This past weekend, Buzz and I rode in the third annual Seacoast Safari for Cystic Fibrosis. It's a 150 mile ride from Plumb Island airport to the University of New England in Bitterford Maine (just outside Portland) and back. There were twice as many riders as last year and the event raised almost three time last years total!! The Route is beautiful, it goes right along the coast up route 1A. The views of the New England shore line are just spectacular.

I also got to use some fancy racing tactics I learned from watching the Tour. On the way up, there was a bit of a headwind and I was thinking that Buzz and I could use a little shelter for a few miles. Well, like a gift of Mana from the heavens, the UNH cycling team's paceline steamed by us. So, I grabbed the wheel of the last rider on the line and we fell into there slipstream. After a little bit, Buzz started to fall off the back, so I dropped back, had her grab my wheel and pulled her back up to the group. This was of course made even MORE exciting by Phil Liggett and Bob Roll's commentary in my head :) I bet I'm not the only one out there on the road with an imaginary play by play going on......it's ok to admit it....really......I TOTALLY understand :)

On the way back, Buzz and I and one other rider were working together to try to catch a six man break away. After about half an hour of work we had just about caught them when my stupid shoe lace got caught on my big chain ring and I had to stop to untangle the mess...D'oh !!!!! Who ever though that cycling shoes with laces was a good idea was smoking crack! Seriously! Of course I was the dope that bought them......but still......come on.......errrrrr....whatever.

As we headed down the coast, we fell in with four very friendly riders who let us tag along. It was nice to have someone else besides Buzz and I setting tempo for a while! By the time we hit Hampton, the six of us were joined by the MGH squad and several other riders. The group was now being lead by Dr. Andrew (this AND last year's #1 fundraiser btw), who looked to be a very kick ass cyclist. I decided that it would be really fun to sprint with him at the finish. So, over the last 10 miles or so I started to work my way up the paceline so I would be well positioned for the sprint. Coming into Newburyport I was second in line sitting right on the Dr.'s wheel as the two of us pulled away from the rest of the group. At the last half mile I pulled alongside of him and gave him a nod, stood up and sprint with everything I had left. I looked back and..........ooops, he had slowed down to ride in with the rest of the group. This left me feeling both disappointed and a bit like an ass (not a Punk Ass mind you, just an ass). But hey, I know it's a ride, not a race and everyone hugged and shook hands at the end so all is well.