The countdown begins

Seventeen days until John, Paul and I fly off to France to ride the rolling hills and not-so-rolling mountains of Mt. Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez with Lance (not that Lance) of IdleFast Events. Last night, we finished up our purchases of extra tubes, clothes and energy bars at The Pro Shop on Duke St., sponsor of IdleFast and who generously offered us discounts on our purchases. Lance doled out our kits in awesome colors of orange, light blue and gray (photo to come).

Our training began in the winter with indoor Computrainer sessions with VeloWorks at Spokes Etc./Quaker Lane, and now outdoors with group rides, shop rides and whatever we can squeeze in after our day jobs. Last weekend, we did our longest ride at the Bike MS: Ride the Riverside: 99.3 miles (not the promised 100 miles). A couple weeks ago, our friend John Edwards (not that John Edwards) introduced us to Skyline Drive and its 6% grade: two hours up, 20 minutes down. Two more weekends of miles and hills and then we'll test our legs in the south of France.

Just thinking about it gives me butterflies.