Reform Schooled

For various reason I was forced to go on a solo ride today, so I decided to go on a nice little jaunt to the Reform Conservation Area.  I took a few pictures and learned a few lessons.

WARNING - Berry, if you haven't taken your blood pressure meds do not look at these pictures.  I know how particular you are about photography.  These are not high quality and do not meet your standards. 

I had to work from home early this morning and then waited for the temperature to rise a little before heading out.  I can't ride when the temps are below freezing until I find a pharmacy that will fill this prescription(NSFW).  I hit the first hill from my house and immediately noticed the hill felt harder than last year.  I wound up walking 3 of the 4 category 5 climbs.  Lesson learned - lay off the pork rinds.

Climbing up the hill out of Cole County park I saw Robby Brown drive by.  He still has a bike rack on his SUV.  I'm guessing he still rides?

For those who are living under a rock, MODOT is building a bike bridge across the Missouri River.  It will be attached to the right side of the bridge.  I took several pictures while riding across, but only a few turned out.  Lesson learned - slowing down isn't enough you have to actually stop to get decent pics.

 

Here's the square ramp that will lead down to the parking lot at the boat access to the river.  I thought the bike bridge was scheduled to open April 1, but Luke said the project got cancelled. 

 

Here's the infamous haunted bridge on Old 94 hwy.  Scary huh?  Supposedly during the Civil War a group of white abolitionists were hung there and you can stil hear screams and wet footprints appear in front of cars on the bridge.  Source - TheShadowLands.net

 

I then hit the Katy Trail.  I usually like riding the trail, but when it's soft and you're headed directly into the wind it really sucks.  I checked the weather before I left it said wind would be 5mph, I'm calling Bovine Splattercations.

 

Halfway in I made it to the Callaway County Nuclear Power Plant(I don't know the official name).  When I went to unclip I managed to lose one of the cleat screws out of my new shoes.  Although I have Stone in my name I'm nowhere near as smooth as Keith Stone.

 

Calm down Nick, I was able to get another screw in when I got home. So I don't think I stripped the threads.  Lesson learned - make sure you tighten screws with the proper amount of torque and keep replacement screws in your seatbag.

Although there was a veritable plethora of good roads and climbs, you'd have to have a screw loose to do this ride from Jeff City.  And I'm not talking a cleat screw.  Start at Tebbetts or Mokane.  Here's the route if you start from Mokane - http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/29129394

Next long ride - March 20.  Part of the 2011 Missouri Gravel Grinder Series  Starts at Hermann goes to Owensville and then back. I may park somewhere between Jeff City and Hermann to get some extra miles in.