I spotted this day at the first of the week and knew it may be the best day of the whole Christmas break to ride. I awoke this morning to sunshine and when I pulled into the trails at 2PM the temps were a little over 50 degrees. It seemed everyone else spotted this day as well because the parking lot was pretty full for any time of year much less the dead of winter.
As a tangent Im always surprised at how little use the Wilkes trails get. Typically I go during the week as to avoid people but half the time there is not any other cyclist on the trails when Im there and then when I do meet some one most of the time they are folks trying to escape the misery that is Charlotte mountain bike trails or Raleigh. Everyone that I bring to ride here love these trails. I am fully aware that the cycling scene here in Wilkes is lacking to say the least but with such awesome trails I guess I would just expect more.
Anyway back to the ride report. When I got there I unloaded and noticed I had forgot my bottled water (I know I know) at the house so I would be forced to drink the water on site. Honestly I dont care what it taster like when Im thirsty but it does have a funny taster. This was the first time I hadnt rode my mountain bike since mid october and right away I could tell it. It just seemed like I didnt flow well. Half the time I wasnt even standing up on the descents. I guess riding road for nearly two months and then trying to switch back I should expect some adjustment.
The trails were in good shape for the winter. There was mud in all the wrong spots causing me to really be careful on the descents. Overall though it was fast as usual. After about 20 minutes I reached down for a sip of water and to my dismay my bottle was gone. Now I could understand losing bottles in West Virginia, but there is not excuse on the OVT. It appears that bottle cage is dead. I wasnt to worried I would be at the end of the trail in about 30 more minutes and I could drink from the spicket there. The third section was pretty muddy and I would suggest leaving that section out to anyone who is thinking of riding there soon. Its really not that bad but the lake level section right at the end of the trail is getting really rutted out and I havent seen it dry all year.
As I climbed the final few feet to the turn around point I could taste the water that awaited. I pulled the handle and instantly I didnt hear anything and I knew they had cut the water off for the winter. I almost just rode the road back. I was pretty thirsty but I did have some power gel chews so they were keeping the dehydration to a minimum.
I didnt stop all the way back one, because I wanted to get back to the visitors center where I had filled up my bottle to get something to drink, and two because I finally started to fill the flow and was really moving pretty good all the way back. As I pulled up to the porch of the Visitors center I noticed the lights were off. Really?? I had come to the conclusion I was meant to wither up and die right here. My last shot was the wash station at dark mountain. I rode over there and pulled up the handle on the spicket. To my great joy the quest for water was over and I drunk for about 5 minutes before I did a short loop on Dark Mountain. I headed out right as the sun was going down with the temps still in the high 40's.
So a few observations from todays ride. First Im glad I got my time in on the trail today it really was awesome out there today.
Second I have lost three water bottles in my last 3 rides on the mountain bike. I will definitely be replacing that cheap bottle holder and now that I am pretty much out of bottles I guess Ill have to wait till I receive my Camelbak Podium Chill bottles for Christmas to ride again.
Lastly I want to make a comparison between Me and my bike and Brett Farve and The Vikings. The bike is like Brett because its past its prime, its really just holding on with the memory of the glory days that will never be again. Sure it used to be great and really preform when it came time and there are still good days but the truth is overall it just cant get the job done any longer. I, like the Vikings, just keep holding on because I have no other options. Sure we both know its over but all my eggs are in the basket and I cant get anything else so I guess all I can do is ride this horse till it physically dies.
Seriously though the drive train on this bike is driving me crazy, especially after coming off the ultegra on my road bike. I was literally dropping the train while climbing today and the shifting is miserable. Something major is going to have to happen on that rig if I have to keep it again next year.
A few side notes I finished my first week of base training with 500 minutes. That is below what Im looking for but I took it pretty easy at the start of last week. Im halfway through the second week and I already have 525. I know itll be hard to get in to much the rest of the week but I want to at least 75 more minutes.
I also got a official/unofficial weight on my road bike from my china scale.
Honestly it have me a different weight each time I weighed it but it is safe to say its in the mid 19 pound range. I also have lost 6 pounds since starting my training camp month.
I figured Id give alot of information on the blog today since it is Christmas. Have a good one.
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