Summer Rallies

So I’m interested in doing a few 2 or 3 rallies this summer. Because I’m so new to cycling, I’d rather be very cautious about the ones I choose. Since I’m fat and slow, I will probably only do the rallies that have 20-30 mile runs or so. So I’m thinking about these few rallies, wondering what you think:

Tour de Pepper June 13, 2009. 7:00 am. Dublin. 9, 34, 64 miles. $30 before June 6, $35 after. Email.

Collin Classic June 13, 2009. 8 a.m. Mckinney. 4, 15, 22, 34, 47, 55 miles. Email.

Cow Creek Country Classic June 27, 2009. 7:30 am. Waxahachie. 10, 19, 36, 46, 75 and 100 miles. $20 before June 20, $25 after. Family and Corporate discounts. T-shirt. Showers and changing areas are available. Email.

Katy Flatland July 19, 2009. 7 am. Katy. 33, 44, 57, 100 miles. $25. Corporate T-shirt.

David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride July 11, 2009. 7:00 am. New Braunfels. 1, 12, 25, 62, 100 miles. $30. T-shirts, bandannas, food, door prizes.

Red Hot Chili Pepper August 15, 2009. 7:30 am. Dallas. 20, 40 and 60 miles. $25, $30 DOR. All pre-registered riders are guaranteed a T-shirt.

If anyone knows of one I should try let me know, so I’ll take suggestions.

When Foliage Attacks!

I should have gotten this up sooner, but I’m lazy (maybe that’s part of the weight issue…hmmm.).  A buddy and I went riding Friday from work. Being the pillars of the working establishment we are, we put in enough hours on Friday to get out of there early!

Shooting the deuces to the office, we hit one of the more popular trails in this area. It’s a nice ride around a city lake and through a number of parks. The wind blew right in our faces most of the time, laughing at us and put it’s shoe directly in our ribcage while we were moaning and lying on the ground. We pushed hard, the ride back gave us some wind relief [that being the real wind, not the “breaking of wind” type of relief]. Then fought the uphill run that is the majority of the return trip.

That’s when it happened…

Upon returning to the office there is a small walking path that has a surprising steep grate, 50%-70% boarder by shrubbery. I’m pretty sure this shrubbery was once used as ancient barbwire as the leaves and twigs were very thorny keeping out the Knights who say Ni (or other riff-raff). As I hit the grate, I misjudged the climb and didn’t gear up enough so I came to a complete stop with my pedals also stopped. Frozen in a state of shock, the bush out of no where leaped out and started hacking my arms and legs. I couldn’t get out of my pedals fast enough to fight back and I had to hold on to my brakes to keep from sliding back down the grate or being utterly consumed by the bush. Crying out in pain, I finally got my feet under me and bolted from the shrubbery’s grasp. Hike/biked up the grate and rejoined my friend.

Only a little blood was spilled, but I feel I got the better of the bush…but it lives on to fight another day…

[Ok fine, I fell into some bushes! Shut up!]