Date: 2007-05-12
From: HOME

To: Big Hill Challenge-Watertown,TN
Miles today: 62.0

Sat.May 12th5:30am the alarm wakes me up...i peek out the window & its very cloudy...been raining all night...a bit foggy...i get up & shower & get dressed in my Cycling clothes....today...less than a week from stepping off the Appalachian Trail...i've scheduled myself to ride in the BIG HILL CHALLENGE bike ride in Watertown, TN.i dont know if this is a bit over-zealous of me (thinking of my training for the TN Senior Olympics..just a couple months away) or just plain STUPID!i stop for a cup o' coffee on the way @ Mickey D's drive thru...(man! when will i ever learn my lesson?)the hour drive to Watertown on the SouthEast side of Lebanon & about an hour & a half away from my house...is un-eventful....the whole time driving...i'm checking the weather...hoping the rain holds off....the fog lifts...before we get started...dont wanna get run over by some "in-a-hurry-to-get-there-farmer"..arrive @ Watertown High School & check in....seeing a load of my fellow VELOTEERS (my bike club which is sponsoring the ride) William Anderson (president of our club & all around great guy) Jennifer Gholson...(looking good) Jeff Jolly, Denise Garland & Bob Ostrowe...they are all helping out in the ride to make this go very smoooooth.8am   the ride gets underway from the Watertown Square (typical small town square with many antique shops, eateries, etc)after a few words from Jeff Jolly (former owner of The Jolly Cyclist)& the vice mayor of Watertown (sorry, didnt get his name)looks like maybe 200 or so bicycles out for the ride today...regular road bikes, comfort bikes, bikes built for two & a few recumbents...its still overcast...but the fog has lifted somewhat...we're off!the Cyclists leave Watertown & a few miles later ride thru the small town of Alexandria....out of this small burg....the 62 & 100 mile riders make a turn taking us thru Goose Creek area & some beautiful farm land....(some of this part of the ride was on the Bike Ride Across Wilson County which i rode last fall)we arrive @ the 1st Rest Stop/Mt.Zion Baptist Church (important for me)after about 20 miles in the saddle (by the way my new San Selle Marco Aspide feels pretty good @ this point)i down some Gatorade, water, & a few PB& J sandwhiches here...(gotta get the sugar into the bloodstream & pumping!)back on the bike...pedal, pedal,pedal....we cautiously cross a couple of Highways (not much traffic)in the next few miles....before the BIG climb of the day...(i didnt see the profile map til later!)from here it wuz....up...up...UP!climb..climb...climb...i'm creeping to a crawl on the pedals...(i find out later its about a 500 ft climb in about 3 miles of road....OUCH!but i get to the top...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!(nice views of Center Hill Lake from upon top)a downhill that i top out @ a speed of 49mph....onto a turn just before the Center Hill Dam onto Hwy 141....pedal, pedal...pedal...about the time i hit another hill...i downshift & Zinnnnnnnnnnnnng!i throw my chain!...DARN!as i get off my bike...the SAG wagon (actually a van) rolls up & helps me...Gary & Chase from the Jolly Cyclist quickly remedy my problem & give me a big push (like the real cyclists get in de TOUR)i get to top of the hill & ride thru the Temperance Hill community...alongside of Center Hill Lake with some great views...then ride thru Lancaster....the clouds are finally gone & the Sun is hot....i'm sweating like CRAZY...i have some small cramping in my legs...rest stop ahead....ahhhhhhhhhhhhi grab some sugar filled cookies & PB& J & guzzledown some gatorade...& water & more gatorade...after a few minutes rest & the shoes off too...i hop back on the bike & pedal thru my last 20 miles...thru Brush Creek community...then around the ALexandria town square...then onto Hwy 70 for the final few miles......i roll into Watertown....by the square & back to Watertown High School & my waiting car....we're invited to Watertown B & B for a post ride lunch..but, i'm too hot, tired & smelly to go anywhere but home...i hit the road...been a good, challenging ride....the BIG HILL CHALLENGE definately lives up to its name...                              64.93 milessee ya'll up the trail!