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Last year during one of our rides, Ken and I thought it would be a fun idea to throw some clubs in the panniers and ride to play some golf. Last week, we again thought this would make for a fun day's events. I think we could make a new sport of it.
The bike/golf duathlon. We were thinking of a few names, I like the "Pedal and Putt Classic". We rode out to Stacy, MN where there is a nice little executive course so all we had to bring were a few clubs. I wish I had taken my 9 iron or sand wedge as well, but the 5 wood, 7 iron and putter were sufficient for most everything. It was the first time golfing for me this year and it certainly showed. We hacked our way around and if it weren't for prior commitments, may have gone around again. It is probably best we didn't.
Riding 40 miles and then playing 9 holes of golf will make you a little hungry. We stopped at a pub in Wyoming on the way back and had some great grub (Blu cheese salad dressing you had to cut with a knife!). A couple of beers with lunch and it was all I could do to get back on my bike. Fortunately, the wind was to our backs most of the way home, so it was not much of an effort returning home. Just that my legs felt like jelly almost all the way home.
So we are going to try to round up some more people who may be interested. Possibly pick a course a little closer to home so we don't scare anyone off with excessive mileage. A little marketing and then maybe a 2016 bid for the Olympics.
I went for a much needed ride this morning.
I left the house around 5:30 to pick up Ken. We didn't have any particular ride in mind, and since I hadn't been out North/East of town for a while, we headed out to Marine for some coffee. We took the somewhat normal route out and each of us at separate times, mentioned how much we needed to get out and ride. After working on building a new front landing and steps, not taking any time during to go for any pleasure riding save one Sunday Slow Ride, it felt amazing to get out on the bike.
We stopped for coffee and a couple signature muffins and decided we shouldn't return the same way we came, so we started wondering our way home. We passed a girl on a nice old Centurion as we climbed the first hill out of the river valley. Over the top of hill, we came upon a gravel road that headed in the right direction. We hadn't ridden any gravel yet, and we both had gravel in our heads after eyeing one on the way out to Marine. So, we took it.
We ended up back on 170th about 100 yards from another route I had been talking about. Neither Ken or I have done a lot of cycling this year, so we weren't after an epic ride. So we followed our route out for a while. Coming up a hill and over some rail tracks, Ken veered right. A gravel road named for a former pet of his (coincidence, I think not). This turns out to be a great alternative to the "normal" routes we have established. We passed the same girl shortly after returning to the pavement.
After a quick water stop at the end of the Gateway Trail (and being accused of following the Centurion girl), we followed it most of the way into the cities.
Ended up with 72 miles. Actually a little further than I thought. Very much needed. I'll try not to let myself go so long between rides.
