3 Great Rides

Got in three great rides this past week and weekend. First one was in Frankfort. Jim, Jeff and I made it around Crystal Lake at a decent pace in spite of the wind and the allergies. Couldn't find my cycle computer so the exact stats will remain a mystery but my guess is that they weren't very good. Did manage to climb the south side of Warren Road but my throat and lungs were so full of mold and dust that I could hardly breathe when we hit the top. Second ride happened Memorial Day with Dad in K'zoo. Got out on a great ride that I haven't been on since I first started riding. Rode west instead of east and found some great hills. All in all we did about 24 miles with a 17mph average. Not great but not bad considering the hills we climbed. Third and final ride happened earlier today. Great day for a ride but man was it hot. Rode the standard comstock ride consisting of some great rolling hills and some awesome graded flats that make you work for every increase in speed. Stats for the ride were 17.5 miles at a 17.5mph pace. Maxed out at 40.8mph going down 28th St. hill which was a rush. That is the first time I've felt scared to be going fast on a bike. I guess I'll be going to the top of the hill. (1718 to the top of the hill)

Following the Grand

Got out for a ride on this beautiful friday afternoon on a brand new route in Grand Rapids. Sunny and warm with an average temp. of 70 and a wind out of the west at 14mph. Started out at the ridge and headed down the trail to O'Brien and then headed WEST instead of east on O'Brien. Crossed the foreboding Wilson ave. and headed into uncharted territory. Followed Fennessy Rd. west which eventually became Luce St. Great rolling flats that didn't seem to end. Luce became Linden and started to turn north eventually running into Lake Michigan Drive. Pushed really hard from Wilson to Lk. Michigan Dr. and really felt good. Kept well over an 18mph average. Once across the big road I continued down Linden Dr. until I got to Leonard. Headed back east on Leonard and encountered some nice rolling hills that took me out of the river valley. Headed back south when I hit 8th St and continued down Kenowa until it ended at Wilson ave. From there it was smooth sailing home on old familiar roads. Butterworth to Maynard and back home. (see it here)
All together it was almost exactly 26 miles in 1hr 31min. Average was 17.0mph and there must have been a computer glitch because it clocked my max at 72mph. I was very glad to have some fresh batteries in the computer because that would have been a very long ride without it. Funny how much I've come to rely on that little piece of technology. 1784 to the top of the hill.

Back in the saddle

Sorry it has been so long since I have written anything here. Between the time a wrote last and now I have had school to finish up and more work and stuff to do than I thought was possible. I honestly believe I have actually been busier now that school is done than when i was writing papers and studying for finals. But I'm back and will be writing here all summer. I haven't been out as much as I would like this spring yet but Hopefully that will change this week. Had a great ride with Chea in Ann Arbor about a month ago and couple good rides in Kalamazoo with Dad and Jim. Riding in G.R. has been sparse and without a working cycle computer or someone to help keep a good pace it has been hard to ride well. Once I pick up a battery for the cat eye things will be better. It is amazing how much I've come to rely on that little thing for setting a good pace and deciding when and how hard to push myself. The Tour de Benzie is rapidly approaching and I hope to be in top form by then. 1810 miles to the top of the hill.