I had a really nice 63 mile ride today, testing the metric century route for my club's April Fools Ride. The weather was fantastic, especially compared to all the cold and/or rainy weather we've had lately. It was about 50F when I started from home at 11:00 and it rose to the low 60s during the ride. The sun was bright and the wind was calm. It just doesn't get much better than that.

I rode this route, except I started at the middle at about the 30 mile point, rode to the end downtown and then did the first half, finishing near home. While I was in town, I stopped by my LBS, Oconee Outfitters, and bought a Clif Bar, which I ate there and a Hammer gel, which I stuffed in my pocket for later. I also refilled my three water bottles.

I think this will be a good metric century route for the April Fools Ride on April 10th. Good pavement, nice scenery, minimal short sections on high traffic roads and enough hills to make it challenging but not a sufferfest (saved that for the century route ) I have a pretty good idea what the 30, 50 and 100 mile routes will be like, but still need to do some fine tuning.

My new bike was very comfortable, especially considering that it has been a while since I did a long ride. It is going to make a good all day riding bike.









larger photos and probably more later here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluesda...93396017/show/