BBC Team Ride: The Store

We arrive at the Dairy Creek store, sprinters first, followed the stragglers, the kids, and finally the white VW van full of spare wheels, tools, and a water cooler.  The team regroups, gets some water, and Phil walks around his athletes, offering advice in his no-holds-barred way.  If you did something wrong, you will probably hear about it.

Sometimes a rider is told to ride in the hooks.  Sometimes to wear proper clothing.  Bend your elbows, spin faster, adjust your helmet properly, eat real food.  That's right, we eat real food.  I have seen Phil throw someone's snack in the ditch because it was not real food, handing him a medjool date and whole wheat fig bar in its place.  I once rode the Cascade Classic with a big chunk of ham in my jersey pocket.  Phil did not mind. 

As Phil makes his rounds, a new kid pulls out an energy gel and slurps it down.  He is about 13 years old, and has chocolate all over his face.  He will get chastised for this, for eating plastic.  I tell him to never bring this on a team ride again, and why.  I suggest we keep it to ourselves, and tell him to go wash the chocolate off his face.

Refueled, Phil tells the group our next destination: Pumpkin Ridge.  We gather ourselves and spin off down the road, Phil following behind in his van, making sure our juniors are riding in the hooks and spinning a sensible gear.