March 7-8 What a beautiful weekend for riding! Our Team in Training cycle team (all present) gathered in Troutville, VA to ride 40 miles to Buchanan and beyond along scenic country roads and rolling streams. Just a week ago we were playing in the big snow, but Saturday it was 75 degrees and we rode [...]

March 7-8 What a beautiful weekend for riding! Our Team in Training cycle team (all present) gathered in Troutville, VA to ride 40 miles to Buchanan and beyond along scenic country roads and rolling streams. Just a week ago we were playing in the big snow, but Saturday it was 75 degrees and we rode in shorts and short-sleeved jerseys. It was divine! We rode in pairs and stopped to rest and refill water bottles. The group is getting acquainted, making plans for the many training rides this season, and we shared a "mission moment" to talk about our Team Honoree, Kaye Kriz, who fights an on-going battle with her blood cancer, multiple myeloma. More on Kaye a bit later. The ride back to Troutville featured a mean little grade and steady wind to keep us cranking. I was told I could add a bow to the hair sticking out the top of my helmet. We all had hat hair for sure, and were glad to rack our bikes for the day. Today I raced home from church to meet up with a local social ride down to the New River...who could resist more good weather?! Most of the ride was familiar to me, but one road was new - and gravely - then dirt - then a gravely nose dive across a RR track to the road along the river. The return ride featured big wind and climbing, over and over again...my hands ached from gripping so hard. I was grateful to land safely - and the late afternoon found me napping for an hour. What a weekend!!! GO TEAM!!!