Well, sleeping was a bit fitful, seems to fit in the pattern of the last two weeks. Maybe I just am fully rested, hopefully yes because today will be another very long day. Woke before the alarm, I guess it’s just time.
The hotel had a wonderful Euro breky variety, as expected. Now, time to collect my luggage and then check out via self service screen. Driver arrives at 7:30 and we are off to get into a huge traffic jam all the way to the drop off gate, bumper to bumper, door to door and then some, averaging about 5 kph. I am again so happy about changing my last two day plans because driving today would have been very painful, bringing the rental car back and dealing with 2 heavy luggage items and a backpack. I sure I would have missed my flight.
Ah, there is the entry to Terminal 2E, and there is a free cart right where I need it. Bags on and then in to ask where next. Air France attendant points me to the puny Delta area. A great helper checking bags, when I mention 50 pounds, he says, we will see and almost winks at me. Bikes are just normal in Europe, so additional bag fees tend to be ignored, I love it. Bike drop off at oversize luggage area as usual, then some chaos getting through passport check lanes and then security. All good, no extra waiting or body scans or shoes off.
Looking for gate K27, oh, that one, go down the escalator to the barely serviced section and there it is, K27, vacant, as I am 2 plus hours early. My stress level drops significantly as I find a seat and work on this doc passing the time. 9:08, boarding starts at 11:10.
I may have mentioned that when I flew in, we stopped in the runway service area and not at a full gateway. We needed to deplane by walking out the door, walking down a portable stair and then had to board busses that brought us top the main airport building.
Well, imagine that in reverse. We are in a “basement” waiting. They call our boarding groups, and we walk outside, board a bus and then are driven out to the plane to climb the staircase and finally get on board. As an American and from MN, I have thought Delta was a big player in the airline business. Ha, Delta is just a tiny part of the worldwide airline business. Another American myth crushed. Can you say false entitlement? I just have to laugh.
We are all on board and we hear the pilot say we are delayed a bit, waiting on supplies that we need before leaving. 10 minutes, 30 minutes now pushing an hour and we start our roll to the runway. Hummm! I have an hour and 20-minute layover in Cincinnati, going to be interesting.
I’m in the back end of the plane again, window seat, one guy to my right, I have my face mask on, trying not to catch anything this go and my headphones on to discourage any conversation. Plus, the headphones plug into the video screen and are better than the free ear buds that always fall out of my ears.
Typical flight, some food, some beverages some walks to the toilets, 2 plus movies and some reading and after about 8 hours, Cincinnati is ahead and I have about 45 minutes to deplane, clear customs, claim a bike box and another bag, recheck both pieces, pass through security and find a gate. Not gonna happen. Amazingly, I have never missed a flight and had to rebook before so another stressful part of the trip. I stop by the mini desk and get a rebooking. Wow, that was too easy but now I’m headed to Detroit and then to Mpls instead of direct to Mpls. The Detroit flight is on a tiny little plane but it’s only an hour. Easy as up and down flight.
Detroit, quite a bit bigger airport than Cincy, lucky that I don’t have to do any baggage handling. But, as I am walking to the next gate, I get a Delta App message, this flight is delayed, 1.5 hour wait. Time for a cocktail, as it’s now going on about 24 hours since my morning alarm went off. The bar is right next to the gate so why not.
Last boarding happens onto a lot bigger aircraft, I’m in the middle section, row of 4 seats, only two of us in the middle. I try and read some and finally nap a bit, but the flight is only an hour so soon we are dropping into Mpls.
We land and I start walking through familiar surroundings, so close to home and a bed. My wonderful wife is waiting outside so I just wait for two big bags, one oversized for the bike.
Out to a cool later evening, about 10:30, 5 or so hours later than planned and now going on about 27 hours of travel time. Arrive home and the luggage gets to stay in the car for the night, tomorrow is time enough to unload and unpack.
Time to say goodnight, another good adventure is done and dusted.
The Why of all this
What is my Why? Why spend so much time training, why spend so many hours on a bike, why do I keep doing weight room sessions, why do I spend money on travel, lodging, gear and equipment, why leave MN for events in other states and other countries, all great questions and I don’t have great answers but I think I have some very good answers.
Past life experiences say I may be a bit competitive; I’ve raced cars as an amateur, I’ve been a competitive amateur Ballroom dancer, when I finally took up bike riding, going fast and the first one at the top of any hill motivated me and put a smile on my face.
Past experiences suggest I am a bit of a risk taker pushing the limits of vehicles I’ve owned and raced, starting, owning and growing an independent business during some challenging economic times, deciding at a “mature age” to take on velodrome track bike racing. You know, 250-meter oval, 43-degree angle banking in the turns, fixed gear/no coasting bikes with no brakes in a pack of up to 24 co racers.
Maybe I just need an activity for people to notice me and approve of what I do. An activity that allows me to build relationships with genuine friends with like interests and who share in the struggle, the pain, the extremes of what it takes to reach for the top. People who continue to reach repeatedly when failure happens hoping and knowing the rewards are so close your fingers can just about touch the wins and successes against the odds of success.
Travel, some of the best educational experience any of us lucky and entitled enough to enjoy is another part of this overall adventure. World championships are called that because they are hosted at 250-meter velodromes all over the world, National champs at velodromes all over the USA. The chance to find friends from all over the world is such an amazing part of all this. I’ve had fellow racers who I haven’t even met, yell out “See you next year” as an event closes. What an amazing community of like minded enthusiasts.
Maybe, I am addicted to trying to be fit, more so than those my age and younger. A chance to say, “Bring it On”, I can do that and be better at it than most. Another part of the competitive drive.
If you’ve been a part of any competitive effort, you probably know the about endorphins, those magic chemicals your body produces that make you feel good, alleviate stress, reduce pain making you feel great. When all the right ingredients come together, there is an abundance of “feel good” juice, enough sometimes to last for weeks, months, maybe even years. Quite addictive, maybe good, maybe bad as all addictions can be.
This last year has been a chance for me to reach back into my past track racing years, almost 15 years of racing every week all summer long and reclaim some of that excitement. I will admit, I can’t do this at the same level, I’m older, slower, have less endurance and stamina, I don’t have a group of friends to share the experience with or a local facility to train on but on good days, I can come close to those feelings of the past.
Next year, 2026, who knows. Committing to a full year of training, finding a nearby location that can duplicate a velodrome to train, maybe going to CO to train mid-year at real velodromes, maybe a National Champs, maybe a trip to the next Worlds, UK, London, Lee Valley Velo Park, another new venue for me and my 12th World champs? It’s all possible, time to plan!
Very interesting read Pat!
Safe at home now. Keep well…
Yup, thanks for reading, Keep everyone safe and good down there, miss ya all.