Miscellaneous ramblings...

[Dirt Girl]

We live on 11 acres of woods, into which my husband has put in over a mile of trails, so we can mtb right out from our door, where it takes awhile to get out to the road (just the opposite of most people!) since we live down a long gravel road we can't ride our road bikes on. It's nice to have a close place for a workout when one has less than an hour to ride (say, after work). I also like it because I can do it when it's too chilly or windy to ride the road. I get so hot mountain biking that I can manage it at much cooler temps.
Emily

WOW! Your very own singletrack. Lucky you!! We have a 6-mile loop with the trailhead one mile up the road from us, but it's not something I want to do all the time. It's tons of climbing and very technical in some sections. I've never done the entire loop alone as the consequences of getting hurt are too great. The views are awesome, though. (See pic.) I'd love to see pictures of your singletrack if you have some.

I, too, am liking the option of road vs. mtb depending on the weather. I had planned on road last Friday and ended up on the mtb since the weather took a turn. Glad I went as it's been raining for the past two days! And I overdressed as usual and had to strip a layer at the top of a climb. Ride time was 1.5 hours but with all the climbing involved, I only covered 9 miles. You're right--it's much easier to get in the miles on a road bike!

[emily_in_nc]

WOW! Your very own singletrack. Lucky you!! We have a 6-mile loop with the trailhead one mile up the road from us, but it's not something I want to do all the time. It's tons of climbing and very technical in some sections. I've never done the entire loop alone as the consequences of getting hurt are too great. The views are awesome, though. (See pic.) I'd love to see pictures of your singletrack if you have some.

Hi Dirt Girl ~ Yep, I feel very lucky! However, pictures would not be very impressive, I don't think (especially now, before the leaves are on the trees here in NC) - just lots of brown tree trunks and brown leaves on the ground and a little trail running along. It's nothing like that gorgeous view you posted. It's all hardwood forest, tons of trees, no real views at all. It's going to look very different once the leaves are out and there is green everywhere!

Emily

[Dirt Girl]

Hi Dirt Girl ~ Yep, I feel very lucky! However, pictures would not be very impressive, I don't think (especially now, before the leaves are on the trees here in NC) - just lots of brown tree trunks and brown leaves on the ground and a little trail running along. It's nothing like that gorgeous view you posted. It's all hardwood forest, tons of trees, no real views at all. It's going to look very different once the leaves are out and there is green everywhere!

Emily,I used to think "just lots of brown tree trunks and brown leaves on the ground" wasn't very impressive either. A long-ago art class instructor opened my eyes to the beauty and design in all seasons. Instead of thinking "plain old branches" try to see the design Mother Nature has created with them before they get covered up with leaves! Ummmm, hardwood forest and tons of trees. Sounds like heaven to me. I grew up in Cincinnati and miss the deciduous trees and forests. Especially in the autumn. Not enough to trade it in for my current low humidity, few mosquitoes and mountains, though. Brown or green, I'd love to see it both ways. Singletrack is good no matter how you slice it!

[LBTC]

Good one, dirt girl! I was thinking the same thing....both nature's design....and the design of the singletrack winding through those brown trunks and branches - both sound stunning to me!! please take a picture for us Emily?? please!!


Namaste,
~T~

[CorsairMac]

Just my .03 worth - read a journal someone wrote after following Lance Armstrong on a training ride and the two things that stuck the most with me were: Lance spends time every ride riding with no hands (is that the right term), and he rides on every type of surface including dirt/gravel. When he was asked about both quirks his answer was - anything he could do to improve his bike handling skills and his balance made him a better rider when in a race situation. (think Lance riding across the plowed field during that horrible crash in the TdF few years back)
While not a racer - it made me realize that that was an excellent premise to ride by, that way a clutch situation becomes "just another type of ride". So why not ride your road bike on the dirt road.......it could just improve your handling skills if your road bike ever ends up in dirt during a "situation".
As for buying a house to suit your riding?.....why not - it's as much an important part of your life as anything else you're using for your house buying criteria!

[emily_in_nc]

So why not ride your road bike on the dirt road.......it could just improve your handling skills if your road bike ever ends up in dirt during a "situation".

Actually, I do ride my touring bike (1.35" tires) on the gravel road, but I can't bear to ride my carbon-fiber Aegis on it with 23c tires. It's too easy to flat with all that stone, and I hear rocks hitting and pinging on my pretty frame - just can't go there!

Emily

[emily_in_nc]

I'll try to take a photo when it's light and sunny, gals - will post it when I take it. I do think it's very pretty in the woods whatever the season (am partial to spring leaves and fall color, myself; we'll have the beginnings of spring green very soon here....)

Emily