Category Archives: Ride Reports

Kick back and enjoy reading the exploits of fellow cyclists

Sequatchie Valley Century, Beauty & The Beast

What a great day to ride! Saturday could be called “The Beauty & The Beast” – what a beautiful day & scenery, but what a tough ride with the strong wind & chill. David gets the “Ironman” award for even attempting the ride after that chest cold (not to mention finishing strong). Geody won the mind game with the wind (and we all know how good Geody is with mind games) & Bob continued to ride effortlessly (do you ever suffer?). And Mike wins the “Genius Award” for being smart enough to know how to utilize the “Metric System”.

Although I’m risking some ridicule from Geody, I agree with David about the peanut butter sandwich – the one I had @ the 40-mile rest stop was like jet fuel. I have to say that our base mileage really helped me & I appreciate you guys waiting for me all summer long!

Superb ride & maybe we’ll do the climb next year!!!

Dan

Biking the CRAM

Most cyclists in mid-TN know and recommend the Clarksville ride in September for a first century. However this year, we learned they do the same ride in May, calling it the CRAM ( Clarksville Rotary Annual Metric).

Early on May 28, 2011, we drove to Clarksville to meet our family and friends to go on this bike ride together. It was a beautiful day, Continue reading →

2011 Clarksville Century, Sub 4 hr

As reported by rider Edward Duell

Gentlemen,

Thanks for asking about the 2011 Clarksville Century. Here is the powerpoint summary.

– I showed up before the start and there were 3 groups, those in the ‘fast pace’ Group (about 10 riders), and those who were doing the 100 mile in the ‘normal pace’ group, and then some who were standing between these 2 groups. One of the guys in the ‘fast pace’ group was trying to coax the middle group to join, since the more the merrier and trying to ride 100 with 10 guys would be an insane workload. So, many of the middle group rolled forward to join us. It was already hot. I had 2 H20 bottles and 2 Gatorades, and enough Clif Bars and Gu shots for Napoleon’s Third Army.

– We started out with, I am guessing, 30 – 40 riders, including a few women.

– We immediately fell into single file with some TT Pacemaker pulling for about 2 miles at an insane speed, which felt like 30mph, right out of the gates. I was riding third. TT Pacemaker signals that he is about to pull off, and number 2 rolls off even before he does, which puts me at the head!! I pull through and put a few seconds of face into the wind. As I pull off, I realize I am sweating profusely. It’s hot already. To put this in perspective, imagine riding behind someone at 26 – 28 mph, and then having to pull through! Continue reading →