Coeur d’Alene Cycling Tour – Ride Day 3 – Four Lakes

Posted 3 years ago by Mike

Today’s ride also started from the house. We encountered road construction about 5 miles in. Call me crazy, but I seek a detour and prefer to not ride through an active construction site with big, industrial machines moving about, not paying attention to pedestrians, because there should be no pedestrians because the crew blocked the road with big “road closed’ signs. Hmmm. However, Larry felt it didn’t look too bad so let’s go through it. The group followed Larry. So I resignedly followed the group. Loose gravel and dirt, OK, we can handle it. Massive excavator whipping around the site picking up and dropping off city water pipes — are we riding bikes or playing a game of Frogger? Do I go in front of it, do I go behind it, I don’t know. We traversed the construction zone unscathed despite my spiked heart rate from the anxiety.

Back on pavement and on our way to the next lake of our Four Lake tour. But to reach it, we needed to cross a busy highway during rush hour. Not like LA or Seattle rush hour, but still a constant flow of logging trucks and other big vehicles. Now it really felt like a game of Frogger 🙂 These types of crossings require patience. We waited for our moment and pedaled like madmen and madwomen to the other side. Back on peaceful, low traffic backroads which remained that way for the rest of the ride. Ahhhh, time to let the mind wander and enjoy the scenery.

I ride for a number of reasons. One of them is the peaceful, zen-like feeling I get while on my bicycle. I let go of anything causing me angst or stress in my life. I achieve a near meditative state. Sure I still have to keep an eye out for traffic and road hazards and ensuring I stay on route, but the Garmin does that job for me. My mind empties and I focus on my pedal stroke and the nature I am surrounded by.

We rode around lake after lake and stopped at Gateway Park for lunch. When I planned the route, I didn’t realize it was an I-90 Rest Stop, but it turned out to be a nice park too. We met a group of riders from Women’s Tours – an adventure travel company exclusively for women. They also stopped for lunch at the same park and were riding the Centennial Trail back to Coeur d’Alene. I am glad for groups like this because I know it can be intimidating for women to ride with men with all the competitiveness and man-splaining. I try hard not to, but I know I do it too 🙁

While the women’s group headed back to CDA, we had one more stop before heading back too — Liberty Lake to complete our Four Lake tour. Check. Now let’s hammer it back home. Cyclists love tailwinds. 20 miles to CDA and all aided by a nice tailwind. 20-22 mph paceline. Let it rip! We approached a group of teenagers on BMX bikes and scooters. They heard our bee-like buzzing wheel hubs and looked back and started mashing the pedals to try to race us. Sorry, but you don’t stand a chance against our peloton. We blew by them like they were standing still. We also caught up to and passed most of the Women’s Tour riders. We were on a mission — a mission to drink beer and wine at the finish 🙂