Vista

Statistically, it’s unlikely that I will actually live to be 112 years old, but even if I do, I think it’s even more improbable that I will ever see a last Saturday in March as lovely as the 2013 edition, whose clear blue skies and unseasonably mild temperatures were the perfect backdrop to the 327 Words Halfway There (Livin’ on  a Prayer) Vista Time Trial.

Some half a hundred cyclists 

came out to savor a bouquet of some of the finest views in all of our fair city and compete for magnificent prizes from incredibly generous sponsors and friends, including Jagermeister,  Brooks Saddles,  Bill's Off-Broadway, Haulin’ Colin Trailers, 2020 Cycle, Defeet, Swrve Cycling, Vapolution Vaporizers, SKS Germany,Walz Caps,  Microcosm Publishing, BaileyWorks, Peddlar Brewery, Swift Industries, Bombus Bikes, T Leatherworks, and Alchemy Goods,

Ben the Angry Hippy ended six years of frustration by finishing first—at last—with a time of 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 32 seconds, and finally being able to raise the coveted Vapolution as his own.

Newcomer Sandra Wayman took First Lady with a stellar run of 2:07:25 and making off with a charming little saddlebag from Brooks, so darling it almost didn’t find its way into the prize pile—but alas, conscience prevailed.

In keeping with tradition, the trio of Wang, Tom, and Janelle rolled in after first DFL David Mattuzca, had already claimed last place, thereby earning the coveted honor of Double-Dead Fucking Last and the sharp Jagermeister caps that went along with it.

But, of course, everyone was a winner on a day like this one, none the least being race organizer yours truly, who remains in constant awe of the willingness of so many weird and wonderful human beings to engage in such a random event for no other reason than the sheer experience of it (and, of course, in BTAH’s case, the Vapolution).

My life, if hopeful calculations are correct, may only be half over, but with days like this, it’s already complete.