In one Northern Exposure episode, deejay Chris in the morning, said, “You have to do something bad everyday just to feel alive.” Thursday, my bad deed was riding RAMROD sans invitation. I wrestled with whether it was ethical and ultimately decided I’d be able to sleep at night if I rode it without tapping race resources. So I loaded up a hydration pack with water and food and I took $ for the Packwood convenience store, and headed towards Mount Rainer with a couple of good friends we’ll call Lance and Alberto. 

As always, it was the test of the year and fun in a sadistic kind of way, but I didn’t enjoy my outlaw status. I kept thinking true bandits probably relish their outsider, bad boy or girl status. In contrast, I regretted tagging along and will not do it again. So to the RAMROD officials who are reading this, accept my apology and please don’t ban me from future editions. I didn’t have all the facts and acted stupidly. (Can I get a beer for admitting that?)

As it turns out, it is impossible to ride 146 miles in the heat without tapping the event’s water and porta pits. I also benefitted from traffic control. Bandits are kidding themselves if they think they have zero impact on the event.

I hereby offer myself as a “recovered-bandit” and in exchange for an entry into next year’s ride, I’ll do public service announcements.