Turkey Day Ride 2017

Thursday, of course, was Thanksgiving Day which means eating way too much food and feeling like an overstuffed tick for the remainder of the day. Around here it also means the annual Turkey Day Ride.



As it has become a bit of a tradition now, I whipped up a back of the dark chocolate, jalapeno bacon for the event. Making the bacon, leaving it alone in the fridge over night, covering it in chocolate the next day and then leaving it overnight in the fridge again is almost impossible to do without sampling some of it, purely for Quality Assurance purposes of course. The entire house smells like bacon for days.


I have been doing the rides for the last 5 years and this year we had a really big group, had to be one of the bigger years. Then again when the forecast for the day is near 60 degrees rather than below freezing, it tends to attract more people.









Trails were in perfect shape, it's really been a pretty mild fall thus far and I for one am not complaining too much although a decent smattering of snow this winter would be nice as well.


Rode out to the CVO tree and clearing as the halfway point and regroup.





By the time we made it out to the halfway point I swear we picked up a few more riders along the way, I'm not sure if there was an official head count but I would guess we had somewhere around 25-30 people enjoying the day.




Of course riding and then standing around in the heat and sun tends to make one thirsty, it's a good think that most cyclists I know are well prepared to stave off that thirst.





Since it was Thanksgiving and several people had commitments they needed to get to, we didn't dawdle too long out there, the group split into two or maybe three groups at that point. Some heading back on the single track, some back on the limestone and some heading home which ever way was quickest for them.



There were still plenty of folks who made it all the way back to Kyle's house where we were greeted by a life sized piece of bacon. And a foggy camera.




Food, as always, was bacon themed and delicious. Although not pictured the beermosas were good too and it was such a mild day out that several of us ate outside. Can't hardly complain about being able to ride in non winter clothing at the end of November, especially when surrounded by good friends. Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday, two more rides and blogs to follow from the weekend that I hope to knock out by Tuesday at the latest.

Trainers, Turkey and Tidings of Comfort and Joy...

It's been a busy few weeks and the poor blog has been neglected something fierce, if I had any readership at all I'd almost feel bad about that.


Broke down and finally got a trainer and by got I mean it was an early Christmas present from the best GF in the entire world... although, now that I think about it, is it a good sign when your significant other starts buying you things to workout on or with?!? I do appreciate the gift though, as I get older I've noticed a few things, my desire to get out in and tolerance for the cold is diminishing each year, gone are the days of making snow angels in shorts and a t-shirt in 20° weather. I've also noticed that my tolerance for the smell of Ben-Gay and Old Spice have increase proportionately but probably the weirdest thing I've noticed is that the older I get the smaller my feet have become! At first I thought it was just in my mind but as time has gone on it's undeniable now, I used to be able to look down and see most of my foot, all the way from ankle to toe but recently the amount of foot visible has been steadily decreasing... weirdest damn thing ever and don't even get me started on doctors, I don't care how many fancy diplomas you have on your wall, I seriously doubt your doctoring merits, dude keeps telling me my feet aren't shrinking. Instead the keeps changing the subject, going on about eating better and exercising more. What a quack, how in the hell is eating better and exercising more going to make my feet stop shrinking????


November also brought the annual Turkey Day Ride, I've gone a few years now and have been a horrible guest and haven't brought anything so this year I decided to change that and made some chocolate covered bacon.


Even though Swanson has moved up to the great white north, the annual Turkey Day Ride has lived on... Swanson even came down and brought his Ice Cream Truck for the ride, that's a whole lotta rubber.


Had a pretty good turn out for the ride, it's always a lot of fun and usually has a little bit of everything.


Had some "regular" mountain bikes.




A few Fatties.


A couple of  those skinny tire dudes elected to ride their cross bikes.

Even had a little trail side maintenance class courtesy of Corey.


The post ride food was amazing as always...

The helmet hair was pretty amazing by it's own right as well, I guess that's what happens when you need to get all bundled up for the cold.


Managed a ride on Friday also, fewer pictures but a lot warmer temps. Didn't get out at all on Saturday even though it was the day I should have gotten out since it was in the 70s and the warmest one of the entire weekend.


I Did get out again on Sunday for a ride with Tyler out at Platte River State Park, unfortunately with the wind it was even colder than Thursday... I must be a glutton for punishment.

Frozen water fall and ice chunks were kind of a cool bonus for braving the bitter cold. Hopefully we will get a repeat of the weather pattern for Christmas, 70s in December would be nice.

Good way to start a Thanksgiving

Woke up at the butt crack of dawn to ride in my 2nd Turkey Ride put on by Swanson, not sure how many there have been but it's pretty awesome tradition.


Boogied out of the house about 7:35 am, hate being late to things in general but it's especially bad to be late for a group ride if you get left behind and have to play catch up. Met up with Jordan on about 9th and D so we rode the rest of the way together. Ended up being the first two people there but the group started arriving shortly after, quite a change from the last few Thanksgivings this one was a bit more chilly for sure.


Pretty good turnout despite the frigid start, not sure what the official head count was but I'd guess between 15-20.


Warming up wasn't an issue as the pace out was pretty quick, not sure my lungs have adjusted to the colder weather completely yet as they weren't sure they wanted to let me breath.


Had a few people drop off here and there, family commitments, but still ended with a decent sized group.

Once the ride was done it was time to head over to the Swanson's for some post ride refueling. The Swanson's are definitely good people, inviting over a bunch of sweaty, smelly bikers for some food and adult beverage.

My kind of parking lot.


Hoping someone tests gravity with a bit of food.

Sausage, mushroom quiche and bacon cinnamon rolls, beermosas and Irish coffee... they know how to keep the fat kid happy.


Bacon wrapped pretzels for dessert didn't hurt either.