Our First Horsey 100

Last weekend, we drove to Georgetown, Kentucky to participate in Our First Horsey 100 - the premier cycling event of the Bluegrass Cycling Club. It takes about 7.5 hours to drive from London to Georgetown on a good day. Friday of Memorial Day weekend was not one of those days. With heavy traffic and congestion due construction and accidents through Cincinnati, it was after 7 p.m. before we finally drove into town. 

 

We were pleased to discover it felt like summer in Georgetown... hot and humid with the scent of blossoms. A total contrast from home where it had been unseasonably cold and wet with too few opportunities to ride in preparation for this event.

We checked into our hotel before heading over to Georgetown College to complete our registration for the Horsey Hundred picking up our 2019 HH carabiner mugs (gift for first 1000 participants who signed up online) and lime green wrist bands (ID for weekend). Registration was quick and efficient leaving us plenty of time to stop by the Vendor Expo where I couldn't resist buying a pretty blue cycling inspired "Apres Velo" t-shirt.

Shopping done, we headed outside intending to eat at the food trucks. I stopped to pet this cute little horsey who seemed very friendly ... perhaps a tad too friendly?! By the time we made our way over to the food trucks, they had run out of vegan options so we ate at a nearby Mexican restaurant instead. The food was greasy but tasty and filling. 

Dinner done, we headed back to the hotel to sleep. I was worried about my abilities to handle 74 miles on hills when I hadn't even done a 70 km ride this year. I was worried, but also excited to ride new roads.

 

 

We didn't get up super early Saturday which would have been smart as the weather forecast was a hot and humid 33 C. We set off ~8:15 a.m. Here we are at the start line wearing our Colorado cycling jerseys. Very confusing for the announcer who then referred to us as the Canadians disguised as Coloradans. At least it made us memorable.

It was a beautiful morning to be out riding. I loved the roads and the scenery with lots of rolling hills and proper climbs ... cycling perfection.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first 50 km before I started to tire. The next 30 km were challenging and the last 40 km were downright difficult. I truly didn't think I could finish 120 km (74 mi) even with regular rest stops to refuel and then just rest stops to rest. I was hot, dehydrated, tired and sore. And not just saddle sore ... everything hurt by the end. 

To recover from Saturday's ride, we ate lots of food at the free lunch served in the dining hall at Georgetown College and drank lots of water. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel where we rested and chatted with fellow cyclists until bedtime. The hotel which was filled with cyclists provided freshly baked cookies and fruit infused water. It was perfect.

Sunday we set off earlier to avoid the worst of the heat. I was looking forward to a shorter (50 mi) ride following another route with beautiful roads. Surprisingly, we both felt pretty good. Here we are at the start. 

 

Our ride Sunday was much more manageable. My husband tells me I rode smarter. I agree the earlier start, shorter distance, juicy watermelon and a 'helping hand' from my husband on the hills made all the difference. Here we are at the finish ... still smiling.

We finished early enough to clean up back at the hotel before returning to Georgetown College for another delicious free lunch. I was impressed with the number of vegan options available. Even the rest stops offered vegan options. I definitely didn't go hungry.

After lunch with lots of time to kill before dinner, we drove back to Midway ... a bit of a tourist town from our bike route.

We had stopped at a rest stop set up outside the building below earlier in the day. All that remained was a couple portable toilets. There was not a lot to see in Midway on a Sunday afternoon. Most of the shops were closed. We visited a couple art shops that were open and walked up and down main street. It was a pleasant change of pace from biking. 

After Midway, we returned to Georgetown for a Starbucks matcha latte where we sat enjoying free wi-fi while the sky darkened and poured rain for a bit. Back at the hotel before dinner, we enjoyed more freshly baked cookies and fruit infused water while chatting with friends from our cycling club in London before joining them for dinner at the restaurant across the parking lot ... easy.

After dinner, our friends went out for ice cream. We stayed at the hotel relaxing over drinks with new friends. They introduced my husband to a new beer "Arrogant Bastard Ale". He liked it.

Our new friends live in Mentor-on-the-Lake directly across Lake Erie from us. We plan to stay in touch and perhaps get together over the summer. It's a bit of a long drive at 5.5 hrs, so we'll see.

Our drive home on Monday was much easier than Friday. We left around 10 a.m. arriving home around 6:30 p.m. after stopping for dinner in Port Huron. There was no lineup whatsoever at the border coming into Canada, although we heard it was at least an hour delay heading the other way. I don't think I have ever seen such a long line of trucks. 

We thoroughly enjoyed Our First Horsey 100. The event is well run with easy-to-follow, well-marked routes. There are plenty of rest stops with more than enough food, water and ice for all the participants. The roads in the area are absolutely beautiful and totally different from what we ride at home. I loved everything about this weekend. 

Well almost everything ... that last 40 km on Saturday was a total suffer-fest. I questioned my sanity signing up for such a long ride so early in the season. Will we do it again? Of course - we love these sort of challenges.

Thanks to my Mom's neighbour Ted for introducing us to such a fun event. 

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