grainy snow on pine needles (white pine - long, durable) with those 3" XR2 tires is a 'fun' combination. Worse than mud, although there was a bit of that today too. Hell the ice had more traction than most of the snow today.
It was a good ride, a great one. But I was/am tired. Woke up at 4:30, restless night, too early, checked the clock again, oh 5:30 sweet, one more hour... 7:30 shit was gonna meet syl between 8 and 9... his text was waiting for me saying 8:30...
coffee, food, get dressed, more coffee, pack car, get garbage and recycling out to the curb push start back to 8:45... make it by 8:48, Syl rolls in at 8:55. Right on time.
We rode where we have been, Big River. starting at Greasy Joe's, we went in by the water tower side, did some stuff, i was def riding better technically today but not perfectly, traction was a little bit of an issue, the ice the snow and some of the mud. We spent most of the time on trails that had not been ridden much if at all in a while, heavy leaf covering, not much snow or if there was snow it was grainy and soft, not packed and frozen into ice like the high traffic areas. It actually was pretty sweet out there. We hit Stine's trail after the other section of higher speed flow and it hurt.
I was gassed but when we got out Syl was breathing hard too so it was a bit of a validation that it isn't just me and the slow bike. But yeah me, 220# on a 30-40# bike was trying to keep up with 140# on a 20# full suspension carbon XC race machine. I dropped that damn post for a lot of the twisty stuff and it helps a ton, getting the weight lower and railing like on a BMX bike is faster than trying to ride it with the post jacked to the max. But it is tiring. I think maybe that is what shredded my legs. That and trying to keep up with Syl.
We'd made plans to go ride the course for next weeks race tomorrow, but Syl forgot about stuff and well that's not happening.
As sore and tired as I'm feeling now I'm half thinking I should just take it easy, work on class notes and the syllabus and get some grocery shopping done. Esp with the rain we're getting tonight.
But i can probably be convinced to go out and ride tomorrow, won't take much I think.
It is pretty amazing how little i notice the weight riding, but trying to pick up the bike and put it in the van is rough. Riding on pavement is rough. But I can still launch off rocks and keep syl in view as we climb and ride.
Man it is BLOWING and raining. Some front coming through right now.
Oh, I did almost knock myself out. Hit a ride up a rock, one of those super steep angles that you need to pop the front wheel and do the whole weight shift momentum thing... I was paying attention to the angle and the transitions and totally ignored the overhanging tree.
SMACK
I drove myself full force into the underside of the tree. I think I actually cracked it. Helmet hit HARD, full transfer of force through my body. I was stunned for a bit. Then thought "Well here's a chance to test concussion susceptibility"
my neck is a little sore but that's about it.
I think the helmet is a bit old though - i would have expected the foam to actually have compressed or deformed with that hard of a hit, unless the tree did instead. either way as hard as the impact was, that helmet should have sustained more damage than it did.
On the first trail, Fosters?, Syl commented "I wonder who is going to be the first to crash on the ice." Neither of us did. I had a handful of times when I spun out or spun sideways but no crash (other than my head and that wasn't ice/condition related).
Also saw Dave McC out there. Haven't seen him in YEARS! It brought back memories of riding Dawn Patrol with him and Wendy and Becca, and making pancakes after... and for a bit there I was lagging behind Syl, half rewinding memories and the other half of my brain saying "hey dumbass... you better not eat shit being distracted about that stuff" Syl actually said the same thing when I admitted to letting my brain drift to those memories.
Swung through Trader Joes on the way home, and yeah that's a plastic pre-package NIGHTMARE of a store. But they have stuff. Like affordable fancy cheese, cheap avocados and slice almonds and a few other things. Traffic tho, rt2 sucks. So many cars.
Stopped at the shop - picked up some more skratch sugar water mix (yeah yeah it is expensive, even at my cost but it works) sorted out what size bike Em is looking for (52, if any has a decent road bike for broke grad student who wants to start riding outside that is inexpensive lemme know thanks).
Now legs are just pissed, I'm tired. Def under fueled and under coffeed and eyes are heavy. Laundry is running (got dirty today)... excited for class to be honest, looking forward to improving my craft, trying to help the students grow and learn, maybe I'll get lucky with this group and it will click. Last year there were a few wild cards that were not maybe the best fit. It is interesting pouring everything into a class, teaching something you're both very good at and very passionate about.
Trying to chew through The Stone Sky. I am not sure how much of a fan I am of the broken earth series. Insanely well written but I'm almost forcing myself to read and find I'm getting distracted too easily. It is better listened to. For me. Reading it, imaginatively the same but somehow, kind of like Neuromancer, the only way to easily consistently get through it is to listen to the audiobook.
What to read next? Dunno... the wishlist/tagged books on my library account is pretty long, most of them are not available. I do have something on hold, three body problem I think...
looks like dirt church chatter is starting up, might be riding Mountain bicycles again! Unretired.
Oh, one funny related moment Syl also told Dave that he expected my return to MTB'n to be much bloodier, disappointed that it wasn't....
well i'm gonna go look for more food
heddwch
G
