Jrad got me up at 5am this morning to come out and try the Beat the Train (http://www.beatthetrain.org/about.asp) ride downtown Detroit that starts at 6:30am from Historic Fort Wayne. (Our stomping grounds every October for the Mad Anthony Cyclocross race that many of us do and love so much)
I was tired. I was cranky. Could still feel the Oberons I had the night before. But once I got the bike on the roof rack, and pulled out of the driveway, I was ready to rock and had a feeling the ride would be pretty sweet. And it was!
Jrad and I introduced ourselves to Andy (super cool dude and ride founder) in the Fort's parking lot. Waited for and made small talk with a bunch of other riders, and at 6:30 we shoved off. Think there was like 20-30 riders, I can't remember... and people had road bikes, cross bikes, mtn bikes, and all kinds of other weird shit I hadn't seen. I hadn't ridden my bike in 3.5 weeks, recovering from a nasty sinus/respiratory infection as well as starting a new job, so I knew I wasn't going to feel real spry. Last time I rode was the ILRA group ride the Saturday after Barry Roubaix... yeah, I'm in bad shape.
The ride itself was awesome. Very similar route to the Tour de Droit, I think... but I'm no expert. Just with less people, was free, and we went faster and saw some cooler stuff that I hadn't experienced yet. Riding along the riverfront as the sun came up, a giant, lifesize Detroit Piston Brandon Knight bobble-head along said riverfront, attacking a Strava segment in some old cemetery, and hitting the Dequindre Cut and cruising by Eastern Market had to be my highlights. Jrad and I bailed once they hit Mexicantown for breakfast, due to time constraints, but I think moving forward we should make time for a morning margarita or 3 and some chips and salsa! Think we got in around 32 miles. Check my Strava data below, it happened.
http://app.strava.com/activities/50958463
Will I be back? Oh yeah, this was awesome. I strongly suggest we get more wieners out there for this one, you will not regret it. All the riders were super nice, and the pace can be as fast or slow as you want it... Andy does a great job organizing this. My only regret was not bringing along my Contour video camera to document the ride. I will next time, and I hope there are more of us. Anways, till next time... see some of you d-bags at PLRA tomorrow for Gary's race, and then Mud, Sweat, and Beers next weekend up in Traverse!
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