The Road to Paris: OTB Spring Classic #2 Ride Report
Posted onby
Yesterday was the second in the Over the Bars Spring Classic Series with a ride to Paris and back. As usual we met at Cranky Al’s for a pre-ride meeting to discuss strategy, pick the domestiques for the day and choose a leader. In keeping with the European practice of bribery in the peloton, Russell paid us all off with a promise of a lifetime supply of brass nipples, for which we agreed to leave ourselves on the pavement to secure his victory.
Seriously, Steve, Kurt, Denny, Russell, Gary and I met for tasty fried dough and hit the road south promptly at 8am. We were graced with a “Simpsons Sky” and a medium tail wind for our ride to Paris, WI, the singular-most Francophilic center of Kenosha. Steve and Denny had to cut the ride short, but we were happy to have their company along for the first 20 miles or so. On our way back we ran into Sugs just north of Union Grove. He got a late start from Brookfield but rode down solo to meet us.
All said, we had a nice ride. Kurt managed to actually go over the bars on our way home doing a cyclocross manuever whilst trying to avoid some ice on the Oak Leaf Trail near the Wilmarth Woods. With little more damage than a bruised ego, I thanked him for the authenticty that a truly spectacular crash adds to any spring classics ride. I only ask that next time he warn me so I can have video rolling. I was home by 1:15 with 77 miles in and an average speed 16.8 mph. Words and statistics alone cannot convey the splendor, suffering and drama of an OTB Spring Classic Ride. In their stead, I submit the following photographic testimony:

Cursing the lack of rough european style country roads, Russell would not stop yelling “Au diable les Producteurs laitiers!”
Dave, what a cool ride. I live so close to Cranky Al’s but a) we were up til 2 am the night before and b) did you notice the temperature? I’d love to know the route you took. Do you ever use runningmap.com to lay out a route? C’est très facile.
Thanks for reading. I did notice that temperature, it was 26 degrees or so when I got up, and? I mostly use Google maps and just make my own map, save it and make it public. Next weekend is a nice short ride to brunch. We won’t start until later in the morning so you can sleep off the 2am night before, then put on something nice, pedal over to brunch and have a bloody mary. Watch the OTB for details soon.
what a fun piece of reporting and writing. Thanks.
Thanks Bill
Great story. Classic final picture.
I ran accross you blog a couple of weeks ago and find it very enjoyable. I’m hoping to get my bike out shortly for my first ride of the season but am dealing with the 17 inches of snow Green Bay got last week.
I hope you ski, otherwise, next year think Pugsley I guess. Here is to hoping for warmth and melt.