The Spring Bee Challenge will depart from DeSoto Park beginning at 9:20 am on Saturday, March 24th for a total of 42 miles.
The Ride: The Spring Bee Chainring Challenge is an opportunity for B-level riders to test their spring fitness. The LoBees, Tween Bees and Bee-17s will be participating in the challenge. The format is "cat and mouse" and the object of the challenge is to
keep riders in faster groups behind you and/or pass riders in slower groups along the challenge portion of the course (between Miles 11 and 28). The rest stop at Mile 28 will signal the end of the challenge portion of the course. This is not a race. Safety is always first priority. The Spring Bee Chainring Challenge is a fun way for participants to test their fitness and enjoy socializing with riders from other groups.
The Time: Meeting times and roll-outs will be as
follows:
Group Meeting Time Roll-out Time Ride Leader
LoBees 9:00 am 9:20 am Bob Newman
Tween Bees 9:10 am 9:30 am Barb Wills
Bee-17s 9:20 am 9:40 am Ed Gardner
The Route: This is a relatively flat ride of ~41.8 miles with some minor hills. Each ride leader will maintain an average pace of 14, 15 or 16 mph during the first 11 miles of the route until the group reaches the challenge portion of the course. This is a no-drop ride. Ride leaders will appoint someone to stay with any rider who needs to stop or drop back prior to the challenge portion of the course so that other riders may continue with the challenge. Helmets are required. Normal GCC safety protocols apply. Maps will be available at the start.
We will depart from DeSoto Park
on Hwy 441 and head north on NW 59th to NW 156th. We will ride out NW 156th to CR 225. This is Mile 11, the START of the challenge portion of the course. CR 225 intersects with CR 18 in Graham. We will ride along CR 18 and turn onto CR 231 (Dedan Loop). Dedan Loop reconnects with CR 18 at Brooker. A left turn onto CR 231 will take us to our REST STOP at Mile 28, the END of the challenge portion of the course. We will follow CR 231 back to NW 156th and return to DeSoto Park along NW 59th.
Weather: In the event of questionable weather, a "Go/No Go" notice will be posted via GCC Mail by 8:00 am the day of the ride. In case of cancellation, the Spring Bee Chainring Challenge will be rescheduled for another
day.
Special Notes: It is important that you arrive in time to be ready to roll-out at your group's appointed time. Ride leaders will review details of the Challenge prior to the start, including safety protocols, the route, challenge course start and finish points, location of the rest stop, etc. This is not a race. Riders who feel good after the 11-mile
warm-up are encouraged to "leap" to the group in front, or, in the case of the LoBees, to sprint off the front to keep the other groups behind. Let's have a SAFE and fun ride!
Barb Wills
(210) 378-1547