A Throwdown For The Rest Of Us!

(this text taken straight from Squirrels blogger - enjoy!)
Dennis Grelk, Scott Sumptner, Tom Anderson, Steve Fuller and I (Squirrel) headed out at 8am for a days ride. 3 geared rigs,one single,and one fixie. Yes Scott Sumpter road his 26'r fixie. We left thee house with temps in the low teens....knowing by afternoon we'd be in for warmer temps around the 30's. Our first stop would be Booneville a quick 5min. break...I think Dennis put some toe warmers in. Then it was off to Winterset...we arrived there at 10:50am....rolled up to Kum&Go for some snacks....and albe damned if they weren't giving away breakfast sandwiches....SAWHEAT! Throw down our goods and its 25miles to thee next stop of St. Charles....on our way here Fuller some how lost one of his rear break pads but this would be the least of his problems later on in the ride. This would also be the rides first unrideable section for me, we hit this level B road that has deep snow and a hill that seemed to go on for ever at an incredible incline. Grelk and Fuller road to the top...while Sumptner, Anderson and I walked it...was a nice break for the legs. A few more miles and we're at another Kum& Go throwing down more viddles. Tom was planning his departure from the group....we would not let him go....the wind out of the west was kicking all of our asses and Tommy boy wasn't going to get off easy. We ended up talking him into staying on....he seemed to be glad he did. Not far after leaving St. Charles.... Fuller would have another problem....blew his rear der cable housing to pieces right by the steer tube....resulting in no shifting....he was now a single speed. After adjusting the der to keep him in the middle of his cassette we boogied on towards are next destination of thee Cummings Tap:) But not before the rides wildest episode yet....Fuller and I are flying down the huge hill that takes you to thee Holliwill Covered bridge in Madison county. Almost to thee bottom some trucks are coming up at us when all of a sudden outta no where 20 deer bolt from this yard and right into our path.....Fuller and I lock'm up sliding wildly in disbelief as one doe literally a foot in front of us just misses us and thee lead truck coming up the hill.....that was crazy. Just after that it was off the bike for the second time too walk a huge hill. As soon as we hit Warren st. this road is full of rollers...and steep ones at that....it was 7 miles to hwy G14 and another 1.5 miles to the tap.....Dennis flew off the front with me in tow.....then the next thing I know is our other brothers are no where in site....they had maps...we all knew we were stopping at thee Tap...so I just kept plugging along. Rolled right past John Krantz place...he just happen to be outside...so I bs'd it a bit thinking I might see them boyz....nope...so I rolled on. Dennis sat waiting at thee intersection on Warren st and G14 it was getting dark and our sweaty clothes were starting to get a little chilly....we boogied it to the pub. Once there phone calls were made to see if them boyz were alright...all was good...Tom had made the call....he was done with riding outdoors...his wife picked him up with 97 miles in him. He said he was going home and spinning the other 3 miles to get his hundy....Great ride Tom even if you didn't do the whole 110 route....next time we're taking your phone away:) Steve and Scott made it to the tap 15 minutes later. Austin Gill, Molly, Kramer and other mates were in the pub drinking from a long day of ice fishing....funny walking in there and knowing most of the patrons. It was very good company. Thanks for the beer Austin...I appreciate it. 2 beers, a change of clothes and back on the road....we made it home at 8pm with a ride time of 9hrs 40mins and 110miles of smiles:) Thanks for coming out guys....planning Februarys ride for a cold weekend....I'm not ready to ride in the sloshy shit till May:)