Hardinsburg TMD Stage 2026

"Life belongs to the living, 

and he who lives must be prepared

for changes."

Goethe 

 

I was not sure if I was going to write up this century or not, having ridden it solo so recently, so when Fritz asked if I was and said he would withhold the stats, I told him to go on and publish them.  The stats, for those that don't know, are the finishers, how many stages they have completed,  and how many points they earned and the standings at the end of the century, for  this century was a Tour de Mad Dog stage.  It was not the planned stage.  I originally planned something easier and  somewhat new in how it would route, but as they say, "Man plans and God laughs."  God had different plans sending rain that would flood many of those roads and drive me to  a route that offered higher ground, less amenable to flooding.  Oh, well, there is beauty in hills, and they strengthen the legs and the lungs.  I grin briefly thinking of Harley saying that when he got his stents last winter, the doctor asked if he had not been breathing heavily on hills.  His answer, the truth, was that yes, but so was everyone else.  

 

But back to the route. I don't think these roads will be flooded as I have ridden them many, many times when there has been lots of rain, but it is always possible.  I have, a very few times, in years past ridden and found the roads in front of the park flooded. Last Thursday I rode to check those roads around Delaney Park that can flood, though not so easily as 700 or outside Medora, and to let Amos know we would be coming through if it is not raining.  Still there has been more rain since Thursday.  Indeed, I am amazed when it looks like rain chances are down to twenty percent most of Saturday after the morning hours.  I bite the bullet and make the decision early Saturday morning:  we will ride but I will delay the start time from 8 until 9 hoping the light rain will clear out.  There is no issue with delay this time of year, even with a century, for there is plenty of daylight hours to accommodate both slowness and mechanicals or the unexpected.  We still could get rained upon, but it is less likely and tomorrow allegedly offers not only rain, but thunder and lightening. 

 

With it being a holiday week-end, Horsey Hundred week-end (something I had not realized when I picked the date), and possibly rainy, I don't  expect many riders.  So I am surprised to find there are 15 of us.  Harley Wise, Larry Preble, Bob Evancho, Mark Rougeux, Steve Rice, Thomas Nance, Bob Grable, Glenn Smith, Jon Wineland, Mike Kammenish, Zach Coleman, Ben Hinnen, Jeremiah Westendorf, and Dave King all sign in.  Dave, of course, pulls in at the very last second  as has become  his trademark.  All around me are the sounds of people preparing for the day:  the sound of bicycle pumps filling tires,  the sound of bikes and brakes being tested, the nervous chatter of people readying themselves for an adventure.  For many, it will be their first time on this course.  Larry rounds people up for the traditional ride start picture.   In the pre-ride talk, I warn them of debris on the road from the rain and of not leaving everything on the pavement on Blue River Road because other than Leota Hill, the hills start after the first store stop on Shorts Corner.  

 

The group heads out but Dave and one other, Zach or Ben, I am not sure, are not ready.  (Ben and Zach, I apologize for not introducing myself or forgetting your name if I did).  I soft pedal until they catch me and we then pick up the pace to try to catch the group.  There is a pause at the bottom of Leota Hill as Zach or Ben lose their chain.  

 

We are with Mark at that  point and he tells me not to stay back with him.  He is trying to go slowly to see if it helps with a cramping problem he has had in the past.  And what a problem it has been for him.  In my mind I still see him near the end of one of my centuries falling over on his bike.  He had cramped to the point where he could not clip out and get off the bike.   I have been blessed with rarely cramping, and if I do it is normally in bed AFTER a long ride.  But I do cramp more now than I used to and have no idea if it is age related or caused by something else.  Regardless, I tell Mark not to worry.  I will be in the back sweeping.  (I don't mention that with this group, I would be in the back regardless;-)  Thomas Nance helped me a couple of years ago with the cramping problem on the bike by offering me a Tums.  And it seems to work for me.  

 

Chain fixed, Zach or Ben climbs Leota much faster than me.  He waits at the top but goes on to catch those who ride more his pace once he sees I am with Mark and not alone.  Mark and I ride together and Steve Rice drops back to ride with us.   Mark stops for a hydraulics issue,  and when he catches back up to us Steve tells him that I tried to get him to hide and let him pass us thinking he is chasing us.  I grin.  Some things never change.  It is nice to be teased.  It does not happen much any more and I actually miss it.  With three big brothers, I was teased mercilessly as a child and my husband took over that job when we married.  I do miss his sense of humor and how he could make me laugh.  All gone now.  There is nothing to do but to trudge forward, enjoying what you can while you can.  I think it was Gibran that wrote, "But life goes not backwards, nor tarries with yesterday." 

 

Shortly after the first store stop, on Shorts Corner, we come upon Harley Wise, Bob Grable, and Bob Evancho.  Harley has had a flat.  Steve and Mark ride on while I, being the good ride captain that I am;-),  stop to "help."  Mainly, with this first flat, I, like my cats at home, supervise from a distance. They are unable to find what caused the flat and insert a tube and inflate it.  Shortly thereafter, he has another flat.  Fortunately, he is riding 28s and I have a 25 tire I carry with me that will fit.  While he is putting it on, I find a slit in his tire that has punctured through to the outside.  I suspect it was large enough that with weight, the tube was protruding outward enough to cause the flat.  Anyway, one the new tire is in place, there are no more flats for this back group the rest of the day.  Bob Evancho has ridden on with our urging as he has afternoon plans with his wife and will never make it if he delays any longer. I remain unsure if he made it, and I worry about it on and off throughout the day.  Bob Grable, Harley, and I spend the rest of the day riding together never seeing another rider other than fading taillights on our way to stop at the gas station. 

 

We decide not to eat at Little Twirl and to eat at the gas station to save time.  Sure enough, when we  pass Little Twirl there are no bicycles.  I later learn from Thomas Nance that the group did stop there.  It was slow and crowded evidently which gives you an idea of the time we spent fixing the flat and our pace.  Of course, this is pretty much my normal pace anymore, but Harley and Bob could ride faster but don't.  Our service is quick at the gas station.  The sandwiches are made and just need to be dressed.  When I go to pay, however, the credit card machine rejects both of my credit cards.  Luckily I have cash but I worry about the rejection and if something is wrong as I know I am nowhere near my limit.  They later work elsewhere so I assume it was the machine.

 

After lunch we stop at the nearby restroom on the Monon Trail. I am impressed.  There is even soap and paper towels.  It will be delightful when the trail is completed and I only wish it would be all paved instead of being paved in towns but turning to crushed limestone in between towns.  I wonder if each small town will offer bathrooms like these. Everything is so green and fresh looking.  Roads are beginning to dry out and I remain hopeful that we will make it back to the start with only the few drops we had right before the first store stop.   

 

We chatter as people do on rides, sometimes all of us, sometimes two of us with the other riding silently and listening or not listening as the mood strikes.  Harley talks about how is going to be leaving to do the Ride Across Georgia and how this will cause him to miss the next two stages.  They both talk about wanting to go to France to ride.  I silently think of what trip I will do next.  This has not been a good year for me to plan trips, but perhaps something will work out in the fall.  

 

We pass Old Babe Road and shortly thereafter begin the long climb up toward the third store stop. I am surprised the sign is still there.  It normally disappears shortly after replacement.  The sound of water rushing down the hill is the background music and there is no talking, merely the sound of people trying to breathe and the occasional drip of leftover rain onto the ground.  It is lush and green and the wooded areas along the road look lovely. I try to keep my mind on the sounds and sights as my legs complain and curse me telling me I am too old for such nonsense. 

 

 It is a long hill and while it is not ridiculously steep, it is challenging.  Harley reaches the top first, then Bob, then me.  We go briefly off course when they both say their GPS says they are off course.  I then realize I mistakenly loaded the alternative course I had downloaded in case we rode on Sunday as I had to change the store stop since Amos is closed on Sunday.   Some ride captain I am, adding a mile or so to their journey.  I later learn from Jon Wineland that a delivery driver pulled into Amos's store while he was there and the driver was apologizing for being late because he got behind a group of cyclists slowly climbing that long hill.  For some reason, it struck me as funny despite the fact it must have been annoying for the driver who is working while the rest of us are out here playing.  But really, how long could they have held him up?  I understand because patience does not come easily to me, but still.  

 

I can see the dent in drinks from Thursday when I open the refrigerator.  I grab my usual third store stop Gatorade and a Snickers bar and sit outside looking forward to the last twenty five miles.  I really like Delaney Park Road and there is a delicious downhill to look forward to.  I think it is much more fun going down rather than up it as I did on Thursday.  I later learn from Thomas that he clocked over 49 mph on the descent.  Sadly, Glenn, who told me he was going 42, was going too fast to make the turn.  He went down and flipped all the way into the nearby creek.  There is no explaining why he was not more seriously injured, but he was able to ride the rest of the ride and, when I checked on him the next day, said he was surprised but he felt a little better than he did the previous day.  His angels deserve overtime pay.  

 

It is at this point that I will put on my old woman, motherly hat to pontificate a bit.  While most of the roads were dry by afternoon, there were still wet patches.  And most of you did not know the hills on the ride, whether they had switch backs, how steep the descent.  Always, always use caution on descents that you are not familiar with, and even more caution if there is a possibility of gravel and debris on the road (think recent hard rains) and wet patches.  It is much better to go slower and reach the bottom intact. Also, remember if you are riding with others down a major descent and one of you is no longer with you, to check on them.  Fortunately Thomas was behind Glenn and stopped.  And I am not saying I have not been guilty of these very things.  Yes, my S...t stinks at times too.  But I am sharing things I have learned.  And they apply to any ride, not just my own.  I remember hearing once that even pros say they slow down on descents unless they are racing. 

 

After Delaney, there are a few short, steep hills that my legs find offensive before the final, four mile rather flat finish.  When we pull in the parking lot, all the others have come and gone.  Bob finishes the course out as it is a bit shy of 100.  It was not the century that I first intended to put, but life requires that we adapt because she sure doesn't adapt to us.  Changes were necessary.  We are living.  And what better way to live than on the back of a bicycle exploring new roads?  

 

 

Finishing Groups were as follows: (because I know some of you like to see this  page)  

 

John Wineland        Group of 1         4:13

Bob Evancho    Group of 2                4:41

Jeremiah Westndorf    Group of 2        4:41

 Larry Preble            Group of 6        4:56

Zach Coleman        Group of 6        4:56

 Thomas Nance        Group of 6        4:56

 Glenn Smith        Group of 6        4:56

Mike Kamenish        Group of 6        4:56

David King            Group of 6            4:56

Steve Rice        Group of 2        5:03         

Mark Rougeux       Group of 2        5:03

 Harley Wise        Group of 3        5:40

Bob Grable        Group of 3        5:40

Melissa Hall        Group of 3        5:40