Do you know what makes riding bikes easier?

 Riding bikes often. I have not been riding my bike often and last night I could tell.
Mike B and I had made plans the night before and we both able to keep them. 8PM. White Duck. 2ish hours of urban gravel and pavement.

 With no real plan in mind we headed to downtown, my camera died,

then we cruised through the central neighborhood and eventually to Beaverdam.
The pace was slow once we hit the uphill proper and I couldn't get my temperature leveled out. We stopped two or three times for various clothing and headset adjustments then, after we crested Old Toll my legs finally started to wake up. Mike had gained quite a bit of space on me on the little climb from Webb but after I caught up it was easy to take the lead. I should mention that Mike was riding in cleated shoes on flat pedals for some reason or another... but anyway, Patton Mtn. was next and even though I felt good I was a solid 30 seconds off my fastest time ever down that hill (so says strawva).
Mike and I then weaved through the Sunset neighborhood and back towards downtown before parting ways.  My ride finished with the climb back to West Asheville as Mike headed to Richmond Hill.
Great ride Mike. Thanks for getting out there.

Love Valley Roubaix

I was able to get a quick ride in after setting up camp. I had four things to do when I got there: 1. set camp, 2. get a ride in, 3. party with Cam at the Silver Spur, 4. be in bed at a reasonable time.
I accomplished the first 3.

If you've never been to Love Valley, NC... It is an experience like no other, especialy if you're not expecting it. The ride was excellent up to the point where shotgun blasts and revving muscle car engines outnumbered cricket chirps... and the town was super fun until... the fisticuffs 25' from the van door at 2:30am.

To quote Sonni D. 'Gotta love the honky-tonk saloon (the Silver Spur) that the post-race meal/awards/warmth took refuge in. You got the sense that, a mere 10hours before, this joint was the weekly go-to for hundreds in a line-dancing, "I'm still-20 & it''s still the 70's", Urban-Cowboy meets Dalla-Buyer-Club kind of way.' Oh yeah. it definitely was....

Then, a few hours later, I helped time the rainiest event since P55'13. BTW, I live for this type of weekend. Thanks for having me, Cam.

The ride really was fun. Gravel roads for miles and miles. As far as you'd ever want to go.

Adventure Day!

Erinna, Zoe, and I all got out for great adventures yesterday. Erinna got a great mountain bike ride in at Bent Creek while Zoe and I hiked the Mountains to Sea trail for almost two hours. Later in the day we packed everything up and headed to Point Lookout trail. I took off for a quick lap of Kitsuma while Erinna and Zoe rode the greenway. Zoe made huge leaps in her bike riding ability and Erinna got a huge workout in towing Zoe back up the 4 mile hill. Oh, and Kitsuma was running SUPER fast. I kept it cautious but still let it loose a bit... so it was a great ride for me, too. What a great family adventure day!

Heartbreaker memorial