It was a great time. This was my twentieth chilly hilly ride, started in 1988. Crowded, but the CH always is. I rode as a Ride Ref with one of my friends. We had our Ride Ref ahoooga horns going and were pretty vocal about the 'on yer left' , yelling thanks to everyone who called out. Most people were pretty nice and everbody looked happy to be out on such a nice day.
I had my old 1986 raleigh with flopped and chopped handlebars and a 110mm crankset with 36/46 rings on it. A Maillard 14-30 seven speed freewheel and it was your basic bike tractor. No hill too steep.
We took the end of the first ferry, figuring we'd follow along and bayonet the wounded on the hills. Didn't hear a siren all day, really happy over that. Couple of years that was all you heard. Finished strong and happy. And hit the beer garden before the Ale ran out so that was very good.
Any day that starts with bicycle and ends with beer is a good one.
gears to you...leo