Chasing Stupid

It’s About That Time Once Again

Sunday, February 5, 2012, I turn 43. Another prime number. I like prime numbers. Thirty-seven was perhaps the best, while forty-one might be one of the worst (for many of the same reasons) but at the very least primes are never dull. 

So it goes on this silly occasion that I hit out and ride 200 km in some bizarre ritual that is intended to keep me from ever growing old. It all began about 10 years ago. After coming back to racing after a thirteen year period of abject idiocy, I started riding 200k every February 5th regardless of the weather, the day of the week or my fitness.

After a few years of solo ventures I decided to start to invite certain guests to tag along. In light of the fact that not everyone is like me with no responsibilities or obligations like a wife, kid, or career, I switched the ride day to Sunday near my birthday. It became The Birthday Ride. The group version began in 2006. Either that year or soon there after, The NFL moved the Super Bowl thingy to February and since then the ride has always fallen on Super Bowl Sunday. In some quarters the ride has been dubbed The Super Bowl Ride, The SuperBirthdayBowl Ride or just plain stupid. There was a movement to have my birthday changed to August in light of February in New York usually being around 20F, but they movement was squashed and I remain an Aquarius hell bent on having people freeze their collective asses off for 6 hours in my honor.

So before a bunch of guys in tight pants and a lot of plastic padding run into each other for 15 minutes over the course of three hours or so, a small select group complete fools (also dressed in tight pants but instead riding a lot of plastic) will set out in probable stupid cold weather way too early in the morning for a rather hilly, rather long six plus hours of the most fun you can have on two wheels on Super Bowl Sunday in the Tri-State area. There will be KOMs, pointless sprinting and attacking, highly desirable prizes, and, of course, the traditional ascent of Bear Mountain as well as the refueling stop at The Cove Deli in Tompkins Cove, NY.

To anyone familiar with this thing, the route is similar except for the fact that my route was set a few years prior to that thing ever being a thought in anyone’s mind I suspect. Other differences are MyFondo is free. I will gladly accept any money anyone gives me if there be those who feel the need to do so, but you will get nothing for it, might get dropped, and will be forced to supply all your own “support”-including moral support as hazing, verbal abuse, and otherwise immature behavior might well be on display.

I’m beginning to get a little motivation again.