THE RIDE MUSTGOON! HOW SPRING CITY CYCLING CLUB SAFELY HOSTED ITS CENTURY RIDE DESPITE COVID-19 2020 was a tough year for Alabama’s cycling clubs. Starting in March, ride after ride was canceled across the state because of COVID-19 concerns. Jamie Miernik, a 30-year member of the Spring City Cycling Club, says that out of the dozens of century rides that crisscross the state, only two went ahead this year. One of them was SCCC’s All You Can Eat Century. Jamie is the ride director, and the 128-year-old club bent over backward to make sure the ride was as safe as possible. “We were able to convince the board that we had things under consideration for all of the ways we could minimize contact. Basically, riding a bike out in the rural countryside is the safest thing you can possibly do,” she says. The setting for the All You Can Eat Century is a perk, even in a normal year. The different courses offered (a 38-mile loop, a 55-mile half-century, a 72- mile super metric, and a 90–101-mile century) all meander through rural Alabama and Tennessee. “The crossroads where the Old Delina Country Store [the ride’s unofficial mascot, built in 1892] has the most buildings you see in one place, and I think it’s three or four,” Jamie says.
The club took this social distancing to the next level by holding pre- registration online, giving riders a window to start the race, limiting rest stops and only offering food in prepacked lunch boxes or individually-wrapped single servings (instead of the ride’s namesake buffets). Staff was limited, and everything took place outdoors. On Sept. 19, 400 people showed up to ride! The ride was smaller than in years past, but it still raised money to benefit organizations like Serving Hope Inc., the Alabama Bicycle Coalition, and NICA high school mountain bike teams who manned the rest stops. Each year, the SCCC AYCE Century has funded many community grants for things such as bike fix-it stations, racks, and safety signs. We’re proud that Lynnpro got to be a part of this resilient ride. In 2019, we printed custom race bibs and wristbands for the riders, and this year, we contributed bibs and logoed T-shirts.
“Becca [a Lynnpro sales consultant] is really nice, and I got the T-shirts very quickly, even when we ordered them kind of late,” Jamie says.
We can’t wait to see more rides follow SCCC’s stellar example next year.
Festive Apple Cider
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If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours.
CAROL CHEER COCOA FAMILY
GIFT HOLIDAY
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HOLLY PEACE
3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
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