I'm gonna hold time hostage

5000->BRP->276->1206->5000
Let me jump to the very best part of this awesome ride I went on today. I was making good time and took the offramp to 276 just in time to see a car go down towards Brevard in front of me. I gave him a 20 or 30 second head start then hammered down 276 behind him. Well, I didn't give him enough time, I was on him in just a minute or so.... the thing is, as soon as he realized I was there he PUNCHED it. I wish I had had my GPS with me because I'd love to know how fast I got going motopacing that Subaru. He was squealing his tires around the 20mph corners and he would accelerate through every straight. I held him all the way to 1206. When I turned onto 1206 I was grinning from ear to ear and let out a WHOOP! that could be heard on the mountaintops.

 

Dynamite! and Chinamen!

Today..... Today..... Today was one of the best. 7AM rally at North Mills. Lunch at the Pisgah Inn. The Pisgah Plunge following that. Company that I hold in the highest regard. Riding that impressed all. Perfect trail conditions. Excellent route choice. No crashes. No mechanicals. No bonks. Only one person stung. The roster: Mike R., Eric C., Jody F., and myself.

4th of July ride! (or... Hammer til ya puke part 2!)

Yesterday afternoon I got out for an exceptionally excellent ride. What made it exceptional? 95* heat, a three mile commute for me, and riding with the legendary Pony.

 I rode over to Ian L.'s house from West Asheville and Jody F and Mike B both rallied there as well. We piled into the big ass truck (along with Maximilian Supremus the dog) and were on our way to North Mills River. As we left town at 6:30pm the thermometer on the BAT read 97*. Thankfully the temps were already 10* lower when we arrived at the concrete bridge. Our route for the day: Fisherman's->North Mills->Fletcher->Middle Fork->UMF->Big Ridge->Big Creek->Res Rd->Lower Trace->Fisherman's.

Fun was had. Ian kicked ass for being straight off the couch. We stopped a bunch. We rode hard. We rode easy. We hung out in creeks. We drank beers. I took photos. There were no mechanicals, no crashes, no bonks, and we arrived back at the BAT together. I am thankful to have friends like these guys. Thanks for getting out for an adventure everybody!

 

What am I doing here?

Last night I got out for one of those rides that I hope never fades from my memory. It was that good. I started on the All-Road bike from the Fish Hatchery at 9:30pm. My route for the evening: 475->Indian Creek->215->140->140A->5003->475.

can anyone tell me why my Garmin device has one set of stats but Garmin connect publishes different data?

The climb up 475 has been getting easier and easier for me lately and I was at the Gap about 40 minutes after I started and I was feeling great. Without a break I continued on until Indian Creek Rd.

 I took a nice little break there and contemplated heading down the pavement but took the only sensible option, the gravel (up and) down to NC215. Right as I was approaching Balsam Grove I was descending at about 25ish mph and flatted. I had been listening to Phish 6/28/12 the entire ride thus far but had to pop the earbud out. I could hear horses but couldn't see them and I saw dog eyes moving slowly towards me and his friends making a racket off in the distance. It was one of my fastest tube changes yet.

 As soon as I got on the bike I could hear the stealth ninja dog chasing me. Thank God it was downhill from there because every hair on my body stood on end and I hauled ass with shaky legs. I turned onto 215 feeling exhausted as the adrenaline rush faded but I didn't take a break until 140A.

 I walked a good portion of 140A and considered adding it to the Pisgah Monster Cross Challenge. People would love me or hate me if I did that. I don't think there would be any in between. I stopped briefly at 5003 for a snack but really just continued on after just a few minutes. I was then riding my roadbike in three foot tall grass, stinging nettle, and blackberry briars

 and was loving every second of it. 5003 is spectacular at 11:30 at night. I saw an owl stop and check me out, I hit 30mph, and I was back at Gloucester Gap quicker than I had anticipated getting there. Down 475 at full speed ahead (but cognizant that I had no more tubes) then Davidson River trail to finish the ride. A great evening on the bike!