REVIEW OF AREA RIDES
Harpeth River Ride -- My First Century

I hope you mutineers had a good ride in the amber fields of grain.  The HRR was huge. I lost all common sense at mile 38 and took the 100 mile option.

I did get to enjoy the total experience. Tire blow out, heavy rain, heavier lightning, steep hills, and great rest stops.

Next time I do this it will be a flatter course.
. . . Tom Benim  6/22/08

Congratulations! We must assume you have a good stock of Assos. Should you ever desire to do this insane thing again, the Clarksville Sunrise Century or its same route different name CRAM is the flattest century within a thousand miles. . . . Bruce
LIST OF RIDES REVIEWED
  - Harpeth River Ride -- My First Century
  - BRAG
  - Big Hill Challenge, 2008, 2009
  - Wounded Warrior Ride
  - Komen-Nashville Breast Cancer Ride
  - Jack & Back (click here)
  - 3 State; 3 Mountain
  - Ride of Silence, 2009
  - Tour de Cure 2009
BRAG

BRAG is going well. 180+ miles down for first three days.

It is hotter than hell here though. Pushed 100 on Monday. I am not sure they know about the miracles of ice in the water coolers!

Today, Wed 6/11 is a day of rest. Staying in the beautiful micropolitan town of Dublin. My poor butt is screaming at me. Looks a little bit like a Rhesus monkey in heat. :) Hoping that a day off and lots of Desitin will sooth it out. Sorry about TMI!

See you next week.

. . . Tom Benim 6/11/08

For your screaming Rhesus, you should have ordered some ASSOS Cream with us. Best BUTT remedy going. It's the Biker's Miracle Drug. Don't need to waste it on the Chamois. Apply it directly to the RED and goes to work immediately. . . Tom_E

Sounds about right. My first BAMA had all the skin off my sit bones the second day. Yet I did three more and even now sitting in my comfortable home office am envying you. There's a reason Neil Gunton named his bicycle touring site Crazyguyonabike. All part of the grand experience we call fun. Hope all the rest foes well.
. . . Bruce
Big Hill Wrap-up

What more can I say, "Y'all blew it!" The scenery was fabulous (including those on bikes) and the 64-mile route was no more difficult than what the FOGBEEs routinely do in Sumner.  Visit our FOGBEE room on SnapFish
. . .  Tom Evans 5/12/08
WOUNDED WARRIOR RIDE  11/08/08
KOMEN BREAST CANCER RIDE - 4/18/09
CLARKSVILLE

We are now listed as a team for the Clarksville Breast Cancer Ride under "Fogbees".  There is no minimum goal amount,just the registration fee of $30. We do have a site for donations. I do not have access to a picture but if someone wants to load it on there let me know and I will give you the password if needed.

Walgreens will be sending out in-store email as a support for me. We are supporters of Relay for Life.

I hope there are several that can join the team. There are several different distances for this ride to suit all levels. The website is  http://www.komen-nashville.org

Nancy Parrott
Komen Pictures: Click here for Komen-Nahville 2009 Photoshow. Pictures taken by Bruce (also on Snapfish)
14 FOGBEES did the 50 miler (mostly Lites).  Most flat with rollers.  Event was well SAGGED with frequent rest stops (most with porta-potties), energy snacks, cool drinks.
A reasonable facsimile of the route is on Mapmyride. The mapping program slipped in a slightly different route from the town Square to US 70 and the official route involved some needless wandering about Alexandria. This ride is unparalleled for scenery and good road surface with light traffic. Those are available all year but you'll have to wait till next year for such sweet things as the smell of Jasmine in bloom, the bevy of congenial companions, and the post ride meal. . . Bruce

A uniquely exquisite ride where the miles fell away to the novelty of the before unwitnessed by-ways of our greater middle Tennessee countryside. Felt like we had traveled back in time altering between a state of time suspension and de ja vu. Also I've discovered the only ride where one could get poison ivy and snake bit in the same day. Definitely a FOGBEE caliber excursion.. . .Phil
3 State 3 Mountain

I'm truly glad to hear that you had good weather for French Lick. We kept all the nasty stuff for 3S3M.  It looked promising until about 10 minutes before the start. Then it drizzled and by the time we were heading up the first mountain, Suck Creek, it was torrential, plus lightning. Lots of folks bailed out either at the start or at the top of Suck Creek and then turned around an coated back to town. FOr those who continued on to the rest stop on the other side of the mountain, it was an exercise in mass hypothermia. No kidding the rescue squad was handing out sheets and blankets and the organizers called a bus to take the poor unfortunates ( or the foolish ones who were wearing summer gear only) back to Finley Stadium.

At this point Bryan had already had 3 flats. On his 4th, he sagged to the next rest stop and finally got a good fix. I was lucky...when I was cleaning my bike today, i found a large gash in my rear tire and matching but similar one on the front.

We all did varying degrees of the metric century. Mike did the route as published. I got off the route (I blame the cue sheet now that I went back and looked again it never said to turn!)

Interestingly enough it was dry for the whole ride home. All in all it was a character building experience. :)
. . . Tom B.

I was thumbing through some 3s3m photos and found this shot:  No, I didn't ride it this year.... Pat Clements

monsieur cannonball said... atta boy, FOGBEE Mike !
our jersey made the front page awesome

coastdownhills said... You guys did the Fogbees proud.

While some crawled back into bed, these five showed up and represented the Fogbees in Watertown. The start was delayed an hour as organizers altered the route around flooding roads. When the ride started, so did the rain and it kept up for two hours. But hey, the rushing creeks and Caney Fork and numerous cascades falling into the hollows were an added attraction. Allan and Phil, I have messages for you from others that were looking for you. . . Miley 

Doug_D said...You guys are true troopers. I probably would have come if it were not for my wisdom teeth removal. Still recovering from that.

Tom_E said... At 5:30A we (Phil, Bruce, and I) looked at the radar and made an accurate prognostication - this event was going to be rained out. At 6:00A I was on the phone with David advising them of the soon to arrive deluge. I am sorry this ride got rained on. The 66-mile version of the BHC is one of our favorites with fantastic scenery and best after ride lunch. As is so often said, "There's always next year."

Mike Poole said...I am proud of you guys!! I really wanted to do this ride but I have to say that after I looked at the radar and consequently went back to bed, that additional 4 hours of sleep was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!
2009
Ride of Silence - 2009
bicycling on public roadways. Visit Rideofsilence.org to learn more about this world wide endeavor. Why does this ride exist?
- To HONOR those who have been injured or killed.
- To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here.
- To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD.

For pictures of this year's ride, Click here:

Nashville will host a Ride of Silence ride starting from Centennial Park in Nashville on Wednesday, May 20. The ride will depart Centennial Park at 7:00 PM CST. Join other Nashville cyclists in this silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while
.. . First Tour de Cure in Springfield drew a little over 200 cyclist, a little less than organizers had planner for, but was an excellent event. Well planned, well organized, it is likely to become a major atttraction for cyclists in Middle Tennessee. And as you can see from the above photo, the FOGBEES had great representation as one of the most prominent clubs. (Phil has got his photos on Snapfish)
. . The many volunteers provided bell ringers, cheer leaders, food/drink, and mechanical support at Rest Stops situated every 12 miles. Plus an army of SAG vehicles patrolled the routes to ensure everyone was safe. They provided both a breakfast and a great wrap-up lunch with prime rib, BBQ ribs, shrimp, hamburgers, and hot dogs.
. . Dave Miley and Mike Poole probably turned in the best run, averaging nearly 18 mph over the 100-mile route and Nicole completed her first 100-miler in 7 hrs and 50 minutes. The rest of us peddled at a more relaxed pace through some remote and scenic areas in nearly 80-degree, cloudless skies. Phil's PhotoShow .
. . A great time was had by all. As one of the organizers kept repeating, "Jack watch your back."
Tour de Cure - 2009