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| Braving the July heat | |
Posted by Shawny Mack on September 07 2010 21:48:08  By Dennis Sherer
Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 9, 2010 at 10:14 p.m.
When the late July temperature is in the 90s and the humidity level in well into the sweltering range, many people just want to stay inside with the air conditioner cranked up on Arctic and wait for cooler weather in the fall.
Others savor braving the miserably hot conditions to hop on their bicycle and take a long ride that can stretch more than 100 miles and include stops in three states. In 2009, 179 riders from throughout the Southeast and Midwest braved the July heat for the annual W.C. Handy Festival bicycle ride. Organizers are hoping for an even larger turnout at this year’s ride July 31.
The ride, which includes 21, 39, 61, 70, 100 and 107 miles begins at 7:15 a.m. at McFarland Park in Florence and winds through western Lauderdale County and portions of northeast Mississippi and southern Tennessee. The ride also ends at the park.
While riding in 90 degree weather on Tuesday, local cycling enthusiast William Bonee said the riders are not deterred by the hot conditions that typically accompany the Handy Festival ride.
“You just ride,” said Bonee, president of Shoals Cycling Club. “I know that sounds silly, but you just get out there and ride no matter how hot it is on the day of the Handy ride. Last year, we had riders from Indiana, Louisiana, Florida and all over Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama brave the heat and come in here for the Handy ride.”
Cycling enthusiast Dave Hater said drinking plenty of water is a key to being able to ride 100 miles or more in searing temperatures. “You have to stay hydrated. At the Tour de Wayne ride in Wayne County, Tenn., a few weeks back, it was extremely hot and I probably drank 12 bottles of water but still got dehydrated.”
Bonee said rest stations along the route for the Handy ride will provide opportunities for riders to refill their water bottles and take a break. He said riders give the Handy ride high marks for having well-equipped rest stations. “You go to some rides and they don’t have rest stations or they have them, but don’t have any water. A lot of the visiting riders tell us the Handy ride has some of the best rest stations they have seen anywhere in the country.”
Bonee emphasizes the Handy ride is not a race. The goal is not to be the first to finish and riders travel at their own pace.
Hater said it typically takes at least 6 to 7 hours to complete a 100-mile bicycle ride.
While it would be difficult for a novice rider to ride 100 miles on a hot July day in the Tennessee Valley, Bonee said the 21-mile option is doable for a beginning rider. He said the cycling club’s weekly rides are a good tune-up for the long-distance rides. The club has a Tuesday night ride that begins at Thacker Casket Manufacturing Co. on Rushton Street in the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park and a Thursday night ride in Colbert County that starts at Spring Park in Tuscumbia. Both rides get under way at 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public. All riders must wear a helmet.
Bonee said the weekly rides provide opportunities for riders of all abilities to hone their riding skills.
“The Tuesday ride is perfect for rookies. The route we ride is flat and there’s not much traffic,” he said. “The Thursday ride is more challenging. There are several hills we go over on the Thursday route.”
Bonee said cycling club members will assist new riders on the weekly rides. “We’re not going to leave anybody out on either route. Somebody is going to hang back and stay with anybody is who us riding slow to make sure they get back in. A good thing about the weekly rides is that they provide and opportunity to ride with some veteran riders and learn a lot about cycling.”
He said the Handy ride provides an opportunity to meet cycling enthusiasts from many states and learn their tips for riding in all sorts of weather and road conditions.
For more details on Shoals Cycling Club or the Handy ride, call Bonee at 256-627-9578.
Dennis Sherer can be reached at 256-740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com. |
| Shoal Creek Nature Preserve | |
Posted by ScottS on August 25 2010 16:35:03
The sign stating "No Bicycles" has been removed and replaced with another. The only thing pertaining to bicycles is a sign saying to stay on the trails. I've got pics & video to upload. ANYONE of any ability can ride these trails! Even Non-Mountain Bikers.
Jones Loop takes you down by a small stream which empties into Shoal Creek. You can even ride down to Shoal Creek and take a dip. There are benches for you to relax on and the whole place has very good signage, so it's no problem finding your way back to the car.
Will be riding Thursday @ 6:00 pm if anyone wants to join in the fun.
Happy Trails |
| Avid cyclist says he just does it to have fun | |
Posted by Shawny Mack on June 29 2009 23:29:23 
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