TOUR OF CALI-POURIN'

The Tour of California finished at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena this weekend, which was perfect for me; it's less than 10 miles from where I live, and was along roads which I ride and run on all the time. I knew all the secret back roads to avoid street closures and park for free very close to the Bowl.

I met up with people from the Pasadena Tri Club who had a tent set up 150 meters from the finish line. It was obviously pretty crowded where we were, and with all of the people leaning over the barricades I found that it was easier to sit on the pavement and stick my camera through the rails to get photos. It worked pretty well, until the rain came.

The cyclists made 6 laps past us, and it may sound crazy but it's true; every time they rode by, it would start to rain more. After they left, the rain would lighten up or stop completely. (In fact, once the race was over the sun immediately came out and gave us a huge rainbow over the Rose Bowl. Freaky.) I was grateful to be sitting under the tent, but I still got soaked from the mist created by the bikers and support vehicles whipping by. I would especially like to thank the good people from Zipp for giving me a beautiful catalog at the expo; I used it to sit on to keep my butt dry. (Yes, I did go back to their tent for a new copy after the race.)

I didn't see the actual finish, but no matter. Just watching the peloton go by, or rather FEELING it go by is amazing. Yes, you get better coverage on TV but there's just something special about actually being there.