The Bike Trainer

This is how I'll be doing my cold, off season riding. On the bike trainer! Most people don't enjoy being on this thing, but me....I'll take it! I'd much rather be on this than be outside trying to ride when it's cold and windy!

I can't wait to see the difference when I start riding again in the spring. Will this really keep me in shape and keep me from feeling like I'm "starting all over"? I really hope so! Only time will tell.

Spa Ride

November 18, 2011 was the date, Hot Springs was the goal! It was a cool, windy but sunny day when we left Ferndale for a 50 mile ride to Hot Springs. There were several ABC members riding and we made a stop along the way for lunch (can't remember the name of the place).

The ride into Hot Springs was nice, it felt really great to be outside instead of working.  When we arrived, we checked into our rooms at the Park Hotel. We all met up for popcorn and drinks at the Arlington where some of us picked up our race packets for the Spa Run the following morning.

My hotel room was COLD and I had to ask for extra blankets and a space heater. I was glad I had brought warm PJ's and thick, fuzzy socks to sleep in! The group met downstairs for dinner that night at Angel's in the Park. Great Italian food! I can't wait to eat there again!

The next morning, some of us got together for breakfast at the Pancake Shop. It's a tradition for me to eat there any time I'm in town. It's a jewel! After breakfast it was time to head to the convention center for the run. Jim and Coreen did the 10K. Kenny, Melissa and I did the 5K. What a way to start the morning! After the run, we made our way back to our rooms to shower and pack up so we could head back to Ferndale on our bikes.

The ride back was cloudy and cool and ended up being about 47 miles. We stopped for breakfast/lunch at a little shop where I had a nice bowl of chili! This was a great weekend, and was my last ride of 2011.

With colder weather coming, it's time to do some resting, set new goals for 2012 and look back on how far I come this season :)

Arkansas Freedom Fund Challenge Ride

October 15 was the day for this ride and it started at the Clinton Library and went over the new Clinton Park Bridge. I had yet to use this new bridge over the Arkansas River, so I was pretty excited about it. 

The Arkansas Challenge is an opportunity to provide an adaptive cycling event designed to restore the mental and physical wellness of Arkansan Wounded Warriors. It is an experience that honors our warriors as they now battle their injuries of war on the civilian battlefield as they recover and reintegrate with the society they fought courageously for. The Arkansas Challenge has always allowed for riders to ride with the warriors to understand and talk with them as they support a positive message of encouragement and thanks.

This was a pretty leisure ride of 20 miles and took a total of about 3 hours to complete. We had many stops to wait for everyone so we could all ride together as a group. The ride took us through downtown, around by the capital, across the Big Dam Bridge, and on the River Trail north of the river. My friend Ruth came and we rode together and at one of the stops I came across several ABC riders. My cousin Ken with MEMS was there working the ride on his bike so I got the chance to visit with him several times.

The ride ended where it had started and Whole Hog Cafe provided delicious BBQ with all the trimmings. It was yummy! I had never had any of their BBQ before but I think I'll have to stop by sometime and have some more!

Ruth and me waiting to cross the BDB

ARKY 100

What a ride!!! This was going to be my 3rd century ride of the year. It started at 8:00 and I had heard it was hilly, and it was....the whole time!! I must say that this was one of the hardest and longest rides I've ever been on!

It wasn't just the hills...the wind was pretty brutal too! I ended up riding this alone...my only distraction was my trusty little Ipod. I really don't like listening to music on my bike, but I had a feeling that I might need it this day. I'm so glad I had it. Without having someone to ride with, it becomes not just a physical thing to overcome, but a mental one. There were long stretches of road that I never saw a car let alone another rider!

I stopped at all the rest stops except two. The first one and the last one are the two that I skipped. I kind of wished I had stopped at the last one though because I had several friends there and it would have helped me to talk to all of them, but at the point I was just ready to get DONE!

It took me nearly 7 hours to do, and when I got back to my car, my bike computer only showed 97.8 miles! WTHeck?? I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a full 100 miles, but everyone told me not to let that bother me - that it was the Arky 100 and I had done it. I could have rode around in the parking lot and got the rest of the miles in, but I just didn't have it in me! I was exhausted!!

With that being done, I still feel the need to get in that last, official "100" mile ride. I'll either do another organized ride or just do one on my own. If I take the route I use for work and coming home through Holly Grove, and do it twice...I can get it done. I'll just have to plan it out, and leave coolers along the route for fresh drink and food. It's just something I feel I need to prove to myself.

It was a beautiful, sunny and warm day all in all though. I had many people tell me that in years past it was always pretty chilly, and/or cloudy. I had a safe ride and never had any mechanical issues so I can say I was pretty fortunate. Next year when I do the Arky, I think I'll opt for the shorter ride and then enjoy a hamburger with my fellow riders at the end :)

The things I've done!

I haven't been so diligent about keeping up with my blog, but I'm going to work on that! I've done so many rides since the last time I posted! I've ridden with the ABC group many times, do a lot of riding on my own, and have done several organized rides.

One of my favorite rides this past summer was the Bikes Blues & Bayous in Greenwood, MS. I done the long ride which was only about 58 miles. I stayed all weekend and had dinner with some people from ABC both nights. It was a hot ride and we had beer and BBQ afterwards. I met an author, Scott B. Williams, and we did the ride together.

The new Two Rivers Bridge opened in August and I've had a great time riding across it. Drake and I even took a ride around so he could see it for the first time.

September brought the Conway Fall Classic. It was a good ride even if it was a bit cool. I rode 47 miles and had some fanatastic pizza afterwards.

September was also the month for the Big Dam Bridge 100. I rode 71 miles and it had some pretty good hills! I will say that while others got off and pushed their bikes up the hills - I never did! That was a BIG deal for me...the flat, delta land girl! I always meet great people and had a great time riding with new friends John and Chuck. After the ride, there was a big "block party" in the Argenta district for all the participants.  My goal for next year will be to actually ride the 100 mile distance.

October brought the ARKY 100. It was my goal to ride the longest distance. This was going to be my 3rd century. Turned out it was only 97.8 miles and I didn't have it in me to ride a bit more to get in the full 100. It was sunny, warm but VERY WINDY and HILLY! This was one of the most challenging rides for me both mentally and physically. I rode alone the whole time which was a first for me. I'm so glad I had my Ipod with me for a distraction!  So now, I'm going to have to find another ride to get in the last century for this year!

There aren't too many more rides left for this year. If I don't get another century at one of these, I'll just have to do my own! This Saturday I'll be doing the Arkansas Challenge bike ride with wounded warriors. Then I have to decide if I'm going to do Tour de Pumpkin or Tour da Delta....hmmm...decisions, decisions! Time to start thinking about new goals for next year :)

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!