Warm night. Turned down heater but turned it off. A bit chilly. Waiting for alarm to go off & excited to be group ride.
Restrooms @ Sycamore Flat pinic area are closed due to vandalism. Use them @ RS that is usually locked when office is closed.
Overcast, windy, but warmer than yesterday should melt the ice.
Made TH, first 1 there, took a while longer for David, the organizer, Steven from Raleigh, & Jerud. David lead the ride doing what I hoped I would learn from a local. We rode up Cedar Rock like I rode down. Ice melted, ride much better this way. But Big tree downhill was super riding over great sections of slick rock. Some of it reminded me of WVA 24 hrs of Canaan. Rode Burnt Mtn also. Then the test: we rode to river crossing and deliberated crossing. David said he could ride across it. He made a few strokes and his wheels slipped out from under him but he made other side. Pictures of crossing are posted yesterday. Jerud threw his first shoe short of the other bank and started floating away. Luckily it ran aground and was put on the correct foot. I took off my socks and slip walked across. Mid shin deep, rock slippery w/ plant growth.
Rode Fawn Lake side backwards to my previous ride. Rode well both ways but today the ups seemed steeper & longer than when I rode it down.
Rained several times, otherwise overcast drizzle, high winds, but in 40s.
16.24 miles 2559′ vert.
Drove back into town, washed bike, took shower @ XG, back to hanging @ Dollies for internet.
Ride lined up for Paris Mtn on Friday. Be leaving Brevard.
Knee rode well, bit of pain during recovery.
Sitting on balance ball. Need training time for comfort.
Zags were upset by unranked team. Rankings will plummet.