Wampoo Roadeo, Little Rock

Thursday, June 6, 2013

This info was sent to me via text today from Wynne native, Charlie Hart: "Wampoo Roadeo is Saturday, July 20 at 7 am at Scott, Ark at the All Souls Church. A $10 donation or more to the Marilyn Fulper Memorial Fund can be made the morning of the ride.  Come out and enjoy the 62 mile ride or take the 50 mile route.  Three rest stops are along the route.  Door prizes and cold watermelon after the ride".

Sounds like fun!! -Keeli

Big Dam Bridge 2012

Me, Martino, Kara, Jackie, Polly, Cecelia, Bob and Adam
Not pictured Kyle and the Blanton's

I thought this was super cool to see along the way, this
was at the beginning of the ride, he said he was going
to go to the Big Dam Bridge and watch everyone, how fun!
I believe that thang can seat 6

We were all cracking up at this guy in his banana
style cage around his recumbent bicycle...Adam
and I speculated that the cover on it was for
aerodynamics?  Who knows...

Well this is the evidence I have to show that the BBC was
trying a little peloton ...there's Martino, Jackie and Adam.
For the record we were averaging 16-17 mph on the first 20 miles
of the ride, I'd say at mile 15 I had the thighs cramping and
burning and was wondering if I'd make it to the first aid
station for a stretch....

The route this year took us over a smaller version of the Big Dam
Bridge first....I loved it...there's Adam and Jackie with
Martino up ahead....

Here's an Obama jersey with matching
Obama socks....loved it!

For evidence that the Blanton's were there I took this photo at the
2nd aid station at mile 20....Luckily, I caught  up with Lisa and we rode
on to the 40 mile aid station where I totally needed another stretch.
We caught up with Jackie and Cecelia and the 4 of us rolled in.
Martino, Kara and Bob and Polly were up ahead.
I probably should mention that this very important aid station was
out of pickles AND pickle juice.  For my cramping legs, I was
dying for some of that but was forced to take Gatorade instead.
The mile 10/40 aid station (it was an out and back route) ran out
of pickles when Cecelia got there but was passing out the juice!

The Big Dam Bridge just about 6 miles to
the finish line in North Little Rock and the last photo
I could make myself take as I was nervous with
the cramping in my legs that I wouldn't finish...I have to
confess that taking photos while on a bike,
clipped in was dangerous in some spots, I
even had fellow cyclists comment that it was
impressive I was taking photos while riding.
But if there aren't photos this blog would be
even more boring than it is, right?

We had a great showing from the BBC at yesterday's Big Dam Bridge bike ride!  We were missing usuals Dr. Beth and Stan Bradshaw, who were on call, but the Blanton's came as did Village Creek park interpreter Adam Leslie.  This was the first BDB for Adam and the Blanton's and they all fared well.  Everyone did the 52 mile bike ride and Kyle did the 100 again and posted a personal BEST time, taking 30 minutes off!  WOW!

A million thanks to Bob who used his fabulous pump to get everyone's tires in shape.  Jackie's pump had a leak in it and I was flat at 7:25 am when the thing started at 7:30.

Thankfully, Kara had a sitter hired and she took our 4 to
the discovery museum a few blocks from the hotel.  They all
had a great time!  August, Stella, Whit-a-roo and Coco.
Look at Chloe displaying this year's shirt...

At our post ride lunch at Dugan's, we all enjoyed talking about the bike ride and about Kyle's experience on the course.  I was so glad that other's in the BBC also forgot critical things: Cecelia texted me at 5:45 that she had no padded shorts, I loaned her my running shorts then Kara gave her an extra pair of Martin's shorts. Kara's parents Bob and Polly didn't have a water bottle packed, so Jackie and I took the Gatorade bottles and gave them 2 of our bottles.  I didn't pack a sports bra and realized that an underwire did just fine.  It's so nice that everyone had supplies for everyone.

Here's the times everyone's reported to me, these are riding times that don't have our 15 minute stops along the way, I am going on the honesty policy:

Kyle, 100 miles 5:33
Chuck 3:12
Adam 3:24
Kara and Martin, 54 miles, 3:25
Lisa 3:55
Keeli (map my ride) 52 miles, 3:51 BUT Lisa started 15 minutes before me and finished 5 minutes BEFORE me
Cecelia 3:54
Jackie

I hope we'll get to ride this weekend, I'll let ya'll know.  I'll add the other times when I get them.  Keeli :)

Ride for the Cure, Jonesboro

Ride for the Cure, Stan, Kyle, me, Jackie, Jimmy, Beth and Martin




A ginormous thank you to Martin who changed my flat TWICE....it kinda reminded me of the Big Dam Bridge last September....hmm......

 

When we arrived home, the Gooch Man was jacking around and we found him in our garden hear the newly planted tomato plants and garlic (yes, that's garlic that I planted a month ago).

Saturday, April 16, 2011

I was so excited that Stan told us about this event!  After trading Saturdays and just working four Saturdays in a row, we carbed up last night for the 50 miler.  After a text from Jackie on Friday afternoon about the predicted 25 mph winds Saturday morning, I literally thought, so...."it'll be 66 degrees like predicted".  So I packed 2 extra GU's and granola bars, had my camera charged and phone ready.  Well, after Martin changed my flat tire in the backseat on the way to the event and it blew (it was the loudest blow sound ever, like a bomb going off in my car...we all jumped straight up in our seats, literally, and cracked up at the sound of the thing).  When we got there my car temperature gauge said 40 degrees.  My phone said 42 degrees with a west wind of 22 mph (and the word WINDY next to "feels like" 36 degrees),  I knew I hadn't dressed warm enough.  I did sport my smart wool long-sleeved undershirt and did wear socks, only for the second time in my whole biking career.  I still longed for a headband or hat under that helmet and my smart wool leggings.

Needless to say, after 5 miles into the event, I told Jackie during that headwind that there was NO WAY we should make it to 50.  My running nose went on and on and I spit more than ever!  (gross, I realize)  I do want to hear from Martino, Kyle and Stan who all did the 50 compared to our cowardly 20 miles and a trip to Godsey's Grill and Gearhead Outfitters after the event.  If Jimmy and Beth hadn't decided to do the 20 that morning, Jackie and I would have been dead doing the 50.  We loved meeting them for a great lunch at Godsey's and making jokes about the wind and 3 of our crew riding in it.

Overall, it was a good event.  Once we made it out of town, the trek was fine.  We did have to use the sidewalk to get around the slowing cars and have to pass the rear Jonesboro police car to get to the end of the pack (because of my equipment malfunction right out of the gate).  The 10 mile aid station was great, they had cheerleaders holding bikes (road bikes don't have kick stands) and serving up bananas, cookies, Gatorade and the like.  The event wasn't marked great heading out of town or on the ASU campus at the finish.  Other than that, the stinking 23 mph wind and bad markings along the event, we enjoyed the day.  It became sunny at 2 pm along the ride home and got up to 57.  That was too late mother nature...just sayin....

Hope to hear from the 50 milers....let's hear it...

-Keeli