who'd have thought?

Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race

Queen - Bicycle race.

This morning it looked like it was going to rain again, but I had two things that I really wanted to do: a) Ride my bike (yes, I finally got it back during a break in the rain at 4:30pm).
b) Go to church.

I didn't want to wear spandex and running shoes in Church (dress-code is pretty strict here), but I also didn't want to get mud on my good pants, and it really did look like it was going to rain again. The simplest solution is to put the good set of clothes in my back-pack and head off, which I did, leaving a bit early because I wasn't entirely sure of the way.

As I approached the main-road (about half-way there), I looked up and saw a group of cyclists (read racers, not the every-day joe on a bike) go by. My heart jumped. Any other day and I would have took off and tried to make some cyclist-friends, but I was on my way to church, not out for fun. As I got closer to the road, another group went by. One of the riders waved at me. They've got nice bikes (well a lot better than my old ten-speed anyways), and helmets and riding jerseys and everything.

"Arrrghhhh... I would love to go... Aw, to heck with it. I've got to meet them."

I saw that no traffic was coming so I jammed on the pedals hard and sped across the highway, turning left to chase them down. About half-way across the road, I noticed a policeman, directing traffic and realized that he had been holding traffic back. Now there were cars coming at me. I cut the corner hard which meant that I rode right in front of him. He started blowing his whistle at me and then yelling stop!

It was at this point that I noticed that there was an escort motorbike following the bikes in front of me. It was a race, and they were going fast! With the policeman behind me right ticked off, I decided I had better not stop and that the only thing to do was to join the race. I started really giving it, hoping to jump on the back of the peleton.

It was at this point that I realized that the people lining the sides of the road weren't just Sunday-morning pedestrians, but cycling fans who had come out to watch the race. I realized this because as I started to catch up, the crowd went wild. They were cheering and screaming and laughing (you have to realize that I was wearing running shoes and an old MEC backpack full of clothes and, regretfully, my giant French Bible that must weigh 6 pounds!)

Anyways, the laughing/screaming crowd gave me energy and I closed the gap to less than 20 metres. The escort bike had noticed me by this time and moved aside so that I could move into position. However, by now we were going uphill and into a wind. I started to fall back and began to wonder if I would be able to make the back end of the peleton after all. Just then, the front of the pack made a break for it and the rest followed, leaving me gasping for wind and trying not to let my backpack weigh me down, mentally. Turns out that they were sprinting for the turn-around. 180 degree u-turn and back-down the other side of the hiway. Yikes. This was the first time I had really ridden the bike in a year and I wasn't very confident of a high-speed turnaround. With all those spectators, I decided to take it easy and push hard on the other side.

I did push hard, but there was little hope of catching the group. I kept them in my sights, but by completion of the lap, I was soaked in sweat and conceded defeat. Instead of doing the next turnaround, I just kept going to (unbeknownst to me) the finish-line! The announcer was out on the street, yelling at me into the microphone and the crowds were going crazy. I smiled and gave a victory-wave to the crowd as I crossed the line! The last 2 km to church made for a good cool-down, although I was still sweating profusely by the time I got there. Sure glad I brought a change of clothes.

When I walked into church, I was surprised to see that the service hadn't started yet. I guess the whole race incident must not have lasted more than 10 minutes, though it seemed like a lot longer than that. I sat down and started to work out what in the world had just happened. It is kind of surreal and bizarre, but then again, this is why I love Africa.

I guess I don't have to participate in the Tour de France, now (Go Sanchez!! by the way, and I see that Cadel Evans is holding steady). I have already experienced 1000's of screaming spectators cheering for me as I chase down the peleton! Today is a day I will never forget.

Thanks God!