Hershey Metric Heads Up
 

This is just a warning to anyone planning on doing the Hershey Metric on Saturday. If this will be your first year doing it then you can ignore this post, on the other hand if you are a repeat rider be aware that there is a new starting point this year. I realize that I'm probably the only moron who didn't realize that so I'm just lucky that for some reason when I was downloading the registration form this morning I happen to click on the directions link and see that it will be starting at the Hershey Middle School. If I hadn't noticed that I would have ended up alone in the parking lot across from Hershey Park wondering why there was such a light turnout for the ride.

For all of you who actually make it to the actual starting point, I'll see you on the road. (Weather permitting.)

Hey, Papedaler -

Did you make it to the ride? From my end, it all went great (I was involved in all the pre-registrations for the Bike Club), and the organization and coordination worked well. Knowing the folks who put this together, and watching the process a little closer this year I was in awe of the energy that goes into these organized rides. Being there last night to bring in last-minute supplies, registration lists, etc., put the whole process into perspective, and I will never take an organized ride for granted!

Plus, I got to ride - a long "metric" at 69 miles - but I feel good. I wasn't too thrilled with the damp breeze, but after riding in winter winds it was tolerable. We did the Mt. Gretna loop first, leaving at about 7:45 this morning, stopped at the school, and headed out for the Indiantown Gap loop. The first 5 miles or so of the Gap loop I was feeling a little cold and grumpy (cursing the rollers and the fact that we had stopped at all between loops), but it settled out. Just after we crossed 322, one of our guys cramped up and stopped, and the other had shot off ahead of me - so I continued on solo, thinking I was chasing the guy in front. Wrong - I was chasing the wrong guy - oops. My pal had stopped at the rest stop by the lake, and was waiting for me - but I didn't stop. So I had about 15 miles solo out there, which was fantastic. I had the road all to myself, pushed my own pace, and found a great rhythm. Didn't even mind the wind. My winter riding has all been in groups, so it's been a while since I've had some solo time, which I love. The guy I thought I was "chasing" caught up near the end, and the other recovered well after a little nourishment and found us at the finish. Great partners, both of them - I'll be happy to ride with both again!

So we finished up at just over a 16 avg, my weekly total at 195 miles, and my Subway Sub hit the spot. I made a few "new friends" (see below - gotta love those cute troopers on their big bikes stopping traffic for us - wow, they just swooped in from behind us and stopped those cars on 322 so we could cross - took my breath away a little, I think :o )

How did your ride go?

Beth

Start of a promising day:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...0/IMGP0055.jpg

My new friends:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...0/IMGP0063.jpg

Now THIS is the way to go:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...0/IMGP0064.jpg

Beth, I started out at 8:30 and did the Fort Indiantown Gap ride first but decided not to do the Mt Gretna loop. My problem is that I get cold when the temps drop below 80 (A holdover from having lived in Florida.) and I just had a hard time getting warm. It might have been okay if I just kept riding, but I stopped at the rest stop at the lake and once I got going again it took me way too long to get warmed up. I knew I wouldn't be able to do the Gretna loop without stopping so I decided to call it a day when I got back to the school. Besides, I was pedaling up in Mt Gretna last weekend, a 56th birthday 56 mile ride that went a little long.
Now if I had managed to talk one of the state troopers into a temporary swap of my bike for one of theirs, then I could have done both loops.
But today is another day, the sun is out and the temperature is rising so I guess it's time to go check out the back roads of Lebanon County.

P.S. Nice pictures.

great day
 

Hey Beth,

It was really a good ride. You and Phil are great to ride with. Even though I cramped, I had a lot of fun. Next time I'll try to drink more so that doesn't happen. Once I got some fluids in me I felt just fine and still did 17+ on the way in from Memorial Lake.

billho

Beth - I just checked this thread because I made my third consecutive ride at the PSP Hershey. I was surprised when I saw the pictures of you with the cycles because I was there when you were having them taken at the rest stop - there were not that many of us there - quite a coincidence with the number of riders there were. Anyone know how many riders there were or how many did the full route?

Same to you, Bill! You and Phil are great to ride with as well; I think we make a pretty good team. Sorry about the cramping problem . . . truth is, those first 5 miles or so of the second loop felt pretty miserable to me, too - I'd gotten cold when we stopped.

And PSPSARGE! Cool - that was a hoot, sitting on that big motorcycle. I've decided that it would be exceptionally wonderful to have state troopers on motorcycles along on every training ride, stopping traffic for us. Wish I knew which one you were at that stop! I love that loop out through Cornwall/Gretna - it's definitely one of my favorites. Do you ride in the area regularly?

We don't have the final numbers yet, but I do know we had about 550 pre-registered, and the estimate is approximately 800. Very nice participation.

Check the pics on www.digiproofs.com. Bill, I found you, Phil and I on there (page 6 - images #229, 230, 231, 241 & 242) on our way back in from the first loop, as well as a lot of other familiar faces. Fun looking through the shots if you have a little time.

Later,

Beth

edit: You'll need the passcode to get to the event site on digiproofs - it is police07

thanx for the link to the pics. starting the second loop was a little slow. I was cooling down til we got going and then it took a few miles to loosen up again. But the troopers were great we need to talk to Rick K. about that. See you thursday.

I'm sure Rich K, and particularly Mike F, would be happy to hear your comments. They were a great help in many ways!

I won't be there Thursday; my son's band concert at school takes priority this week :)

Beth

Beth - I live during the week near West Chester and on weekends and all days off I am in Ocean City, Md. where I ride with a club called Worcester Wheelmen and also Team N Training out of Salisbury, MD. Yes the hills of Hershey are a little different for me but the small head winds seemed like nothing compared to what we get sometimes down there. - Tom

I'll take the hills over the wind any day! Riding Monday evening the winds were relentless. But. . . I've found the way to learn to like them more: ride in the wind when it's 32 degrees out in the winter; after that any ride in the wind is a good ride :)

Beth