 |
|
|||
 |
||||
|
||||
|
Journal Entry Oct 4, 2008 Ride Report: MS 150 2008 Loads of Entertainment! BentLovers & Friends: How did you entertain yourself this weekend? We hope you were able to go for a bike ride, too! The MS 150 should win an award for the most entertaining ride of the year . . . so far! Saturday, there was the anticipation of the whole event setting in. The thought of committing to ride to Vicksburg on Mississippi back roads and highways. The thought of having to come back to Clinton the next day. The thought of climbing the Big Black hill! All entertaining in itself, but nothing compared to reality. The anticipation over with, hundreds of cyclists, riding uprights, recumbents and trikes made the 150 mile commitment, leaving Clinton on a perfect day. The chill in the air gradually warmed as everyone sought to find a good pace among riders of all skill levels and speeds. There were plenty of teams riding, still together at this point, and plenty of individual riders, too. Many settled back for a nice relaxing day outside and some sought to find their entertainment in a different way . . . speed. The rest stops were well placed and staffed with all the essentials, and the lunch in Learned was outstanding. Pace lines reformed after the stops and set out with a sense of urgency. Of course they were chasing each other, we understand, but as we rolled into the hotel parking lot, the scuttlebutt from one of the last rest stops was confirmed. They were all chasing Doug Morgan on his recumbent! Doug was the first rider back and had the privilege of the, beyond excellent, Highway Patrol motor escort! Way to go Doug!! Of course we all can't stay up with Super Doug, heck, none of us can stay with Doug, but there were many other victories this weekend. Many of you rode the MS 150 for the first time! Congratulations to you for your efforts in riding and training for the event!!! It is a great accomplishment doing this for the first time and a great accomplishment for those of you who have made the ride multiple times. Way to go Jim Lee for 17 consecutive years riding the MS rides!! Perhaps, most importantly, the victories this weekend should go to all the folks who raised more than $250,000 to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis! We sincerely hope the monies collected this weekend will help to isolate the cause and eventually alleviate this dreaded disease. After a little celebrating at the welcomed banquet, we set about preparing for the ride back. Getting a few hours sleep, a great breakfast and loading up our gear in David Morgan's truck (Thank you David for making the trips to Vicksburg!), we decided to have a nice, relaxing ride back. Speeding down the hills leading out from Vicksburg was a blast, (if you can stay off the brakes trying to avoid slower cyclists) and settling in on some great routes (Thank you Charlie Saucier!) made for a perfect ride on a perfect day. Even climbing the Big Black Hill was entertaining when you are next to a guy on a fixed gear bike! Wow, one gear, no coasting! This rider was glad to use ALL his gears! Lunch at Rocky Springs Campground was excellent and we left the campground to a beautiful prayer being sung by a large group of folks there for a MS Walk. With that kind of mood established, the ride up the Natchez Trace proved spiritual and entertaining. The quiet of the groomed fields of hay and over-ripe soybeans was peaceful and relaxing. We saw a farmer out riding his horse with his trusty dog alongside, probably surveying his field and feeling a sense of pride in his accomplishments. We know that feeling as we help to bring cool folks like you together. Lane & I join in celebrating your accomplishments this weekend and hope to entertain you on November 1st for the biggest Birthday Challenge Ride ever on the LongLeaf Trace! We very much appreciate you patronage and support of our shop! Jim & Lane info@ridesouth.com RideSouth.com 105 Avalon Court Brandon, MS 39047 601 992-2490 888 822-3647 Ride South . . . The Way to Ride! View All Journal Entries |
| Sign up for bike news via email: |
| ©2010 Ridesouth Recumbents Web Hosting by Imerge |