Well you have to celebrate Easter somehow.....I picked up a squeekie bunny at the shop Saturday. It was fun, every time I saw someone running, riding or walking I gave them a toot. I got some good looks.....
So anyway after a pretty neat sunrise we headed through downtown, then Rock Creek Park and before long we were out in the country where we really like to ride. So much so that I put the camera away for the rest of the day.
Now back to the gross part....
Ride a hundred miles (lets call it a "Century"), after you have done it a few times-so what? It really isn't all that hard unless you find something exceptionally hilly, wet, cold or windy. I wonder how many hundred hundred mile rides I have done. Enough that is for sure, not that we are going to stop riding 100 miles 60 or 70 times a year but still.....Now a 200 kilometer ride is 25 miles longer that a Century but it is really just another couple of hours on the bike-not really a big deal after 100 miles. We have done bunches of those too.
Now a 200 mile ride (lets call it a "Double Century") is another story entirely. It is going to be an all day ride for sure and except for the very fastest riders during the longest days of the year it is going to include some riding at night. Plus without support 200 miles can be really, really tough. I have probably done 50 or so doubles. Likely enough but.... every year we try a few more and finish a few less than we try.
So we need something in between. Something that is a chore to do but doesn't require lights or support. Something rider friendly.
Now 144 miles (lets call it a "Gross") just may fit the bill. It has a catchy name, it is going to be a challange for almost all riders but it won't kill you for work on Monday. Plus it isn't a bad step up for Century riders thinking about a Double.
So that is what we ended up doing this Easter. A "Gross".
It was good.
Ride your bike.
144.
