Date: 2010-08-21
To: H.O.T.100 Bike Ride-Lascassas,TN
Miles today: 0.0

Sat.Aug 21stThe alarm goes off @ 4:30am (thats sleeping in for me!)...& i jump up & shower & throw my cycling clothes on...grab coffee & my gear & i drive to Lascassas,TN(an hour & a half away)for the "Heart of Tennessee 100" bicycle ride...sponsored by the Murfreesboro bike club....This is always a well organized & well attended event...altho...it looks like not as many riders this year...maybe the threat of 93 degrees & 40% chance of showers scared them away???I check in & grab my "GOODIE BAG" (complete with new T-shirt, water bottle & some Hammer Gel...sweeeeeet!)I head back to the car...prep my bicycle (2005 TREK Madone 5.2SL)get on the shoes & head to the start line...looks like maybe 500 or so cyclists here today.After a few announcements we are off @ 7 AM...I thought it was 7:30am til i got on-line this morning & got a map-quest direction sheet....Ooooops!As we start...I hear Steve Hayslip yell..."Hey Jay"...he & Paul (his son) are riding the 66 mile course today...too.We're out & away from Lascassas school & head back South on Hwy 96 for a few miles then a left on Brown Mill rd.... then Owen Rd...then Givens road...On these back roads...you see a load of pretty scenery....old barns...horses...cows lounging under trees...& some nice older homes too...we turn onto old Woodbury Pike after a few miles...& into Readyville for REST STOP #1 Mile 17.7 (theres only 2 on this route...so, i better "camel up" here)Steve & Paul Hayslip are standing in line for the food...I hit the port-jon & then the food line...I re-water my bottles & grab some PB&Js...gotta keep the energy high!After a few minutes...we're off...Paul rides with Steve & me for a few minutes...then he is outta here...he cruses on...(ahhhh to have those young legs!)We head thru the small town of Woodbury for a few blocks & then back out in the country...then the "climb of the day"...Doolittle Rd & hill...OUCH!It kicked my butt!...felt some slight cramps a few times & got off my bike for a minute or two...After cresting the hill...a very fast downhill...(45+ mph)...after the descent...i rode with a nice guy named "MO"...a lawyer that works in downtown Nashville (not far from NewsChannel 5)...we had some roller coasters hills..back on Hwy 96 & then we looped thru Statesville...& our Next (& LAST) REST STOP (#2)Mile 43By this time...Paul is long gone...probably be waiting back @ the school or on his second plate of spaghetti by now...hehehehehe ;0)I grab some energy drink (HEED?) & water....& down a few PB&Js...before heading out...As Steve & I are leaving the Rest Stop...it comes a downpour for about 5 or 10 minutes...not too bad tho...it was actually Refreshing...until the SUN came back out & then it was SAUNA time....ugh!We turned onto Dillon road & we had some slow grade climbs...by this time...we're getting tired...didnt need anymore hills...Up Charles Smith Rd & then onto Oregon rd...then North Milton...I'm getting sooooooo tired...a few more hills...then we turn back onto Hwy 96...only a few miles back now....We get back to the school shortly after 1pm...We all grab a plate of spaghetti....ahhhhhhh....niiiiice!Steve & Paul pick up their T-shirts...& then we all part & head home...Good Ride...but, very, very tiring...66.3 miles today...Another Bicycle Ride in a couple weeks in Clarksville...the Sunrise Century!Stay tuned Sports Fans!