Hippity hop Easter Platte MTB Ride

Is this trail the 1. Difficult, 2. Real difficult, or 3. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR @#*MIND trail, I don't know but you do get to pick your level of punishment, err.. enjoyment. I experienced and gained a potpourri of challenges with each directional decision, giving that edge to a novice to decide for herself what's easy, and what's not("not": bajeeber loads of the fastest descents I ever umm, slid on down but ooh so hot!). There's no settling in: give it 110% for 15 seconds up an incline, change it up NOW for a technical turn, slam on through with 120% surge on loose soil if you dare. Meanwhile, Mother Nature is busy decorating her forest floor with cute little plants, moss and such in sweet soil and I get to roll on through it, climb and descend staircase upon staircase of roots, giving great texture to forgiving tires. But alas, there is no "settling in", no recovery (okay, thank you for the open fields and oh, for the Sunshine on My Shoulders). I'm never alone with an angel on my right shoulder and the devil on my left, we contemplate yet another fast descent, another uphill switchback. Before I know it, times up. That's it, rats! But it was time to be done; the bone hanging from the tree I just passed let me know that, you know, things really aren't THAT bad 'round here. The trail spits me bumpily out and I fully absorb each vibrating pulse sent from thy fork, to wrist, to elbow, through shoulders, and up and out the head: the trails free massage offering after a memorable trail ride.

Velo Veloce Ride for Easter Sunday canceled

Velo Veloce's open ride from Greenstreet at 11 AM on Sundays will be CANCELED this coming weekend due to Easter Sunday. The ride is canceled and Greenstreet Cycles will also be closed.

We will fire up again the following Sunday, May 1st. Join us for this fun Sunday ride open to all road riders. If you are early, hit Blue Line for coffee. Ride starts from Greenstreet Cycles at 11.

Today's ride headed over the Kerry Bridge and south into Iowa. The A group rode over Green Hill and descended into Mineola and back for 51 total miles. The B group turned around at the top of Green Hill and scampered back to the shop for a total of 43 miles.

For more info on these rides, please contact pduryea at cox dot net. Happy Easter!

Twin Bing Nougats

Savvy veterans know when to lead the pack for good photo ops! El Guapo leads the way after the 1st 22 mile lap.

Click on photo to enlarge

Some happy Veloers!L-R: Troy, Pete, (kneeling) Jack, Maddie, Simone, Danny, Nick, Zach, (standing) Carol, Glenn, Mike, Ben

Thought it time to post some post-Twin Bing nuggets. First thought, what a great Velo turnout. We had 7, count 'em, 7 juniors show up in force! Nick, Maddie, Danny, Max, Zach, Jack and Simone sweetened the whole race day fun. Congrats to all on fine showings, headed by Max's 2nd place finish, the top Veloer finisher of the day. Juniors, take the time to write up a blog race report here.

We had nine senior riders too, headed by 1st time road racer Carol Smolsky, of Ironman fame. Carol claims that she enjoyed her 1st road race and, just like the great Arnold, will be back. Carol brought dotter Sarah, our new race photographer. See attached photos of Sarah's fine eye.

We also enjoyed our 1st race since the merger with Ciao Baby and Greenstreet. Mike represented the former Ciao contingent and Ben/Jono headed up the Greenstreet assault gang.

There was a mad scramble for arm warmers and extra apparel as the cloud cover and cool, wet winds made for a much chillier-than-anticipated race.

I rode in the B group with Jono, Ben, Troy, Todd, Glenn, Carol, Dave, and Mike. I managed to stay up front the entire race and finished 9th place, about 25 yards behind the winners on the final uphill finish. Not bad for an old goat...bleat....baaa....baaaa.

Thanks all for the memorable experience. Let's get ready to do it again.