I'm getting the itch to ride more and more; but mother nature decided to unleash the heat and humidity. I want to go to the Cove after work a day or two a week now instead of coming home, eating dinner and racing the sunset. It's just been sweltering. Freaking heat and humidity. I forget that it's nice enough to ride in the evenings almost all the way into mid-December, so I'm being impatient which really isn't good for me - "don't do anything stupid".
I'm starting to dream about things to do next year. I will continue to build my base back this year and try things here and there. I discovered at Fallon Park two Thursdays ago that straight, steep uphills in the grass are basically impossible. I got off my bike and could barely push it up the hill. It hurts my butt (hip) way too much. This again humbles me and reminds me that my destroyed hip still has a long ways to go. I still want to beat that three year projection JESSE!
Gordon is evidently plotting a gravel, grinder type race in April in Floyd. I've never ridden in the area, but the pictures he's posting make me want to go give it a try. I won't race to win, but I'll just ride to finish. The bonus is that it will start out of a campground that has full RV hookups. I hope that if I can get enough base and strength back to make a weekend adventure out of it. My Cx bike has been ridden the least (maybe once) since my crash. It's a bit short for me, so I think that's part of the issue, but it also hurt my back the one time I tried it. I bought a riser stem for it, but again haven't tried it out much other than around the block. I'd rather ride my other two bikes.
I know that in May I will do the Storming of Thunder Ridge - 45 mile option. Having done this route several times in the past, I know that I will have to work on the short climbs to survive Otterville Road and the Smiley face climb. Each of these has in the past been a bit of challenge, but I know what I'm facing.
I'm pondering Bike Virginia in June, but it traditionally is expensive; so I don't know that I want to do that. I'm planning to go back to Townsend, TN next October (2020). I hope by then that I can go check out the Tour de Blount route that changed my life. I also hope that I can ride with Eleanore and Julie when I'm there - we could even skip Rocky Branch Rd.
Meanwhile back to 2019 - tomorrow will be another low-90's day with wretched humidity, so I will be back in the basement. Same forecast through Tuesday - MEH!!! Come on!!!! I think the news said we've had over 40 ninety-degree days which is like top 5 ever. It feels like the summer from hell outside. I need to clean my travel trailer. I have a long trip planned to PA in October, and plan to take a bike along. I will be in Gettysburg, so there's a lot of riding options around the battlefield roads. We have day trips planned to Shanksville (Flight 93 Memorial) and Lancaster x2 (shopping, food, etc). I'm looking so forward to my vacation!
At home, the riding plans get all wonky when the days start getting shorter - by the time I get home there's really no time to ride outside because of after-work traffic and darkness. I'm not sure I want to tool around in the dark despite owning very powerful bike lights. This is why I hope to start riding at the Cove at least 2 days per week right after work. I can get there and be pedaling by 5pm. This allows at least an hour to 90 minutes of riding before it gets dark. Of course as time wears on I'll use lights to safely get out. I won't do any crazy riding and likely will start spending some time on the gravel roads. Nothing wrong with that really - it accomplishes what I need especially when I suck it up and start up 1000 foot climb or when they open Hinchee Trail (will be great, and a shorter drive to the start of this from work too!) See why I'm getting excited about options? Of course weekends will be football vs. riding! Depending on who is playing, I will still get in good rides!!!
I LOVE FALL!!!
I'm starting to dream about things to do next year. I will continue to build my base back this year and try things here and there. I discovered at Fallon Park two Thursdays ago that straight, steep uphills in the grass are basically impossible. I got off my bike and could barely push it up the hill. It hurts my butt (hip) way too much. This again humbles me and reminds me that my destroyed hip still has a long ways to go. I still want to beat that three year projection JESSE!
Gordon is evidently plotting a gravel, grinder type race in April in Floyd. I've never ridden in the area, but the pictures he's posting make me want to go give it a try. I won't race to win, but I'll just ride to finish. The bonus is that it will start out of a campground that has full RV hookups. I hope that if I can get enough base and strength back to make a weekend adventure out of it. My Cx bike has been ridden the least (maybe once) since my crash. It's a bit short for me, so I think that's part of the issue, but it also hurt my back the one time I tried it. I bought a riser stem for it, but again haven't tried it out much other than around the block. I'd rather ride my other two bikes.
I know that in May I will do the Storming of Thunder Ridge - 45 mile option. Having done this route several times in the past, I know that I will have to work on the short climbs to survive Otterville Road and the Smiley face climb. Each of these has in the past been a bit of challenge, but I know what I'm facing.
I'm pondering Bike Virginia in June, but it traditionally is expensive; so I don't know that I want to do that. I'm planning to go back to Townsend, TN next October (2020). I hope by then that I can go check out the Tour de Blount route that changed my life. I also hope that I can ride with Eleanore and Julie when I'm there - we could even skip Rocky Branch Rd.
Meanwhile back to 2019 - tomorrow will be another low-90's day with wretched humidity, so I will be back in the basement. Same forecast through Tuesday - MEH!!! Come on!!!! I think the news said we've had over 40 ninety-degree days which is like top 5 ever. It feels like the summer from hell outside. I need to clean my travel trailer. I have a long trip planned to PA in October, and plan to take a bike along. I will be in Gettysburg, so there's a lot of riding options around the battlefield roads. We have day trips planned to Shanksville (Flight 93 Memorial) and Lancaster x2 (shopping, food, etc). I'm looking so forward to my vacation!
At home, the riding plans get all wonky when the days start getting shorter - by the time I get home there's really no time to ride outside because of after-work traffic and darkness. I'm not sure I want to tool around in the dark despite owning very powerful bike lights. This is why I hope to start riding at the Cove at least 2 days per week right after work. I can get there and be pedaling by 5pm. This allows at least an hour to 90 minutes of riding before it gets dark. Of course as time wears on I'll use lights to safely get out. I won't do any crazy riding and likely will start spending some time on the gravel roads. Nothing wrong with that really - it accomplishes what I need especially when I suck it up and start up 1000 foot climb or when they open Hinchee Trail (will be great, and a shorter drive to the start of this from work too!) See why I'm getting excited about options? Of course weekends will be football vs. riding! Depending on who is playing, I will still get in good rides!!!
I LOVE FALL!!!
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