Improvised Riding
I've done this long enough to know about training conflicts. From having to travel in the middle of the season, to just scheduling conflicts - you have to flexible and willing. On normal years (whatever that means), I would be stacking some longer rides on the road bike, but it seems I haven't been anywhere close to normal in maybe...... the last decade - and getting worse. Training rides are sometimes hard to get up for, as it is anything but recreational. Add to that, the garbage road conditions in the upper valley, dragging the Six-13 out for a spin is just not attractive. The hardtail is getting a lot of saddle time, as it is a good substitute for the road bike. Sure, I run out of gears, as well as the added wind resistance from sitting more upright, but for 40+ mile tempo rides, it is non-stop peddling. Still this morning, I caught sight of a couple roadies up ahead into Huntsville that presented an opportunity. Forearms over the straight bars and into my fastest gear - well, lets just say they were a little humiliated when they heard the trail-bell blowing by. Not that I could have kept that pace for a solid hour, but I'm sure I could have given it a pretty good try.
Sunday evening's ride was on the full-sus, up the oldest trail in North Fork - the original Bicentennial Trail. There are a ton of newer trails all around that same area, with faster and easier riding features, but knowing where to watch for the original trail is an advantage. We placed that sign (and about five others) up there over nine years ago. Something about the old and familiar that has a certain sweetness that is just hard to explain. Sure, steep and rocky in a few places, but that is the way I remember from well more than 40 years ago - before anybody had mountain bikes. I remember the first time I rode that on my original full-sus (DB-X2), I thought how gnarly it seemed to be. Ah, but the reliable Trek Fuel EX is a worthy machine for the task. Just look at all the nicks and scrapes on that thing. Paint worn off the seat-stay triangle, paint worn off on the 172 crank-arms...that has been a workhorse for sure. The Conti Der Kiaser's have a lot of drag, but man can they hook-up! I whish I were heading to Colorado, or even Wyoming this year, but those darn scheduling conflicts are making it less than possible this year. I still have North Fork - I just have to share it with other riders these days. It's not fair that I can live right here while others have to drag their bikes up from the netherlands. Oh well........
It never gets old
As much as I try to get a good burn with these rides, sometimes it is just a good thing to stop and look around. Especially in the evenings when it has been hot during the day, I can usually get a couple hours on the trails in the shade. Even those evenings that I have to suffer through hill climbing intervals, I can generally do it with out any annoying traffic. Hills are the equivalent of the many evenings of my youth, running stairs by myself. Having the discipline to push yourself harder than you really want, takes a ton of willingness and desire. No crowds to cheer you on. It is the price to be paid for any success. All that said, the suffering and endurance is worth every bit of the resulting temporary discomfort. Sure, while in the midst of it all you really can't see the end result, but when you are done.....it is done. The payoff doesn't come for yet another day - along ways away.
Lets see what the next week looks like. A lot of ground to regain, but very doable assuming things don't get too sideways.
Pulling for Reed. Ride HARD!
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