March 2020: Overly Ambitious?

As the weather improves and sunny days raise my enthusiasm for bike riding, I begin re-examining the ambitious plans I set for 2020. Am I reaching a little beyond my capabilities? Well, it won’t be long before the first test offers an indication. Here is what I planned for next weekend.

MARCH 7, 2020

Ride the Red Bluff Gran Fondo: This coming Saturday, I will attempt the 100k/62mile route of this cycling event down near Brookhaven, MS. Since I usually ride the flat, alluvial plains of the Delta, those hills will be a real challenge. And, it is dawning on me just how challenging those hills will actually be as I study the course profile below. There are several climbs at 6%, 7% and even 8% grades, which I’ve done before….but never this many, this long and over such a total ride distance as this. Now I know why they call the topography down there “the Grand Canyon of Mississippi”.

Red Bluff Metric Century COURSE PROFILE

Being that I’m a PWP (Person With Parkinson’s) and 68 years old, am I in over my head? Quite possibly. Well, most likely. But, I go with the attitude of giving it my best effort and a goal just to finish, no matter how long it takes.

Anyone out there want to join me? www.redbluffgranfondo.com

Mississippi’s Grand Canyon

Enough hills to challenge anyone so inclined! Pardon the pun.

Richard Beattie

February 29, 2020

Greenwood, Mississippi