Notes from the back of a mountain tandem...
400 km brevet, March 11, 2006
by Liz Mazzola

I had my doubts about riding 400km, especially when Lonnie and Clair reported Friday night that we should expect 25 mph winds and driving rain. We took their suggestion of packing a change of clothes and the heavy weather gear. John and I figured that we would average 14 mph, hit the lunch spot at 1:00 and be in by 10 pm, just about my bedtime. Needless to say, things didn’t work out as planned. With our intrepid band of travelers, Lonnie, Clair, Alan and Steve, we dodged flying palm fronds to grab burgers in Green Valley at 1:00. It was a quiet effort the next 33 miles and 3 ½ hours into the teeth of the wind and now rain/sleet. At the Arrivaca Post Office I asked Susan what happens if I want to quit. “Call a friend” she said. Hmm, my only friends are here in this PO with me, changing their clothes and looking like wet dogs. I seriously considered stealing her truck keys and tying her to the back of the tandem. Instead I took her undershirt and a couple plastic bags and let her push us out the door.

I thought I was hallucinating when I heard voices and saw people on the side of the road. They were real though, nocturnal visitors trying to flag down the Border Patrol bus for a warm ride back to the border. At one point I said to John, “You know what I’m thinking?” He replied, “Oh, I can hear you thinking.” We couldn’t talk; the wind was too strong to hear each other, so we resorted to slaps and hand signals and mental telepathy. A clerk at one of the stores seemed to get the biggest kick out of seeing me, a woman with this crazy group of guys. She said “Girl, what happened to your sense?”

I mostly kept my eyes shut from Marana north to Casa Grande, it was more entertaining to be surprised by the cold water up my calves when we went through the low spots. I started to hear a rhythmic wheezing sound and thought something was rubbing on our bike. Turns out it was my lungs on each exhalation as John was kicking up the pace to stay warm.

I never thought I could finish a 400 km or do a 24 hour ride, but I guess I did both. Thanks to “It really was Epic” Lonnie. Thanks to Clair who never stopped smiling. Thanks to Alan, our fellow Team Advil and Steve. I hope to ride with you all again. Thanks to Susan who stayed with us and encouraged us throughout the Epic. And last, thanks to the Bike Beast John for knowing that I can do more than I think I can and for doing most of the pedaling. Liz Mazzola