RIDE FOR HOPE

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Date: May 16, 2009

Locale: Middleton, WI USA

Type: 100K ride

Weather: Very Windy but no rain

Yesterday I rode the Ride for Hope with some friends. It was a 100k leaving from Capital Brewery in Middleton, WI. It was very well organized with coffee and donuts prior to the race and the course was very well marked.

The 100k group started out together and ran into a huge headwind right off the bat. People were getting crabby and yelling and other people to start pulling/ rotate etc. After about 15 miles the groups split up.

I rode with about 6-8 people. It was a great group with everyone riding about the same pace. After we turned with the wind about 20 miles in, we were crusing pretty good. We stopped at the Brewery for some food and bathroom breaks, and then started on for the second half.

The second half proved as winding as the first. There were sections where the wind was so strong the pack was only going about 10mph or less.

We finished about 1:00 and enjoyed the food, bevies, and music from the live band.

Overall it was a scenic and fun ride (except for the wind). The race director (Andy Barishka) has planned and ridden many rides in the past including from top of U.S. to bottom, and a circle route around Lake Mich. He has a ride going this June that travels the west side of the Mississippi up to the top and then back down the Wisconsin side.