Shauck Metric Century

My Saturday started the same way a work day begins, with a 6:30AM alarm. It sure is easier to get up for a bike ride than it is for work. After getting dressed in cycling gear, brewing some coffee, and making a peanut butter and egg sandwich I was standing in the driveway waiting for Ryan to show up.

We were on the road by 7:15 and heading for Shauck, south of Lexington, for a metric century to benefit the Johnsville volunteer fire department. We figured it would be a good way to get 62 miles in the legs and see some new roads while doing so. At the fire station we signed in for the road and headed out.

Arriving on scene.

It was a damp 40 degree start to the ride, not so much rain as a misty fog. We stopped within a handful of miles to take off our glasses as they were too wet to see out of. For the beginning of the ride I began to feel underdressed and was not staying warm. The sun never came out but it must have warmed a few degrees and I became more comfortable.

A quick stop to dig out some food... and take a picture.

We rode to Fredericktown and then up to Butler. In Butler the route took us onto the rails to trails and we rode the former railway bed all the way to Lexington. The route was mostly flat or mildly rolling but we did enjoy a good uphill grade riding south out of Lexington.

Gas station stop in Butler to refill bottles.

It was a good ride, though the route was somewhat non-distinctive. I guess that makes sense for a flat ride, it’s usually the hills that make an impression on me. For this time of year it was a good ride to get the legs up to speed.

 Pedaling along the rail trail.