Lots and lots of riding...

I can definitely say I've been putting in some miles!  I recently joined ABC (Arkansas Bicycle Club) and have joined in on some truly fun rides!  I've met some really great people and I love having the option of group riding or doing my "own thing".

On July the 4th, we rode down to Riverfront Park and saw a truly spectacular fireworks show!  The weather was fantastic...it was mild, with a gentle breeze and the humidity was almost nonexistent.

On Monday, July 11, I met up with the group and we rode to the Argenta Market for a bite to eat and then to Dickey-Stephens ball park to watch the Travs play Frisco Tx. It ended up being only three of us, but we were joined by three other people later. I have never ridden my bike to a baseball game...what an experience.  This was only the second time I've ridden at night and had to use a headlight.  I'm loving it! It's exciting and a bit scary all at the same time! 

Saturday, July 16 was the YaYa's ride. We met at the Promenade for a ride to Paron and back.  The ride was a bit hilly but there was plenty of shade starting out. I met a cousin, that I had never met before, and we ended up riding together and talking. He is a fast, and very strong rider...I think if I rode more with him, I'd be better and faster :) It was a pretty hot day and I think a couple of the riders had problems with it.  When we returned, we had lunch at YaYa's and it was delicious!

The Wampoo Roadeo was held Saturday, July 23. I rode 63.6 miles and averaged about 18mph.  This ride is a fund raiser for the Marilyn Fulper Memorial Fund. She was killed last year when a motorist ran a red light at the intersection of Cantrell Road and River Mountain Road.  A sad reminder for me to get out there and enjoy life and live it to the fullest!

I've been doing a lot of riding on my own and I've also been going to Helena and riding hills with Hannah.  She is fantastic and so athletic!!! I'm totally in awe with her riding! It was really helped me to get in some hill training and I can already see the difference.  I still have a long way to go, but I'll eventually get there!

Next week I'll be traveling to Greenwood, MS for Bikes Blues and Bayous. This will be a relaxing ride - no 100 miler. There will be a few people from ABC going and I can't wait to meet up with some of the ladies for a good day of riding. I sure hope I can fit in some pool time ;-)



Tour de Corn

I did my second century ride in East Prairie, MO on Saturday, June 25, 2011. I woke up early that morning to the sound of thunder and pouring rain - not a good thing when you're riding a bike.  Lucky for me, the storm moved out and the sun was shinning by the time the ride started.  The streets and highways were still a little wet so I did manage to sling road grime all over my jersey.

The ride started off great! I met up with a guy, Barry from Cape Girardeau, that was attempting his first century.  We averaged almost 18mph during the first half of the ride, and then it came...the WIND! The wind was pretty fierce during the last half and we took a wrong turn which also slowed us down.  I remember him asking me what riding a century felt like and I responded..."The last 20 miles or so, you're going to feel like you're dying!"  And I think that's how we pretty much felt by the time we reached the finish line.  For me, this was harder than Tour de Rock...THANKS WIND :)

It took us 6 hours and 35 minutes to finish, which was faster than my time for my last century ride.  The rest stops were great, I didn't see any of the famous sweet corn on the cob that they had shown on the website, but I think that was because they had such a wet spring and they were late planting the crops.

 This was an enjoyable ride, and I can say that I will definitely be back next year!