This past Saturday was windy, so I speculated that I could go ride down Timberview Road and back and be sheltered from the wind. The road is normally not too busy and it's a rolling type road so I knew it would offer a bit of a challenge. I also could ride Hanging Rock Greenway once I was done to make a fairly decent mileage/time ride. I elected to take my Cx bike with its flat pedals. I halfway thought when I rolled away from my car, "if I'm up for it, I'm going to ride to the water's edge..." I should never think of doing something because my dumbass will do it. Timberview offered a few opportunities to let the bike roll, again there was some loose gravel which made me a tad nervous and there were a lot of cars. Oh well.
I pedaled along enjoying being buffered from the wind. I finally arrived at the end of the road where the gravel/dirt begins and headed on down the trail. Well when one hasn't ridden on rocks, roots, ruts, one should probably have a more stable ride than a Cx bike. Jesse's dark eyes entered my mind, and that grin.... "don't do anything stupid..." Well my man, I found stupid. I bounced along slowly picking my lines carefully. Stopped for a picture at one wooden bridge. Pondered what trail was to my left - I wonder if it's not the bottom of Royalty - I can't remember and frankly not worried to find out because it's a downhiller's delight and not something that interests me in the least now.
I passed a guy who had like 5 dogs all posing on this fallen tree. He was a bit weird, so I said hi and carried on. Two dudes passed on mtn bikes.... Yea wow, wish I had that front suspension. I arrived to the water's edge - looked like a real dummy trying to get off the bike. Ended up just laying it down and stepping over it. Getting back on was a hoot too. Silly hip! None the less I was proud of myself for doing it and can't wait to go try again and this time use the right bike.
On the way out, the trail seemed much shorter as did the road. I'm learning again how to maintain my momentum and even stood up and pedaled on some of the uphill. My hip is getting stronger, but I've made progress again in a short amount of time!!!! It's those steps I make myself walk at work now. Phew.
On Sunday I decided that I wanted to go explore a new to me section of Greenway, so I elected to use Greenways, side streets and roads with bike lanes. One of these days they will finish our Greenway so that things connect without roads, but at least I can connect them and get a good ride in. This also turned out to be a great route and an enjoyable ride... well at least until I was going up Peters Creek Road, got tired and had a headwind. I always forget this is a slight uphill grade and I really didn't expect the wind to be that strong. Oh well, it didn't kill me and I was able to soon turn towards another lightly used section of Greenway to head back home. It's funny to live on the north side of town. We don't have as many sections of Greenways and people look down on the neighborhoods. Granted some I wouldn't dare set foot in after dark, but for the most part I find them to be safe and inhabited by some of the nicer people around. I also think it's funny that a lot of people probably have no idea how to hook together some of the sections of Greenway over here or don't even know they exist. Fine by me. :) I also got my first bike sunburn in a year... I sure missed those tan lines last year. :)
Looking at these pictures - I notice I have nice orange, black and white bikes. HA! My mountain bike used to be orange and black... There's as much dirt on my road bike tires as my Cx bike. Sunday there was gobs of pollen and several areas of road construction so dirty tires was the result. Funny I also look at this side of my road bike and I can see the three banged up areas that still exist. Ah well, we tried swapping the saddle - as it turns out it was not broken. The pedal and the thru-axle are just going to bare the scars of the crash as will I. We got ourselves into it, we will just have to fight back from it scars and all!
Off to bed now to ponder what I want to attempt this weekend. If it rains, I think there will be some repair work going on inside my house. I hope it's nice, but I have plenty I need to be doing - the Lowe's and grocery store lists are long.
I pedaled along enjoying being buffered from the wind. I finally arrived at the end of the road where the gravel/dirt begins and headed on down the trail. Well when one hasn't ridden on rocks, roots, ruts, one should probably have a more stable ride than a Cx bike. Jesse's dark eyes entered my mind, and that grin.... "don't do anything stupid..." Well my man, I found stupid. I bounced along slowly picking my lines carefully. Stopped for a picture at one wooden bridge. Pondered what trail was to my left - I wonder if it's not the bottom of Royalty - I can't remember and frankly not worried to find out because it's a downhiller's delight and not something that interests me in the least now.
I passed a guy who had like 5 dogs all posing on this fallen tree. He was a bit weird, so I said hi and carried on. Two dudes passed on mtn bikes.... Yea wow, wish I had that front suspension. I arrived to the water's edge - looked like a real dummy trying to get off the bike. Ended up just laying it down and stepping over it. Getting back on was a hoot too. Silly hip! None the less I was proud of myself for doing it and can't wait to go try again and this time use the right bike.
On the way out, the trail seemed much shorter as did the road. I'm learning again how to maintain my momentum and even stood up and pedaled on some of the uphill. My hip is getting stronger, but I've made progress again in a short amount of time!!!! It's those steps I make myself walk at work now. Phew.
On Sunday I decided that I wanted to go explore a new to me section of Greenway, so I elected to use Greenways, side streets and roads with bike lanes. One of these days they will finish our Greenway so that things connect without roads, but at least I can connect them and get a good ride in. This also turned out to be a great route and an enjoyable ride... well at least until I was going up Peters Creek Road, got tired and had a headwind. I always forget this is a slight uphill grade and I really didn't expect the wind to be that strong. Oh well, it didn't kill me and I was able to soon turn towards another lightly used section of Greenway to head back home. It's funny to live on the north side of town. We don't have as many sections of Greenways and people look down on the neighborhoods. Granted some I wouldn't dare set foot in after dark, but for the most part I find them to be safe and inhabited by some of the nicer people around. I also think it's funny that a lot of people probably have no idea how to hook together some of the sections of Greenway over here or don't even know they exist. Fine by me. :) I also got my first bike sunburn in a year... I sure missed those tan lines last year. :)
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| New section of Roanoke River Greenway - it goes on railroad property by permission and is separated from danger by a tall fence. It's rather nice actually and abruptly ends.... |
Off to bed now to ponder what I want to attempt this weekend. If it rains, I think there will be some repair work going on inside my house. I hope it's nice, but I have plenty I need to be doing - the Lowe's and grocery store lists are long.
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