Big miles

Some of the team discussing the hills between loops.

We are getting to that point in the season where the miles are starting to rack up, both on the individual rides and overall. Sunday we had a JDRF team ride. We did two loops that left from Long Lake Park which is near Cedar Springs in northern Kent County. The first loop was 32 miles and took us to the high point of the county- Fisk Knob. It's a pretty tough climb, about 100 feet of elevation gain in a half mile. But there would be many more climbs on this day. In fact when we were all done we had an elevation gain of 1,069 feet. Normally that wouldn't bother me but I was not having a good day and struggled mightily, especially on the second loop.

The second loop was 36 miles and took us out to the apple orchards along Fruit Ridge and Peach Ridge Avenues. Notice the word Ridge in the name of the roads. Ridges are at the top of hills and/or mountains. To ride on them you have to ride up to them. Thus it was a long, slow, painful day for me. I did manage to finish both loops under my own power to end up with a 68 mile day. That gives me 987 miles for the year. My intermediate goal is to hit 1,000 miles by the end of August, which I should be able to do on my next ride.

25 days until the Nashville JDRF Ride for a Cure.