by Chris Geiser

So a guy, you know the guy, this guy, this guy walks into this burger joint. You know the one. No names, but it has the secret menu, and it’s only available in certain areas, and they cut their fries from fresh potatoes, but no names. Suffice it to say, for as up as I thought I was on the secret menu, how to get the right onions, how to get the extra whatever sauce, and how to even get the burger wrapped in lettuce. Dude. Really? We need to have a talk if you are that guy. Go the whole way, treat yourself, just maybe don’t have the 1700 calorie chocolate shake. Have a bun once in a while. Ok, we are off track. Anyway — the secret menu…I had to test a theory.

With my last trip to California, I had to know, was there a hidden archaeological link between my use of the double-double, and, you know, the double-double. I put it to the test. I sauntered up to the window, to see what the burger guy (BG), knew about our GFNY Double-Double.

Me: Hey, so this secret menu.

BG: Yeah, what do you need to know?

Me: Well I want to see if I can get a GFNY Double-Double, Portugal and Deutschland style?

BG: The what now? Dude, all I caught was double-double. (Editor’s note — check out how dude is clearly dealing with the wrong thing, he doesn’t even capitalize double-double. I had heard these were the politest people in the fast-food game, but come on).

Me: Well, see, I just hear that there was a “double-double” (non-capped), as you had said, and I am like, well, I wonder if they mean a GFNY Double-Double — because, what else is there?

BG: Dude, I don’t know what that is, and dude, there’s a line, and people look pissed. Are those three dudes with you?

Me: Yes, but, forget them! Now, I must know — the GFNY Double-Double — with Portugal, and Deutschland — the inaugural GFNY of Portugal, do you have it? The GFNY European Championship, do I get it here? Dude, do you know what a Double-Double really even is?

BG: Look man, I don’t know what reality show you guys are working for, but do you want some food or not?

Me: Well, yeah, I guess, I will have a double-double- you know with the small letters, if that is really a thing.

BG: It’s a thing dude. Fries?

Me: Sure.

So I ate it. Sue me. But anyway…(continued below photos)

 

Well there it is in Red and White, and Yellow (psychological thing I think). Should I redact the logo?

Back to the Real Double-Double

We are starting to wind down to the magic week of the GFNY Double-Double. With my Training Peaks warning me today that it was only 4 weeks until GFNY Deutschland, I had yet another, “Home Alone” moment in realizing how much planning, training, and anticipation there is yet to go before we board that plane for Frankfurt.

With our plans in full motion, there were some observations made by Tom and by Jack about some of the logistics that we were facing. All this in the face of my call with Peugeot about the short term lease we had arranged for that would allow us to drive a brand new van from Frankfurt to Lisbon, via Belgium and Southern France. I had booked the reservation, confirmed it, paid for it, and got a confirmation email that said Lisbon to Lisbon. Hmmm…that’s not very convenient, you know, with the arrival in Frankfurt and all that? I got on the horn…(with apologies and adoration for Bob Newhart — if you read this in his voice, I promise it will be funnier).

Me: So, I want to inquire about this reservation confirmation number is 555, 1–2–1–2, yes, 1–2 that’s right.

(Editors Note: Part of the Bob Newhart experience is only hearing the one side — just go with it).

Me: Yes, that’s right, I know it says Lisbon to Lisbon, but the problem is that I wanted Frankfurt to Lisbon.

Me: Well, yes, I understand, but the thing is, I booked it for Frankfurt. Oh, yes, I’ll hold.

Me: Yes, still here. Yes, well I wanted Frankfurt to Lisbon.

Me: Well, Yes, I realize that Lisbon to Lisbon would be easier for you. What’s that?

Me: Well, sure, I guess that would be nice, and, yes, we want to end up in Lisbon, and spend time in Cascais, but I am flying into Frankfurt you see. That’s, that’s in Germany you see.

Me: Well, the other side of Spain. No, other way, toward the Alps. Right. Yes, that’s right, yes, but if you get to Denmark you missed it.

Me: So you can’t do that. OK, well can you cancel it?

Me: Thank you, you’ve been very helpful.

AAAAND SCENE! And just like that we are on to searching for alternatives, with the most plausible being an RV. Yes! That’s the life, no need to stop in Spain or anywhere else, we don’t need no roadside bathrooms — we’re mobile! And with the best of intentions, before you know it, a combination of cost benefit analyses and good ole common sense from Tom, and Jack provides us with some clarity. Race GFNY Deutschland, a train to the ancient French city of Avignon (where I once drove a car down a pedestrian alley — if you think the people on line behind me at the burger joint were pissed — wow), drive to Vaison la Romaine, meet Tom, climb the Ventoux, eat, sleep, drive to Marseilles, and Fly to Lisbon. It’s the perfect plan. Less driving, less expense, hit the highlights, and race both GFNY Deutschland and GFNY Portugal with maximum energy.

Some Travel Perspective

With as much travel as I do for work, you would think that you could burn out on travel outside of work, but I would never say that that’s the case. As was mentioned in a recent GFNY podcast (#humbled), I had never left the country until I was 40. I grew up in NY, spent 7 years in Seattle, and thought I knew everything there was to know. In 2007, just after my 40th birthday, I got the opportunity to go to Moscow on one of the most interesting and exciting adventures I had ever had. It completely changed my perspective in that, I had never seen another way of life, and also because, I thought NYC was the biggest city in the world. I found out very quickly, that I didn’t know anything. I was hungry for more, and in 2015 I combined cycling and travel via GFNY, and I was hooked.

In the shadow of Ventoux, I made new friends that I am still in touch with. The following year, I reciprocated, when a rider from Belgium came to NYC for GFNY, and we went out for a training ride together. We have been in touch about cycling and other topics ever since. And if you read the Italian Job, you know how many new friends we made in Italy, including this guy:

Mirko D.P. The assembly of the bike, and the special ceremonial exchange of garments over coffee with Vito Valentini.

Hey, Was this Headed Somewhere?

I am SO glad you asked! It’s absolutely headed somewhere. To Europe in fact. Where we plan to gather, race, eat, tell stories, and create new friendships, new experiences, new adventures. We are bringing folks that are new to GFNY, like my friend Jack. Jack and I go back 27 years. Recently reconnected, I told Jack about the GFNY Double-Double in an airport club a few weeks ago. I sent him the blogs, I told him the plan. He got back to me immediately (before I had even taxi’d out- “I am in”).

Jack and I after an evening of training for the GFNY Double-Double in Seattle

After an evening of training, and streaking through the I-90 bike tunnel in Seattle (an experience I thought I had caught on video but didn’t hit the right button DOH!) we headed into the sunset and the last climb up into the downtown area.

Me: Jack — how are you feeling, are you ready for the GFNY Double-Double, Deutschland, Portugal?

Jack: Maybe not this second, but in six weeks I sure will be.

Me: Are you excited?

Jack: You know what, I am. When we talked in the Alaska Boardroom that day, I thought, this is one of those life experiences you have to jump on, you have to do it when you are 54, so that you don’t regret not doing it when you are 64.

Me: the good news is, if you start doing it when you are 54, you will probably still be doing it when you are 64!

And We are Off to the Races

With that — I think it’s time to focus on the races. After all, that’s what is driving our trip. I won’t pretend that the European travel adventures I have had have not been rich experiences, but the races are the essential DNA in creating those experiences. In the next two editions, we will focus on the races, and the race organizers. With a little reversal, Portugal will be coming up first (published simultaneously with this article), and my conversations with Ana Paula Cavalcanti, an originator of GFNY Brazil, and now in Portugal getting set to produce the inaugural GFNY Portugal!

Read all about it here: https://medium.com/@chris.geiser/gfny-double-double-a-edi%C3%A7%C3%A3o-especial-de-portugal-7a5821af3c4d