Monday, March 22, 2010

So.....How does an 80 mile ride

Turn into a Century. Was it the missed turn early in the ride (+2)? Was it the desire to go see the groundhog in Punxsutawny (+6). Or the desire not to retrace our previous steps (+4)? Of course then when you reach the point where you are going to have a over 90 miles  anyway, is it foolish not to just go for 100. Again I am not sure but what I am sure of is that everybody had a great time.
This past Saturday 8 riders form AG3r and IUP cycling 



Headed out for what would turn out to be an epic early season ride. Little did we know that we would be doing 100 miles at the onset or that our sense of humor would be needed later in the day. Our original plan was to do a modified Smicksburg loop to give us in the proximity of 80 miles. As fellow cyclist you know that to come up with a ride that will give you the exact mileage you are looking for is hard to do and even harder on the fly.




After missing the first turn on the ride due to the fact that the ride leader stopped to lose his knee warmers, we continued on a different route. Nobody seamed to mind as the weather was perfect, the company great, the scenery fabulous and nobody but myself new were we were headed. After some great rolling hills and a nice long section through the valley, we finally ascended to 119 outside of Punxsutawney.













Somebody had a great desire to see Phil and we all needed to refuel, so off we went.







Once we topped off our tanks we headed out the backside of Punxy twoards North Point and along Mahoning Creek.Little did we know that our sens of humor and hip waders would be soon be called upon. We were little more than 5 miles from smicksburg when we encountered this sign.









Undaunted by a meer warning we continued on only to find that our road ride had would soon become a cyclocross ride. So we pressed on through the muck and debris until we came to this.




Had I known what was going to happen next I would have had my camera ready. Actually a video would have been better. Steve tried to ride through the water and was doing well until he headed toward eh edge and ended up in water up to his handlebars.He then attempted to get off his bike and got stuck in his pedal. Words do not do this entire situation justice. That's Steve in th background trying to get unclipped.












So after wading through the water we carried on through smicksburg and back to Indiana.












Not a whole lot happened on the way home. Some good conversation and a final stop for fluids about 9 miles from town. This was also some of the riders first century and at lest ones first + 50 ride.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Finally......

Got to spend some quality time with my bike. Steve , Sean and I headed out Saturday afternoon for a 40 miler. The air was a little cool but the sun and sheer pleasure of being out after such a harsh winter made it more than tolerable.
The day started out in the morning with a 1 hour spin class. Then my son and I spent some quality time sledding, then it was time to hit the road. We headed out to do the Eastern Shore loop, which is fairly hilly, as many rides around here are. I was concerned about road conditions though as many of the roads on this loop are questionable and I was also worried about ice that may be on the roads as many of the roads don't get much sun. Much to my surprise the roads weren't that bad and mostly dry.

Sundays Soiree......

Steve, Hanna and I headed out Sunday afternoon for what would be Steve and I's 2nd 40 mile day of the weekend. A bit more leisurly thatn teh previouse day. Not that Saturday was a hammerfest. But 2 long days back to back early in the season makes for some tired legs. The MC loop is probably one of teh flattest 40 mile ride you will do around here. Not that its a table top but there are allot of long flat rolling sections adn some good payback for the climbs that you have to do.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Ready!!!!!!!!!

GET ON YOU BIKES AND RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least that is the plan for this weekend. The sun has finally found its way through the clouds and it is supposed to be at least in the 40's and sunny all weekend. Hopefully will get out with the "Disenchanted One".
  
I really need.......
An outlet these days. I am pretty sure it is the meds I am taking, at least I hope it is. Nightmares and anger have been eating me alive lately. It is pretty much driving me nuts and quite frankly, I could do without either.