Ride #14 - July 10, 2011

    Ride started about the same time as the previous one since I was hoping to get a century in today.   I left at 8:15 and cruised into the Tridge area at about 8:45 where I met up with Dave P. and Dave B.   I insisted to them that we take it no faster then 16 mph and we would not have any problem going to the distance.   Well it worked most of the time but several times we just had to air it out and went upwards of 30 mph during a couple of short sprints.   We stopped at Coleman where I got two bottles of Gatorade.   We decided to take Loomis Road and ride up to Mansiding.   For some reason the hills went very easy and we took a nice break just after turning in on Mansiding.   That down hill after the last hill is nice and one can reach over 40 mph but you have use the brakes to make the turn onto Mansiding.   We rode into the wind a little and took another break at the Convenience Store near 127 highway.   I wanted to go into Harrison for lunch but Dave and Dave wanted to take Clare Road into Clare.   So we rode "suicide" road into Clare.   I got my way and we stopped at McDonalds for lunch.  I am hooked on those Smoothies.   We returned to the trail via Colonsville Road.   I made the mistake of taking off after an Amish buggy telling Dave and Dave I would pass it before it reached the stop sign.   Cranking away for about a half a mile at 26 to 28 mph in the dry wind and 90 F temperature took its toll later when I got to Loomis and was beat for a spell.   After a break I felt better but we took additional water and snack breaks at Coleman and Sanford.   As I approached the end of the 93 mile ride and the Tridge, I was surprised to see Mary coming in with the bike rack on the car.    That saved me the last 8 miles of riding to the house but prevented me from getting in my first century.   No pictures today!!

Ride #13 - July 4, 2011

Got an early start and left home around 8:30.   Goal was to check out the trail extension and if completed ride to Evert.   I made good time and stopped at Coleman for a break.  Saw Jeff D. doing his workout for the Ironman competition later in the year.  I went past the Subway in Clare and it appeared it was close.  It was around 11 AM.  So I continued on and got on the trail again at the Moose Lodge.   I stopped in Farwell at the Right Aid for something frozen as I was starting to really heat up.  Nothing!!  I lost about ten minutes.   As I was back on the trail, about a mile or so down the trail, I saw Jeff D. and his riding mate wizz by at 25+ mph.   He was in his aerobar position and has his time trail pointed helmet on.  I continued riding and got beyond Lake and saw that the asphalt to Evert was completed....at least one layer.   So after taking a ten minute break and calling home I continued on and on and finally reached Evert.  Its a fairly large town and even has a Subway and McDonalds. 

I had to ride to far west edge of town but enjoyed a smoothie first and then a hamburger and coke.  Then off to the trail ASAP to get off of 115.  I stopped and talked to some folks floating on the Muskegon River.

  Then onto Clare.  I called Mary while in Farwell and met her at McDonald's in Clare.

  It was a nice 93 miles in the heat.   As I compared last year's record I found that Joe and I did 91 miles on last year's fourth.

Ride #12 - June 26, 2011

We were at the Relay for Life on Saturday and didn't get home until about 11 PM.   And we were tired from all the walking.   So we dragged tail and didn't get started until about 10:30AM.   Our plan was to ride to the end of the trail and then head back.   All went well except Joe was feeling very weak and so was I.   We took it fairly slow for Joe's pace staying at about 16 mph on the way up.   Of course going that slow only invites the legs to want to turn faster so we did get up 20 mph at times.   We did our normal stops at Sanford, Coleman and Clare for lunch.  We got to Subway right after a group of female athletes arrived.   So we were in line for 20 minutes.  Lunch cost us over 30 minutes.

 We reached the end  of the trail at mile 53.   The next mile is ready for asphalt.

 Yea, Washington even claims they are helping the trail extension.   We thought it was cow manure we were smelling.

 Yep, Joe read the sign again.   Can you believe this??!!  Wasting money on a sign that only a hand full of taxpayers will see.

 Trail looking east.   Its straight but goes through some beautiful natural swamps and woods.

  We rode to the end of the trail.   It had gotten warmer and we were still not feeling very well.  So we called Mary and had her pick us up at the McDonald's in Clare.   It was a nice 68 mile ride.   The ride back to Clare was into the wind but we were dropping elevation so we were able to maintain about 20 mph most of the way.  Of course I always enjoy the little climb on Main Street in Clare as we headed out to "hamburger hill".   It was sunny and windy all day so we got cooked pretty good.   But a nice ride and soon the trail will be complete to Reed City.

Ride #11 - June 24, 2011

It was another cool day but not as bad as last Friday.   Joe and I decided to take another quick ride up to the 14 mile mark.   So off we went.   I wanted to keep Joe exercising during his time off from running because he will soon be returning to his favorite sport.   The wind was blowing out of the SW so we were down wind going out and of course a slight head wind coming back until we started heading east on the last leg.

   I felt pretty strong but we didn't go as fast as the previous Friday.   It was cloudy and bit cool so I took the jackets just in case. We didn't have to use them as it was warm enough.   It was a nice ride.

Ride #10 - June 17, 2011

Rode with Joe up to the 14 mile road.   Joe had energy that went wild.   We were going about 24 mph from the Tridge to Sanford.   We had a cyclist that stayed on my tail for a while but then dropped off.   I had two large cookies for lunch along with pizza and not sure if that helped but I stayed right on Joe's wheel and felt very good and could have gone further but Joe had to use the rest room in Sanford.  We then talked a bit for a couple of miles and then he took off again at about a 22 mph clip.   Of course going down wind helped.

   But on the way back into the wind we maintained a 20 to 21 mph pace for the 14 miles.   We then took it a bit slower as we headed home from the Tridge and rode through the streets of Midland.   We picked up the pace on Savage Road as we approached Midland Road.   And of course we always have to do that last mile from the overpass to the driveway at a nice pace so I led Joe home at about 24 to 26 mph.   It was a very fast 42 mile ride.   I was glad because I had a lot of lawn to cut when I got home.

Ride #9 - June 12, 2011

Joe injured his heel so he wanted to ride to stay in shape so when he resumes running it will be less dramatic.  So he and I rode from home to the Tridge where we joined Dave and Dave.  We rode up to Clare Sub Way and had lunch.   We discussed our options for getting to the Tour de Mt. Pleasant race course.   We decided to go down Mission Road until we got to the Coleman Road intersection. 

So even though I felt terrible today, I took the lead and we zoomed down the five miles averaging between 22 and 24 mph.   Of course we had help from a nice tail wind.   At Coleman Road we went east to the Leaton Road exit and waited and waited.   We arrived at about 12:30 and the racers didn't arrive until about 2:20.   After viewing them at the corner as they came at us on Coleman and turned north onto Leaton, we rode east two miles further and stopped at the Loomis Road intersection.  

We got to view them again as they went flying by straight south on Loomis.   There was a lead pack of about five riders with about  a 30 second lead.   The trailing group was about 60 to 70 strong.   After they passed we rode into Coleman and then headed back to the Tridge.    Julia called and said she and Mary were going to be on the trail.   So as we approached the six mile mark we said good bye to Dave and Dave and rode with Julia and Mary up to Sanford.   We talked with Lowell who was riding alone.   Joe and I decided at about the trail restaurant that we would take off and meet Julia and Mary at home.   So we got about 82 miles in and beat them by about five minutes.   I felt terrible all day but we still managed a nice pace and rode about five hours in the saddle.  It was very cool and windy so I wore a jacket the entire ride.

Ride #8 - May 30, 2011

The weather has not been very good.   We got back from the Bridge Run on Sunday and I was hoping to get all of the lawn mowed but rain moved in.   However I got enough done that I decided to ride with the Hogs on Memorial Day.   We met at the Tridge at 9:00 and went to Clare via the Colonsville Road.   It was very warm reaching 88F.  We met a woman from Germany who had to be around 60 years old as she was riding solo across country.   We ate at the Subway and I felt good until we approached Coleman.  I cut back to about 15 to 16 riding mostly with Barker as Dennis and Dave dropped off.   This was one of Dennis's first rides of the year.   I rode home and got home around 4:30.   We took rests at Coleman and Loomis on the way up and at Coleman and Sanford and the Tridge (for me) on the way back.   I then mowed grass from 6:00 to 9:00!!!  Not fun.

Ride #7 - May 22, 2011

Decided to venture into the 80+ temperature and high humidity.   As I approached Midland on my intended ride to Coleman, the sky darkened in the west.   I debated whether to turn around.   Decided to proceed on my planned ride to Coleman.   It rained at times from the 3.5 mile mark all the way to the Sanford rest area.   I called home to get some information regarding the extent of the storms.   Decided it was traveling in a northeasterly route and south of where I was.   So decided to continue on to Coleman.   I ran out of water and gator ade.   Water was not turned on at Coleman.   Called home and asked if they wanted to either meet in Sanford for hamburgers or in Clare for pizza.   Pizza it was.   So rode up to Clare and met Joe and Mary there for dinner.   Got a nice 37 miles in today.

Ride #6 - May 20, 2011

It was such a nice day that I could not pass up the opportunity to take a ride.   It has been raining so much and not very good riding weather.  I could not ride with Dave and Dave since they were taking the afternoon off since I had to stay at work until 4:00 PM.  So got home, changed quickly and was off riding at 4:45.   I crossed path with Dave and Dave at about the 3.5 mile mark on the trail.   We talked briefly and then I continued by ride to Coleman.  I was averaging about 17 mph on the way up.  I didn't stop and took a break in Coleman for a couple of snack bars and then headed back home.

  I had a little head wind that developed into a harder wind by the time I got into Midland.  And I ran out of gas not having any food since noon time.   So I struggled the last ten miles but got home in about four hours.  Fortunately I caught Mary by phone to bring me home some fish sandwiches as she, Julia and Joe were leaving the movies.  Nice day and biked in short sleeve shirt and shorts for this nice 54 mile ride.

Ride #5 - May 9, 2011

Rode with Mary up to Sanford and back on the Rail Trail.   This was Mary's first ride on her bike in over 2 years.   I installed the new seat and it seemed to help her alot so maybe more rides are in the future for her.   It was a bit on the cool side and a little wind on the return.   She stopped at the rail restaurant and I rode to the bath room and then picked her up on the way back.   It was about 60 and cloudy.   But it was a nice ride and we took it slow to make sure she could handle the 16 miles.

Ride #4 - May 8, 2011

A nice ride with Joe up to Coleman and back.   The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the air was bone dry.   So had a nice ride with the wind at our backs.   After lunch at the Subway, we went to the Rest Area where we talked to a nice old couple who were riding on their recumbents.   Joe and I then had a trip to the Dollar Store for some energy food to consume at our planned Sanford stop.   I am thankful that I had Joe because the wind was into our face at 15 to 20 mph.

   He pulled me all the way to the Tridge.   We did stop at Sanford for a brief break.   I pulled Joe some of the way back home but was only able to maintain about 12 mph into the wind.  Joe is in super shape and I am in lousy shape.   We did average just below 15 mph and were in the saddle for about 3 hrs 45 min.  It was a nice 54 mile ride.

Ride #3 - May 2, 2011

Julia got her new bike so we tried it out.   We took the bikes on the rack and did a nice leisurely paced ride up to the Sanford rest area and back.  So we got a nice 16.5 mile ride in tonight.   It was a bit windy on the way out so we only maintained about 13 mph. 

With the wind at our backs were able to maintain 15 mph.   Julia likes her bike and after I made a few adjustments everything seemed to ride well.   Her rear wheel needs to be trued.  It was a bit cool with the wind coming out of the NW at about 15 mph.   And the sun was partially behind the clouds.  We left at about 6:30 and were back at home by 7:30.  It was a nice ride with Julia.

Ride #2 - April 30, 2011

It wasn't the warmest but it did approach 60F and it wasn't raining so why not.   I left around 2 PM and the wind was out of the southeast at about 20 mph.   So to the trail and up the trail was all down wind.   So I averaged about 18 to 20 mph (you can't go very fast in Midland and at the road crossings on the trail).   The sun peaked out but it was mostly light clouds today.   I took water several times as the wind was dry.   I rode directly up to my planned turn around which was at the 14 mile rest area.   I took a break and some water and a snack and headed back.

  And oh the wind was into my face the entire way.   I was hoping for a switch to at least the southwest but it didn't change directions at all.   So my average on the way back was about 12 to 15 mph.   I took it especially conservative since I didn't want an injured muscle or joint.   I got home around 5:30 PM.  In the process I got a nice 44 mile ride in.   I just hope the weather continues to cooperate and provide us with dry and warm weather.

Ride #1 - April 9, 2011

Took a nice first ride for the year on my old Trek up to the Salt River Bridge just north of Sanford Lake.   It was so good to get back into the saddle after a long lingering winter.   I felt pretty good as I cruised with the wind at upwards of 25 mph and maintained a nice 18 to 20 mph speed up to the turn around point.   Being the first ride of the year, I concluded I took the 17 miles too fast.   This was quickly evident as I turned to get riding back towards home.   I also didn't take a snack to have during my break.   I did get some photos of the trail area as I normally like to photograph the trail when I take a ride. 

Overall it was a very nice ride and soon I hope it becomes repetitive.   Total miles for this ride:   34 miles   Total miles for the year:   38 miles