Sampson, Browntown, White City and Peach Cobbler dished out a little bit of everything on eight of us today. The rain looked like it was a ten percent chance all through the day, it was correct with the beginning of the ride being that ten percent. We got a good soaking before it got hot, which would have worked better the other way around. It went from overcast with threatening thunder clouds to blazing sunshine and back about thirty times, ending at about eighty-eight degrees. This ride was a total challenge, with seventy miles of eighty percent dirt and a little bit of every surface type from hard pack red clay to tire sucking patches of mud. And let’s not forget the climbs. This route has about 13 very nasty pitched climbs in the first 40mi. There’s plenty of hills after that, but they are much more gradual. There only being 3,800’ of climbing on this route is very misleading.
The good parts are having old friends meet each other, riding with friends I hadn’t in a while, and everyone helping each other get through it. We got some gaps over time, but overall, the group stuck together from the beginning to the end. We got to feed our draft horse Sampson some apples and blueberries, and chatted with the folks that care for him. Rick, I was concerned he wouldn’t like blueberries because he couldn’t smell them, but the second I poured my handful he inhaled them. Route soon to be renamed Sampson, Browntown, White City and Peach Cobbler.
Thanks to everyone for coming out, especially the surprises! What a great day riding bikes in the dirt with some of my favorite local heroes.