well, this being the next ride after the rainy ride where i think i pushed myself way too hard to
get back to the car (IOW, was in the 3rd ring 75% of the time), i didn't expect much, but i had
hopes of a little better performance than what i got. almost nothing worked right (almost, because
the front derailleur shifted perfectly when asked to do so). i knew it was going to be a bad ride
when i ride 6 feet and my knees hurt like hell. a quick seat height check to see if it slipped in
the rain (it didn't) and i continue on. next, my feet hurt. never had this problem before. after a
bit more, my hands hurt, and i was feeling quite drained. on top of that, my bike rode like it was
200 lbs with flat tires and seized hubs (all in my mind, i'm sure). strange, i have only been 0.3
miles. so i tune it all out and manage 2.5 miles before my body is screaming so loudly at me that i
can barely even concentrate on riding (IOW, when you start endoing on 2" roots, it is time to quite
for the day). i manage 3 more crashes on real simple stuff on the way out. i mean, this is terrain i
would classify as beginner (sharp rocks included). the total climb of the entire trail system might
be 100', and the most technical section takes little thinking power to negotiate. but not today.
today, i was in worse form than the most retarded of beginners.
I do think though that it is time i invest in a new rear wheel. i mean, i just broke the third
spoke this season. and like the rest, it broke at the hub interface (worn clean through). though i
could just get a new hub, but i think this time i will have the LBS folks build it as it would not
surprise me if i built this wheel completely wrong. that is of course if they can build a wheel
and add a new hub for about $30. threaded hubs can't cost all that much can they? the ideal thing
to do is to upgrade to a cassette hub while i'm at it but i know that would be more than $30 for
just that.
but, on the bright side, it did not rain this time, and my next ride can only get better (or
much worse).
--
~Travis