A Simply Wonderful Weekend!
One really could not ask for a better weekend than this one. I set the alarm for 5:00 yesterday morning so that I could be in Louisville by 7:00 to participate in the Old Kentucky Home Tour. I left the park around 8:00 and rode the first 35 miles with some good friends. We stopped to enjoy the goodies at the first two SAG stops and were treated to a wonderful lunch at the Catholic Church in Fairfield, Kentucky. The local boyscout troop feeds and waters all the cyclists at this SAG. The food as always were great. At that point my friends and I split off, they taking the 50 mile route into Bardstown and I the 70 mile trip. I rode the 70 miler last year and really did not remember a lot of hills and it became very clear I had erased that section of my memory for it was a very challenging second half. However, I enjoyed it all and felt great when I pulled into Bardstown a little after 1:00.
Once in Bardstown I took advantage of the freebies that were available on the front lawn of St. Catherines College. I was given a very informative bike fit and learned from it my bike for the most part is perfect for me. I was advised to move my cleats about 3-5 mm forward so that I did not injury the tendons in my ankle (explains the terrible case of tendinitis I developed last year on this ride) and to rotate my handbars back some so that I'm not so stretched out on my bike. I took their advise and moved the cleats before leaving Bardstown this morning for the return trip and I'm happy to report no signs of tendinitis!). I set our tent up in the high school baseball field along with about 40 other tenters. Others claimed floor space in the gyms of the high school and middle school. The weather was perfect for sleeping under the stars and once the sun called it a day so did many of the cyclists.
This morning it was up early for breakfast - pancakes and country ham served in the school lunchroom. After a quick tube replacement on my bike wheel - I literally tore the valve stem off when I tried to remove the pump head I was one the road and heading home. I missed the heavy isolated rain shower but did get to experience the wet roads on that leg of journey - made for a chilly ride. However, after the sun broke through it was a warm and pleasant day. I survived the nasty climb up Elk Creek and treated myself to several cookies at the famous cookie stop. From there the last 20 miles were tough for my legs were tired but I stuck it out and made it back to the park one happy little cyclist.
All in all I logged 126.84 miles this weekend, spent 8 hours in the saddle and enjoyed the company and fellowship of 900+ cyclists. I came home with a neat jersey and a bag of super memories. I'm looking forward to next year's Old Kentucky Home Tour already!
