60 seconds to finish the Cascade 1200

Commercial Break

I want to apologize for the delay between posts. Those that have been following this series have been waiting patiently for the final installment for since August 17. It has been held up for two reasons.

First excuse: we took some time off in August and went back to the North Cascades to retrace the route of the Cascade 1200.

The photo of me here was taken at the Skagit General Store in Newhalem. I am pointing to the same map of Washington State that Bill Dussler pointed to on June 27 when he challenged me to consider the consequences of quitting with just 102 miles to go.

Second excuse: I am working on a manuscript for a book series to be published by Road Bike Rider. The series will be titled, “Ready To Ride: preparing your mind, body and bike for the ride of your life.” While these are what publishers call “how-to books,” the story of how I wound up being the last rider across the finish line of the 2006 Cascade 1200 will be woven into them.

So I am actually writing two stories at once: one for the books and the other for you here – on R2R. I write the book versions first, then cut the R2R versions afterwards.

So now you know why the final installment has been delayed, and I hope you will bear with me. As you might imagine, I want to do the best I can to help you ride along with us during the last few hours of what some have called the most god-awful brevet in the Western Hemisphere.

I am no expert on that. But I do know the Cascade 1200 was the ride of my life, and I thank God that I finished it in time.

Keep the pedals turnin, road rider.

-dr

Miss an installment? Read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Commercial Break.

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