DH's Dream Ride with Floyd Landis

[Jiffer]

We saw Floyd Landis at a sort of clinic at our LBS shop Thurs night. DH was the first person the LBS owner called. I guess we've spent enough money there! It was pretty cool. Heard about his cycling journey and the Tour de France. He wasn't allowed to talk about anything having to do with the trial, but it was cool to see he was just a regular friendly guy.

This morning, there was an organized ride with Floyd. I was SO bummed I couldn't go. Recovering from a minor surgery. We considered riding tandem, but I didn't want to hold DH back at all. I wanted to give him the best chance to be in front with Lloyd as possible. And he was. He's SO stoked. At first he was literally in the front of the pack, with Lloyd right behind him. He didn't want to be in the pack because he wanted to be able to take lots of pictures, which he did. There was a police escort stopping traffic for the lead riders, so they never had to stop.

They started in Rialto, and rode up to the ranger station at Lytle Creek(for anyone who's familiar). The farther they got, several people dropped off from the lead group, but DH was right there. There were about 5 of them. At one point, they all decided to pass Floyd just for fun. They did so and held about 22 mph uphill, feeling pretty good about themselves. Of course, he blew by them like they were standing still. The farther they got, DH was starting to feel pretty tired. He knew the ranger station wasn't too far, though, so he decided to give it all he had. He ended up passing everyone, including Floyd. And, again, Floyd pulverizes him. As Floyd passed, DH says, "I just wanted to say I passed Floyd Landis!"

Later, one of the guys says to DH, "What were you thinking? Attacking Floyd Landis?!" He just shrugged. "I don't know!" In talking with Floyd about the end of their ride, Floyd says to DH, "That was pretty impressive!".

So, DH is on cloud 9 today. He had him autograph is bike, which after he did, everyone else started doing the same.

[snapdragen]

Very cool! Can we see the pictures?

[bikerHen]

Wow! How cool! Nobody famous ever comes to Spokane. bikerHen

[teigyr]

VERY cool. I'm glad he was nice, he seems like he would be. What bike shop was it? Know the Lytle Creek area fairly well, used to do a lot of training rides around there

and pictures???

former Upland girl

[Kalidurga]

That is really awesome! I love that your DH passed him and made that comment. Floyd probabably loved it

[7rider]

Neat!!
I could see my own DH doing the same thing...
Yeah...we want to see pictures!

[mtkitchn]

How very cool!!! Thanks for sharing the story!

[Jiffer]

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! This is the first time I've ever posted pics on this site. I hope it works! After the pics is a recap of the ride in DH's own words. Much more interesting than my rendition.

By the way, someone asked what bike shop it was. It's Don's Bike Shop in Rialto, CA. Great place to buy a bike. Neighborhood a little scary, but great service. Down to earth people. We've gotten some amazing deals from the owner, Scott.




Floyd and Alex at the LBS



Before the ride



Floyd hanging out



DH is on the right in blue. Floyd is on the left (with his buddy in the middle).



At the turn around point still on a high from the ride and the bantering that is still going on.



DH's newly autographed bike

-----------------
Alex's ride today in his own words (as emailed to friends and family!)
-----------------

I never in my life thought I'd be sending pictures of a morning like this... I was completely honored and blessed to be able to ride with one of the greats in road racing today. Tour De France Winner 2006 Floyd Landis...

He was a guest speaker here earlier this week at Don's bike shop in Rialto and Saturday (this morning) he lead a training ride from there up into the Lytle Creek/San Bernardino Mountains area.

It started out this morning at a fun and easy pace for everyone who showed up. I'm guessing around 200riders were present at the start. I was able to negotiate hanging up front with Floyd for the entire ride - this is how it developed - it was awesome!

Apx. 10 miles into the ride we ended up hitting Sierra ave. marking the point at which the climbing is now substantial given we'd been riding up a gradual grade of Riverside Avenue. A mile or so up Sierra heading into the lower foothills the group got significantly faster, we'd been going about 18 mph to this point uphill (which is already moving pretty good for those non-cyclists reading) and a group of about 6 riders broke off. A few were a couple younger speedsters from the DARE team one being one of the shop employees Adrian.

The group was cracking peloton/Tour De France jokes acting out announcer comments like "will the peloton (group) answer the attack by this break away pack?" It was hilarious... We were all laughing when I realized that I had kind of inched forward and well - ok I stood up and took off after the breakaway alone (generally not strategically smart).

After catching the breakaway I kept looking at two things - 1. our speed 22 mph and climbing 2. The "group" with Floyd was just hanging back there - not answering. I figured Floyd's being cool and not trying to kill anyone on the climb and we're just going to end up being alone up here.

Right about the time I completed that thought... Floyd passes us all "alone" and very very easily...

We all kind of looked at each other like "what was that?"

We all grouped up with Floyd - now moving even FASTER... I don't remember having time to look at my computer, but I know at one glance it was over 26 mph - way too fast for my climbing abilities...

2 guys in the group decided they couldn't cut it anymore and quickly gave up dropping back. That left minus a couple of misc. others we lost along the way Floyd, Adrian, Some dude and ME! Imagine this... you're starting out with 200 riders and with some elimination games it's you, 2 dudes that team race in state level competitions and... Floyd! That blew me away.

OK - so now MY legs are getting the itch to quit. We've got like a 1/2 mile left and I can't believe I'm considering dropping out - NO WAY - I'm riding with Floyd - how often will I say I was able to do this? So right now I'm nestled inside 3 guys Floyd at the front and forming a "V" in front of me Adrian and "some dude". I decide that I can't keep the pace so the only thing left if I want to keep up with these guys is to maybe get some space and recover - which I really didn't think would happen, but hey - maybe, right!

So I attack on the left pulling out of the "V". I take off on my hardest gear pushing as hard as I've ever have. I'll never race the Tour, so why not have fun, right? I actually manage to distance myself from the group - but as I look back about 30 seconds later with them in the background and quickly making up the distance...I see Floyd - right on the back of my wheel! I never lost him....

It caught me as so funny I sat back down laughing hysterically - he grinned and what I'll take as probably the best athletic compliment I imagine I'll ever get as he passes me (mind you he's not even breathing..) "Hey! That was pretty impressive!"

Remember this comes from a guy who 1. Is out of shape and is not regularly training right now 2. Is not breathing hard during any of this process... (so he's out of shape???)

: )

We get to the top - my legs are jelly - he's laughing as I come up to him asking someone to take another picture. "This guy's attacking ME" (Doesn't he know I'm Floyd)?

These pictures show the fun - the one guy with Floyd in Orange in the group is a friend of Floyd's that came to the ride with him.

I even got a shot of my bike with Floyd's autograph on it. Thought that was kind of cool.

I hope this guy is cleared here soon. In meeting him I was very impressed with his simplicity and personality with everyone he interacted with. He treated everyone with the same respect and courtesy regardless of their cycling ability. He was just downright human.

BTW - the picture of me with my helmet off with him - that's right at the conclusion of the climb and the story told above. I have that crazy big smile because I'm still laughing at the banter between us about attacking him and the crazy climb as it developed. It was a blast!

[Kalidurga]

DH better get some shellac or something over that autograph and make it permanent. That story and the photos are so cool. Not only did he meet Floyd, but he learned he can ride faster than he thought he could. Great inspiration!

[7rider]

"I'll never wash my bike again!!"

[snapdragen]

Yup, figure out a way to protect that signature!

Downright human - that's a good description, I felt the same way when jobob, leebob and I saw him in San Jose.

[madscot13]

Wow this story sends shills down my spine. I understand what it is like to meet your hero. I met mine this year, Ann Bancroft. She was so cool and great and really accentuated why she is my hero. I'm happy your husband has so much to pull from this experience.

ps. I had one of my favorite bands (Harry and the Potters) autograph my bike helmet once. I used clear nail polish to makre sure it stayed. it wouldn't of otherwise.

[mimitabby]

oh thank you for sharing this wonderful story!

[KSH]

Great story and pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Jo-n-NY]

What a wonderful story!!!! Thank you so much for sharing and posting the pics. I thought he was a down to earth guy and it seems I was right. I hope he is cleared also.

~ JoAnn