by Eric Fergusson
Eric checked in with ride organizer Deirdre Arscott following the Lower Mainland August “Just Ride” 200. The time limit for a 200 km brevet is 13h30, so the time limit for this ride was 8:30 p.m.. 41st Ave is where the Ontario climb ends and the down hill begins.
Hi Deirdre,
Close call…
At 41st and Ontario, I had exactly 10 minutes to make it (27 blocks). With the help of gravity. I blasted down Ontario while trying to calculate how many seconds it took per descending block number: 39th Ave., 38th, 37th… But it was really going to be about the three stop lights.
I got stuck at 33rd (medium wait)… got lucky at King Ed and sailed right through on a green… red light at 16th, but no cars, so I just went. Made it to 14th ready to cross Main at 8:27. That light took forever to change. Finally it did. I crossed Main, “staged” my bike at JJ Bean, and took out my phone to get the time-stamped finish photo. Oh no! I couldn’t get the camera function to go on. Panic! My phone was asking me for some sort of permission, but I couldn’t see it. I went back to my bike bag and rummaged through… found my glasses… made the change on the phone… snapped two shots… exhale.
Find attached two finish location photos. The second one was actually after 8:30 (8:30:05) but the first one was 8:29:53. As I say, close call.
~~ Eric
(editors note: no panic, Eric, even in PBP they will give you a 90 hr completion time despite rolling in late. Thanks for the submission. Nice to see that plaza is finally complete.)