Ha! Siler City Express 200K

McDonald's may have their happy meal but Hardee's has em beat with this new improved sign, spotted yesterday on the Siler City 200K.

Siler City is our hardest 200K permanent, with a mercifully short 18 percent grade on the return leg. We did lots of chitchatting on yesterday's ride. The things you learn about your buddies -- two of yesterday's riders have lost a total of 163 pounds through diet and exercise. Both kicked serious booty on the course. They make us proud.

Here's a photo of two relatively new riders, Tim and John O, from Wilson and Nash counties. Watching them come through the Uwharries yesterday, you'd never have suspected most of their riding is in the flatlands.

A couple more nods: Geof, showing remarkably good early season form, showed us the way up every hill but one. JoeRay demonstrated his keen botanical knowledge by giving us the Latin name of a tulip magnolia.

Thanks to Jack W for organizing. Here he is, a lot less surly than his bike:

Here are the boys coming through the Uwharries...

And enjoying break time...

Thanks to all for a fun day on the bikes.