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Rapha 500km Challange
Thank you!
01/08/12
Most epic adventures begin with grand intentions. Take, for example, Christopher Columbus. He intended to reach India by sailing westward, but that whole North American continent thing got in his way. But it still worked out for him, right? I’m sure he wasn’t too upset he had to settle for exploring the Bahamas.
As for me, while I’m admittedly no great explorer, I had my own grand intentions for this year’s epic adventure, the Rapha Festive 500. I intended to incorporate the most challenging stage of the 2009 Tour of California –the climb up Palomar Mountain. I intended to ride the Great Western Loop. I intended to spend hours exploring new and exciting routes around my city. However, my own version of a “continent” got in my way: illness, work, kids, and other unexpected facets of life forced me to re-route my Festive 500 kilometers. Instead of riding the route of Levi Leipheimer up Palomar mountain or the route of the San Diego Gran Fondo in East County, I was forced to ride the equivalent of the Indy 500 and do lap after lap around Fiesta Island. (It’s the only place I could safely get in my miles after dark.)
But, my adventure still worked out for me. One day, determined to ride a “path less traveled” that was close by, I carved out some time for a great ride. I decided to ride my bike across the border into Mexico, eat lunch, and be back in time to pick up my kids. In the festive holiday spirit I was inspired to write this song and create this slide show that chronicles my experiences on that day. Enjoy!
Bicicleta Bells!
By: Richard La China
Dashing through the border,
On a Hong Kong carbon frame,
Bunny hop over pot holes
Cursing all the way
Bells from vendors’ carts
Line the streets of Mexico
What fun it is to ride a bike
In spandex from head to toe
(Chorus)
Jingle Bells, Federales yell
“No bicicletas aqui!”
Oh! What fun it is to ride
Through Tijuana streets,
Jingle bells sewer smells
Dead dogs all the way
Oh What fun it is to ride
When you’re dodging disarray
Climbing a steep grade,
Inhaling diesel fumes,
Choking down a PB&J
Just getting in my groove.
Blasting towards the beach
Pescado on my mind
I need to find a restaurant
To re-group from that climb
(Chorus)
Jingle bells sewer smells
Dead dogs all the way
Oh What fun it is to ride
When you’re dodging disarray
Jingle bells, that’s just swell,
Broke my cleat today
Oh what fun it is to ride
And pedal mash away.
I had to head back home
My belly full of food
Not allowed in the car cross line
Border Patrol’s in a bad mood.
Headed east to Otay
Had to make it quick
Gotta pick up the kids on time
Or my ex’ll have a fit
(Chorus)
Jingle bells, that’s just swell,
Broke my cleat today
Oh what fun it is to ride
And pedal mash away.
Jingle Bells, Federales yell
“No bicicletas aqui!”
Oh! What fun it is to ride
Through Tijuana streets,
EXTENDED VERSION:
Finally got across
And just my luck a flat
Changed my tube in record time
And hammered the way back.
Fatigue is setting in
It’s been a hard 100 k,
Made it to my kids on time
“Dad, how was your ride today?”
Jingle Bells, Federale yells
“No bicicletas aqui!”
Oh! What fun it is to ride
Through Tijuana streets
Jingle bells, that’s just swell,
Broke my cleat today
Oh what fun it is to ride
And pedal mash away.
