Lance Armstrong Twitter Ride: Sioux Falls, SD

My twitter dream ride came true last Friday when Lance Armstrong tweeted at noon on the 28th: "One other thing Sioux Falls... Let's ride! 4pm Twitter ride. Let's meet at 23rd and Cliff Ave." However, instead of just me and Lance it seemed like the entire SD bicycling community showed up to ride with Lance -- had to be at least a thousand roadies waiting for their chance to ride with The Man.

My wife, Michele, and several friends lined up about 40 minutes early to have a chance of getting to the front of the line before the lead group established an insurrmountable break. The strategy worked flawlessly as Doug H. and I cautiously cycled along in the draft being towed by an invisible force that emanated off the lead rider, Lance Armstrong.

From 23rd and Cliff we headed north en masse turned right and things got interesting immediately as the lead group mostly stood and powered up a not insignificant double hill leaving most of the rest hopelessly way, way behind. The pace quickened as we headed east out of town and after another right turn we encountered a quartering head-breeze (during his talk later at AVERA Lance remarked that it was a windy ride; but, the crowd unanimously disagreed) that drained most of my hill-climbing energy being situated on the far right side of the lead group (had I known a bigger hill was fast approaching I'd have settled for the draft inside the peleton).

Anyways, the hill arrived and the lead group mostly stood and powered up leaving me alone as others, including Doug H., sped past fast on my left side. I finally managed to catch another rider, drafted briefly regaining energy and led the two of us in a dash for the pack. Thankfully, the lead group slowed for a right turn and we tucked in, secure in the leeward side draft, as we exchanged small talk about the event which quickly came to close back at the new Avera Cancer Clinic.

I made a movie of the videos captured that day and invite you all to turn up the volume and marvel at The Man doing what he does best.

Lance Armstrong Twitter Ride -- Sioux Falls, SD

Earlier today Lance Armstrong tweeted:

"One other thing Sioux Falls... Let's ride! 4pm Twitter ride. Let's meet at 23rd and Cliff Ave. #twitterridesiouxfalls"