foe hammer

I just wanted to tell about my experience this past weekend when I rode in the Sunshine Ride in floyds Knobs, Indiana. It was my longest and first organized ride to date. They had 600 riders ( I think) and ranged from 5 to 62 miles. Bob Roll was there as a guest speaker and rider. His short speech was pretty funny, talking about the Tour and his pronunciation of "Tour de France".

My friends and I rode the 40 miles, my previous best was 30. I didn't think 10 extra miles was going to be that much harder since we had ridden 30 at a good pace and I felt good afterward. The only problem to this thought was the extra 10 miles had some very steep hills. The biggest climb is a hill that has been named "Rocky Top" and I believe the measurements are something like 270' elevation change, 2050' long and over 15% gradient in some sections. We came to this hill at about the 32 mile mark and my legs just would not go any farther. Calves and quads seized up in cramps ( importance of water), and I actualluy had to get off the bike and walk up some of the hill. I am going to recover and try that course again to redeem myself. We still finished up the ride with a 16.5 MPH average, considering the terrain, I am very happy with that.

All in all, a great ride and a great cause. I can't wait to ride in other events similar to this. I just started riding this year and it just keeps getting better.

Ostuni

i would be too! well done!

Olebiker

If anyone thinks that Indiana is flat, just go ride around Floyds Knobs. You will get over that misconception pretty quickly. If I recall from my geology class at the University of Louisville, the knobs are the terminal moraine of the glaciers that once covered Indiana.

Foe Hammer, if you liked that ride, you should do the Old Kentucky Home Tour with the Louisville Bicycle Club.

57Facets

Congats on the new personal best, foe hammer.

My cycling friends and I did that ride, as well. Man.... I didn't know there was an official name for that climb. I had a few choice ones in mind for it! My finest moment (to date) cycling is making that climb without stopping. I heard some guys saying that their computers had it at 18% in places.

Anyway, it was a great ride. If you want to get another taste of Southern Indiana, do the Harvest Homecoming ride on 9/25. Last year there was only one hard climb (not Rocky Top), and tons of rollers and mid sized climbs.. Great SAGs, too. Check it out.

va_cyclist

He said "Floyd's Knobs"

woodcycl

I didn't ride the Sunshine ride ... due to other commitments. However, this event is in my backyard of cycling geographic area as I live within 25 minutes of Borden, New Pekin, etc. In fact, I rode a ride very similar to the 40 mile route on a Tandem with my GF this past Sunday.

I put on a ride with the local club that goes up the hill you speak of as well as a shorter much steeper hill behind Borden High School that is just killer. Of course, I haven't done that ride since 2000. I'm thinking of putting it on again by mid September. I believe it is about 45 miles and leaves from Memphis Travel Plaza off of I65.

If any of you guys who rode in this ride and are somewhat local to this area and would like to ride with me/us some time, please PM me ... I usually ride at least one weekend day and do a minimum of 40 miles. Sometimes on my single and other times on a tandem.

The hills are much more difficult than many think for IN ... they put you in your place at times! Floyds Knobs can be a killer if you expect flat corn fields.

Hey -- again ... any of you guys/gals are invited to ride anywhere in this area with me/us ... just PM me and we can share emails, etc.