Two Wheel Blogs

Man, where to start... Tonights ride was bittersweet to say the least. I'm sure you can tell by the tags. The plan: to go out and ride 60 miles after work. The time: fifteen after 5 when I finally hit the road. I had to do a quick tire and tube change on the Jake since I got a flat on Saturday. I decided to run an old Specialized Armadillo slick on the back to change it up a bit. The ride started and within minutes I was at the bike shop picking up more tubes.

Five thirty and I was back on the road, this time with a fellow named Mark. Mark reminded me of Unit alot, he had three kids like Unit, he was Unit's age, and strangely enough he looked like Unit too. Weird. Mark was a cool guy to ride with though, turns out he rides trails quite a bit and wants to join in on a Taco Tuesday ride next week up at BURP. We rode 8 or so miles and picked up another fellow, I forgot his name. We rode a few more miles and that's where they turned left, and I turned right. Right into the wind.

We had gust up to 25mph today, and the first leg of the ride was straight into it. No crosswind, no tailwind... Just a bunch of momentum sapping, power killing, lung burning wind. I was still working off all the fun I had had this weekend. The weekend was a really rough one for me but I knew it was the last big blowout of the Summer, so I was going to make it good before hitting the training hard again.

I rode into the wind for almost two hours before I finally turned away from it. I was shot, and it was only mile 25. I should have turned back, but my ego and mind where telling me to quit being such a pussy and man up. It's times like these that seperate the men from the boys, and I'm tired of being a boy. Or at least called a boy...

Highway 2 started and much to my surprise, it was chock full of hills. Good ones too, the kind that make you think you might not actually be in Missery. Missery doesn't have hills like these, at least this part of the state. My legs were a bit tired at this point but I held strong. This being said I had only held a 15 mph average up to this point. Slow poke slow...

Hwy 2 went on for awhile where it crossed 13 and became flat again. I hit the town of Leeton and was delightedly suprised to find a Casey's General Store. My warm heed was starting to taste like goat's piss, and my camelbak was close to being depleted. Oh, did I mention it was hot as hell out today? Literally, the demons have finally arose from their deep abyss and layed their heat upon the roads. It was hot, and I needed something cold to go down the pipes. Speaking of which, anyone have any bright ideas on how to keep water cold on long hot rides? Ice doesn't work, and it takes up valuable space. I need like a battery operated cooler for a water bottle. There's my million dollar idea, now someone go make it and give me a couple for the idea...

After riding down Hwy EE for a bit, I began to worry. You see I think I had mistimed my ride, I was running late, and the sun was starting to settle. Hwy EE lasted for what seemed like forever, even though I was keeping a good pace. Hwy 23 came into view and I had a short glipse of what seemed was going to be victory.

Hwy 23 was fast, even though the strong tailwinds I should have had were not there. I guess this was one of those nights that settled down the later it got, just my luck. It said I had 15 miles left till hwy 50, but I knew that would put me out at Knob Knoster and I would have another 10 miles to go to get back home. No way was I making it, so in a last ditch effort I hung a Leoroy on Hwy Y and let the guns roar.

This lasted for a good 2 minutes... I was tired, my body was tired, and my legs were real tired. I realized I had no time to waste though, I had to hoof it. The last 45 minutes where a blur. The sun was setting at a record pace, and every hill and corner I came up on only reveiled another long stretch of flats and hills. I thought Hwy 13 was never going to come.

I honestly thought about stopping at one of the houses and asking for a ride. You know, put my faith in the greater good of humanity. But considering every house was a trailer, and I felt like keeping my behind virginity, I decided against it. I'm sure someone would have been nice enough to take me back to town, but I'm sure someone would have thought I had a pretty face too. 50 50 chance, and remember, I have no luck.

I finally reached 13 with only minutes to go, and 5 miles back to town. I huffed, and I puffed, and I blew myself up. Well not really, I hit it hard and made it into town in record time. I couldn't believe how much life my legs had in them after 50+ miles. I only managed to cream on tree limb on the side of 13 on the way back. I dodged what seemed like 20 dead coons. Suprisingly no one yelled at me given the fact that darkness was about to fall. I guess they felt sorry for my little peddling ass. Surely no one would want to be out riding this late with no lights?

I made it to town and felt the hand of God come down on me as I reached Casey's General Store, right as you come into town. I had made it... I got off the bike and headed in to get water, I was completly out and had been for the last 30 minutes. This is when it happend.

I don't ever remember having this feeling come over me, well I take that back. I remember this feeling quite well, I spent most of my high school days and a few days here and there in this feeling. I felt baked, stoned, high as a kite. Everything felt right, things were moving around when they shouldn't have, they moved slower, and I felt like I was in a dream. It was quite a crazy feeling, like I had just taken a giant rip of some of the good stuff. Whatever it was I took the time to set outside that gas station and enjoy the feeling. It felt good to be home, I never thought I was going to make it.

The ride back to the house was uneventful except for the fact I almost creamed a couple of deer. I was hauling down a hill when I noticed something in the middle of the road. I slowed down just in time for the deer to jump in front of me. There were two of them and they took turns criss crossing the road in front of me. That coulda been bad, make it all the way home in the dark only to be taken out by some deer. I'm glad I'm alive.

This ride was totally my fault, I should have realized I wasn't going to make it in time. I also should have been prepared with lights, but then again I've never riden in the dark on my Jake. I appologize for all the law abiding citizens who passed quietly in their cars as they cursed my existence. I will buy lights and take them with me on any ride I feel might end up taking longer than expected.

I would have called Eric to come pick me up but my cell phone was dead. This thing is the biggest pos ever, it won't hold a charge for more than a half a day. I really need to go get it fixed. So I learned a valuable lesson today, don't be a dumb arse and go out on a ride you're not confident you can finish before dark. Live and learn, live and learn.

You can look at the ride profile here. A friend turned me on to this website last week, so now you all will be able to see what routes and rides I go on. Not that you care, but whatever. I just like it because it shows eleveation change. I put in about 65 miles tonight in a little under 4 hours. Not the greatest but considering I couldn't ride for more than an hour yesterday on the trails I feel good. The beer has finally wore off, and I'm wore out. Goodnite, and god bless...