PHASE TWO CATHY'S TRAINING 13 MAY 2012 50 MILES

Cathy writes: Back to the W&OD trail. My goal was 50 miles; I did 51. The turnaround point had shelter, water & portapotties. Not a picturesque site, but a functional one. I met an 85-year-old man who was walking/running his 5-6 miles; hope I can do that when I am 85. On the way back, I stopped for a treat - a small DQ cone. Plus I got to talk to others enjoying their ice cream about ROLLING 4 RESCUE and dog rescue in general. Four people piped up that they own rescues, but sadly no Airedales. Anyway, after that short break, I headed home. No snapping turtles today, but saw a fox. Fifty-one miles is my longest ride this year; I finished with an overall average of 14.4 mph. Not a speed that will win any races, but very good for me.

PHASE TWO DEB & LEE'S TRAINING 16 MAY 2012 RIDE OF SILENCE

Debbie writes: Today Lee & I took advantage of another organized ride here in Greensboro. It's a good idea to practice riding en masse, as it takes skill to judge how fast the rider in front of you is going so that you don't plow into his/her rear tire. Tonight's ride was called "The Ride of Silence" to commemorate & honor all cyclists who have been killed and/or injured while riding their bikes. All cyclists ride in complete silence, so it is also a great opportunity to practice the hand signals that are imperative for all riders. We signal much like drivers. Remember when you had to stick your arm out the window to signal a turn? We use the same hand signals for turns as a driver would use. There are also signals to let the riders behind you know that you are slowing or stopping. We use signals to warn other cyclists of debris or holes & rough spots in the road. It is all about being safe. You will notice that I'm wearing a red armband. Everyone wore either red or black. The red bands are reserved for those who have had accidents on their bikes involving cars. I am one of the lucky ones. Most don't survive the impact with a car. We had a great ride. We are getting in lots of miles. Cathy Biersack of ATRVA is coming to North Carolina this weekend and all three of us are going to ride together in the Tour de Lions. We'll get pics and hope to have some great stories from the ride.

TRES AMIGOS TRAINING LOG IS HERE