A Raspberry Racing Platypus and a QuickGrilver Clem Vs.A Roadie on Killer Hill

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Today Baby Bear (he’s 12) accompanied me on a ride. We were just beginning our ascent of Killer Hill when we noticed a roadie up ahead. He was on the path, and not the road, and his Lycra was rather tight. He had the glasses, the carbon, the kit - he was telling the world he was LEGIT. I wasn’t buying it. I looked at my son, who was looking at me and mirroring my expression. 

“Let’s get him,” I said.

Now, let me set this scene for you. My son is about 60 pounds. He’s piloting a 45 cm Clem H with a large Nitto rear rack and basket, and a couple of handlebar bags. Huge 2 inch Kenda tires on those heavy stock Clem wheels. His bike weighs half his body weight, I’ll bet. And worse, he’s out of practice. He used to dance up that hill, but he doesn’t negotiate Killer Hill much these days (my kids are in virtual school so no bike commute)...but facts be darned, we’ve decided. 

Baby Bear has a strong start, and I follow behind. He rings his bell to alert the roadie to our presence. The roadie is NOT expecting anyone else to be climbing this hill on a bike, and especially not passing him, so it doesn’t compute and he misses it. I give him two pretty Spurcycle dings and an “on your left” and then he knows. We shoot past him at a higher speed than we’d ever normally take and again, exchange looks, this time worried ones. Our incline is rapidly increasing and we are going too fast. We have 3/4 of a mile to go. Baby Bear is standing on his pedals and breathing hard.

“Well, we’re committed now,” I tell him. And I mean it. I can’t slow down even if it kills me. I’m going to ride my raspberry racing Platypus up Killer Hill with my Saddlesack and unicorn Platypus pin and if I go into cardiac arrest at the top it will have been worth it. 

I don’t realize I’ve dropped my kid. When I do, I see that he has been passed by the roadie after he (OH COME ON) stopped to take a drink of water. The roadie and his unfortunate Lycra are now in the middle of a Peterson sandwich. 

I’m separated from my son; I can no longer see him, and it worries me. I can see the roadie clearly, though, and he’s still coming. Mother of the Year here, I have a tough choice to make. 

And I make it.

Breathless and exhausted, I stop at the top of the hill and watch the roadie approach. He will know I’m waiting for my son now and that I have, indeed, won.  When he gets close I close my mouth, slow my breathing and smile at him so he won’t know I am actually about to die. He averts his eyes but he does say hi. After a long while, Baby Bear comes into view. He is sheepish about being bested after such a strong start but he also doesn’t berate me for ditching him. He knows I had to do it. He’s glad I upheld the family honor; we get each other, Baby Bear and me. If he couldn’t do it, he knew I was gonna have to. 

Anyway, Baby Bear is going to take on that hill more often so he can smoke roadies on his QuickGrilver Clem next time.

Leah 

[Ed Fausto]

I can almost visualize the scene.

How I wish I was there to witness :-)

[Leah Peterson]

Ha! Thanks, Ed. It might be better in the storytelling than real life. 😜

Oh, I found a pic of Baby Bear on his bike, in case anyone was wondering...

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 14, 2021, at 9:04 PM, Ed Fausto <emfa...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[upyou...@yahoo.com]

Love this story.  You show 'em and with class!

Kate

[dougP]

I'll bet that guy doesn't share the story with anyone.  Oh, the shame, the shame.  He will probably order some titanium chainring bolts to prevent a repeat.

dougP

[dougP]

Just a thought:  It's always been said that orange is the fastest color.  Maybe now the fastest color is raspberry?

dougP

[Joe Bernard]

Doug, this is my favorite part: 

 "When he gets close I close my mouth, slow my breathing and smile at him so he won’t know I am actually about to die. He averts his eyes but he does say hi."

That's a stone cold assassin right there. Obliterated him! 

On Monday, March 15, 2021 at 2:24:03 PM UTC-7 dougP wrote:

[Eamon Nordquist]

That's officially/unofficially known as Category 6 racing! :)

Eamon

Seattle

[Roberta]

Well, I guess that's one story he won't be telling his wife: "beautiful raspberry bike, with raspberry helmet, RandiJo bag, gloves and Hydro-flask just whirled by me UP KILLER HILL.  But I did beat the little one." 

I say give it a year for the little one.

LOVE the story (and all the raspberry).

[Ray Varella]

I think you should change the title to “the power of the ruby slipper”. 

Ray

[dougP]

Joe:

 "When he gets close I close my mouth, slow my breathing and smile at him so he won’t know I am actually about to die. He averts his eyes but he does say hi."

That's a stone cold assassin right there. Obliterated him!

Do NOT mess with this woman!  Matching luggage beats matching kit every time. 

doug

[Leah Peterson]

You guys are funnier than I am. 

Baby Bear needs a racing Platypus, don’t you think? That green one might do the trick - we need a catchy name. We’ll wait at the bottom of Killer Hill for roadies to appear and then we’ll throw down the gauntlet. Or something. What do you call a gathering of Platypuses? 

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 15, 2021, at 7:27 PM, dougP <doug...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Curtis McKenzie]

Could be called a paddle.

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[JAS]

I just love the image of you guys “lying in wait....” for the next roadie to underestimate you and Baby Bear.  You tell a good story, Leah!  Thanks for the latest tale of the raspberry Platy.

[True Golden]

Fun to read this story...definitely brings a smile.

If future planned races up the hill occur, possibly bring camera person to record the fun for the rest of us.

How many of the Riv Platypuses would the Peterson family need to buy to have a puddle?

Paul in Dallas

who occassionally tries to hang with roadies without much success these days.

[RichS]

Delightful mother and son story:-) Makes me wonder if any Rivendell model has ever generated this kind of anticipation and enthusiasm? Carry on Leah!

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Ride for Fun]

Good story.  Good for you and Baby Bear.  

On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 11:41:36 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:

[Melanie]

Those new anodized parts gave you the extra push you needed!

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Rich, 

I wonder the same. I haven't been involved with Riv for as long as most of you, but since 2012 I can't think of a more exciting bike. Hopelessly biased, I know, but I'm  sticking to it. There's magic in the Riv mixtes.

Leah

[David Person]

Well played, Leah.

[dougP]

Naw.  Just get him some of those magic "supple tires" & he'll drop you half way up the hill.  Be careful what you wish for.

dougP

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Maybe go back and read it again, Philip. I beat the roadie...and my kid. And it was a funny story.

I guess it fell flat with you, but age has nothing to do with it.

Leah

On Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 9:15:12 PM UTC-7 Philip Williamson wrote:

Wait. So you attempted to race someone who wasn’t racing, and then failed, because your kid couldn’t be bothered, but also because you weren’t strong enough to bring it off? Kudos to the kid, but I’m pretty sure “the roadie” didn’t even register the the drama. 

Philip

Maybe I’m too old for this testosterone bullshit in Santa Rosa, CA