Le Tour de Brockway Bike Race 4 July 2012

Question: What's the best way to kick off your Independence Day festivities?
Answer (for about 80 plus riders and supporters): Le Tour de Brockway Bike Race. :)

The race featured 24 miles of scenic, rolling country roads, including four decent sized hills, and a peloton 'parade' on Main St cheered on by a gazillion empty camp chairs lining the street. Road bikers, mountain and hybrid bikers, and even a couple on a tandem bike lined up at the start. It was a gorgeous sunny day, but the downpour the night before left the stretch in the tunnel slick, which potentially made the sharp right at the exit extremely tricky to execute.

The peloton climbing up the first hill

I had positioned myself on the first of the hill climbs so I could snap pics of the riders as they crested the hill. As Spencer passed he yelled out that Ben had flatted and was out of the race. I thought the police car escort in front and the ambulance following at the back was very reassuring safety-wise. After the ambulance passed, I cycled back towards the start, hailing Ben who'd fixed his flat and decided to try catch the rest. I stopped in at the huge Food Fair to grab a pulled pork sandwich to go. I was a woman on a mission, else I woulda checked out the Car Show and Crafts Fair too! Near the start, I spotted another chap who'd also flatted and woulda given up if he hadn't been encouraged by Ben to give it a go. I snapped a few pics of him changing out his tire, and said I'd see him at the Finish.

Number 62 - An inspiring Finish (later)

I cycled a few miles up from the finish line, hoping to catch the first riders as they approached the finish. There would be a few downhill twists before the long straightaway, and I picked a spot that I thought would work. I also managed to chat with Wilbert, who hails from Punxsutawney and when I came across him, was comfortably ensconced in a camp chair set up outside his son's home. A seasoned roadie, he travels here every Fourth to cheer on the bike racers. 

I took a bunch of pics in various locations approaching the finish. And boy was I glad to see No 62 (the chap with the flat) roll in at the Finish. All his gals were there to greet him at the Finish! It was truly heartwarming.

Number 62 and his supporting crew. Well done on your inspiring Finish!

Team ESI did good this outing with Brad and Ben clinching third in their respective age groups! And that with Ben's flat! Well done! Maybe I'll participate next year too, just for the fun of it. Having this race, and the Star Spangled 10 km run, as part of the three day Fourth July extravaganza celebration was a big draw for me - and from the looks of the monster crowd that was building up when we departed at 2 pm, the organizers have hit upon a winning formula. See you next year!

For 165 more pics: CHECK HERE! And for the Race Results visit SMILEYMILES.COM


xo Gracie

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Team ESI: Brad, Ben, Spencer