More Training for Carti Tour de Rock

I'm still doing the training rides on Saturday whenever I can and whenever the weather isn't too bad. This past weekend I rode for 54 miles and it was a little windy, but I hung in there!

I met some new people that I ended up riding with.  A husband and wife that were very nice!  That's probably one of the best parts of cycling.  It can be such a social event!  I have yet to meet someone that I didn't like or that wasn't friendly and helpful!

This was a great riding day for me!  I had a very healthy breakfast that gave me the fuel I needed.  For a lot of the ride I was in front pulling the small group I rode with.  It was great riding with others because when I got a little tired, I could draft behind someone else. 

I took advantage of the energy gels which really helped me out alot!  Also, I've been using clipless pedals for about three weeks now and I have noticed a big improvement in power!  They have really made a big difference!

We rode on highways that I didn't know even existed! I've never seen these places!  The scenery was really nice.  We rode through old pecan groves and some of these trees had been knocked down by recent storms.

On the way back, we took a little break at the Plantation Agriculture Museum in Scott.  I have passed this place many, many times but have never stopped.  This is a little jewel and I'll have to take the time to come back and visit!  It took about 3 1/2 hours to finish our ride, which wasn't too bad considering the wind.  We averaged about 15.17 mph.  It started to rain on the last 5-10 minutes and I'm thankful we made it back without getting too wet! 

After riding I went to one of my favorite new lunch spots - Argenta Market and had a turkey flatbread sandwich which was just what I needed!  It was a very enjoyable riding day!  I couldn't ride the River Trail like I normally do because a lot of it is under water, so I went by ACF and then headed home later that day.  I hate to say it, but.....I'm ready for some hot weather and still conditions! 

Ride for the Cure

Finally! My first organized ride of 2011 that the weather allowed me to do! It was still very cold and very windy!!! I had planned on doing the 50 mile ride, but due to the weather and all the hills (which I'm not use to doing), I decided to just do the 20 mile ride. Before the actual start, they let all the young children ride around the parking lot on their decorated bikes.  We released pink balloons into the air and then it was off to line up on the street.

The hills were everything I had been dreading! I'm so accustomed to riding on the flat delta land around my house so this day was a definite workout! I will say that just seeing the landscape was worth the drive. 

This was the first time I had visited Jonesboro in a few years.  There was a health expo at the Convocation Center, and it was pretty neat to walk around and check everything out.  They served us HUGE burritos after the ride which were yummy...but it was just way to much food for me to eat!

Ride for the cure was for a great cause and I'll probably do it again next year. I just hope that the weather will be warmer!! (and I can really do without the wind next time)