http://clydesdalefitness.com Biking for fun and fitness Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:20:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The highlight of the DALMAC is the crossing of the Mackinac Bridge. Here's what it was like: Below is a sat image of the route, http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/dalmac-end-of-ride-on-the-mackinac-bridge/ They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, I'm alive. Barely. There were nothing but hills and more hills on today's route. And then there was "The Wall." There are traditions with every bicycle tour, unique distinctions and "must do's" that make them an instantly recognized part of the larger event and ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/elk-rapids-to-petoskey-hills-and-a-headwind/ That's me dozing in the shade a a rest stop about 60 miles in today. The route was supposed to be 59 miles. It was for everyone but me. I got lost. That's the down side of riding aloe, I guess. When I looked up ahead about 15 minutes past the ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/dalmac-mcbain-to-elk-rapids/ Today's route: 68 miles From rural and agricultural to woods and water, "Up North" seemed to begin after we crossed US 10 in Clare County on our trek to the Big Mac bridge. We also encountered the start of Michigan's backbone, the hills that run right down the center of the state ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/dalmac-mt-pleasant-to-mcbain/ Here I am, starting the five day Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinac bicycle tour. That's me starting this morning from East Lansing and the MSU Pavillion, headed to Mt. Pleasant. The first day ride is 82 miles. It was in the low 50"s when we started, the mid 80's when, five ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/the-dalmac-starting-from-lansing/ There were six in our group this morning at Stony Creek with dozens more in other groups, all of ud tout early to beat the August heat. The temps were in the high seventies by 9 am with humidity that was so thick and heavy that you could swear you ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/hot-and-humid-saturday/ I've done most of my training rides this summer at the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority's Stony Creek Metro Park. I've used it for many years but this year, it's become my favorite route. There's a community of athletes there that meet every day, usually from sunup till late morning. Some days, ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/community-at-stony-creek/ That's what today's ride was - perfect weather, perfect trails and terrain, perfect camaraderie. I can honestly say we all were sorry our schedules prevented us from riding more. [caption id="attachment_265" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Polly Ann Trail bicycle training ride"][/caption] There were four of us who met at 8:30 am in the parking lot ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/when-everything-is-perfect-you-want-to-ride-forever/ I've been using a Garmin Edge 705 since May and have really come to enjoy it. besides heart rate, cadence, average and maximum speeds, it has a GPS receiver and tracks and plots all my rides. It stores them on a great Web site called Garmin Connect. To see my 21 ... http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/garmin-705-and-garmin-connect/ We leave at 8:30am sharp from the parking lot out front of Main Street Bicycles in Oxford, heading north and east on the Polly Ann Trail. We'll do about 30 miles, with some steep hills at the midway point. http://clydesdalefitness.com/2008/08/saturdays-ride/