The Tour de Blount. I’m not sure how I found the TdB. I
think I was probably hunting for an organized ride in TN since I had a goal of
riding events in different states. Despite my dozens of trips to TN I’d only
ridden my bike there once. TdB sounded good because I could combine a vacation
using my fairly new travel trailer, go to a state I love and get in a ride!
We elected to stay in Townsend, TN at a campground that
was literally 0.75 miles from the start! I wouldn’t have to drive to the start!
This turned out to be a good thing as you will read.
On Friday I had taken the opportunity to explore the bike
path that travels along the main road through town. There are two or three
places where the path crosses under the road and I would use one of these Saturday
morning to get to the event.
So of course the night before the ride I sleep restless
as I typically do. My brain always starts to think about what I need to do in
the morning in prep for a ride. I woke up early did the normal bathroom stuff.
Started fixing some food. It was also Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle’s wedding
day so we turned the TV on. I decided to go ahead and set the table up for Mom
who was traveling with me (another good thing). The table also forms the bed on
which she sleeps.
I watched a bit of the wedding broadcast while we
listened to the rain fall outside. Let me pause here to say that it’s not
unusual for me to ride in the rain. I had previously done two Storming of
Thunder Ridge rides (75mile) in the rain. That route descends Rt 43 from the
Peaks of Otter on a twisty, fast, two lane road. Never had any trouble. I’ve
raced my mountain bike in the rain and snow-also no issues. As bed I can
remember the weather forecast for Townsend for the day was for the rain to
clear out and leave us with a nice albeit humid day. Would have been just fine
for riding.
I left the campground on my bike with rain jacket on for
the short ride to the visitor center. Along the way I slid just a slight bit at
one of the tunnels under the road (I thought there must have been something on
it). Arrived at the visitors center and huddled on the porch with other riders.
I reached back and checked my back tire. It felt a bit squishy so I went to see
if there was a tire pump at the bike shop tent. Sure enough. They added some
air and off I went to lineup.
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| Photo from Tour de Blount Facebook Page |
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