WOW 2008 is about over

Well it is amazing but 2008 is about to be over. By taking up this new sport I learned how to drop weight really quickly. I also learned how to put it back on as well(just stop riding and keep eating bad stuff and see what happens).

Well I have some high hopes for 2009. First off is getting a new bike near the beginning of the year. Some of the guys are wanting to ride in the Anniston race in the Spring. I can't wait for the Tuesday night rides to start again at the Botanical Gardens. I have a plan to ride in the MS150 in Gulf Shores, AL. I also look forward to the HOT 100 again in Tuscaloosa, AL. Of course old faithful (Oak Mountain State Park) will be there waiting on me.
All of that and some YMCA workouts thrown in as well as my normal baseball routine and I am hoping for a dramatic health/weight change in 2009. Wish me luck....

Time for an Update

Well everything in the injured leg feels strong and healthy so I am thinking I will get out this coming Saturday and take a short ride. I'm gonna hit the YMCA over the next few days to make sure I feel no pain.

OH YEAH ROLL TIDE

UPDATE: Well the workout at the YMCA went well so I will try that again tonight and see if I can build up to a ride this coming Saturday.

9/30/08 BOT RIDE

Well today's BOT ride was me and Matt again. We seemed to be keeping a pretty good pace in the beginning(16+mph) but we lost a little on the return trip(probably that detour we took over a few hills). Near the golf course I asked two lady cyclists who were fixing a flat if they were ok? One lady mumbled " uh uh uh I don't know" so we spun around to see if we could help. Just as we arrived one of them figured out how the co2 cartridge worked. It was funny. Now as for the ride 19 miles average speed 15mph max grade 13.2

Scenery was phenominal today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9/23/2008 BOT RIDE

Well today's BOT ride was good. Just Matt and I from our group. Greg pulled a Neal Miller. Not really but we had to pick on him a little bit for not being able to get away from work. Matt messed up his pace by tooling around the bank parking lot. I on the other hand only did that for a second so we went 18.14 miles @ an average speed of 15.7mph. It was a good ride. We met a new guy Chris who rode with us the entire way. We met up with 2 other guys at the turnaround so there were 5 of us on the return trip that stayed together. My son plays soccer @ 9 on Saturday and baseball @ 9 on Sunday so it doesn't look favorable for me to ride this weekend.

Flying in Atlanta

Got to give a shout out of support to Michael in GA. Yesterday he rode 22 miles at an average speed of 19 mph. Now that is moving considering they do ride some hills.

9/16/2008 BOT RIDE

Well today was an interesting Botanical Gardens Ride. Our group consisted of Greg, Matt and myself. We left out with 3 other guys. About mile 6 we caught up with a group of 15 or so and stayed with them until mile 9. At this point we started up 78 hill and I got dropped. Near the top of the hill Matt got dropped. Greg stayed with that group and even dropped some more of them along Old Leeds Rd. Today was my fastest time to do the 20.5 miles. My average speed was 15.5 mph. My top speed was 37 mph. Greg finished 10 minutes ahead of Matt and I was 3 minutes behind Matt. I must admit I was not feeling 100% around mile 12 but I pushed through it and felt good nearer the finish.

BAMA vs WK

Saturday A.M. Ride to see Floyd Landis

Well on Saturday I didn't have enough time to do the entire Floyd Landis ride. With that said I drove over to John Rogers Dr. to ride and hitch onto the Landis ride for a few miles when it came through. I did catch onto it and he pedals so effortlessly. I saw Matt and he was clippin along pretty good with a group about 3 minutes behind Landis. I got 12 miles in total @ an average of 15 mph. Then it was off to JB's soccer game and then on to T-Town for the Bama game. (Video to be posted tomorrow). ROLL TIDE ROLL

9/10/2008 Calera Ride

My son had baseball practice in Calera yesterday so I thought I would get a short ride in before practice. First of all I went to MapMyRide.com and mapped out the route. Too bad they didn't tell me one of the roads turned into dirt about 2 miles down it. I didn't like that but I made it through and got back to the pavement. Now here comes the good part. My bike only had 27 gears when I started yesterday BUT I found that it actually has 28 gears...The ROTT gear..as in ROTTWEILER GEAR...120 lb + barking, growling, snarling, can run 1/2 a mile Rottweiler. My friend says that gear is the OH SHYT gear. I made it to the top of the hill and he stopped there and watched me ride away. I rode 10 miles at an average of 16.8 mph. Kujo probably increased that by over 2 mph. I will only ride those roads again while I am prepared to defend myself with fire power. I was very lucky and I will be contacting the Calera Police ot see if they can have a conversation with the owner. BTW...I'm sure I reached my heart rate capacity yesterday..LOL

9/9/08 BOT RIDE

Well another great Botanical Gardens Ride yesterday. Brad, Matt, Brian, Greg and myself left a few minutes before the big group. We made it all the way to Hwy 78/Old Leeds Rd intersection before they caught us. Brad, Greg, Brian and Matt were 1/2 mile or so ahead of me at that point. I grabbed onto the back of that group for a minute but fell off. I didn't see the other guys until we got to the cars. I did have another guy draft with me on Old Leeds and we were up to 25-27 mph at times. Basically it was 20.5 miles with an average speed of 15 mph. Top speed of 38.5 mph. If I can get stronger on the hills, I should really be able to cut some time. Maybe some day.

I have to say I agree with Matt...Probably only do the 18 mile out and back from now on on Tuesday. It is getting way too dark on Old Leeds Road after 6 o'clock. Hey Brian "Was it too dark to see that turn you missed?" LOL.

On yet another positive note, I weighed this morning and I am down a total of 18 lbs.

9/2/2008 BOT RIDE

Well yesterday it was just Matt and I on the BOT ride. This is now a leaderless ride as it is getting darker earlier. This means some folks were pulling out as early as 5:30. We left around 5:50 and had a fun ride through Mtn. Brook. We kept waiting for the BIG GROUP to catch up and when they did WOW. Matt said "Look who's coming?" and then he told one of the guys we had been waiting on them which was real funny. Now seriously, we hooked on to the back and through some careful traffic light maneuvering stayed with the lead group through Irondale. To me this was a lot of fun. Then we headed up Hwy 78 and Matt got about a mile ahead of me and I didn't see him again until the car. Met a new cyclist, Brad, on Old Leeds Rd. He had only been riding 5 days but he had a new Giant bicycle and was riding well for his first time out (probably didn't hurt that he has been a runner for 10 years). Great ride 20.5 miles averaging between 14-15 mph. Next week we will leave at 5:30 to help avoid the darkness. Below Matt points out my place in line is somewhere BEHIND HIM!!!! LOL!!!

Ride for Saturday 8/30/2008

Saturday's Ride. Looks like Big Michael is coming to Birmingham from ATL. Saturday, he and I rode 28 miles in Oak Mountain State Park. Good Pace. As with anytime we get to spend together, it was great. Can't wait until I get to his level. NO STOPPING ON HILLS AT ALL TODAY. Good to see Greg if only for a minute in passing.

BOT Ride 8/26/2008

Well I rode by the Botanical Gardens today expecting to see no one there. To my surprise I saw 15 or so folks getting ready to ride even with the threat of a shower. I thought about it for a minute and then I said what the heck. It's only water. Today I went a tough 20 miles at an avg. of 15 mph. Yes we did get a little wet on the way back but it was all good. With the smaller group today I met some more folks one on one. Thanks to Jerry and Laura for checking on me when I had my chain got off track. Again I was glad I rode even though I did get wet.

Trussville Recovery ride

Well today Neal and I rode 12 miles in Trussville. After the first 5 miles Neal thought I was trying to kill him but we rode the last 7 miles on the awesome flat hometown neighboorhood streets of Trussville and he saw first hand why I love the town. It was a great ride and Neal said a great recovery ride from Tuesday.

Note about Trussville: I don't think there is a more active outdoor city in Bham. Just today we saw, little league baseball, girls softball, adult slowpitch softball, peewee football, middle school football, tennis, road cyclists (other than us), mountan bikers, flag football teams, walkers, runners, frisbee golf, dog trainers and soccer. I am sure I forgot something but you get the point.

8/19/2008 Botanical Ride

Wow yesterday's ride was excellent. 17.97 miles with an average speed of 14.4 mph. I managed to make the 1st red light but got caught by the next 2. With that in mind I thought the rest of the group was right behind me but I was wrong. They got hung up at the 1st light twice and apparently I got way ahead. I saw Kev by the country club and then I lost sight of them at the red light @ Euclid and Montevallo. Greg caught up with me in the neighborhood that leads into the Eastwood Mall. I made it to the turn around point for the out and back and decided to wait on Matt and Neal there. Neal said he was "spent", "toast", something to that effect..LOL. We rode the reverse route back and it was fun. Matt and Neal blew by me one time when I got a little ahead of them. It was funny because I couln't respond in the gear I was in at all. Hope to ride again this week. Till then..Ride Safe.

HOT 100 -- Tuscaloosa, AL

WOW WHAT A DAY!

We left the house before 5 A.M. this morning headed to the Hot 100 in T-Town. Brian, Greg, Dave, Matt and myself rode today. Greg and Dave went 46 miles while Matt, Brian and myself went 34 miles. I averaged 17 mph which is my highest average on a ride of substantial distance. Also on this trip were my wife Melody and Brian's son Brandon. They both worked as volunteers at the first and last rest top. Thank You. Now the ride was interesting. It was my longest distance to date and my calves are now making me aware of it. NOTE(I should have taken advantage of the free massage at the end of the ride like Dave and Brian did.) There was one hill (DRY CREEK) that was brutal for a newbie like me. Greg and Dave went up it like mountain goats. The Hot 100 was a very well organized event and the people were very nice. The freebies were cool. I like the t shirt. Wow this day was awesome and I can't wait to come back next year.
PHOTO LINK http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v294/MichaelHayes/DCBC%20STUFF/Hot%20Hundred%20History/Hot%20Hundred%202008/

Week of August 10

Well this week will prove to be interesting. Saturday, some of us are going to Tuscaloosa to ride in an event called the Hot Hundred http://www.druidcity.org/north_harbor.html . (We are doing one of the shorter routes NOT 100 MILES). Sunday I squeezed in a 10 mile ride. Today I am hoping to get 20 miles in. Tuesday is the Botanical Ride but weather is not looking favorable. We will probably ride again on Thursday as well as we prepare for Saturday. Updates to follow....

UPDATE: Well Tuesday got rained out so I went to the YMCA and worked out. Planning to go to the YMCA as well today. Thursday Neal and I rode 22 miles @ Oak Mountain State Park. It was pretty tough but we made it.

Week of August 4

Back from white water rafting in NC. Looks like I'll do 20 miles in Trussville today and then the Botanical ride tomorrow. I met some cyclists in NC and they were very experienced and riding some serious climbs. I hope to be there one day.

UPDATED: Got 11 miles in on Monday night and 18 in tonight at the Botanical ride. Good to ride with Kevin, Neal, Brian, Greg, and Matt tonight. Oh yeah....Turned the wrong way down a one way in MtnBrook Village. Neal is still trying to catch his breath from the old guy blowing his horn. Completely my fault. I apologize to the old guy in the car and to Neal and Matt.

Botanical Gardens Ride

Well NM and I are headed out to do a 20 mile ride from the Botanical Gardens today. I have done it twice and today we'll be his first time. Lots of riders at lots of skill levels show up for this one. We'll update upon completion.
RAIN CANCELLED