48 Hours to SHOWTIME...

            In 2 days the "24 Hours of Booty" event will begin.. This will be my 3rd time.. I really enjoy doing this event.. Especially the mass start.. Usaully 1200 riders.. And the best part is.. all cancer survivors that you meet & talk to.. there is such energy at this event.. that even when I'm tired.. I always say.. "I can do a few more loops"..
           The Booty event started 11 years ago.. Its a 3 mile loop around Queens University in Charlotte, NC.. Lots of volunteers, vendors with food, bike support.. Its difficult to ask for donations.. but I know its for a good cause.. this year I've raised over $500.. and in the 3 years of doing this event.. I've raised over $2000.. deep inside I feel good about that.. 76% of all donations go to the charities themselves.. The weather is always hot.. with a chance of thunder storms.. and this year should be know different.. heat index over 100 degrees.. I've promise myself not to make any bold predictions.. about how many miles I'll do.. Just go and have FUN.. enjoy the event.. talk to a few more cancer survivors.. cause this is what this event is all about.. I"ll still finish with over 200 miles.. having fun on 2 wheels.. and be safe...

10,000 MILES

    I've been bike riding for over 30 years.. Wish I've recorded all my miles.. it would be a impressive total.. I wouldn't be surprise if it was over 40,000 miles.. I've biked across Florida twice.. Boston to Manhattan.. and all over Long Island, NY & the state of Florida, NC, MI & Mass.. and the training miles to go with it...
   Since 2007 I've got into the habit of recording my miles...and later this month I will participate in my 3rd "24 Hour of Booty"event.. and in the next few months I will be fast approaching 10,000 miles.. And why stop... I'm always looking for new roads or trails... always looking for new motivation and challenges.. passing 10,000 miles has a great ring to it... I've found my passion.. Hope you can find yours..The one thing that bike riding does.. its a great way to manage the stress that life can bring.. its for all abilitys.. easy on the joints.. its even better to bike with friends.. or a great way to meet new friends...
be safe..  And I'm having fun on 2 wheels...

Happy Father's Day.. The Fanning's Go Hiking

    Crowder's Mountain is in Gaston County, NC.. between Gastonia & Kings Mountain.. they have many hiking trails.. with great veiws.. I've wanted to hike it with my kids for a long time.. but chores, projects, or sports always pervailled.. But as Father's Day approached.. I knew that this could be the day.. So the kids & I headed out early..cause we knew it be a hot day.. I packed a cooler with Powerade & water.. and some watermelon.. So, Conner, Kevin, Kellie, & I started at the base of the trail called "Backside Trail".. it was a strenuous 1 mile hike.. and just as we got to the top we had to climb over 300 steps to the top.. We had a great veiw.. 360 degrees.. you had to be careful.. there weren't much safety precautions.. You could see the tall buildings in Charlotte, NC.. but the veiw was not crystal clear.. there was a hazy from the hot temps.. We spent about 45 minutes moving to different vantage points to see all we could.. took plenty of pictures.. we took another trail back called "Tower Trail" it was about 1.6 mile trail.. that weaved up & down.. both trails were very shaded.. we didn't see much in wildlife.. Did see one person running up the "Tower Trail" with 10bls weights in each hand.. Hiking the trail is free.. I could see myself back for a workout..
    After the hike we went to Tony's Ice Cream.. its been around since 1915.. They make the best shakes.. and we weren't disappointed.. we had shakes, burgers, and fries.. guilt free.. what a great way to end the day.. hope you all had a great Father's Day.. be safe...
"having fun on two wheels"...


    

"Heaven or Hell"

FALLS PARK..GREENSVILLE,SC

    If bike riding the New River Trail Ride is HELL.. Then bike riding the Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail Ride is HEAVEN.. The New River Trail is In VA.. The Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail is in Greenville,SC.. Alot of things fell into place to make the New River Ride so bad.. It was so early in the season.. there wasn't alot of amenities.. Ray & I could've been better prepared.. but we were so anxious to do it.. the weather was partly sunny and cool..55 degrees..  we didn't bring much water or snacks.. we thought there be more stores available.. NOT.. plus if we were to ride it one way we should of rode it Galax,VA to Pulaski,VA.. not the other way around.. Our ride was uphill.. After 20 miles of uphill.. our smiles weren't smiles.. after 58 miles we were speaking a unprintable language.. we did finish the 58 mile ride.. We'll be better prepared for This ride the next time... or NOT..

FURMAN COLLEGE

    The Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail Ride was a AWESOME ride.. we were better prepared.. but the weather was spectacular.. sunny & warm.. about 80 degrees.. this trail had plenty of shade.. more than enough amenities.. We got up early Saturday morning.. stopped at my favorite coffee house.. we were on our bikes by 10 am.. the sights & sounds were awesome.. lots of people on this trail.. some walking, some running, roller blading..all kinds of bikes.. we started in Greenville, SC headed north.. as we headed north the crowds thinned out.. we rode around Furman College campus.. a beautiful campus.. then moved on to the town of Travelers Rest.. a quaint town.. then headed back to Greenville, SC.. rode around Falls Park & Greenville Zoo.. had a 5 star burger at Liberty Tab House.. by the minor league baseball stadium..The Greenville Drive a Boston Red Sox farm team.. We  also got a free tour at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum.. For a total of 35 miles.. This was a HEAVEN type of ride.. We'll both be back... I think I'll be back before Ray...I might even ride to Greenville from Charlotte..Its only 90 miles away..  Did I hear a challenge out there.. your on.. be safe & have fun on two wheels...
 

I hate flat tires...

     I woke up early one Sunday.. looking forward to a long bike ride.. As I got on the bike I was still undecided on which direction I was going to go...I did decide to ride to Clover, SC.. it was a warm day.. with plenty of sunshine.. very quite roads.. great scenery.. I took a short break at a Circle K store.. Enjoying a ice cold coke on a warm day..  I was at 26 miles at this point.. as I head back.. I was hitting a groove.. but as I was approach a bridge that went over Lake Wylie.. and back me into NC... I hit a MONSTER pot hole.. It was the size of a coffin.. I knew I was in trouble.. The hole rattle the bike so bad it threw my back lite & bike pump out into the road.. I thought I had 2 flat tires & bent rim.. so here is the good news.. I only had one flat.. no one ran over my lite or bike pump.. and it didn't throw me.. it only took 15 minutes to change tire.. and limp home.. the round trip ride was 47 miles.. A few days later I bought some bright yellow paint.. went to the MONSTER hole & paint the hole to warn other riders.. about 50 yards before hole I marked the road with same paint..saying "HOLE".. since that ride the hole has gotten bigger.. I might have to repaint it.. overall it was a good ride.. I'm not going to let a flat tire ruin my ride.. Be safe & have a great day...

What are the odds?

      I've been commuting to work by bike for a couple weeks now.. I only do it once or twice a week.. Early this week as I was biking home.. my route heads west.. I had to stop at a railroad crossing.. because of a freight train.. at about 4 miles into my ride.. about 6 miles later I had to stop in downtown Belmont for another train heading west.. Now this is a freight train.. with about 70 to 100 train cars.. then at the same spot another train heading east.. then the train heading west stopped.. right in the middle on the road.. I waited a couple of minutes.. but the train never moved.. all cars & me were making u-turns.. as I finish my bike commute home.. I thought to myself.. What are the odds of getting stopped by the same train.. with in 30 minutes.. as you travel home.. I say slim to none.. even by car let alone a bike.. most of my rides are uneventful.. which is good.. all I'm trying to do is save some money.. get some exercises..  Have a great day.. Be safe..

Commuting 101

On Monday.. April 16.. I rode my bike to work.. I was alittle nervous.. getting on my bike at 5:50 am in complete darkness.. I had plenty of lighting on my bike.. I had 2 headlights and 2 tail lites.. some of these roads I never road my bike on during the day.. let alone in the dark.. There was one part I was very nervous about.. that was the 1 mile I had to ride my bike on a very busy road.. over a very narrow bridge it has 4 lanes.. 2 going each way..  that goes over the Catawba River.. I'm glad to say no problems.. the whole morning ride went smooth.. uneventful.. 13.4 mile ride in about 50 minutes.. a quick change.. and I was ready for work.. about 9 hours later.. it was time to ride back.. now in the morning we had cool temps with no wind.. the afternoon was totally different.. it warmed up to 82 degrees with lots of sun and wind.. from were I work.. I was heading west.. directly into the wind.. I was getting tired of fighting the wind.. In the spring time in NC we get lots of wind and it always changes.. going over the bridge with alittle more traffic turned out to be no problem.. everyone was very patient as I rode my bike over the narrow bridge..  other than that my first day of commuting was a huge success.. for a total of 26.8 miles of riding.. more hilly than I thought.. right now I plan on doing aleast once a week.. hopefully I can find time to do 3 times a week.. not only save money.. but help get my metabolism up.. so I can burn calories.. its a great way to start the day and sort out any personal issues.. and keep the mind sharp.. Have a great day...Be Safe...