Catching Up

September 6 – 16 Lori and I traveled to Tuscany, Italy with Clint and Sherry from SPP.  The vacation was wonderful and the bike riding was quite minimal.

Clint and I rode mountain bikes once in Tuscany for an epic ride which featured a Category 3 climb on gravel, getting lost, losing a bike for half an hour, each of us being thrown over the handlebars and crashing and developing 2 flats with no repair kit available.  This all happened during an 8.6 mile ride which featured 2,000 feet of climbing, most of which was in the last half and grades of up to 30%.  It was a lot of fun.  (I know, I’m a sick and demented soul.)

Italy is 6 hours ahead of Maryland’s time zone, so Tuesday morning I was awake by 1 am Maryland time and ready to ride the 5:45 coffee ride with SPP.  That was a good time and easy pace.

This morning was quite chilly.  Temperature ranges were between 41° & 50° F, depending on the thermometer one consulted.  Dressed properly, it wasn’t so bad.  I remember my first sub 50° ride and swearing that was my lower limit on temperatures.  The first 1/3 of the ride was leisurely.  The 2nd half was quick.  No incidents to report and it simply felt good to be out on the bike again.  It is much darker longer these mornings.

These Rides: 51.9 miles
Malaria Campaign: 1,958.3 miles
Funds Pledged: $1,064.66
Contributed in support: $2,453.60

Total = $3,518.26