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.