15 days. That's the most I could wait.

So, if you look closely at the photos from my last post you can deduce that I had a pretty bad crash. I've been dealing with badly bruised ribs, two sore shoulders, and making absolute sure that for sure I didn't have a concussion. The doctor told me to rest for two weeks and after that I could start running (pffft, yeah right) or otherwise start exercising. He also said to stay off the mountain bike for 30 days. Meh.
Today was day 15, it was a beautiful day with temps in the 70's and a 30% chance of thunderstorms (sounds more like late Spring than early) so I decided to get out for an 'easy' ride. Starting at Craven Gap at 1PM I did an out and back to the Craggy visitors center. 10+ miles of climbing (which took about 90 minutes with warmup and photo stops) followed by 10+ miles of descending (which took just over 20 minutes) back to the Jeep.
Ride notes: 1. After two weeks off the bike the first warm-up is about the hardest thing I know how to do. 2. I'm soooo looking forward to Erinna and I's 5th anniversary ride. 3. A plastic bag from the visitors center is an excellent alternative to a windproof vest. 4. I wish I still had some pain killers because sleeping tonight is going to be REALLY tough if the current pain in my ribs doesn't die down in the next couple of hours.  It wasn't the ride, it was putting my bike back on the roof during the thunderstorm that was upon me at the end that did it....
Photos!

I love you guys.... I mean... no wait.... F you guys!

477->276->475b->475->276->477

This afternoon I had to head out to the Ranger Station to drop off some paperwork and decided to get a quick ride in while I was out there. The All-Road bike has been fun lately so I grabbed that and had a couple routes in mind. The visit with the Ranger took longer than expected so I decided on the shorter route: 477->276->475b->475->276->477.

 A few quick notes: The warm up on 477 was much MUCH easier than a couple of weekends ago during TMHTE. I was at the top with very little suffering. The descent to 276->475b was exhilarating and I caught a nice little bit of air by nose popping off a rock that is set in the road way. I was feeling great during the climb past Case Camp on 475b and the turn to 225 came upon me quickly. The descent to the Fish Hatchery was balls-to-the-wall wide-open spinning-out the 53/12 and I had to repeatedly remind myself to not cut corners because a vehicle could be hiding around any of those blind turns. Finally, the pavement back to 477 flew by. I was standing and hammering and feeling absolutely great. What a great afternoon on the bike. Temps in the mid to high 70's, a few minor threats of thunderstorms, and the roads almost completely to myself. 20 miles even, 3428' climbing, 12.3 mph avg, 41.5mph max.

Thinking about September

I'm at the top. My sweat tastes like medicine. I hope I don't get struck by lightning.

was the text I sent Erinna at the halfway point of tonight's ride. I started with the imminent threat of heavy storms and went for the West Asheville towers. Along the way I saw Marty and she yelled something to the effect that I was crazy, I WAS caught in a violent thunderstorm, and I pushed through and made it all the way up the gravel to the towers. Then I turned around and hauled ass back home. Funny how it goes when you're descending gravel and pavement for the first time and that first time is at night and just after two inches of rain fall. The turns came fast and furiously and I had to sit on my rear rack and get on the brakes pretty hard a few times. The stats at the end: 9.8 mi, 1621', 9.6mph avg, 42mph max.

                            Here's a shot of right after I had climbed out of the storm/it had passed

and a few feet up the road, with the same camera setting, but with a lightning strike behind me:

pip pop pipppppp pop

Mike B., Maximus Supremus the dog, and I got out for exactly what I needed this first-day-of-daylight-savings-time morning: Laurel->Pilot at a slow pace.

 I know I've said it before but Laurel Mountain is mountain biking at it's very best. The trail is a Pisgah classic. Technical climbing punctuated with slimy roots, rock gardens, and tech sections that bring out the trials rider in those that want to give it a go.

Today I was not wanting to give it a go. I felt weak from time off the bike, antibiotics, and too much fun with my beautiful wife last night. Speaking of, my curfew for the day was 12:30 because Erinna and The Pony were meeting for their own ride then. Mike was at my house just after 7:30 (it felt like 6:30) and we had a very VERY chill day on the bikes so... we didn't even complete the intended route of Outer->Inner but... we did have great fun.

We stopped often, we took photos,

 we even hiked in to the bottom of Pilot Rock to check it out.

 Did I mention it was a chill slow pace ride? Well, it was, and again, exactly what I needed. We didn't see one other bike on this absolutely gorgeous late winter day (we started with temps in the low 30's but it was easily over 50* by the time we finished) but we did see many groups of hikers.  Oh, and Max treated himself to more than one breakfast. Thanks for getting out there so early Mike.