Conditioning Ride - 30.33 miles

Route

Artisan's Market in Ann Arbor down N. Main, on the bike path along the river, through Bandemere Park, all the way up Whitmore Lake Rd, to Six Mile, across the bridge over US 23, to Main St. (Whitmore Lake), to East Shore Dr.; turned around at Nine Mile; back down East Shore, onto Seven Mile Rd; stopped to rest on a private dirt road - Donna Lane; back East Shore, Six Mile, Whitmore Lake Rd, through Barton Hills (the long way), to Bandemere Park, N. Main, Washington St to home.

Stats

* Leg 1: 15.23 mi; 1 h; 15.23 avg mph

* Leg 2: 15.1 mi; 1 h 2 m; 14.6 avg mph

Totals

* 30.33 miles

* 2 h 2 m on bike

* 14.8 avg mph

Interesting Happenings

It was only thanks to anther cyclist that I didn't miss my turn onto E. Shore Rd. I'd written down on my route card "Shine Rd" instead of "Shore". I decided to follow him instead, thinking that he might know a better way than I'd picked. As soon as I saw the turnoff for Seven Mile Rd, I knew I was actually on the right road.

I passed Seven Mile, where I was supposed to turn, once again figuring that he probably knew a good route to take. E. Shore, around Whitmore Lake, was a nice road for biking. The houses weren't anything special, but the intermittent glimpses of the lake were nice. The other cyclist turned around at Nine Mile, and stopped at what was either a park or a cemetery. Next time I'm up that way, I'll stop there, too. It was probably a good place to stop.

The place where I stopped to rest - Donna Lane, off of Seven Mile - was a nice little detour. It was an unpaved road winding through some swampy woods. It ended at a Centennial farm. On my way back on E. Shore, I went down a private road that jetted out into a little bay of the lake. There was a very polite sign asking people please to not to come this way, thank you. I decided that since the sign was very polite and not intimidating that I'd take my chances on getting thrown out and take it.

It yielded some pretty views - it seemed like a peninsula of the lake, and there were a few homes. But I didn't go too far down the road. I didn't *really* want to get thrown out!

Impressions of Ride

I had intended to go further, but when I took my first break, I thought it might be about to rain, and then I realized that I didn't really want to go on a really long ride today. It was getting kind of late, and I had to cook tonight. It was a good decision to turn back, because I really only had 30 miles in me today! I used up the rest yesterday.