3S3M on a Tandem Baby!!!!!

Hope and I achieved another milestone this last weekend by riding our tandem for the 101.43 miles of the 20th annual "Three State, Three Mountain"(3S3M) challenge in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This year over 2,300 bicyclist took on the challenge of getting up over Signal Mountain in Tennessee, Sand Mountain in Alabama, and Lookout Mountain in Georgia which ammounts to arond 8,600 feet of climbing for the day.

May thanks to the Attril tandem of Ed and Fran for lending us a wheel to ride for most of the day and to Phil Schare for "keeping an eye on our 6" and lending encouragement.

Some Stats from the day:

Keith, Calories Burned : 6,243

Hope, Calories Burned: 4,300+

Total Distance: 101.43 miles

Feet of Climbing: Approx. 8,600

Ride Time: 6:43

Total Time: 8:22

Average Speed: 14.4

Top Speed: 51.9 mph (Yes, Really)

Flats: 1 for our Tandem and 1 for Ed and Fran's, 0 for Phil this year - yea!

Pre-Ride Consumption

Keith - PBJs:1, Milk: 1, Gatoraid: 1

Hope - PBJs:1, Milk: 1, Gatoraid: 1

Ride Consumption

Keith - Oatmeal Cream Pies: 1, PBJs: 3, Fig Newtons: 9, Oranges: 4, Cliff Bars: 2, Bottles of Water: 2, Bottles of Gatoraid: 8.

Hope - Oatmeal Cream Pies: 4, PBJs: 4, Bannas: 1.5, Bottles of Water: 2, Bottles of Gatoraid: 2.

Post Ride Consumption

Keith - Pizza Slices: 4, Cokes: 3

Hope - Pizza Slices: 4, Cokes: 1; Beers: 1/2

Club Ride on the Tandem

Rode the tandem with Hope today with the Harpeth "Polar Bear Racing Team". Hope is a great stoker and makes for a fun outing with such a great engine on the back. Also thanks to Dirk for keeping us going through the winter. It was a cold, windy, sunny day and the club got to see me in tights for a full ride which I think is a first. Seemed like we had the wind in our face all day until the last leg up Leipers Creek back to the school. Happy to be on the tandem with the wind so bad since it does not seem to get blown around so much. The run in up Leipers Creek road with Larae and Frieda in tow was a blast with what felt like a 25 to 30 mph tailwind we were clipping along around 30 mph for a long time. The gusts were so strong that Freida had to back off because the wind was blowing her into us from behind. It was really weird going that fast and not hearing any wind in your ears and being able to talk to Hope without yelling.

Abby stayed with her friend Savanah and a friend of Shavanah while we got our ride it and she was in a great mood when we picked her up so she and the girls must have had a fun Saturday morning together.

Weather at start: 42 with strong winds, wind chill in the thirties

Ride Stats:
Distance: 32.3
Time: 1:52
Avg. Speed: 16.4 mph
Avg. Heart Rate: 149
Max Heart Rate: 170
Calories Burned: 2158
Total Climb: 1560

1st Family Ride of 2007

February 28th and its 67 degrees outside so we had to get the Munchkin out in the baby trailer for a quick ride. Met Hope and Abby at Deep Well area of Percy Warner off highway 100. Abby enjoyed the swings until I got there after work. She loves the swings! Only had time for the 5.8 mile loop since Abby's happy battery ran out. She enjoyed her books for a while and then got a little bored.

Weather: 67 and Sunny

Critter Count: 14 squirrels, 4 dogs

2nd Night Ride of 2007

2nd night ride of 2007 was with a beautiful moon about 4/5 full. Made for great climbs without the bike light. Did the 11 mile loop and the 5 mile loop for a 1500 calorie ride. Only saw 1 car all night on the loop. You guys are missing out as the views at night without the leaves on the trees are breathtaking. If anyone wants to experience it just give me a buzz since I have 2 great lights. New bike keeps getting better - got the 11-23 cassette off and put the 11-32 on. 11-32 works great with the XTR derailleur and it will come in handy for the hills in the park when the baby trailier gets hooked on and adds 45 pounds.

Weather: 59 and Clear

Critter Report: 21 Deer(Lots of deer, most I have ever seen)

First 2007 Night Ride

First night ride of 2007 is completed with an 11 mile loop of Percy Warner. This was also the first significant ride on the new Litespeed Appalachian bicycle (aka "The Baby Puller") that I just finished building up. It rides great and I got a nice supprise as I pulled it off the rack at the park and realized that I still had the wrong cassette on it. The wheel from the trainer was still on it since I am not finished building up the new rear wheel and it had an 11-23 on it which I never ride, especially throught the hills of the park. So I went with it and did OK to my suprise so the diet, double spin classes, and the recent 6 day ski trip all seem to be paying off.

Critter report is: 1 Raccoon and 1 Coyote.