Maybe I am crazy, or just a glutton for punishment....last week I joined my first Thursday night group ride!?!
For almost two years, there has been a group of biking enthusiasts riding every Thursday night...the love of biking and participation has greatly increased the past year.
Last year I told myself I wasn't ready for a long, gravel bike ride, even though I completed a hellacious 20 mile ride last May with Casey. I still didn't see myself doing THAT again!!
But this year, the biking bug hit and I signed up for the Dirty Kanza lite ride (20 miles)!! Over the winter, I rode in the gym and with the warmer weather, I have ventured outside, but only about 5-6 miles each time. I knew I needed to go on longer rides and this year I wanted to try a Thursday night group ride. The weekly rides started back in mid March and between my knees, back, birthday's and rain....this was my first!!
There were 40 some bikers last week (including Casey, he made it out of work in time to come along) and about 7pm we took off! We rode northwest of town and very shortly hit gravel and hills! Now, I am an in town, pavement biker, so it took me a little bit getting use to the gravel and using different gears than normal.
I was last in the pack and grateful for several experienced riders who stayed back to encourage me along. No riders left behind! The sunset was beautiful and NO SNAKES!!! 2 1/2 hours, 21 miles and too many hills later, we made it home!! I was so proud of myself for making it so far and tackling all the hills! Our friend, Rick Becker, says that hills build character!
I don't know how the Dirty Kanza riders manage 200 miles on the gravel Flinthills roads in the Kansas summer heat, but I know, I have NO desire to do anything near that many miles, ever! I am in awe of them and will be cheering on many of our friends as they ride in the DK this year!!
