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View Full Version : The Birthday Ride is done!


Benny
10-11-2008, 06:57 PM
Richard and Adam joined Michael and me for a great ride on a cool, overcast and threatening to rain day. The route was fun, if a bit hilly, and we were treated to excellent SAG support from my wife, Lori.

The weather was cooler than expected, low 60s warming to upper 60s, and it seemed on the verge of raining the whole time, but we must have been living right as it finally began to drizzle in the last half mile of the ride.

We finished at the bike shop to a welcoming crew of Lori and my parents. Janice's incredibly good banana pudding was well worth standing in the rain for a few minutes after the ride.

I had pretty much written off the idea of riding my age this year, but as the time drew near and I was feeling pretty good and with all the physical and moral support of my family, friends and cancer treatment team, it turned out to be a very doable thing.

I took it fairly slow and easy, especially on the many hills, with a 12.8 mph moving average for the ride. We spent a lot of time at rest stops and ate lunch at Ivey General Store at 32 miles. I never got really tired. My butt has lost much of its toughness, so it hurt a little at times, but not a lot. My shoulders complained the most, as my core muscles are pretty weak now, but again, it wasn't anything drastic that would make me think about stopping.

Slideshow at Flickr:
http://flickr.com/photos/bluesdawg/sets/72157607944468187/show/

A few select shots. Some by me, most by Lori:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2931942667_70d27c8c24_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2931943601_bf3a9da472_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2931941247_023e0ff234_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2931944051_b246bfecee_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2932804340_ffa8811975_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2931947021_b44d676fc9_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2931945639_a4afb7e652_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2931945083_376c872569_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2934497078_b8ebfc4376_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2933640599_c1f8034741_o.jpg

Jay
10-11-2008, 09:13 PM
I'm glad that the weather held out for you! I thought about you this morning, I got up early and did a shorter ride by myself. I only rode 20 miles or so but I just couldn't let your birthday ride go past without at least some kind of participation on my part.

Jay

C.U. Allezter
10-12-2008, 11:13 AM
What a great ride! I had a blast riding with Benny, Richard, and Michael. I'm proud of Benny for completing this awesome feat, and doing so with style. He should be an inspiration to all of us not to let our circumstances get us down. Thanks to Lori for her support, and to Janice for a tasty after-ride treat.

Benny
10-12-2008, 09:35 PM
I just added several more photos on the Flickr page.

http://flickr.com/photos/bluesdawg/sets/72157607944468187/show/