Weekend Rides?

[Grits]

My group decided to do our own metric century ride on Sat. One of our riders had done one on a Tour de Cure training ride the weekend before, and we were jealous. We had 8 riders, which is a lot for us, and took off on a new route to a little town called Spring Hope. It was a there and back ride of 32 miles each way.

The highlight was brunch at the Country Inn (food is very important to us!), a little restaurant with the most southern menu I have ever seen: fried chicken livers, gizzards, frog legs, barbeque, of course! They had normal stuff too, fortunately. They were also the most accommodating by letting us bring our bikes inside and giving us our own room in the back (maybe that was just to get us out of sight?!).

The only down side was this route had more loose dogs than I have ever seen. We had three separate incidents where they actually came out in the road after us- with owners right there twice. They did get the dogs back, but it would have been nice if they hadn't let the dogs chase us in the first place. Squirted gatorade and blasts of air horns worked to deter one dog, but two stayed in the road barking at us until the owners came and got them. I will not do this route again because of them.

It was very windy, but the temperature couldn't have been any better. The last 15 miles were rough. 64 miles was really longer than I was ready for, but we made it and have lots of riding stories to tell.

[lovelygamer]

That is one cool bike mirror!!! I didn't ride much this weekend. Just 2.5 miles with my boyfriend. He just bought a bike last week and hasn't been out much so we just took a twirl or two around the block. You girls have really been doing some riding!

[Catrin]

25 more miles this afternoon - as stoker on a tandem for the very first time TOMORROW will be a rest day This means I've ridden 105 miles since Monday - not my norm but I will take it!

[Norse]

Neat pics Reesha! I did the Cannon Valley Trail on Saturday starting and ending from mom's house in Red Wing, which gave me 43 miles total. I don't ride trails much, but that one is my fave and I had to be in RW for family stuff. The trail follows along the Cannon River as it winds it's way to the Mississippi and is just gorgeous. I started early, because it was going to be stinky hot and windy, and avoided the worst of the heat and wind until later in the ride - once off the trail it was blowing so hard it almost knocked me over. And the heat.... well, it made that last steep climb up the bluff to mom's house a dizzying experience and I had to stop at the top and allow my heart to come back to normal.

[Trek-chick]

DH and i did the Zoo-de Mack. 50 mile ride on Sat. We also rode quite a bit around Mackinac Island with the dogs in their trailers. they loved it and so did we!!!!

I did the Zoo-de-Mack with my clipless pedals. Yay!!! First time I really used them at all and I was scared but, it was all for nothing. they really are not that bad--I love them now! I forgot to take my camera or I would post some photos but, it was a great weekend.

[tctrek]

I did my first triathlon on Sunday!! Iron Girl - Lake Lanier, GA.

[Reesha]

Congrats TC!! What were the distances?