Another 200 Mile Week!

So I hate to turn this into Tom’s biking blog, but biking does seem to be one of my main preoccupations these days! You may have noticed that I added a mileage report to the right sidebar of my blog and I am on my way to my biggest biking year of my life (I did a little over 5000 miles back in 1993). This week I rode 207.3 miles (107.9 road & 99.4 off-road). Unfortunately I fell just 0.6 miles short of riding 100 miles both on & off road!

Saved by these water bottles found on Tung Nut Loop!

I did complete my longest ride to date at San Felasco on Saturday (40 miles). I rode in the 12-5p time period. It was hot (94 degrees), but humidity was not too bad. I managed to hit all the hardest trails, several multiple times (including the defibrillator!). I figure I am about ready for the 53-mile Tour De Felasco in January if I can do 40 miles in this heat without stocked rest stops! I was also inspired by new equipment including a 3 liter Camelbak Hawg. I had cold water most of the ride & even had one back up bottle. I did find the insulated water bottle around mile 32 which I used to cool off by pouring over my head! The bottle on the right really saved me as I found it on mile 28 of a 35 mile ride 2 weeks ago when I was out of water, overheated & determined to get my last 7 miles in. I really like the new Camelbak & it has room to carry things on a day hike too. I may use it to try and do an assault I’ve been thinking about on Mt. Mitchell in the next couple weeks when I’m up in Asheville (potentially up to 30 miles & 5000 foot elevation climb, stay tuned!). I also bought lock-on handle grips that worked quite well as between the rain & my sweating, my grips have been continually slipping lately.

My Mickey Mouse tan!

I finished my week with my third 36 mile ride to Hawthorne & back. Just short road rides this week, as my epic days were at San Felasco this week. Still, I managed to keep up my Mickey Mouse tan that has developed from wearing biking gloves most of the time I am in the sun these days (combine that with my farmers tan & it looks more like I have tan sleeves on!). I had planned to ride further, but a storm was approaching, I was run down from yesterday & I had a presentation for work I needed to get to. I did get to see a very beautiful Diamondback Rattle Snake on the trail. It was about 3 feet long in the middle of the trail around mile marker 13. As always, a long stick was handy, so I scooted it off the trail so neither it or anyone else would get hurt. It was pretty calm for a Diamondback & didn’t seem to mind getting moved. I’ve seen about 5 Water Moccasins this season, but this was my first Rattler! I need to get a camera to take on the trails with me!