Big Dam (damn!) Bridge Bike Ride 2011, Little Rock

This is everyone but Kyle and Kara (Jackie's in the distance)
Bob, Polly, Beth, Cecilia, Stan and Martin

 Saturday, September24, 2011

Oh the Big Dam Bridge 50 mile bike ride....last year was so fun even though my 3 flat tires held us all up.  But this year...hmmm... the jury's still out on this one.  We were all enjoying the scenery and conversation until the aid station at Cato, Ark. at about 38 miles.  Then the hurt began when hill after hill then that 3rd hill that we all got off and walked up EXCEPT Kara's mom Polly and Stan.  Jackie was wondering if Polly's dopping....just kidding..she rides 30+ miles every day.  She's made of some kind of steel.  I will say that once in North Little Rock, we cut through a gas station parking lot, I almost got bumped by a car and got behind everyone.  Then a low blood sugar (thank God for the sensor) and another hill, I could feel my thighs burning and had a moment of silence being all alone.  And in Burns Park, a 100 mile finisher passed me and said, "you've got it made (as I was going about 10 mph) the finish line is straight ahead".  I did try and hook it on in.

Hmm....I loved cycling with our BBC group and visiting about family, food, church, kids and joking about where Kara had her hair cut back in the 80s, and talk of big bangs, feathers and home perms...but one thing's for sure....next year, I'll be sure to check out the BDB website and make sure they've changed the crazy 2011 50 mile route.  It was rough, I'm telling you, rough.  And a quote from two passerby cyclists, "enough with the hills already, " and another, "this is not the Big Dam Bridge, it's the Big Damn Hills" and for me, "it's the Big DAMN Bridge 58 mile bike ride".  A shout out for their tshirt, it said, "It just the Big Dam Bridge...Get over it!"  I guess I should too...

Oh and a note about the 100...according to Kyle and Martin, it was 106 miles and don't use a new seat for a 100 miler...b-b-bbbuuurrrnnn....:)

A shout out must be given to the wonderful, friendly aid stations.  The cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pickles, gatoraide and toilets were so nice!

I am guessing there were 5,000 plus riders.  The LaHarpe and ?

Even though the start time was 7:30, we arrived at 7:45 and
still had to wait until the cyclists thinned out

Polly had trouble with her odometer...Kyle got on it, but it
was unfixable....she'll have to put one on her Santa list

Thank God for the finish line....that ride nearly killed me the last
10 miles....

At the Mayflower, Ark aid station, mile 24.  We all felt good but
little did we know on the 58 mile loop there were 6 hills to come...
Me, Cecilia, Bob, Polly, Jackie, Kara, Beth and Stan

The view while crossing the Big Dam Bridge....it was a beautiful
day to ride bikes.....it's a little blurry!

This is at the beginning of the bridge, that's Kara
and Cecilia, Stan and Jackie are up ahead

Cycling to Charlie Brown's Farm, Wynne

Oh me and Chuck, known for setting the pace....
He was really just ready to knock out this bike ride so
he could go to Memphis and get his new car....I can't wait to drive it
(if girls are allowed, I heard interesting stories on this subject)

Downtown Wynne...look at my shadow on the bike...creepy!

Rep. Jerry Brown-Wynne Ark, stopped to ask us if we needed
a ride or any kind of supplies, how nice!

At our usual stop on the Charlie Brown loop, there's Stan with
big time nausea....Martin said he tried to "hook it" too fast....lol!
He survived but it took him 20 minutes of rest before getting back on....

I found out something new about my cycling mentor Kyle....
He's ridden in 5 -100 mile bike rides in the last year....what?  How
could I have missed this...he's been changing my tires, telling me
how to attack hills, save my knees and all....Sorry Kyle, I give you
the gold crown.... I love your skill and toughness on the bike.
He made this one, I'll let him chime in....comment below please!

The ladies join the crew at the Charlie Brown fueling intersection

I had to add photos of Chloe and Whit with her BFF since
Kindergarten Lizzie Brawner...they had such a GREAT time
 on the slide and everywhere else.  Fun times!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Thanks to everyone who rolled out last Saturday!  It was a great 20 mile out and back loop.  I think everyone has been so ready to ride since we've all had summer activities and other things!  We had a good turn out I think.  Plans are to ride next Saturday from Birdeye at 7 am a 62 mile loop or shorter like Jackie and I will do and Monday from Birdeye at 8:30 am a 38 mile loop.  It's so much more fun riding in a group...someone always has a gu or extra Gatorade or band aids.  I'm looking forward to Saturday!  Thanks again to all who rode and to Kyle, who once again educated me on true cyclists...I don't think I'll ever be in the club.  Just sayin....:)

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Quick report on bad cycling knees:  I saw my orthopedic specialist today...after Xrays and exam he said look at my knees and quads....yes, my bad knee's quad is 20 % less than my good one...no wonder it's weaker since surgery in the 1980s.  He said since I never had rehab and he said I should strengthen it...which is exactly right.  I haven't done p90x legs and back for a year and a half and I never do my weak knee "to protect it" which is NOT what's happened.  I've been instructed to get lefty back in shape by doing more reps on lefty than strong right.  It makes sense, I'll report back I promise.  P90X was ROUGH today and my glutious maximus was so sore after work, I'd say it's working.  I'm to report back in 8 weeks...:)