DnvrFox

Since Stapfam is no longer posting in the forum, I am going to assume the Pie Ride Training duties.

This is the 50+ forum's 7th Pie Ride. Several of us started the Pie Ride, which is held on the 3rd Saturday of September (which would be the 21st) and consists of:

1. A ride of at least 15 miles

2. Stopping for pie - preferably blueberry - but any pie will do - somewhere along the ride, preferably at a real cafe'.

3. Posting a picture of you eating the pie on this 50+ forum in what we will call the official 50+ pie reporting thread. Those more advanced will post a picture of their odometer.

The pie ride got started after rck and skipper started reporting on their regular pie rides in Wisconsin stopping at Irma's for, you guessed it - BLUEBERRY PIE.

So, there are three aspects to all of this training.

1. Training for the ride.

2. Learning to eat pie (considered by many the most difficult and requiring the most practice)

3. Photographic skills

So - GET ON WITH THE TRAINING!!

Let's make this fun and on the "happy" side of life. Participation totally voluntarily. Curmudgeons excluded

DnvrFox

Great Literature from the first pie ride:

"'Twas the night before the Ride for the Pie
And all through the house,
Not a cyclist was stirring,
Nor clicking his mouse.

The bike was set by the door with care
In hopes that daylight soon would be there
I was nestled and snug in my bed
While visions of pastry danced in my head.

When out on the street there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon overhead gave off such a glow
It was practically mid-day on objects below.
What to my wondering eyes should appear
But a pelaton of cyclists each with a beer.

More rapid than eagles these bikes they came
Guys whistling and shouting and calling my name.
"DeeGee you knucklehead you 50+ phart
Get your piehole out here -- it's time to start!"

I ran back to my bedroom and jumped in some clothes
A teeshirt and shorts and what else Heaven knows
I thought of coffee -- wished I had some joe
But the group kept yellin' it was time to go.

So I tossed a wallet, the cell and my keys
Into the saddlebag with ease
Grabbed a bottle of water cold from the fridge
I'd probably need it when we hit the ridge.

And sooner than the blink of an eye
I was off and out -- Riding for pie!
The miles flew by under the the moon that night
The group of us must have been quite a sight.

We rode, and we rode, and we rode some more
'Till we'd put twenty miles from my front door.
The sun had just begun to show its face
When someone cried "There's Irma's place!"

I'd ridden this route countless times before
But I never saw Irma's compelling front door.
'Twas a vision of culinary delight
A diner with scrumptious pies to bite!

We took every seat there was to be had
And traded stories about bikes gone bad
And sooner than you can say "oh me, oh my!"
Irma was bringing us all some pie.

I've lived over half a hundred year
I've had great meals and unbelievable beer
And never, in all that time, I must say,
Have I tasted a pie that tasted that way.

Words can't capture that taste so sublime
Bite after bite, time after time.
We stuffed our faces 'till we nearly burst
No one was able to stand, at first.

But at last with the sun up so high
We mounted our bikes and heaved a sigh
We turned for home and began to ride
One after the other, some side by side.

Our Ride for the Pie was a huge success
We forgave ourselves of our dietary excess
And vowed to return the very next year
From two counties over you could hear us cheer.

Then suddenly -- maddeningly I head a buzz
I couldn't for the life of me figure what it was
But the noise continued until my hand
Reached over for the alarm clock on the night stand.

It was time to awake and time to arise
Time to wipe the sleep from my eyes
Time to drink some coffee and eat a breakfast bar
Time to Ride for the Pie -- fifteen miles ain't far!"

rck

Stapfam is no longer posting? Did I miss something? Skipper is the name to insert. I'm ready to eat pie and ride!

DnvrFox

I believe he is taking a break for a bit.

Skipper

Never really cared much for BLUEBERRY PIE. I wouldn't ride half way to Irma's for BLUEBERRY PIE. Give me apple pie any day.

Oops. Never mind.

DnvrFox

Sorry about that - memory and all that.

rdtompki

I could be tempted. We have a "world famous apple orchard/berry farm/country store that has absolutely the best apple pie, berry pies, apple cider, etc., etc.. It's quite a bit more than 15 miles R/T, but I'll consider making the effort. I haven't had a piece of their pie in several months.

OK, I mapped out the route and shortest possible loop is 62 miles, 3200' of climbing which isn't too bad, but I can't do it on the 21st since that the Lighthouse Century, West Coast variety. I'l be doing 80 miles which should, however, warrant a piece of pie.

Artkansas 

I put in my practice today. A loop out through Two Rivers Park was good for the mileage and topped it off with a slice of Apple Pie.

cyclinfool

I did my practice today - I ate a piece of cherry pie, I found I will need to work up to blueberry, and a scoop of vanilla might just do me in. I'm gonna have to work harder at this.

Consularrider

Since this is the Fifty Plus (50+) sub-forum, I'll be a bike marshal for WABA's 50 States ride that day. I'll bave to explore the DC pie options that day since my normal pie ride is to Moms Apple Pie in Leesburg, VA 30+ miles outside of DC. Hmmm maybe time for a 200 km km ride? Nope, have the PPTC Back Roads Century in Berryville, VA on the 22nd. Maybe I'll just stop at Buzz Bakery in Ballston on the way home from the 50 States.

edited to adding that I'll be practicing on a Marie Callender's Razzleberry pie tonight in anticpation of the Tour de Lions half century ride tomorrow.

Smogsteve

Rick remember if you are riding the lighthouse it is a perfect pie ride. At lunch in Cambria, along with sandwich's and other good stuff, you must have a piece of ogallaberry pie, OK maybe two pieces. I do this ride just for the pie, and also for the views up near the wineries and along the coast. See you there, I will be in my 50+ jersey.

bikemig 

I used to organize a catfish century out of New Orleans in January to Middendorfs. The key was to eat a plate of fried catfish, hushpuppies and wash it down with a cold beer before getting on the bike to ride 50 or so miles back to New Orleans. There is nothing quite like starting out the new year with a century ride and a plate of the best catfish, IMHO, in South Louisiana. Now that I live in the midwest, pie might be the thing to do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middendorf's

DnvrFox

Extra credit is given to those who can manage pie a la mode. Only the very few top pie eaters can do that. This is the equivalent to the pie eating Olympics - or perhaps a yellow jersey for that day of pie eating?

DanWho

Will it count if I'm riding my recumbent or is it for uprights only?

DnvrFox

It's all inclusive, of course - diamond frames, bents, trikes, unicycles, tandems, multiseats, rickshaws and whatever els goes on wheels and is human-powered, at least in part.

DanWho

I was looking to join a fun ride earlier this year, but they said I couldn't play because I was cheating with a bent.

DnvrFox

That's a first for me!!

rdtompki

I'd forgotten about the pie. The Lighthouse is a great ride. This will be my first year not on a tandem with my wife. I think I'll do an out/back up 46 to the first summit to get in 80 miles. I don't have a 50+ jersey so I'll probably be wearing my yellow Lighthouse jersey from a few years ago. I'll buy a 50+ jersey next year but I really need a 60++ variety.

DanWho

I think it had a lot to do with who was there. All I saw were late teens and early 20's, then some old graybeard shows up with a bent no less....

Bikey Mikey

Doesn't sound like a great group to ride with. I wonder how tolerant they are with riders new to groups.

I don't ride groups since I go much earlier than they do and I'd be nervous with all those riders around me. When I have drafted someone, during some organized rides and an occasional meeting with another cyclist, I tend to hang back further than typical--and at the end.

missjean

If the weather is good, I usually ride my bike to work on Saturdays. Conveniently, for Pie Ride purposes, it is 15 miles one way, so the mileage requirement is taken care of. But, there is no place along the route to stop for pie, and I don't think I'd have the time anyway, so I think I will bring a piece of pie with me to work and eat it at lunch.


Ahh! Since my commute is 15 miles each way, with 8 hours in between, essentially that is 2 rides, right? So I will have another piece of pie when I get home. A double Pie Ride. :-)

DnvrFox

The beautiful Nora on a pie ride!! McD's was the best we could do that year as the cafe' closed!!

Cyclist0094

I had to sit the pie ride out the past few years. I'm starting a new job next week and will probably be working that Saturday. My plan is to ride to one of close apple orchards for their pie.

Bikey Mikey

What, no Shoney's or IHOP around? If not, you do what you've got to do.

BluesDawg

I put the idea out for my club to do a pie ride on 9/21 and it took off pretty well, so we are set for a 46 mile hilly ride with a diner stop at 21 miles. Then I remembered my family has made tentative plans to go up to Athens to the UGA football game that day (a sleeper vs N.Texas, so plenty of cheap tix). We'll see what happens.