Comedy Catch Date Night

Yesterday I blogged my entry for the 'Lets Go Ride A Bike" Summer Olympics.  One of the entries was date night.  Since the Lady Jane is also doing this contest, I thought it would be fun doing the date night togetherand with a friend competing in the Comedy Catch Talent Search we had a perfect place to go.

To get to the Comedy Catch, we had to go through the Brainerd Tunnels, which was the first for both the Lady J and her J.  Both Q and I have ridden in the tunnel before but not very often.  Tunnels can be tricky, and the Brainerd Tunnel is long and during working hours can be very busy.  But is has two unidirectinal lanes in each tunnel and for the night, it was clear.  We didn't have any problems, coming or going.

 There were no bike racks or any indications that people ever parked the bikes in the area, so we  found handy poles to lock up to.  By the time we got there, the humidity and the long hill up to the tunnel made us ready for cold drinks.  LJ's frozen margaritas were looking might good.

  We had a great time.  My friend, Barb Neligan, was great.  She started the evening by getting the laughter rolling and we were laughing all night.  I don't go to Comedy Clubs but I think I will have to start.  I don't know when i have laughed so much.

This is me, Barb and my son Matthew, who DID NOT ride.  By refusing to do so, I was not able to pull out a family ride at the last moment for the LGRAB contest.

  To read the Lady Jane's story of the night go here

I only got two entries for this round of Olympic Games.  I  never could get my daughters or son to ride with me.  They kept giving my excuses about their bikes not working or tire rot or something like that.
 But I did get a group ride entry and a date night entry.

   I am counting the Brews Cruise as my group ride entry. For my date night, the lady Jane and I with our J's and Q's rode our bikes to the Comedy Catch.  I will write about it more fully later.

  Now on to the next round!

Big River Welcomes Cyclists

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Big River Welcomes Cyclists
Originally uploaded by donolmt

Of course, any landmark event deserves an after party to celebrate. Big River Grille (don't be fooled by their website.  They may have grown but Big River is Chattanooga, born and bred) came through for us.

Trek brought displays for the pool table!

 

Melissa Taylor, Chattanooga'sTransportation Planning Leader, and Phil Pugliese, Chattanooga's Bike Director

Sondra Aten of Collective Clothing and Ruth Thompson of Outdoor Chattanooga

Fellow Models- The Stone Cup Gang- Laura, Rusty and Stacy

Two more who have been known to show style on the bike,  Patrick  Hall and the Lady Jane

Click here for more pictures!

3 Rides 3 Hoods Ride Trial

  This past Sunday was a fun day of riding around town.  A group of us were trying out the 3 Rides 3 Hoods ride for this coming Sunday, May 2.  This ride, with three parts through three different urban neighborhoods, is part of Jane's Walk. 

  Here are Cortney Mild, our BBB (beautiful Biking Ballerina)  and Jim Johnson of Bike Tours Direct,the planners of this event looking over the route.

Riding the Circle at the Hunter!

No tour of Chattanooga would be complete without a nod to our Civil War history.  Jeremy is inspecting the monument at Orchard Knob

Close up of the monument

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It was opening day at the Chattanooga Market.

Jeremy and the Lady J during our lunch break at the Market

The ride goes through North Chattanooga and Downtown,  Southside into Highland Park and Orchard Knob  and then finally into St. Elmo.  I wasn't able to do the trial ride into St. Elmo but I will be doing the official ride next Sunday.  This trial was fun.  There will be speakers at different points on each of the ride to talk about the history of the area.  The pace was easy, the terrain was mostly easy-although going up Orchard Knob might be tough for newbie riders.  But it is short so nobody will be left behind.

    This will be the day after the 3 State 3 Mountain ride.  If that ride was too much for you or looking for a sociable recovery ride, come join us for one ride, two rides or all three rides at the 3 Rides 3 Hoods Ride.  This is a new ride for our ever growing biking scene in Chattanooga.

  While the bridge opening was the exciting part of Breakfast on the Bridge today, I couldn't let the event go by without mentioning some of the interesting people we had today.  We had a good crowd, and with the bridge opening (how did they all find out about it so so?) had some new faces just show up.  We love that!

This is Mark.  I first met Mark last week on the Tour De Brews (which I will blog about soon)  On his commute to work, he discovered the bridge opening and then breakfast!

Officer Mansell (no relation to Q)  We love it when the bike police come by.  I know them all and are always glad to see them.

A bike tourist from Florida.  He goes around biking different cities and had high accolades for Chattanooga as a biking city.  He said the people are especially friendly. I wonder if having a bunch of strangers inviting him to breakfast  contributed to that impression?

Encouraged by our interest in what kind a gear an experienced tourer carries, he brings out packable sling.

Which the Lady J had to try out. She looks as though she was a born slinger!

Phil, Chattanooga's Bike Director and

Ruthie,  with Outdoor Chattanooga came across us while checking out the bridge.

  It was one of those mornings that just makes me glad to be alive and living in Chattanooga.  Life on a bike is good!

Beer and Biscuits

Yesterday it turned nice and warm. What a feeling! People were turning outside like ants from a disturbed nests. I can't remember the last time we had such an extended spell of cold weather and the the build up of the pent up feeling was ready to burst!.
On the ride from work was like I had been let out of school for summer. A small group of us cyclist found ourselves converging into a group on Market Street. Where did we all come from? I love when groups of cyclists come together like that. It means Chattanooga is reaching a critical mass of bicycles on the road if we are finding ourselves clumping together. I hope this is a harbinger of a numbers explosion of bikes in the spring.
I was on my was to meet Q at Greenlife. Laura Jane and Jeremy were two of the cyclists that joined me on Market and they were on their way to Greenlife also. And they ended up  joining Q and I. I loved their dinner of beer and biscuits! Ah, to be young!

Chattanooga Biking Style

Chattanooga Biking Style

Who says there is no style in riding your bike? These are pictures of this morning's Bike2Work. The cold weather brought out a whole different season of style:


This is Laura Jane who is always cool on the bike. I will one day do a post just dedicated to Laura Jane's riding style.

Cortney, Chattanooga's resident ballerina brings a level of elegance on the bike. Bike riding has never looked as graceful as when Cortney rides in full dress up mode.

Patrick is always classic. Classic look on a classic bike. He never goes out of style.

People ask me about riding gear. Want to know what is the proper riding gear for riding a bike around town? Just look in your own closet! Ride with as much style and individuality as you do the rest of your life.


Would love to see pictures of the riding styles of any readers!