Boone Roubaix.....

Perry mentioned to me a race up north of Boone called Boone Roubaix in honor of the Belgium Spring Classics... He thought it would be fun and since I had no plans I thought a little different terrain and race might be interesting..... Unfortunately I did not read the website.... (fool)

Shame on me... this is a real test of legs, lungs, tenacity, and resilience.  You see the first spike up above... well that is how far we made it with the 35+ lead pack after a neutral rolling start.   The really cruel part was that you passed the start finish line twice.... just as you are about you to hit the unpaved 1mile 15% climb that continues on for another 2 miles to the summit on a paved road.   And this is not the "Koppenberg" which comes later and serves up a 20% gravel climb section followed by a ripping descent down .. yes a dirt road, which several riders left various body parts on.....

The Pro 1,2 and 3's saw a third of the pack quit,   But did Perry and I bail?  no way, we paid our money and we were going to suffer to the end. (Team Headstrong).. which meant solo riding for the last lap as Perry's companions bagged it and I could not hang on to the 2 riders I was with up the dirt climb...... BUT.. we did finish  (11th and 12th of the 45+..... the last 2 riders as everyone else quit).... SO.. I guess you could say we are "true Hard Men of the High Country"

If anyone wants to do it next year I will be happy to give them directions.