It was really incredibly cool to see, the determination of these guys.  One man in blue did it in a wheelchair, and we saw him suffering along the lower road as we drove up to start our workout.  We all cringed and talked about how hard he was working on the flat, about how the motion seems so biomechanically awkward.  He finished a little before us, but we saw him coming up one of the steeper sections as we drove down to start the second climb.  The guy didn’t have gears or anything!  The handcycles can at least change gears, but the wheelchair seemed to have a one to one input-output ratio the entire way!  Talk about humbling.  As Eric Strabel so helpfully reminded us, we would get our butts kicked in a flat classic race if any of them could double pole.  

    As grounding as the experience was, it was also extremely motivating.  Many of the racers were cheerful and talked to us as we shared the road.  One made a comment about how nordic skiers get their nice legs, and another wanted technique advice too as Erik gave pointers to the skiers.  In the face of a mountain like that with only your arms to get you up, such levity is truly awe-inspiring.