the road but that pales in comparison to his speed at the plate.  Two cheeseburgers, fries and a Dr. Pepper were dispatched post haste and we were on the return.  We battled a few more dogs but the weather was near perfect and traffic light as we rolled back to Siler City.  Beyond this, we would be in uncharted waters beyond 200k for the first time in 24 months.

There is a sheriff's race going on in Chatham County and it seems to be a hot election.  The incumbent Mike Roberson is defending his office and doing it with signs in nearly every yard along our course.  I don't usually like political signs but these were different. They feature a big "Mike" in the middle of a blue background with smaller font completing the message.  Of course I only saw "Mike".  It reminded me constantly of the reason that I was on this ride.

We caught the front end of the Sunday night beer rush at Siler City.  An older man was standing in line behind us and was asking directions to a seafood restaurant that was some distance out of town.  Once he realized that he was miles off he pivoted to asking for recommendations of any closer seafood restaurants.  Less than an hour later we arrived back in Snow Camp.  Only 50 miles left.  We sat on the benches outside having assorted snacks trying to find that exact item that would squelch our cravings.  We took in the comings and goings of a Sunday country convenience store.  A Pepsi worker still in company car but obviously now off shift was picking up a 6 pack of bud light.  He had obviously moved from sweet to savory.  A guy with a bashed in front end was just pleased that he could still make his beer and cigarette run even though smoke billowed from his front end.  A few rednecks in pickups said hi to us since we were just some guys dressed oddly eating outside a gas station instead of impeding their progress on roads that their taxes paid for solely.  It was just before 6pm when we left Snow Camp.  Not even time for reflective gear although Mike wore his all day.  I can't blame him.

We were happy to get Greensboro Road knocked out in the daylight.  I was riding with a Garmin and a Wahoo but Mike was riding by memory.  He knows the course by heart and the roads that were ticking off were very familiar.  Lindley Mill, Old Switchboard, Castle Rock, Chicken Bridge, Jones Ferry, Parker Herndon, Jack Bennett.  By the time we got to Andrews Store our lights were on and we were in full reflective gear.  We would have 20 miles of night riding.  It was at this point that I began to fade a bit.  Mike rolled by and I fell in.  We basically rode like this for the last hour and a half.  He had plenty left in the tank and pulled us home.  Usually this was my role but this time I was happy to ride in on his coat tails. 

A 300k is not a long way by randonneuring standards but it certainly is a test. It is a distance that is incomprehensible to ride a bicycle by most every human on this planet.  In the days and weeks following our friends being run down in February 2016 we prayed and hoped for their survival and recovery.  Randonneuring again was not in my immediate thoughts.  Joel returned to riding quickly.  Chris had a longer recovery but has returned fully and has completed a couple of 1200s and LEL.  Lynn continues to recover and ride a bicycle but not for long distances or for any kind of credit other than personal accomplishment. 

Mike and I have done 4 PBPs together although we didn't know each other during our first one in 2003.  I didn't think there would ever be a chance for a 5th when I first saw him unresponsive on a ventilator back in February 2016.  After our recent ride I'm starting to believe that anything is possible for Mr. Dayton.  I'm just happy that we got to spend a day on the bikes and that I got to see first hand Mike Dayton's back.

Cascade 2005

PBP 2007

LEL 2009

PBP 2011

GSR 2012

HCH 2013

RAA 2014

PBP 2015

Flèche 2018 - Randbros

Team Randbros

I don’t think they see many cyclists in the Bluegrass Barbecue in Cowpens South Carolina but it’s safe to say they know how to squelch a hunger. Team Randbros' swagger had developed a stumble in the mid day heat of upstate SC. We needed food. We needed drink. We needed it now. As I was opening the menu I asked the waitress about their specialty. “Whole Tater,” came her reply and became our mantra as to a man we all went Whole Tater! A box baked regulation football sized potato served as the base of this edible mountain but that was just the start. It had a stick of butter, a modicum of sour cream, cheese, 1/2 pound of pulled pork barbecue and a drowning of barbecue sauce. One may question the ramifications of such a dietary choice 85 miles into a 229 mile bicycle ride but we weren’t asking questions. We sought only answers, and the unanimous answer was Whole Tater!  Randbos were not half tater although in hindsight perhaps the lesser spud would have sat more gently as we pedaled the rolling hills of the upstate in the heat of the afternoon. Luke impressively cleared his plate except for the Texas toast which we all knew was simply a garnish to this behemoth. No one even touched the toast which looked like a saltine next to the entree.  Ryan and I battled on and eventually reached polycarbonate. Ritchie got a large Styrofoam to-go cup and packed nearly half for later rolling tater noshing. Kevin ate until his eyes bulged a bit and then covered the remains with a napkin. We all looked away.

https://instagram.com/p/BKJS9T9h11B/

Whole Tater! 2.5-3lbs of goodliness!!

Ritchie for scale

Over the course of the next several hours our digestive tracts battled the formidable Whole Tater and we turned north headed back towards NC.  We stopped for a photo control at Peachoid. 

The 8th Wonder of the World - Peachoid!

Mercifully the long shadows arrived and the air cooled a bit.  I really like riding at night but my favorite part of the day is the hour before sunset.  We were enjoying the golden hour on some very quiet roads with peach blossoms blooming and Spring everywhere.  The particular road at the moment was especially quiet as it had a bridge out (to cars) but we easily navigated the work section.

Seemsfine moment

Take the lane 2018, have two, road closed.

Although I was quite pleased with our course the spacing of food and drink seemed a little out of sync with our needs. Sure we recharged with the negatively charged ionic water at the top of Hwy 9 out of Black Mountain but that was hours ago. 
Our out of phase hunger/food cycle reached crescendo at mile 155 shortly before midnight in Old Fort NC when we were denied drive thru service at a “24 hour” McDonalds.  We had been dreaming about our orders for the last 20 miles.  Ryan had settled on a McFlurry which would be eaten solely with french fries as utensils and a side hamburger.  Luke was asking questions about the Big Mac. Why the extra bun?  How's the special sauce? It was all for naught.  Bicycles are a “security concern” according to the assistant general manager who was reached by phone. As Ritchie explored the nuances of security concerns and different bicycle /McDonald's App order scenarios at McDonalds, Luke, Ryan and I made a mad dash to stick a foot in the door of the closing at midnight convenience store. This was now our only option for fuel prior to the major climb back into Black Mountain and we seized the moment.  Can we still buy a few things ma'am?  "Sure Honey" was music to our ears. We were also buying for Ritchie and Kevin who hadn’t entirely specified their orders. The store was past closing and the chaotic buying frenzy that ensued recalled that show where participants would fill up their shopping carts with as many items as possible in a minute. Ritchie finally conceded to McDonalds that we were a security concern and rolled over to survey our cornucopia of convenience laid out on the ice machine outside. Rando buffet! The door was now locked and the lights off for the night.  I shot a V8 then washed it down with a Yoo Hoo. Then some salt and VINEGAR chips topped off with a Klondike bar. Granted, it was a bit experimental but isn’t that what randonneuring is all about? Utter exhaustion and gastric mixology. Well this mix didn’t sit well. Kevin was disassembling his bicycle for the Uber back to Asheville and I was gagging trying to hold back the volcano rumbling in my belly.  It did not look good for Team Randbros.  Not good at all.  A small lava flow came forth and then I was back in action. We were down to 4 now as our only clearly thinking member had just pulled the plug. I think I can speak for all of us when I say I was a bit envious of Kevin and his plan for a shower, beer and a bed. My immediate concern however was my clearly defined role as the weak link in our little chain-gang. Kevin and I had taken turns all day dangling off the back. Now he was in a car and I was still dangling. I heard my crew in preliminary mutiny discussions as they waited on me to recover by the storm drain after my little science experiment. “Oh nothing,” they said when I asked what was up but I heard the whispers. I think they had already divvied up my kit and components. Ritchie had been asking an awfully lot of questions about my Wahoo GPS.

Surprisingly, I made it back up old 70 (Lookout Trail) and then I sucked some serious wheel as we flew back into Asheville on a fast gentle downhill. In route planning I was careful to seek out a few exceedingly steep climbs on our way to the Huddle House, the last control before sleep. The kind of climbs where if you go right and then left its entirely flat but if you go left and then right you have an 18% up followed by an 18% down. It keeps the legs fresh. We opted to eat at the Huddle House since a stamp and go would put us too early to our planned sleep stop. Ryan ordered 1800 calories of fuel but then turned the Huddle House into an unplanned sleep stop. After picking through Ryan’s side orders we woke him and cleaned our plates. 

We arrived at Ricky’s Lounge at 4:15am with a glorious two hour stop in our thoughts. The team hit their bunks like Tyson hits a uncovered jaw. I was very careful to set my iPhone alarm to 5:45 am. Sleep came quickly but then was ingloriously interrupted by a thigh cramp. As I grabbed for my leg I felt our cat pounce on my foot. How did our cat get in here? Our door is closed. Oh well, I looked at the clock. 6:00am! Wait, what happened? I looked at my phone. Curiously the alarm was off. I suspect gremlins or maybe the cat. Anyway, I kitted up and we shot out of the house and into the rain. Ugh. Only 43 miles to finish but at least it now felt like a flèche. Rain and puddles and wet feet. This felt familiar.  The last 43 miles were relatively flat by Asheville standards. An out and back to Marshall on the River Road for our 22 hr control then a triumphant return to the Rise and Shine Café on Merrimon Avenue. I figured there would be a few reporters or at least a supporter or two.  Although the roads were wet and we had some occasional light rain on the way out to Marshall we had no idea of what was yet to come. Just as we were pulling the receipt out of the Credit Union ATM in sleepy Sunday downtown Marshall the first warning shots fell from the sky. They were those big drops that will change a screen on a Garmin not the sprinkles that we had seen so far. I soft pedaled while the team put on rain jackets. The rain was off and on back to the Water Treatment Plant and just before there we stopped for a brief nature break and rain jacket removal. Rain jacket removal so close to the finish didn't feel right. The mood was a darkening grey and increasingly ominous. Nothing brings the fury from the sky like the premature stowage of gortex. As we turned onto Elk Mountain road to climb back up to city elevation the heavens opened. It was a deluge and then it was biblical. This wasn't New Testament rain, it was Old Testament rain.  We were literally climbing a river. The winds blew against us daring another pedal stroke. Cars all drove with their hazard lights flashing. Most gave us wide berth as we were obviously not of sound mind riding bicycles in such conditions. At least the sheets of rain prevented the slightest heckling as no window could be rolled down not even a crack.  The road was not visible and many items tumbled along in the flowing water.  Pebbles, gravel, sticks, cans, road kill, phone polls etc.  I was constantly braced to hit a pot hole or speed bump because they could be hidden under the water.  I desperately wanted to record video but I was not willing to take a hand off the bars.  So close now.  Can't risk it.

Despite the torrent we did arrive at the Rise and Shine but more as drowned rats coming ashore than triumphantly returning conquerers.  Jennifer and Maslow and Asia and Edie met us for the Eggs Benediction.  I had already stripped everything off above shorts level and for the first time of the ride donned my yellow paper 02 rain jacket.  It was high rando fashion countering the church crowd. We were all dripping wet and now a bit chilled.  Asia brought towels and we wrapped them around our waists like kilts.  The wet floor caution signs were out around our table and other patrons seemed to be all asking for their checks. 

At least the rain had suppressed our stench.  Ian brought his team by for the celebration, Chris Graham, Dave McDonald and Bradley Waffa.  Joel had already high tailed it out of town with his belly full of Asheville suds.  Chet and Cindy also joined us, representing the only standing members of their team which eventually was brought down by a cat but I'll let them tell that story.

Thanks to my very strong team for pulling me around all day.  You guys made it look easy and always kept it positive.  That's a huge part of rando.  Keep it positive.  That way you can fool yourself that you're having fun!  I'll leave you with this bit of advice.  If your ever find yourself in Cowpens SC and you have a hunger, hit the Bluegrass Barbecue and don't Half Tater!

Ricky's Lounge start

Lake Lure portrait spot

Apple and or Peach trees in bloom

Horse farms and quiet roads.

Of course we had night gravel.  What do you think this is our first flèche?