Cycling-May 2, 2010-Raven Rock Ramble-107 miles
78Raven Rock Ramble
Raven Rock Ramble
"The Raven Rock Ramble is a century (100-mile) bicycle ride which explores the four-county area (Wake, Harnett, Lee, and Chatham) around Raven Rock State Park. Proceeds from the event go to benefit the UNC Kidney Center for direct patient services. Since its start in 2002, the Raven Rock Ramble has raised over $74,800 toward kidney health and awareness."
The Raven Rock Ramble was a great Century. Actually the "century was called 104 I rode 107 miles.
They offer an 86 mile ride, a 64 miler (metric century). a 43 miler, a 30 mile ride and a 10 mile ride.
The cue sheets are great. The website is great. Food and drinks during the bike ride and after were superb!
There was PB&J, brownies, fruit, gator-ade, and soft drinks! I don't drink soft drinks usually. I certainly love a soft drink on a 100 mile ride.
There was great support.
There was a cook-out afterward.
There was ice-cream!
Thank you Raven Rock Ramble!
Click on all the pictures to enlarge them!
Animusic - Acoustic Curves
Harris Lake County Park
I went to the RRR website the night before the ride and looked up the directions. I then memorized the directions. The next morning I rose at 4:30 AM to get to a bike ride about an hour away that started at 8:30. So I had 4 hours to get there. Nobody was more prepared today. So at 4:30 AM I went back to the website and memorized the directions again because I'm brain dead.
Got them down perfectly. So I drove below Apex to find out I was where the "riders' packets" were to be picked up- on Saturday. The ride started 30 miles somewhere else (Sunday). I called different folks and it's really amazing how many people don't answer a phone when you need them to. I actually got some good directions from Alan Schumacher and finally got to the bike ride about 20 minutes late.So I spent all day chasing because I was last. That's probably just as well.
Some of the last folks starting out were the families with the trailers like up ahead.
Some "fun" folks maybe riding the shorter route with mountain bikes. Mountain bikes are a bit heavier with heavier wheels and tires.
I'd spend most of a windy day riding alone into a bad wind. It seemed to be an adverse wind all day. I remember one stretch thinking, "finally a tail wind" . The tail wind ended after a mile or something.
No one in front and no one to the rear to ride with.
It would be quite a while before I would be joined by riders with my same fitness.
And what I'm saying is just that we all start somewhere.We have injuries.
We just got into cycling.
We've been doing it for 40 years, etc.
I know exactly when I've been joined by riders with my same fitness.
I can't drop anyone in my group.
Sometimes I skip right past my group to the "now I'm getting dropped by this group, group!"
So I arose at 4:30 in the morning just to screw up and get there late.
Before leaving I grabbed a couple extra jerseys and a couple extra pairs of shorts. I went back into the house and got an extra pair of wheels. In case Someone left a wheel home. had a boo boo, etc. I pump my tires up at home. But- I take the pump in case someone else needs to pump up their tires. I often make road repairs that I see occur. I ask people when I pass them beside the road if they need help. I carry spare "master or repair links". I don't do it for my chain but for Shimano chains that brake from bad chain installation.
Before I leave I grab two extra water bottles in case one person out of these hundreds of riders needs one. The "odds" aren't that "odd" actually.
When I was getting my bike out of the car and cyclists were leaving I heard a cyclist say that he had left his water bottle at home.
"Yo! I've got one! Hold on!" Yes! I fouled a foul-up! I gave the guy one of my extra bottles. I realized a goal today! I helped somebody!
Very nice looking water here! It was a pleasant day though hot. It was a great ride!
When you see pictures about this size- "uniform in size" - they are probably "untouched" as far as twisting or repairing or cropping.
When a photo is narrower or shorter- then it could be twisted, repaired, or just cropped.
I sometimes crop the foreground when there is too much pavement or I'll crop the sky when there is too much blue.
I try to keep the skies that have clouds or interesting clouds.
I try to make the "viewing of the photos fairly easy on the eyes. After all- there are over a hundred here.
I try to "catch" barns, rivers, lakes, and anything pretty and unusual. I wanted a picture of the town limit line for "Broadway" but I blew it twice.
I really like taking pictures of cyclists!
The Mona Lisa is just another picture without a bike!
If I cut the head off a bit or blur the picture, it's because I'm trying to ride fairly fast and safely. On this ride I'm mostly riding by myself so there is very little danger involved..
Here's a happy camper!
This young fellow was a good sport!
Most everyone is happy right now.
Quite often we would have too much scenery (as if).
I love a red barn.
Some of the hills were trying experiences!
Happy people!
Comfort and speed!
ArmyStrong! It's Semper Fi over here Brother but you know what I mean!
I was a little surprised that my left quad hurt. I did ride about every day this week. Wednesday I rode 50 or 60 with the club. Thursday I rode about 25 or so with Sid. Friday I rode about 40 with Cy. Too many miles. It'll be alright!
Isn't she delovely!
"Starship Groove" - Animusic.com
If two wheels are good- then eight wheels must be better!
This "inlining" fellow had a great sense of humor.
I asked him how his brakes were. He said they were slow!
I believe this was a recumbent with a broken chain. I asked if they needed help. They said they were okay.
Nice folding bike.
Father and son?
Sometimes I just take a picture of a hill.
Happy!
These pictures are a little fuzzy but I had to leave them in.
Recumbent trike!
Sometimes the cloud cover seems to suggest that it was not hot. It was hot!
Hundreds of people are out here today!
I love the red like above to the left and often there is a yellow from butter cups and even a blue.
I remember holding the camera in this vertical position but the pic didn't come out as well as I hoped. I held the camera at the wrong angle. Can't win them all.
Happy!
Horses everywhere!
Fast furniture!
Yo!
Delightful!
We're having fun now!
Isn't she delightful?! Having a great time!
Animusic 2 - Pogo Sticks
You should be about ready for some more music! No?
How about this young fellow?!
I see you smiling!
Somewhere, before 30 miles, I knew my shoulder was kapooey! I tried to put any weight from both arms to the left and just postured the right arm on the bar. I shook my right arm cintinuouslt to get the pain out.
A rest stop is ahead but I'm good to go.
These fellows said they were alright.
This is a town called Broadway!
I think I twisted, repaired and shed some of the road in the fore-ground to make this a little better.
I wanted to show the fire department in full. This is a life saving organization. Inside those bays are fire trucks and probably a crash truck and other medical lifesaving paraphernalia. Very often this equipment is run by volunteers. They spend many ours in training and often pay their own gas and other expenditures.
They had enough rest stops! They were good too!
These riders caught up with me. They had stopped at a rest stop.
I now had to move my foot around a bit in my shoe. I was having a hot foot. Sometimes it's a matter od having a sock knot up a bit.
Pretty incredible pain was running down my arm. I continued shaking it around and about.
So I rode with a few folks for 15 miles or something? Not sure.
Soon there were three of us and I was the weak link!
Animusic - Aqua Harp
The wind was ferocious!
The scenery was beautiful!
I took a picture of this hill. I predicted right here that this hill was my demise.
I was correct. This was about 70 miles out with 37 to go.
I was so tired I pulled into a rest stop and got water and gator-ade. I saw my friend Tyrone of decades. He was wearing my jersey. I forgot to take a picture of the rest stop or Tyrone. When I pulled up I told him to go ahead and call 911. He said they were on the way. I rode off and left my bottle on the bumper of a truck. It wasn't a bad mistake so I retrieved it quickly.
Pretty scenes were abundant!
Many of these pictures were prettier on the day of the event. Either that or I was having heat stroke or exhaustion or something!
This gentleman was sporting as well as the man in blue.
I tried to warn him that if he hung around me I'd just drag him down to my level.
The temperature climbed up into the 90s. I caught on fire a couple of times. I add to douse myself with water.
I managed to ride the first 100 under 6 hours. But- it took another 22 minutes to do that last 7 miles.
There was one more rest are that I should have stopped at. I would have been faster with water and more Gator-ade.
Just a few more miles from here.
Now for some food and war stories!
Here's another Michael. He finished in about 5:42 I think.
There are brownies, cakes, ice-cream, cokes.
it would take all this and more before I'd get back to my "usual state"!
WE DO IT BECAUSE WE FEEL SO GOOD WHEN WE STOP!
More pictures of the the Raven Rock Ramble are posted on DotPhoto.
More Links For Micky Dee, Cycling, and Carolina Tarwheels
An Ode To Three Possums In The Middle Of The Road
April 23, 24, 2010 Carrboro Tarwheels and The Bicycle Wheel Of Adam O'Neil
April 20, 2010 Jose Is Back! Back In The Saddle! Back On The Bike! Back!
April 18, 2010 Hillsbros Playtex Cycling Team-Gets Juice-61 Hard Miles
April 17, 2010 Solo Ride, Tarwheels Ride, Solo, Time Trial, No TT, Solo
April 10, 2010-Two Rides-97 Miles But It Felt Like 98
April 7, 2010 Union Groovin' To Saxapahaw, Carolina Tar-wheels Meet Miami Biking Gang and Buena Vista Social Club
March 31, April 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010 Bike Rides-Carolina Tarwheels
What Happened To Wednesday's Ride? 01-12-10
March 2010-Almost Spring Bike Rides-Plus On The Road Bike Repair Tips
Marquis de Sade-Bob Scofield's Ride 2010
The Playtex Cycling Team
I'm Dreaming Of A White Bike Ride
12-14-09 Solo-Stereo-Winter-Ride
12/03/09 Cycling Photos and A Lesson On Photo Repair
Mickey's Favorite Bicycle "Descending" Videos
Mountain Biking Unaka
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Hi Prasetio. Yes Sir! You're number one. I always feel honored to have you over. Thank you for your kindness. God bless Sir!
Micky those hills look trying indeed!
Hi Billy. Even relatively small hills like these can be "trying". I have to climb Mount Mitchell in a few weeks. That's 100 miles plus. Thanks for dropping by Sir!
THE SCENERY WAS BEAUTIFUL, WHAT A GOOD LIFE!
RIDE ON M. DEE.
Mick, good stuff Bro', the music timed pretty well between pic.s after taking some time to watch the machines for a bit. Looks to be painful fun from my chair. I see the lay down bikes are they easier? Then I saw a couple with little wheels,I under stand the dynamics of torque versus speed but don't get how it plays out on a bicycle. Tell us about how many speeds and all the advantage or not stuff, it would be fun to know. How about steering, do you push steer or pull steer when hitting curves at higher speeds down hill? I'm a motor cycle pilot and push steer in curves while throwing torque with the throttle, keeps you out of a "dead mans wobble" in a road race.
I love those red barns -we don't have that shape here!What a man-you amaze me Micky Dee-and I'm a tad envious of your level of fitness and dedication:)
Always Exploring! That's what we're doing! We have to keep searching and researching. Thank you Dear!
Yo 50 Caliber Bro! The "lay down bikes", recumbents, are comfortable and this type of terrain is wonderful for those kinds of bikes. They are not great on hills but my friend Bruce will kill me on a hill with his. But they are considerably faster than a regular bike. I believe taller people may have an advantage here because of the leverage of the longer leg.
The stroke I see on a recumbent is more forceful. No matter what bike you ride you will want to keep a high cadence - as possible and reasonable! You want to work around 90 revolutions per minute.
For longer bike rides you want to spin as much as possible.
Spin to win!
And I'm speaking of the pedals and crank rotation.
Pushing hard will tire the legs out.
You can spin so much that it's futile. Some folks practice for stretches (during training) at spinning very fast as in maybe 120 or 130 RPMs.
But for riding a century or race for 60 or 100 miles or just about any riding- high RPMs.
Save the legs. Use low enough gears to keep the RPMs up.
The trick with corners, curves, and fast downhills with curves, NEVER DO ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH!
First off- there is a brake adjustment for smaller hands. The brakes may not be adjusted so that they are the tightest. Tight means a small hand has to reach out for the handle/lever.
Next on a bike to go faster going down hills- Lean over the front wheel or stem more but safely.
For technical and almost every "downhill"- keep the hands in the "hooks" where the brakes are the strongest- and pull the lever in "maybe" until the pads or close to the rim.
I also adjust my brakes in case of rain- I keep my brakes adjusted with the quick-release mechanism is dis-engaged. Then if it rains I can close it tightening the brakes more. Mountain riding can be very dangerous when it rains. Steep hills can take brakes away.
Next- if you are concerned or do not know that curve ahead- Slow, using both brakes together, and at the same time slide you butt back toward the back of the seat. Keep a low center of gravity.
It's best to use the "hooks"- the bends in the handle-bar.
You can push the bike out in a corner and you can push the bike inward by doing the opposite with your body.
Pick a line, try to stay with it, and realize there may be adjustments to be made for all kinds of reasons- especially if other people are involved.
If you're alone it's good to make some adjustments before you make your adjustments. Try to take some curves, that you can see around, on your own "terms". If you can see you might swing out before the curve and cut some of the "curve" out. Swing wide in and swing back out wide if you have visibility and safety. Watch the other riders.
All corners seem to be taken "slow" into and "fast" out of. There seems to be a natural sprint after navigating through a curve or chicane. plus it puts those in the rear who are often in "dire straits" more so in "dire straits"!
Most of our actions on bicycles are from a safety stand-point and then trying to speed up as much as possible. Bicycles very often out-descend cars and motorcycles on technical descents. So- we can go fast - we just have to keep that rubber side down!
Yo Itakins. I'm dedicated.
I should be more medicated.
These events are hard strains.
I can't only persist with so many flippin' pains!
Thank you Dear!
I love the set up
I love the ride
I love the riders
Micheal and company
But above all things
I love the rest house...
I am an avid cyclist myself and your ride was Awesome. I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lockeed Martin sponsors a cancer ride from the historic city of Philadelphia to the New Jersey seashore, a Metric century, which I do each year. Keep on Riding
a good cause, a good ride, beautiful county -- places and images -- wonderful experience. Thank you Mick for the ride, Maita
Brother Rossimobis! I hope you get to do your ride this year! It feels so good when we quit. Thank you Sir!
Great pictures and you are amazing. Cheers.
Yo CYBERSUPE! I have some friends in Philly! They are Major Taylor Club members. Keep on keeping on! Thank you!
Thank you for coming along Maita. It was a hot but beautiful day! Thank you Dear!
Hi there Ladyjane! God bless you. Thank you Ma'am!
Wow that is one long ride kid!! Love the pictures. Oh...and I love that you are often riding into the wind! I swear when I run some days I am always running into the wind no matter which way I turn! I just don't get it!! lol
Evidently we must riding and running in an elongated trapezoid configuration where the wind is mostly at disadvantage, side-wind? But yes. The tail-winds are short. Thank you Herbivore! Keep running!
I like the pics, the horses, the pretty jerseys and you Micky Dee. You are Awesome!! I hope you've recovered. I hope you take time to work in a massage or two for your aching body.
Hey Chris Eddy. I'm not fully recovered. I lack will as well as physical strength. I need to ride easy a bit. I won't get a massage. People tend to rub me the wrong way! Thank you Dear.
Micky, now even I know that that's not true (I lack will as well as physical strength.). Someone who does the kind of riding that you do, if not every day and for how long? Ride easy brother and take care of yourself, will you. Brush your shoulders off(for the people that rub you the wrong way).
Hey Chris Eddy! You've doubled my pleasure and fun. Today I need to put in something long. Mitchell is in a couple weeks. Oh well. You are so nice Chris. One Love Sweetheart! One love!
Hello Sir,
You must be enjoying all these adventures as much as I do reading about them!
And your hubs are quite cinematic in scope..It almost feels like a movie I watch and indeed you put in so much creativity and meticulous sincerity that your hubs are outstanding monuments.
One lives the experience as you did.. in your hubs.And they are always a welcome pleasure.
Thank you very much Debarshi Dutta! I wish you and some others could do the actual ride with me some day. Until then please come by and take a spin here! God bless you Sir!
prasetio30 Level 8 Commenter 2 years ago
I am the first person who visiting this hub and for me I never regret to come and come again. You always come with beautiful pictures and combined with wonderful thought. I really appreciate your work. Thumbs Up and I rate this Up. I wish I have a chance to visit to your place. See you and take care!
Prasetio