Thinking I was fully recovered from last week's Noble ride, I joined the
JAR group for todays ride at Blue Marsh. An Army Corp of Engineers
created wonderland, it goes up and down around Blue Marsh Lake for 26
miles of mostly singletrack. Luckily the weather gods were on a side
giving us 84F and no humidity. Probably some of the best riding weather
we have had all summer.
We head down to the dam and then our first climb. The legs feel great
and I easily climb up and head off into the woods. Many rolling hills
and a few horses later we hit killer climb number one. I make it about
3/4 of the way before I just can't get and more power and walk the few
feet remaining. This will happen just three times on the entire ride.
Somehow I end up in the middle of the two groups, just one minute from
the lead pack. At the road (1/2 way point) I take the tortoises ahead
about three minutes. I am forcing them to keep up with me, but the game
is on! I have to hold back a bit, but I keep encouraging them to move.
We hit the open field and I am topped out. SOme of the brush is hanging
over the singletrack which is rutted in a few spots. I swurve to avoid
a bush and slide down a rut. Down I go, connected to the bike sliding
for 10 feet. Nice road rash on my thigh now. I quickly get up and
power on again.
We make it to the lake about five minutes ahead of the hares and two of
the group take a dip. We leisurely ride the two remaining miles to the
car where I proclaim my victory and dance the jig. I think I could do
another 15 miles!
Did I mention I did the entire 26 hilly miles on the singlespeed? The
best I have done on that rig. No one else in the group except the two
other SS riders understand my feelings at this point, but the smile
doesn't fade the entire ride home.
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o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
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