Noticed lush green yards w/ no sprinkler systems here in Brevard, NC.
Yesterday was a special handshake ride w/ pursed lips for a description other than to say it was on twisty single track in the forest near NC / SC border. Rode a piece called Whale’s back which looked more like a roach haircut, either name appropriate; it was bare rock on an incline that off road vehicles had stripped the soil from. Fast and sure. Earlier in the ride we heard thunder and forecast called for t-storms, it was just a question if the storm path would seek us out. We were down in deep tree cover when the wind speed hit the charts, I was concerned about what might blow down. Gritted teeth and fixed my stare for down trail. Rain fell in small buckets, thunder from just a little ways away, and the trail flooded. And then the sun came out like all classic T storms I like. Vegetation dripped h2o, I was 3rd which lessened my wetness, the first rider was sopped. I rolled into the parking lot in sunshine and dry pavement. racking the bikes and changing out of wet clothes is so much more enjoyable in sunshine. Rode w/ Todd & Rachael, Glenn a friend of Todd’s, & Shrimper’s wife, Noel. 26. 34 miles in 3 hrs 53 mins ride time, burned 5014 cals & climbed 3865. The ride dumped us out on a dead end hard road that we climbed up to Sassafras mtn, the gps calculated 22% grade. Baby chain ring, 32 teeth rear, just ground it away. Shuttle ride. Drove back to Shrimper’s house way back up in mtns. My Sprinter would not drive up his lane.My wet riding clothes are in a pile in my van. Such high humidity can’t absorb any more.
Spectacular scenery. Love affair w/ Appalachia again. Hollers (Hollows) abound. Verdant as Sedona was dessicated.
Another night in the Faith Chapel parking lot & visiting w/ Todd & Heather. Heather is feeding me dinners.
Rain was falling @ Todd’s when we got home after the ride. My bike has seen more wetness than any other bike I have ever owned. I don’t like getting them wet as I have in these last 2 rides.
Comment: trails shed rain quickly & don’t show damage when riding wet except for very few wet spots that are very short.
Listened to thunder & rain pelting on van roof as I fell asleep. Rain stayed outside.
This AM was clear. Today is my own. I drove back into Brevard searching for a new pepper grinder @ The Proper Pot. No luck. I hung in town on line and waited for chocolate story to open. Dark chocolate treats.
Visited Sycamore Bikes & Wes. We are good and play well together. I asked him about tires as my 2.3 Ardents feel like leaded slugs. Will prolly spring for a pair of Specialized Purgatory, 2.2 wide. These will be faster rolling than my Sedona tires better for eastern riding. Save the big meat for Sedona.
Tues is a special ride w/ Bruce in Pisgah, a 6 hour marathon. Wed. I plan on going to where Todd is building trail to watch and learn then head west to Panthertown to ride w/ Shrimper, another trail builder.
Speaking of trail builders: the southwest is just busrting w/ trails made by mtn bikers for mtn bikers. Way different experience than riding hiking trails that bikers have taken over. Way more miles of trail are smooshed in to a given pice of land; more miles of trail per amount of land. If only the west could get on the same bandwagon. Tourist dollars is economic engine.
Parked in front of a computer store that has wireless internet I can access as there is no cell phone coverage here or just a short ways to Todd’s.