Friday, October 26, 2012

Oct-20: "City Slickers" 204-km Perm

Ricochet Robert, Biker Bob, RickRod (better known as "Wilmington Rick" or "R^2") and I met slightly pre-dawn to ride Byron's hillfest, "Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville".  R^2 was R-series-hunting; Ricochet & I were kilometer hounding; Biker Bob had the best reason of all to ride -- he was just looking for a nice bike ride with some friends.

Rick brought a camera, and used it quite extensively -- after his fingers "thawed out".
Early on, he mentioned that it was about 10 degrees warmer in Wilmington.
It got down to about 43 F.
I can imagine the northern tier randos laughing.
But Rick was dressed for 53 F.

Rick made his photos available to Bob and me.
I'm looking forward to seeing and reading Bob's take on the ride.
In the meantime, some pics courtesy of R^2:
A view from just off Stagville Rd, near Bahama.
Duck or Swan Pond, just below where the previous pic was taken.  "JJ's horses" were on the other side of the road.
Moores Mills Rd (?), heading to Mt. Tirzah.
Leaf color developing nicely.
Hollow Ridge Grocery atop Mt. Tirzah.  Favorite control of many.  Favorite store for many others when JRA.
L to R:  R^2, Biker Bob.  Ricochet behind the camera.  I don't know where I was.
 
Just west of Timberlake.  I think R^2 wanted a good pic of the long grasses.
Gordonton Rd (?) -- from the angle of the shadows:  outbound.
Apparently no photos from Leasburg -- the turn-around.
 
Hester Store Rd, inbound just before dropping down into the first deep creek valley on Hester Store Rd.  The scene and colors are/were more impressive in person.
Bison.  As seen from Hester Store Rd.
Ghostbusters.  Between Hester Store Rd and Hurdle Mills.
Just after crossing the Flat River near Hurdle Mills -- parked alongside the road.  1936.  Ford (?).
Some of us were looking forward to BBQ lunch at the afternoon control at Hollow Ridge Grocery.  Here I am, confirming that they ran out of food before we got back from Leasburg.  Aargh!
View from Hollow Ridge Grocery.  Looking to the southeast.  I don't know where / what that hump in the distance is located.
Back in Raleigh on Ray Rd, we were joined by a local female cyclist.  I heartily endorse her choice of jersey. 
All finished.  L to R:  R^2, Sandbagging Bob, Ricochet, me. 

For more pics from the ride and from other rides + more, try Rick's Flick'r.
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Oct-20:  

--> Leesville-Leasburg-Leesville 204-km perm -->; 140.0 m.; 9h21 in-motion; 15.0 mph; Triple-L elapsed time:  10h21.  
 
Q-1 tot: _22 rides; 1,610.3 m.; 108h42; 14.8 mph; 1947 RUSA kms
Q-2 tot: _29 rides; 2,711.5 m.; 182h48; 14.8 mph; 2700 RUSA kms
Q-3 tot: _32 rides; 2,958.9 m.; 197h17; 15.0 mph; 2983 RUSA kms
Oct tot: __7 rides; __545.5 m.; _36h47; 14.8 mph; _636 RUSA kms.
YTD tot: _90 rides; 7,826.3 m.; 525h35; 14.9 mph; 8266 RUSA kms.

2 comments:

  1. Surprised you didn't mention the 90 mile warmup, or your non-standard socks (actually, looking at the last picture, none of us have standard biking socks).

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    Replies
    1. In a previous draft, I did mention that you had sandbagged for 100-miles (the turn off Bahama Rd onto Stagville Rd is within half-a-mile of the 100-mile-mark), then zipped past us as if we were nearly motionless. However, that draft had too many words and too many photos, so I cut back -- some things were intentionally cut, but the sandbagging by someone was inadvertently cut.

      Besides, if someone whose name is Bob should happen to make a blog post himself, I'll have the opportunity to make a sandbagging comment on that blog. Maybe Ricochet and R^2 would also make sandbagging comments.

      As for the socks ... I have worn them many times during the winter months; I anticipate doing so again. Those thick wool (hiking) socks are about the only "real" wool I own.

      ...M

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