September 17 & 18, 2011
It was cold . . . It was windy . . . It rained! In all, it was worth it! The 2011 Central North Carolina MS Tour to Tanglewood was a great and successful event. VF’s team, the VF Denim Riders, have been the leaders in this event for many years, raising money to end Multiple Sclerosis. I have been participating with VF since 2002, and have been involved in several aspects of this event over the years ranging from photographing, documenting the event, and serving on operating boards for the MS Society. I have also been lucky to ride for the VF Denim Riders Team.
I arrived to Tanglewood just outside of Winston Salem, NC Friday evening. I had decided that I would campout this year and use some of the demo gear. I brought the Minibus 23, Angstrom, and Re-Meow sleeping bag. I set up camp and noticed that there were not as many tents as in years past. It looked like the rain and cold weather kept some people away. Not me, I was ready!
I found the minibus super easy to set up and was proud of how good it looked among the other tents. I had several people come by and mention how much they liked my tent. I felt like I had a brand new car that I was showing off! As I was finishing setting up my tent, a fellow camper was having trouble setting up their tent. I came over to assist. They had an REI Half Dome tent and no idea how to set it up. They could not remember how the associate set it up in the store. It was a little different, but still pretty easy. It used a different style of the d.a.c. Pole system. It was easy to set up with my training in tents. I was happy that I was able to help.
As the sun set, I prepared to take some photos of the tent. I thought it would be fun to use a couple glow sticks to capture this awesome tent! It was a good way to pass the time and I think I got a couple winners. I even got one with a “VF” light trail!
Not too long after photographing, I got settled in the sleeping bag just about ready to sleep when I heard some boy scouts, who were camping next to me, screaming. When I realized what had scared them, I had a little chuckle. It seems they had left their tents open and a few granddaddy long legs got into the tents. It lasted about 20 to 30 minutes as the parents cleaned the tents out. This serves as a reminder to keep your tent closed or you might have some unwanted guests!
During my night camping, I found the Re-Meow to be awesome! It was the perfect weather for it, and it kept me warm through the night. I am normally a warm natured person and do not sleep most of the nights under covers. This night was just cool enough for me to be comfortable and want to stay in the sleeping bag. The Angstrom I brought was great and was able to carry everything I needed for my bike ride and a nights sleep.
The next morning, when I woke up, I found that the minibus had kept me dry during a night storm. That morning, I also noticed that I had a few friends. Under the vestibule and on the netting, there were a half dozen granddaddy long legs watching over me! This was one of them!
It was early morning and time to get ready for the ride. I was all geared up. In all the years I have done this ride, I have always taken a camera with me to document my ride. This year, I rode with a GoPro camera which I attached to the front of my bike. I thought it would be cool to see my ride. I could even use it as “game film” for next year! I also brought a small point and shoot camera that I put with some Cliff Shots in the back of my VF bike jersey.
One of benefits of riding for VF and the title sponsor is that you get to start the ride. Having over 2,000 cyclists, it is nice not to be caught up in a traffic jam early on. It was great to see our team all ride out together. This is one of my favorite parts of the tour. With the rain, wind, and cold weather, my ride went a lot better than expected. I made good time and was able to paceline with Ron Uptain, our captain, and a few others for the last 20 to 25 miles of the ride. The four of us crossed the finish line jointly as a team!
After the ride, I spent time in our team tent. I enjoyed the food and beverages of the event. I checked out the silent auction and other vendors. I did notice that the second longest line was for free Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I was tempted, but passed on this delicious Winston-Salem Company based treat. Maybe next time…
This event as of October 14th has raised just about a million dollars to help end MS. After watching the video, looking at the photos and seeing lots of old friends, I am excited for next year! Who is game to ride with me? I think Rick from Natick said he was in! Everyone is welcomed, let’s all camp out and ride for a great cause!
Chris Rief
TNF Raleigh
Never Stop Exploring
Check out my video!
Chris,
ReplyDeleteGood job documenting the event. I've ridden in it for a few years now, and I always intend to photo document it, but end up finding it difficult to actually accomplish. Keeping track of bike and camera, and assorted other gear in the midst of all the other cyclists seems to always overwhelm me and I end up with only a few snaps. So, good job.
Anyway, here's to looking forward to better weather next year. Although the Sunday ride this year started a little iffy, but turned out beautiful.
Adam Lawrence- Team Member
ReplyDeleteThis was still an awesome experience, can't wait to do it again. You couldn't have said it better "It was cold . . . It was windy . . . It rained! In all, it was worth it!"