Fifty Plus (50+) - Transgressing the boundaries

After awakening from my drug-induced stupor and reversing it with about four cups of Starbucks, I tried unsucessfully to talk my younger daughter into a MTB ride. Crestfallen (not realizing that she had been up until 2 AM watching House reruns), I decided to blunt the psychic pain by inflicting as much physical pain as I thought I could bear. No chatting, no stop-to-smell-the-roadkill, it was mano a mano with the bike and the roads, fully aware that neither bikes nor roads have hands and so the metaphor is almost as bad as what one might find on the editorial page of the New York Times.

But I digress.

Armed with my Garmin and two full bike bottles, I set out for what I guessed would be a 42 miler, which would exceed my previous best of 37 miles.

So I took the road less traveled, which led out into the serious boonies of Kentucky.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/road.jpg

Although not as breathtaking as the Pacific coastline, the Bluegrass is not without it's own beauty.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/farm.jpg

Part of the trip earily was reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock movie, as I was strafed by an ultralight in the middle of the trip.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/ultralite.jpg
Judging by the jingoistic colors of the ultralight, I'm guessing that the owner is a Republican. I might be wrong about that. In any case, I was able to give the sucker the slip.

About 32 miles into this trip, I had a hunger that Little Debbie cakes could not satiate.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/livebait.jpg
You can be very tired and still manage down a few nightcrawlers. They'll find their own way down.

By this point I think even my bike looked tired.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/lba.jpg

On the first half of the trip, my front ring usage was about 50% middle, 40% large, and 10% small.
However, during the last ten miles the usages was about 60% middle and 35% small, saving the large ring only for grades >10%. You studs can bad-mouth a triple all you want. I'll never part with mine.

By the time I got back the house, I was too tired even to plug the Garmin in, so, temporarily ignoring the trip stats, I collapsed in a non-drug induced stupor on my back deck.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x40/TWLBA/tub.jpg
You'll not catch me whining that life hasn't indeed been very good to me, at least not very often.

The final MotionBased tally: 46.55 miles, 2900 feet of climbing. I went out with my family to diner and stared straight ahead in a catatonic state during the meal. They seemed to understand.

And that's how I spent my day.

If you checked your e-mail yesterday, you could have had company. At least for an MTB ride. Don't know if I'd have been up to a 40+ road ride just yet.

Very nice. That half-century is in your cross hairs now!
:beer:

Nice ride, good climb, and nice pix, TWL. Our group rode in the Boston Mountains today, so the scenery is similar. After the group ride, I added a few miles on my own. Instead of an ultralight, I had buzzards circling over me. Perhaps they evaluated my pace and decided that it wouldn't be long:eek:

Congrats on a new high:beer: The big question is now Beer or Pie?

Watch out for ultralights. The kids on board throw bottles.

Great ride and great pics. Pity about the whitewalled tyres though- They show up too many stains from the road and I do notice that yours are not that dirty yet.

Sounds like you will be beating the Roubaix to a metric- but TSK seems to be chasing you (You have to give an allowance for the stops on TSK's rides to admire the scenery at the top of his hills)

Well done on the ride- but I did notice NO beer and NO pie at the side of the tub.

And Freeranger- Want a witness to his metric- so get training.

By this point I think even my bike looked tired.

A Buenos Aires never looks tired.....but you gave it a good ride and earned a catatonic meal with the family. Once you get the Garmin downloaded, why don't you post your stats for the ride...you can leave out the hot tub part......

Way to go. Just curious though. Did you have enough change to get you some night crawlers? Maybe that was the difference maker.

Nice ride.

Nice ride, good climb, and nice pix, TWL. Our group rode in the Boston Mountains today, so the scenery is similar. After the group ride, I added a few miles on my own. Instead of an ultralight, I had buzzards circling over me. Perhaps they evaluated my pace and decided that it wouldn't be long:eek:

Boston Mountains? Is that on the Boston Commons somewhere?


Weal Link - that was a great post/pix. You *earned* that nightcrawler snack!:eek:

A new energy pill - better than GU. The 50+ secret contribution to the American teams in the TdF. Now we know how Lance REALLY won.

Nightcrawlers!

Great ride and ride report and pictures. Well done.

Great ride and great pics. Pity about the whitewalled tyres though- They show up too many stains from the road and I do notice that yours are not that dirty yet.


That was an artifact of the photo. My tires are plain Bontrager black and the rims are silver. No white-walls for this man. Now red-walls, we're talking uber-cool.

That was an artifact of the photo. My tires are plain Bontrager black and the rims are silver. No white-walls for this man. Now red-walls, we're talking uber-cool.
It looked like very pretty ride, but as far as Bontrager tires, you might want to carry some extra tubes and patches.

I love those live bait machines!

Now red-walls, we're talking uber-cool.

Like these you mean.

Great ride and report.

Does Kentucky know that you are on the loose????

Great ride & report. Beautifull pixs. The scenery is simlar to Pa. The hot tub should help the legs. A beer or two will help everything else. If nightcrawlers are little too much try the little red worms, bet ya can't eat just one

Nice ride and pictures.

Only in KY could you find a vending machine with bait:)

I could use the hot tub at this momemt - just came in from a 40 mile ride with headwinds and hills the last 10 miles:(

Nice ride, good climb, and nice pix, TWL. Our group rode in the Boston Mountains today, so the scenery is similar. After the group ride, I added a few miles on my own. Instead of an ultralight, I had buzzards circling over me. Perhaps they evaluated my pace and decided that it wouldn't be long:eek:

The Boston Mountains?:eek: Tell me you didn't ride the highway 71 Scenic Route. Buzzards would not have been evaluating my pace in that country, they would have been evaluating my state of readiness for them to feed on, I'm pretty sure that area would just kill me.

The pic of the bike and stacked wood looks familiar. Same place we stopped on the 36'er?? Must have added some mileage onto it--good route, some good hills--sounds like you've got this roadie thing about down. Waiting to read here that you've done that century any week now!

The Boston Mountains?:eek: Tell me you didn't ride the highway 71 Scenic Route. Buzzards would not have been evaluating my pace in that country, they would have been evaluating my state of readiness for them to feed on, I'm pretty sure that area would just kill me.

Yes, we rode from West Fork, AR to the top of Mt. Gaylor and then back down to West Fork. It's a beautiful ride, but Mt. Gaylor can kick your butt if you don't eat and drink correctly and if you don't save a little energy for the climb.

That was an artifact of the photo. My tires are plain Bontrager black and the rims are silver. No white-walls for this man. Now red-walls, we're talking uber-cool.

Sorry about misreading the photo- That's what comes of years of fat MTB tyres- Now as to those red tyres- Hate to say it but my red tyres are slightly off the red highlights on my bike I know its charcoal or anthracite or dirty black but that little bit of difference in all reds looks off. On my tandem, which is Blue, I went for red highlights- Bar grips- wheel hubs-bottle cages and it goes. Far better though is Black so as I have just saved you £50 on new tyres , you can afford to get a better saddle wedge than that thing nearly hanging on to the back of your bike.

Great ride and report.

Does Kentucky know that you are on the loose????
Just don't tell my parole officer.