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.