For a Monday night at home I should have been far more productive than I was, but the lure of the boob tube was too great. I watched YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and fell asleep watching Netflix. If you are a Netflix subscriber and like oddball comedy I suggest checking out “Bo Burnham: Inside” if you haven’t done so already.
Yesterday’s work day was another for the “negative” side of the ledger; I need to come up with a budget and timeframe for moving on.
Knowing only a small amount rain was in my future I pulled in the camping gear that I had hung outdoors to dry. While wet, none of it was soaked to the bone so it didn’t require a long time to dry.
After logging off work I puttered around WLF, sowing more bean seeds, and then transplanting some tomato and pepper plants. It may be too late in the season for these plants, but I will give it the old college try.
After I was done puttering I lugged my hipster mower out to the front yard and leveled the grass and weeds I call my lawn.
WLF provided about 95% of last night’s dinner. While puttering I plucked a couple of handfuls of differing green bean varieties, and cooked them up with a yellow squash and some potatoes, also from the farm. Woot! It was only the “chicken wing” sauce I drizzled atop my plate that wasn’t out of WLF.
Apparently my “Karening” last week fell upon blind eyes as the yard bags are still on my curb. Yesterday was my garbage day, and if they are still out there this morning it means that the City has not picked up yard waste for three consecutive weeks. This is unacceptable!
A smattering of rain has already arrived, curtailing any thoughts of going into WLF at sunrise. Instead I stayed in and baked a breakfast casserole, even managing to improve upon my recipe a bit.
Cheers all. Hope you week has started well.
Tuesday Tale of the Tape: 179.6 pounds (-1.6 from last week’s weigh-in); huzzah! Hooray for camping, hiking, choring, and good luck!
It was grand central station around here at one point yesterday- fence crew working, farrier working, I’m about to take over holding whoever’s getting shoes when my boss calls and I have to pass “the keys” back to Debbie.
I did manage to get 18 on the CX bike. I don’t know if people maintain their own stretch of road around here- a section had new gravel and it wasn’t too bad, then the gravel changed to bigger rocks and that was a PITA. After a few rain storms and packing down, it will be fine, but it’s tough riding when fresh.
Speaking of riding, I thought I’d throw the CX bike in the car and ride before dinner at George’s, if anyone was interested. I was thinking of the beltline, north of the park- would like to see where/how it crosses 85. Not much of a ride, but it’s something.
Wheels up from the back of George’s at 5:00.
-FP
Steve—I forgot I’m husband-less Wednesday night so I may join you, weather permitting. You think I can leave my bike somewhere locked up around George’s? I’ve only taken my beater bike there, and for some reason I convinced myself to donate it…
If they aren’t using the “new section”, I figure you could leave it there. I know there is a nice gas meter out back that others have used as a bike rack. You have a lock?
Yes I have a U-lock and an auxiliary cable.
Ugh, Bonnie! You *need* a beater bike in this town. Oh well…
I always make the wrong decisions! I keep things I should donate, and donate things I should keep! Perhaps I’ll find another beater bike someday… But part of me is glad it’s gone and one less thing to store / maintain.
If I can get motivated, I may come out for a ride. I’m thinking skinny road wheels aren’t appropriate, so that means slower Mtn bike would be needed?
Barb, part of the part above Piedmont Park is gravel and part is paved, so it depends how robust your skinny tires are. I bet Steve’s CX bike has similar tires to my “road†bike (32) but I’m thinking I’ll bring my (slower) MTB, but not sure yet.
I have confirmation for Top Chef viewing tomorrow night, so I’m a hard out for tomorrow. Enjoy your cheese curds!
Took out compost and stirred the pot, literally.
Looking out my deck doors I am reminded that I’d like to figure out how to grow larger carrots and radishes (when the weather cools enough for radish growing), as well as much better lettuce. I just checked my final planting of radishes for the summer, and it doesn’t look good; they have germinated nicely but look as if they are going to be too leggy and not produce bulbs. 😢
Nothing interesting going on here, but have an appt soon with a new PCP doctor. Not sure if it will just be an introductory appt, or a full physical. Our PCP went concierge medicine, so had to find a new doc. Allan has his appt this afternoon.
Just realized we have the Tour on our cable lineup.
Yes, Paulie, you did indeed warn me about the Georgia 400 Century. It’s pretty sadistic on someone’s part to plan the four biggest hills in the last 10 to 15 miles of the course. Overall I’m glad I rode it. Riding a bike on 400 was definitely an experience, although most of the 3 miles headed south from Holcomb Bridge to Northridge involves riding uphill. Having run the Peachtree Road Race 22 times I knew to be at the front of the starting line, which meant no one was ahead or me or near me on 400 because it’s so wide.
I only lost trail badly twice, and my cell phone only went flying off of the holder once (I didn’t secure it well enough after stopping for a selfie on 400). Phone was unharmed, although when I was picking it up I almost got nailed by a guy who could have steered to my left but instead shouted on “your right” which is counter to my natural reflex.
Strava is an absolute pig with regard to battery life, I’m glad I packed a battery back-up, I would have been screwed otherwise. Strava’s routing sucks too, it would show the route on the screen going straight when a 90 degree turn was imminent. After about 20 miles I had mastered looking for the paint on the pavement that indicated where to turn.
It rained about half the day, ranging from misting to rain so hard it was stinging my face. That wasn’t so fun. Lots of great sights to see though. I chose well on the food that I packed, three different Honey Stinger products: gels, gummies, and waffles. I liked them in that order. The gels are fantastic, they taste good and you get an immediate boost. Gummies are good 80+ miles in to a ride. The waffles are good but I only had one. The 9 rest stops were well stocked with various types of food. I ate like a fiend because of the hills.
The first 40 miles or so of the course made me feel like I was going to cross 400 around 400 times, but after that it started wending around in the country, which was great. Lots of great scenery, including horse farms, cow pastures, and goat pastures.
Interesting experience about 85 miles in or so on the Big Sister hill. I had stopped halfway for a gel, and another rider I had just passed walked his bike up and said he was having major cramps. While we were standing there, two more riders came by, one asked “Everything OK?” Leo, the guy with the cramps, said “No, I have these awful cramps.” Without stopping, the other rider pulled something out of his jersey and said “Use this, it’ll fix it” and kept on going. Talk about having a solution fall out of the sky! It was three gel packs of something called Cramp Fix. Leo gave me one that I’ve saved to store on my bike. Since it’s carbon, I have a handy compartment in the frame for a spare tube and a few other little things.
I did learn that I’m not much for riding in groups, as I suspected. For much of the ride I was completely on my own, especially beyond the 40 mile mark. However, at one point early on I was coasting down a hill to the left of probably 30 other riders. No one was pedaling, including me, and yet my bike smoked everyone. It felt like an unfair advantage, but I’ll take it. I learned I just don’t need to pedal down big hills with this bike, as I’m not adding anything to the conversation, the bike has it covered.
Of course I kept getting smoked on uphills because I haven’t attempted clipless pedals (I’m close, I have pedals on my bike that are SPD on one side and flat on the other). I’m definitely going to figure out how to ride clipless so that I can take full advantage of my new bike.
The ride started at 7 am and I crossed the finish line at 3:15 pm. I skipped the first rest stop but made sure to stop at all of the others. The final few rest stops thoughtfully offered pickles, which I availed myself of.
My legs are fine, but my trap muscles feel like they’ve been pulverized. Advil and an epsom salt bath this morning have helped, I have a massage booked for Friday, the muscles are just too tender right now. I think the combination of the rain and the hills caused that.
I’m glad I rode it, and I’m also glad that wasn’t my first century ride, because if I didn’t have a better frame of reference it might have turned me off of future centuries. Minty was trying for her first century, but due to the rain couldn’t see because her glasses kept getting wet she opted for the 44 mile route. She saw at least three people wipe out. I didn’t see any, but I was way ahead of the hoi polloi. I’ll help Minty get her first century in on the Silver Comet Trail. I highly recommend that for anyone looking for a first century ride. (hint, hint, Bonnie) 😉
Once again well done to you! When I did GA400, which I just discovered occurred nine years ago, I only did the metric century, so 66 miles.
Here’s my “proof†(that’s me on the left in the Yoohoo jersey)
Nice shot! You were smart to do the metric on that course.
That’s awesome you did the 100 on the route.
I’ve ridden 40 & 60 routes all around there, the one time I did the GA400 route I’d guess we did the 40, but it was long ago, possibly the 1st one.
I ready that Minty called it early, I don’t blame her.
You guys should ride to Anniston & back, get 2 centuries in on a weekend.
I’ve ridden 92 – that’s my longest ride, and I honestly don’t care if I get to 100. Someday maybe, if it happens, it happens. People think I’m weird with that attitude.
Minty absolutely made the right call. This fall I’m planning to ride from my house in Grant Park to Anniston and back. My almost 12 year old son wants to do that with me. We’ll make sure to get 111 miles each day, he’s calling it the 222.
If you can ride 92 you can clearly ride 100, but I hear ya if enough is enough. I’ve mastered the art of taking proper breaks so at no point was my butt killing me. It’s taken me a while to figure that out.
222, that’s ambitious – especially for a 12 year old!
I think I just want to ride from Cedartown (or maybe Rockmart) to Anniston, & back if we ever do the weekend ride again. I really liked the Chief Ladega part in AL.
Back when I was riding a lot, I could have done the 100, but we were at the hotel, I just didn’t want to ride around Anniston to get up to 100. (We didn’t start in Smyrna, we’re running late as Allan had just gotten off shift).
My son has ridden 55 miles on the Silver Comet on a trail bike. I just got him a road bike, so once he gets used it he’ll be flying along. I look forward to seeing the Chief Ladiga trail in Alabama, I’ve only been as far as the state line.
But yeah, if you’re not riding a lot these days, a century is going to be out of the question. When I rode my first century last year I was at 98 miles when I got back to Grant Park, so I had to ride over to Summerhill to get 2 more miles in.
Thank you for sharing, Lurker! I love reading about other people’s adventures. I don’t think I have it in me to do anywhere near 100, but thanks anyway! I do plan to use the SCT if I ever decide to ride (slightly) longer rides. ðŸ˜
The Silver Comet has a way of luring one into ever longer rides, so watch out! It’s a slippery slope! 😂
Dang Lurker! Good on you for finishing! That century is just brutal, at least you were warned and went in prepared.
Riding in groups is not for everybody, hell it’s not for most people. I only ride in groups of people I have 100% trust in. I have been doing BRAG for 10 years with the same people so I know exactly how they react to situations and trust they will keep me safe. For that reason I am comfortable riding within a foot of their rear tire. Now with that being said, doing a century with 12 people all working together taking short pulls from the front makes the 100 miles just fly by.
I can see that working if you know the folks you’re with. At one point I was in a pack of 8 or 10 people and the leaders missed the turn, with cars coming in the direction we needed to turn into…it could have been bad. Fortunately as the ride went on I had ever bigger stretches completely to myself.
I also realized I like picking my own poison, er, routes when I ride. There is definitely that as well. The funny thing to me about century rides is the change in perspective, for instance, 60 miles in, “Only 40 miles left!” and so on as it counts down.