Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Drafting on dirt
Coming out of the woods onto the main trail I had a rider come around me at good speed. I decided to draft him for the 2.5 miles from Sardis Rd. to Independence Blvd.
Brought back memories of drafting in big packs on the road, and how you had to pay very much attention to the wheel in front of you, lest you end up on the pavement should your front wheel touch the back wheel of the rider in front of you.
One added wrinkle arises on a trail, the dirt and rocks coming at you from the rider in front of you. It was fun approaching speeds of 20mph, where I’m usually going between 15 and 16mph on my own. Not that I couldn’t go faster on my own, it’s just that I don’t see the need to.
What I like about riding my mountain bike, which differs from the frenetic pace of a road ride, is that I get to enjoy my surroundings. The squirrel running away from me, the turtle trying to cross the trail, the geese and their young blocking my passage as I ride by the lake, and the relaxing sounds of the wind blowing through the trees.
That fellow I drafted, seems like he just did a super fast 5 mile ride, cause I didn’t see him again on the main trail.
MTB: distance 21.99 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
Sluggish ride
It rained all day yesterday, and it was still sprinkling this morning. I thought I wouldn’t be able to ride today, but when the sun came out, I hopped on the bike.
Should of waited till late afternoon, cause the ground was wet, and peddling felt like I was riding on beach sand. I was able to come in with a good average speed, but my legs feel like I’ve ridden twice as many miles.
MTB: distance 19.95 miles, average speed 13.4 mph.
Faster by resting
When I started bike riding, many moons ago, I thought that the more I rode, the faster I would get. Not so I learned, rest days are essential and made me faster upon return.
Early on in my amateur riding career, I would hate to take a day off, especially if I would catch a glimpse of my friends out riding. Today, I’ll see a bike rider out my window flashing by my house, and think about riding, but I know I have to take days off, or else my body will be none too happy.
MTB: distance 20.94 miles, average speed 13.3 mph.
The Sunday Ride
Train all week, let it all hang out on Sunday.
Today, I was able to go 30 miles, thanks to longer training rides during the week and carrying more water. Two 28oz bottles of water and a banana, good fuel mileage.
Lot’s of people out today, many bike riders, young and old. It was nice day, after suffering the winds we had yesterday.
MTB: distance 30.78 miles, average speed 12.8 mph.
Restless legs
Had a hard time falling asleep last night, my legs kept wanting me to move them. I finally got out of bed and put my feet on a vibrating foot massager for about a half an hour. This alleviated me somewhat so I could fall asleep.
Did a shorter ride today, sped it up a bit. Couldn’t quite figure out the wind patterns, it felt like I was in a headwind all ride long, this tired me out a bit.
Gonna make some pasta today, load up on carbs for the weekend. I’ll see if I can get a 30 mile ride in.
MTB: distance 14.92 miles, average speed 13.1 mph.
Larger water bottles
This year, I wanted to go on longer rides, so I needed more water. In the past, the two 20oz bottles that I carried were empty by the time I reached the 15 mile mark.
The bottle cages on my Trek Fuel 70 were on the down tube due to the full suspension, so I could only hold two small bottles. I decided to take one of the cages and attach it to the underside of the down tube, this allowed for two large 28oz bottles to be carried.
The water bottle on the underside gets full of dirt, so I leave a little bit of water in the topside bottle to wash it when I’m switching them out.
MTB: distance 19.91 miles, average speed 12.8 mph.
East Meck High cleans up McAlpine
Students from East Mecklenburg High School were out today cleaning up the trails and creeks of litter. I was happy to see teenagers volunteering to make my preferred Greenway a nicer place to frequent.
Felt good today, but I’m taking it easy until my leg muscles get used to the miles. I can feel a cramp coming on anytime I try to put the hammer down. The weather is great, many people out walking, running, riding and fishing.
MTB: distance 20.95 miles, average speed 12.6 mph.
Watch out for that tree!
Not wanting to do my impression of George of the Jungle, I stayed away from the McAlpine for a few days.
The wind gusts that came through the Charlotte area in the past days was nothing to joke about, many trees fell and we still have people without electricity.
This afternoon I found many trees down in the McAlpine, with some blocking the trail. Hopped over some of them, but the huge ones caused me to get off the bike to get across. That’s the reason I stay out of the woods when it’s very windy, don’t want to get clobbered by a tree or branch.
MTB: distance 21.22 miles, average speed 12.7 mph.
Filming a music video
A music video was being made by the McAlpine lake.
I stopped to see this fellow moving his lips, but nothing coming out. One of his assistants told me that he had an earpiece in and was listening to the music on the iPod in his pocket. Forgot to ask what the video was called.
Awesome day today, like outside air conditioning. I would of done more miles had I taken a banana or something to eat, cause I started bonking towards the end of the ride.
MTB: distance 14.91 miles, average speed 11.9 mph.
Westerly Winds
Wind at my back going out, aargh back in.
The winds were gusting up to 20 miles per hour from the west today. It wasn’t a great afternoon to go for a ride, but hey it was sunny and warm at least.
Legs felt good, lungs were fine, it was my butt that was hurting in the last 5 miles. Had to get out of the saddle a number of times to give my rear a break, it will take a few weeks to get back to saddle shape.
MTB: distance 14.89 miles, average speed 11.8 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
