Stem-O-Rama Bicycle Ride- July 17, 2010 Stem, NC
64
The first annual Stem-O-Rama was ridden June 17, 2010.
The acronym S.T.E.M. stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Our hosts and organizers were Eric Wiebe and Cynthia.Shimer.
Stem, NC
We parked behind the Stem Post Office and beside the Stem Community Fire Department.
Cynthia and Eric made up the route with cue sheets.
Stem is a very small community close to the Virginia border.
Stem is a town in Granville County, North Carolina. This is just North of Durham, NC. The population is just a few hundred. In 2006, Stem became home to a high school when Granville Central High School opened it's doors to freshman and sophomores. The school added a grade each year and now has grades 9-12.
The route was to be 64.5 miles, but I'm sure most of the riders felt like it was 65 miles.
Here, above, is one of the partners in crime- Cynthia!
As you will see- Cynthia and Eric really did a fine job with the scenery!
Isn't she cute?
I knew I had been here before! Cycle North Carolina 2004!
The above picture is from the 2004 Cycle North Carolina "cross state bicycle ride".
http://www.bicycleinn.com/Cycle_NC_04_PageI.htm
This is one pretty church!
Stem?
From where does this ride Stem?
The ride stems from Stem.
Ahem! Stem?
What do you mean Slim?
I hope you do not find me dim,
But what do you mean, pilgrim?
A bike ride begins in a town named Stem!
The ride was begun as others are- on a whim!
It began with Eric and Cynthia, a couple quite trim,
Bicycling keeps them slim, the both of them!
Well Virginia Slim,
Married Tiny Tim,
This ride from Stem,
Is really a gem!
Here is my buddy Dave. He has been my friend for 300 years.
What's that? Oops- 30 years!
A garden needs tending.
It's early yet, huh Dave?
There were many scenes like this one above.
July 17, 2010 Stem Bicycle Ride, video #1
The videos are in the order as taken with the pictures.
The videos are short but just as the pictures do, they also give me little "memories" of what the day was like.
Honestly- I'm sure I'm frying brain-cells out there on the bike.
I could not remember most of these memories without pictures.
The memories I would retain would be very blurred and inaccurate.
So- take as many pictures as you can.
It's cheap enough today going digital.
However- never take pictures while moving on a bicycle!!!
We only have about 35 to go! (maybe)
July 17, 2010 Stem Bicycle Ride, video #2
Remember- BE SAFE!
Never take pictures or videos while moving on a bicycle!!!
July 17, 2010 Stem Bicycle Ride, video #3
My kingdom for a helmet cam!
The route goes in the direction our fearless leader is taking.
But Michael T. wanted to see Virginia!
So Micheal T and I keep riding north.
The road narrowed.
The road was distinctly different from the roads we had been on.
I was enjoying our journey over pleasant hills.
But we turned around and headed back to North Carolina.
We never saw anybody named Virginia.
There seems to be a vanishing point up ahead!
Michael T really knows how to have fun!
Backy!
We found our friends here.
They were trying to determine- exactly what the temperature would be "in the shade"!
This was mile marker 34 miles and we were hoping a quick mart would be right here.
Google had the wrong address for the "inconvenience store".
The store was in the opposite direction.
Hydrate or die!
We were running out of fluids!
A couple of emails ensued the ride from Dave and Eric:
Dave: What a hoot!! My first search was off the address which defaulted me to Yahoo. I opted for the Google Maps site which shows the location to be about 1/2 way between Amis Chapel & Blue Wing on the west side of 96. Google gave me a street view of the location. Guess what? It is a field!
Dave: Ah-Ha!! I checked out "Bowen's Mini Mart" on Hwy 96 on Yahoo maps. We came down Amis Chapel Rd & made a Rt onto 96. Looks like the store is just a little ways down the rd turning left on 96.
Eric: Yup, Google Street View shows a mini mart just a half mile south on Hwy
96 (we went north). It also shows a different street number than Google
listed for the store, which is probably why Google put the store 2 mi
north from where it really is. Good research Dave. Now we know...
I'm sorry Dave, but I think your seat is still a little low.
We enter Person County.
We exit Granville County.
The Vernon Hills Baptist Church had delicious water!
Here's my buddy, Dave. He seems to perspiring.
I think Larry's still having fun.
Fun looking place ahead.
This was a very nice spot here.
Is that a Merita Bread door frame?
It started raining somewhere out here.
I gave this a "glowing accent" as it was a little fuzzy from the rain.
Look at this! After 60 miles - she smiles!
We were making good "rooster tails" for each other.
Rain came up from the rear of each bike- right into the face of the rider behind.
Form the post office in Stem:
00.1 Right on Main ST.
00.2 Right on Old Route 75/State Road 1004
01.2 Straight -Culbreth Road (left as 1004 goes right)
04.7 Right on Enon Road.
11.9 Quick Mart
11.9 Cross US 158 and onto Cornwall Road
12.5 Right to stay on Cornwall
14.2 Quick Mart
24.8 Quick Mart
26.6 Left on Grassy Creek Virgilina Road
29.8 Left Amis Chapel Road
32.7 Right NC 96 North
34.1 There's a big empty field here! But no Quick Mart!
34.6 Left Blue Wing Road
36.2 Left NC 49 North
36.3 Left Charlie Stovall Road
36.4 Left to stay on Charlie Stovall Road
40.1 Left to stay on Charlie Stovall Road
41.0 Right Noel Tuck Road
41.4 Right Webb Chapel Road ((Noel turns to gravel)
44.8 Left Polk Huff Road
45.9 Cross Walnut Grove Road
48.6 Right on Goshen Road
49.4 Left Ben Thorp Road
52.6 Left Old Roxboro Road
55.7 Left US-158 West
56.2 Quick Mart
56.3 Right Culbreth Road
63.3 Right Old Route 75/State Route 1004
64.3 Left on Main St.
64.4 Tally Ho Road
64.5 We're done!
The cue-sheet says 64.5 but it felt like 65 miles!
My GPS says we accumulated 5900 Ft. of climbing and descending.
Seems like a lot for a course with easy riding for most of it.
Michael T and I added about 3 miles into Virginia.
The Stem-O-Rama Metric Map!
I was out riding around with the top down a week and some change ago now, when I ran into the ride and riders below:
Duke Multiple Myeloma Bike Ride * 7-10-10
Duke Multiple Myeloma Bike Ride
The Duke Multiple Myeloma is a 50 K or 100 Kilometer road bike ride from the Duke campus through rural Durham and Orange Counties.
The registration fee, from the cyclists, helps support the families and patients undergoing treatment at the Multiple Myeloma Center at Duke and support research about the disease.
So I'm riding around and I run into friends on their bikes! Go figure.
So I wheeled around and played with these folks for a while.
July 12, 2010 Saturday- MM Bicycle Ride
Cynthia gets stronger every week!
Heeeeere's Eric!
Heeere's Cynthia!
We won the race with the John Deere.
I think it was the gearing!
Well my fellow cyclists pull into a rest stop and I mosey on down the road!
These folks were from out of town.
Some place called Australia.
So, I ran up on this fellow. He asked which way I was going when we came to a stop.
I said, "which way you going?"
He said, "I was going to turn to the right on Orange Grove".
I said, "well maybe I'll ride along with you".
"He said, "I like the way you think!"
For more cycling stuff click yourself down right here!
Ode To The Rattleheadedcoppermoccasin!
June 26, 2010- Chatham County Habitat For Humanity 3 Ring Cycle Bicycle Ride
An Ode To Tarwheels! And The Union Groovers Meet the Mebanites! June 23, 2010
Squirrel Nut Zipping to Saxapahaw-Tarwheels Ride Again! June 16, 2010
June 12, 2010 Tarwheels & The Ken Har Memorial- Rawhide Bike Ride
June 9, 2010-Tarwheels-Union Groovin' And Listening To The Fiddleheads On Lemon Grass!
Micky's Dominatrix-And A Tarwheel Saturday Bike Ride May 5, 2010
She'll Follow Me Anywhere! A Poem And A Saxapahaw Bike Ride June 2, 2010
Cycling-May 26, 2010 Union Groovin'- Crawford Dairy Loop! With Cue Sheet
Assault On Mount Mitchell 2010-A Virtual Tour
Cycling-May 12, 2010 Union Groovin' and Mebane Espressin'
Cycling-May 9, 2010-Hillsborough To Yanceyville-79 Miles
Cycling-May 5, 2010-A Ode to-Union Groovin' To Saxapahaw!
Cycling-May 2, 2010-Raven Rock Ramble-107 miles
April 23, 24, 2010 Carrboro Tarwheels and The Bicycle Wheel Of Adam O'Neil
An Ode To Three Possums In The Middle Of The Road
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
CommentsLoading...
I bet a good time was had by all. Cool hub.
Sa'ge- I have a lot of pain. Yesterday I had a cortisone shot in my right shoulder. It felt really good today. A slight soreness. I had to stop on the way back in today. I pulled off onto the left side of the road under a tree and pushed my finger into a nerve on my neck.
For the morning of this ride, I woke at 3:30 and wanted to miss this ride. Head hurt, shoulder, back, hip. I took a hydracodone and later I took another. I didn't hurt too much. My neck and head and shoulder will take me out before my lungs or legs will- but it "all" compounds and it's hard to give the credit adequately. Pain will stress me and bog me down until I pop out of the group I'm with. By x-rays I have some bad spots. I'll be having some physical therapy with that.
Now- the day after the ride was when I really hurt. Sunday. It was pretty bad. It's like the pain will require more hydracodone. This was the first time in a year I've taken it. It's prescription but taking a lot of any drug of this type excessively will lead to problems. I might take it before a really hard ride in the future. It would be illegal for racers (was a licensed racer 2 years ago- not a good one) to take this. It's hard for me to imagine people my age not taking something for pain. But I've had some good licks. Thank you Sa'ge!
Yo zzron! I enjoyed the ride. I think everyone did!
Some great pictures as always. I loved the old log cabin with foliage growing out of the top of it. Also the sign that mandates headlights when using windshield wipers. Ha! You certainly ride in some scenic country! Thanks!
Thank you for stopping by Peggy! Not bad picture taking at 20 mph.
Thank you for a great hub and bike ride, it felt like I was there, with all the beautiful scenery. Thank you Micky for sharing. Godspeed. creativeone59
Thank you Creativeone. God bless!
Mic, your a pusher dude, I heard that's illegal? eh? 50
Looks like a gorgeous place to discover on a ride. Happy trails! Thanks for the glimpse into this world.
50 Bro, I'm a mess. I love to ride and I can't deal with ordinary leg pain. It doesn't register but to compound everything else I suppose.
Poetvix- this was a beautiful ride! It wasn't hard and it was "new" to us. It was an adventure!
That's beautiful country! The little house in the beginning looks like it would be been such a nice place to live way back when. I'm sorry the body isn't keeping up with you quite the way you'd like - pain is incredibly stressful. But wow! You are out there doing things that would have the average 20 year old lying on the side of the road gasping for breath! Gorgeous photos and really, I'm looking at my bike differently right now :)
Hey SilverGenes! Thanks for riding along! I have it better than most my age I'm sure. I mostly document the situation. Thank you Ma'am! Let's ride!
Fabulous hub, Micky. .A camera attached to your helmet sound good to me but you managed anyway!!! Beautiful pics and videos.
I wish you didn´t suffer so much pain, but i feel you´ll push yourself till you drop, won´t you.?
Some of those óld homesteads, shacks, AND gorgeous houses were a joy to look at. Loved this one. Thank you. Take care x
Micky, looks like you had a great fun ride, i,m so sorry that u are in pain, heres hoping the pain will go away
and not come back another day, who ever said ' LIFE BEGINS AT 50- 60 IS A LIAR!!!!!!!!!
God Speed
Yo Dim! We push ourselves. I love a red barn mostly I suppose for the splash of color on a winter day but I love these old sheds and buildings!
Yo Always! I should probably take hydracodone every ride. Thank you Dear!
Micky - this was awesome! You guys certainly had a great outing. Those "out of towners" were, I think, South African, to judge from the flags on their shirts. Love to know how they got there!
Thanks for the ride!
Love and peace
Tony
Tony- you are right- this is hoiw my head is anymore. They told me they were from South Africa and I tried to tell them about TonyMac on hubpages. I told them they might see their pics eventually through your hubs (to mine). But I forgot all I'm telling you now. Of course they were from S. Africa. Great catch Tony!!! I initially gave them my, "y'all ain't from around here are ye?" The younger one says, "We're from the Durham!" Then they fessed up!
have a great afternoon Micky Dee! :D
Good morning Sa'ge? Gosh- I think you're 15 hours behind us? Howdy Sa'ge Dear!
Awesome scenery - and love that they had a multiple myeloma bike ride. My legs are there in spirit!
Why I never get bored to visit your hub? because you are totally cool...my brother. You always present wonderful pictures and most of them 100% beautiful. That's why I can't stop to see the pictures one by one. I have to permit to copy one of your pictures. It would be great if I put this on my desktop as a wall paper. So I can remember you all the time. I always Vote your hub UP...always and always. My pray for you...amen
Warm regard and Blessing,
Prasetio
no, no, I am a mere six hours behind you! you are most likely in bed dreaming right now, ha ha! ehen I am getting ready for dream land, you are waking from yours. although there are many times i am going to bed when you are having lunch, I tend to be a night hawk! I write best in the wee hours of the morning, and I mean wee hours! love ya! have a great day :>D love ya! ~Aloha nui loa~
BTW: Have a great day today, I pray you have less aches and pains with lots of cool breezes.
Hey Akirchner. Most organized bike rides go to some charity. I don't know much about MM. I'll google.
Prasetio!!! You are such a dear man! You are tops! Brother Pasetio, you take whatever picture you want and use it as you wish. I love you Brother Man!
Sa'ge my Dear! You know- it must be Vietnam that was 15-17 hours difference. We crossed the International Date Line, was it? Six hours- difference? I'll drive right over!
I wish a blessed day for you too Sa'ge. God bless you Dear! ~Aloha nui loa~
This ride looks like fun Micky. I love to do those metric centuries. I do several here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, each year.
YO CYBERSUPE! Thanks for stopping. I have some Major Taylor Club friends in Philadelphia. Happy trails Bro!
Man the pictures look so serene. How blessed you are to be surrounded by beautiful landscape and great friends. Peace to you my friend.
Yo pmccray! I've missed you. I'm heading to your place now! Thank you Dear! God bless!
Thank you for sharing your bike ride with us Micky. I am amazed at the beautiful scenery and landmarks along the way. It seems like you and your cycling buddies have a great time together. Hats off to you my friend for it cannot be easy doing these long rides, especially in the heat. Most enjoyable hub.
Love and Hugs
Thank you for your wishes and hugs my Dear Loves To Read! God bless you Dear!
Sa`ge 22 months ago
sound like it was a beautiful and great ride with great friends and lots of great fun in the sun. I loved the pictures, as usual you took some wonderful shots. I hope you were not so achy after the ride but most of all not during the ride. ~aloha nui loa~