New Generation Wheel Sucker

LEEborday Weekend

We started the weekend on Monta Santo camping. The temps were great and the campground was full of kids. E was constantly occupied with the kids from a group of four Nashville families that were all there together. It was a good time. Another great thing about M S is the mountain biking. The trails were wonderful and endless. All this and only 10 minutes from Five Points in Huntsvile made it a place on my list to visit again.

On Sunday, the threats of God knows what from the left overs from Tropical Storm Lee cleared the campground early. Being there alone, we picked up and headed home also. We dropped the camper and headed to Bham to S's M and D.

In Mobile we always had a tradition. When a hurricane or tropical storm was rolling in, we would always take an urban mountain bike ride at the very latest possible minute. We usually ended up soaked and fighting 60 mph winds before the end. On Monday, with TS Lee making her way North, Greg and I decided to do our own tropical Storm Leebor day ride. Actually, it was pretty calm on the first half of Oak Mountain, but by the time we got to Johnson Mtn. We hit a rain ban and were drenched. It was a really a very nice weekend all and all.

Greg cresting the Red Trail.

Arm warmers. Finally!

AYSO has been cramping our Tuesday and Thursday night SLP ritual. I have been sneaking in some lunch rides. This is the advantage of having a great trail 3 minutes from my work. Anyway, today at 11:15 a.m. , I don't know the the temp, but I found myself slipping on the arm warmers, but by the end of the ride, the sun came out and I peeled them. It was a nice change anyway.

Although the storm brought down a few trees across the trail, it was nice to see water in the creek again. The yellow leaves on the ground from the wind and drought combined with the pleasant temps, sure made it feel like fall.

Billy Goat?

Well, I had a schedule change and had to get my SLP workout in on Monday instead of the regular Tuesday or Thursday or both. I rode Solo today and was buried in my music when I almost had a head on with a creature. No, it wasn't another rider..... It was a giant billy goat. We have seen many things while riding SLP. We have seen deer, snakes,frogs, turtles and even a falcon, But I was most surprised to see the goat. It had a full rack which curled into a complete circle like a ram. He was not too spooked by me. He was even a little curious.

25th Infantry Bicycle corps and the original Bicycle blog 1897

It's amazing how much the rigid SS looks the same as the ones today. Especially mine! 1900 miles in 41 days is pretty amazing considering that they hardly had roads. Lt. Moss kept a very detailed day to day journal. The original Cycling Blog.

http://bicyclecorps.blogspot.com/

Better Idea

At some point on Mitchell, this looked like a lot better idea than cycling.

Long day in the saddle

We awoke early and grabbed some breakfast. I felt a sense of urgency because I was concerned that it would warm up fast and become miserable. We hit Town Mtn rd right out of downtown Asheville. You barely go over I 240 before the road goes steep. It was a hard start to a long day in the saddle.
The heat never came. The clouds across the parkway and trees kept the temps in the 70's. I was aware of two things going into this ride. 1. Greg has been riding a lot since Kentucky 2. I haven't ridden much at all. Bro G was pretty much on the gas from the beginning and kept a steady pace to Black Mtn. where he pulled the old switchback sneak and got a good 300 yds ahead of me. He waited up at the base of Mitchell but broke me again on the 5 mile climb to the summit. I reached the park to find him lounging on the Mt. Mitchell sign waiting on me.

At the peak I got a Coke and a Gatorade and found a bench to try to find my will to ride back. Greg got high jacked by some retired Dr. who talked to him forever. His Crimson tide kit always gets more attention that I would want.

When we left the summit, it had to be in the very low 60's and covered in clouds. My legs were toast. We flew down the mountain and suffered the uncomfortable cold. Somewhere between Mitchell and Craggy Mtn., I made a complete recovery and was able to have a good ride all the way home. In the end, the bottom did drop out somewhere just after Craggy Mtn. and the rain jacket had to come out.

With 6945' of climbing and 67 miles of Hell and bliss, I had a great time but was glad to see Asheville.