Saturday July 17th Rides

[Catrin]

Tri Girl, that is terrible - and thanks for the reminder. As I ride alone most of the time I got a Road ID some time ago - but the reminder is always a good thing.

Oh, Tri Girl, that's awful. I'm sorry. I do wear a Road ID, but thank you for the reminder.

I rode 51 miles with DH and a friend. We went out slightly ahead of our club's ride. The type of ride on offer today was called "grand touring" ride. It's not marked or supported; the ride leader merely provides a map and a bit of support for those who might need it. It stops at a country market, which is nice. I like to support that type of business.

I was somewhat disappointed in the route. I'd done the ride before, but some of the roads were A LOT more chewed up than they were last year. A few stretches were arguably dangerous as they were on a descent. It would have been easy enough to reroute that section. I think the ride leader was a bit remiss in not doing so (although they did warn us about it). In the very least, they could have outlined the area with some paint.

Today's ride was on the hillier side. I felt okay for most of it, but the heat and humidity really started to get to me, even though I've consistently been riding in it. On one hill (a long one for these parts), we were followed by a dog for over a mile. I don't think he wanted to hurt us, but I picked up the pace to shake him past my comfort zone!

All in all it was a good ride. Catrin did part of the ride, too, so I'm eager to her take on it.

I chose the 36 mile option as this was my introduction to real hills - but wound up going on a completely different route for most of the first half of the ride because I got separated from the group, missed a turn, and then was lost for a time

I was at the rear of the group and a small gap developed because I am not a fast climber. Then we came to an intersection where the other traffic had the right-of-way - but I was a little behind the others and got stuck as I watched 10 cars get between me and the group before I could cross. By then they were 2 hills away. I COULD still see them though as I started climbing that first hill. I am not a fast climber. By the time I got up that first hill they were just a sparkle in the distance, by the top of the second hill they were gone.

After considering that I had the map and cue sheet I decided to just keep going at my own pace. The problem was that there were no street signs at intersections so I just kept going (for 6 miles) until I found a sign.

So here I am, on the side of the road trying to figure out where I on a map that only has a couple of street names when a lone cyclist comes along and I flag him down. We figured out a back-roads route to the market where I hoped to meet up with folks, I then called the leader and headed that way. I made it to the market before everyone left I did not call her before then because I had no idea where I was...

Apparently at some point the leader figured out that I was missing and they sent someone back to look for me - but of course that was too late However, I am used to riding solo on country roads so I wasn't overly concerned - I figured that I would find my way out somehow - and I had figured it out when the cyclist came along - he just showed me a better/quicker way.

I agree that several stretches of road on the way back from the market were dangerous - on one of them I was descending at almost 40 mph and all of the sudden there was this very torn up section of road Thankfully I have good brakes and was able to rein in the speed and find a place (in the wrong lane) to navigate through. I think it should have been re-routed - there were several places like that.

I felt fine in the hills, just very slow going uphill though had good, if a little nervous, fun going downhill. The next time I go on a ride like this, at the very least, I am going to have my own map that has all of the street names and more detail in case I should get separated again.

[Shaula]

Live in South Georgia where we have only two seasons: Fall and Summer.....Rode to my mom's, who lives 7 miles from me, towards the Okefenokee Swamp, visited and started back at around 10:30 am..really hot, sweat dripping, some hills and immediately hit my swimming pool when I got back (joined by my husband who finished a 35 mile ride with his riding buddies). So, total of 14 miles today...

[Irulan]

I dusted off my singlespeed and took it out to the state park which is perfect ss terrain. I went solo, did about 14 miles, had a lovely ride.

[HoosierGiant]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

[Catrin]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

Congratulations! It was certainly hot and humid today, very glad to hear that you had a good time! If I can ask, how long did it take?

[arielmoon]

28 mile recovery group ride on what is now a regular Sunday thing.

[Tri Girl]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

WOW- congrats!! I would love to do a double in one day. Perhaps before my 50th.



I tried to find out more information online. The comments on the new channel's websites were disgusting- blaming the victim instead of the murderer (I shouldn't have read them). WTH is wrong with our society when someone is murdered and we blame the victim? He was obviously an experienced cyclist (from the type of bike he was riding in the picture and the police said he was dressed in cycling attire). One of my friends who discovered him is having a difficult time. Fear shall not keep me from riding, but I know I'll be much more concerned when I ride out there from now on (it's on my regular route rotation).

[redrhodie]

WOW- congrats!! I would love to do a double in one day. Perhaps before my 50th.



I tried to find out more information online. The comments on the new channel's websites were disgusting- blaming the victim instead of the murderer (I shouldn't have read them). WTH is wrong with our society when someone is murdered and we blame the victim? He was obviously an experienced cyclist (from the type of bike he was riding in the picture and the police said he was dressed in cycling attire). One of my friends who discovered him is having a difficult time. Fear shall not keep me from riding, but I know I'll be much more concerned when I ride out there from now on (it's on my regular route rotation).

I never read the comments on news websites anymore. It seems like the dregs of society love to show their ugly colors there, and I don't need further confirmation that those people are idiots. They just want to be controversial for the sake of it, and don't have a good sense of right from wrong. Know the rest of us are saddened by this loss.

[Tri Girl]

ANOTHER cyclist was murdered this morning while out on his morning ride. It happened 4 miles from the fatality yesterday. I was riding within a couple miles of today's accident. At least the driver today stopped and called police. 2 cyclists murdered in 2 days is unbelievable.
I'm in shock.
One wasn't going to keep me off my bike. Two in two days is probably going to keep me on my trainer for a couple weeks.

I wish the media would use this as an opportunity to educate the public about the legality of cyclists on the roads and remind drivers to pay attention. Instead, they just breeze over the story and just mention the gory details. C'mon media- educate the rednecks around here, PLEASE!

[Cait]

DH and I completed RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) --one day, one way, 160 miles. Rode to the starting line, did the ride, turned around and headed back to Knightstown -- 201 miles. My first double, which I vowed to complete before I turn 50 this summer. Hot and windy, but still a great experience!

Way to go, it was a hot one. I didn't ride this year (in no shape for 160 miles) but friends of mine did and they were exhausted...which only made me more excited to do it myself next year.