The midwest is FLAT

[Miranda]

Funny The Wizard Of Oz was mentioned... that is my favorite movie of all times! And oh my, Toto... we have wind indeed lol.

I hate the freakin wind with a passion. When I started riding I quickly developed the habit of selecting "wind speed by hour" as my default choice on weather dot com.

I do love riding rolling hills. We have some of those crossing the line going N into MI from IN. But, I must say I do love riding and/or driving in the country with desolation with nothing but farm fields. Just miles and miles of wide open crops.

One of my routes I must take a pic of sometime and post it. Provided the home owner's don't shoot me as a stalker lol. It's the picture perfect view of the midwest. After miles of nothing but wide farm fields, there is one lone white farm house. Some silos. And a flag pole in the front yard with the American flag always out. When the color changes and it's harvest time... omg, it's SO beautiful.

It's ok... you can call me "corn-y"... ha ha ha... gues I'm a midwest girl always at heart.

EDIT ADD: forgot to add my hatred of humidity! just kills me and bad for the asthma. another reason I love Fall... humidity goes away... Midwest Fall colors = beatutiful.

[Pax]

Tractors, meh. ATVs. Nothing like coming around a turn on the side of your tire and having an ATV fly out onto the road from deep woods. I'm glad someone was paying attention, because it sure wasn't her.

What these "woods" you speak of??

[Miranda]

What these "woods" you speak of??

Ha ha... can not answer directly since it's not my quote... BUT... first thing that came to mind was a tree patch that you see in farm fields... sorta like an oasis in the dessert. For whatever reason the farmer doesn't use the piece of the land... and if it's near the road... could fly outta there lol. Just an image in my mind.

[Bethany1]

LOL. Haven't been attacked by a ATV yet, but I'll make sure to look out for them. I had two cars go by today on each side and ate quite a bit of dust. All we have out here are loose gravel roads and dirt is just part of the delicacy of riding.

[beccaB]

A century in the Midland, Michigan area advertises that it is the flattest century ever. kinda boring, I did it once.

[FlyingScot]

The combination of hills and a headwind is what burned me in the Pelotonia last year. There were a few times I actually was being blown backward while riding uphill. It slowed me to 8mph even on the flat sections when I normally ride 14-16. Completely demoralizing. I was drafting off total strangers at one point. Fortunately they didn't seem to know what I was doing or didn't care. I think they just thought I was being nosy and wanted to hear their conversation. It totally sucked!

[Catrin]

I wimp out in the cold, and tend to push the heat a bit too much. I do, however, change where I ride in the heat. If temps =>90F then I will only go on routes where there are substantial shaded portions. Locally that means Eagle Creek Park - certainly not out in my totally unshaded corn fields I find my body seems to perform far better in the heat than the cold, I just have to monitor myself and make certain my body has what it needs.

This preference for hot riding has been a surprise to me as I've never considered myself a heat lover, but on the bike it is different!