Our local cycling group will be doing our annual Thanksgiving Day ride in Merced (CA) on turkey day morning, and it occurred to me that this might be an opportunity for some of you TE gals to come to my neck o' the woods (er...rather, Valley) for a fun & friendly ride.

I'm sure most or all of you already have plans with family & friends, but if you're anywhere near here, you're most definitely welcome to join us. Bring your DH's & SO's!! The more the merrier! I didn't do the ride last year, as I wasn't conditioned enough yet to do it, but I'm told that there were about 50 riders that showed up. That's amazing for this area.

The ride will start at 8am at the Raley's Supermarket parking lot (for MapQuest-ing, the address is 3548 N G St., Merced). Our meeting spot is on the G Street side of the parking lot, near the Chevron gas station at the corner (incidentally, this is our meeting spot for our 8am Saturday rides - you're welcome to those too). We're planning on about a 40-50 mile no-stop ride over flat to rolling foothills, probably a moderate speed (maybe 17mph average). With this big of a group and having unfamiliar riders with us, however, it's hard to say exactly what pace it will be at. The group may split, as we have some faster guys and girls. Rest assured, though, we'll make sure we have someone ride with the out-of-towners. And just a note, there will not be any sag support, so make sure you have all you need for road repairs. We will have at least a couple bike shop owners & mechanics with us on the ride, so you'll be ok, regardless.

So come on out, and help us give thanks for having this awesome sport, and the great friends we meet through it, in our busy lives. Gobble, Gobble!!

Oh! And there's a Starbucks up the street (note to self...make sure they'll be open...)

-BikeTurkey......uh...BikeMomma!