Is anyone still around?

If anyone still sees this at all, I've decided to add some more to my blog. I know it's been quite a while since I've posted anything here, but I since I'm finally going to ride another of my bucket list rides, I thought I'd try to start posting again....and if no one is still around, that's ok too. On my ride across America, I really enjoyed trying to find things to post about each day.

So, here it is........coming up the first week in October I'll be riding the Natchez Trace Parkway with my good friends from Trans-America Cycling.

if you're interested, please stay tuned...…..more to come.  

So, the first big local riding event in NW Arkansas is the Hwy 71 Classic..... it can still be a bit cold around here, so we try to bundle up some.....

.....and huddle together for warmth.

Of course this early in the season, we opt for the shorter option in the Classic, and turn around at Brentwood.

So, enjoy the pics.....Hope to have many more in the coming months as the weather gets better and the rides get longer. See you on the road.........

Big Dam Bridge 100

Headed down to Little Rock this weekend to ride the Big Dam Bridge 100 ride, and visit family. The ride was really nice as expected. The ride is very well supported, and the route is nice.

Here's my start of the day shot from near the ride start, under the Broadway Street bridge over the Arkansas River. A very pretty sunrise.

The early risers starting to gather about 20-30 minutes before the start.

With only 5 minutes to go before the start, the crowd was getting pretty thick. This was looking forward towards the starting line. There were at least twice this many people lined up behind me. I haven't heard the official count, but they were expecting around 2000 riders.

...and of course we go over the bridge that gives the ride its name. This is supposedly the longest dedicated pedestrian/cycling bridge in the world (and it's pretty high up there as well). For those of you that rode the Across America North ride with me, you'll understand when I say I was a bit nervous riding across this thing. 

....another shot from up on the bridge.

I didn't take a lot of pictures once I got out of town, but thought this old house was kinda picturesque looking. I'm sure the picture would've been a lot prettier if I'd actually stopped to take it.

Garmin Stats

Like I said before the ride was really nice, as was seeing my girls......but the same day loss of one of the nicest, classiest ladies I've ever had the privilege to know, much less be related to, really left the day (and all our lives) a little emptier.

Hogeye Loop from Baum Stadium (41 miles)

Headed down to Fayetteville today to ride with the Ozark Roadies group. I really like the variety of the rides they do around here. Today we met up at Baum Stadium and headed out through Hogeye, around to Strickler, and back in through West Fork. For those of you as unfamiliar with those spots as I am....that's like heading towards Devil's Den Park on the back roads, but then turning towards West Fork instead of heading into the park.

Here's the start of the day shot from Baum Stadium, as we're learning where the turns and re-group points will be.....

Bikes and bikers surround the world famous "Hogeye Mall"......not quite what I expected, it's a run down looking convenience store....

Like the way my bike looks with my nicer wheel set and without that rack on the back, but still haven't been able to give up the big seat bag, camera bag, and my itunes. Did have the bottom bracket replaced the other day, but still getting a clicking sound (now from the other side)......it's driving me crazy..... 

looking forward to getting down to Little Rock next week for the Big Dam Bridge ride. Haven't done that one since the 2nd year they had it, but remembered it being a really well organized event.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget....the Tour de Cure is coming up in another 3 or 4 weeks.......

Today's Garmin Stats



Dam J.A.M. 2010 - Pryor, OK (102 miles)

It's been a month now since I attempted to ride anything over 50 miles, so I decided to head over to Pryor, OK and try out the Dam J.A.M. ride. It is a very well supported ride. The map said there was over 6000 feet of climb for this ride, but my Garmin only showed 4000+ by the time I finished (it did feel like 6000).

Here's my start of the day shot. I took this as everyone was getting lined up for the start. We started off heading right into the morning sun, but luckily the clouds moved in around the 20-30 mile point. With all the humidity, it sure was nice to at least have an overcast sky for a while.

As the name suggests, we crossed a few dams this morning. This one, the Pensacola Dam, was a mile long.

....and pretty high up if you looked off below the dam....

Here's the rest stop at the top of "Pump Back Hill". Not sure why it's called that, but there are some huge pipes leading from the valley up to the lake, so I'm guessing they might pump water back up into the lake from the stream below (I don't know). The hill is pretty steep and long. I was told that a lot of people wind up walking up it (I didn't have to, but was in my low gear most of the way). Apparently they always set up this rest stop as M*A*S*H because it wipes a lot of people out. Wouldn't have been so bad, but it's at the 80 mile mark, so you've already been through quite a few hills by the time you get here.

.....and the sun had come back out by then as well.......hot times......

Thanks for reading (if anyone still is), and please, if you haven't done so yet, check out the Tour de Cure link at the right side of this page. It's just over a month away.

Today's Garmin Stats

Labor Day Ride - Bella Vista to SW City

Once you got past the fact the wind was blowing 20+ mph, today was a great day to be out on the bike. The Ozark Roadies and Bella Vista Bike Club joined up for a nice 50 mile ride from Bella Vista to Southwest City. Had a really good group of riders.

Here's a shot of everyone trying to fit in one shady spot while all of us slower riders got caught up to the group.

....and the turn around point / SAG stop....

All the bikes lined up at the park in Gravette.

It was a great day for riding, even with the wind. Looking forward to the Dam J.A.M. ride in Pryor, OK next weekend. Hope the weather is good.

Today's Garmin Stats

Saturday, Sept 4 (Bentonville square ride)

It's amazing how quickly you can lose a level of fitness that took you 50 days and 3600 miles to attain. I went out today to enjoy the nice weather and hopefully get a nice ride in. I still feel pretty strong on the bike, but my stamina is starting to fade fast. I guess I need to add more running into my workout routine.

I decided to ride into town to join up with the ride from the Bentonville square. Going out county road 40, with those quick rolling hills felt great, but coming back home after 30-40 miles, I actually felt those little rollers in my legs a little bit.

I have been surprised to find out that, yes....the hills around here are just as steep as any we did on the cross country trip (except for maybe that Joe English Hill)....they're just much shorter.

OK, so here's my start of the day shot, from along CR40....

There was a good turnout for the ride.......just don't know where all the slower riders that I usually ride with were today.

Oh well, I did wind up with one person to talk to, so it was still a nice ride. After getting caught at the light in Centerton, we never really saw the other riders after that.

No big deal though, the weather was really too nice to find anything wrong with my day.

....still feels good to be back on the bike again. Hope everyone got to enjoy this weather today. I'm headed out on the big bike the rest of the day.

Thanks for reading.....have a good one.

Today's Garmin Stats