September rides

[wnyrider]

Your handlebar bag looks like it could be a Revelate Design one, but I don't see it on their site. Could you tell me what bag is that? I have an Ortlieb bag which is very nice, but I'd have to remove the stem with the handlebar to pack the bike for traveling. How does your bag connect?

[Crankin]

Yeah, I know that kind of riding takes practice, of which I am loathe to do. That's why I stopped mountain biking. I don't naturally have the skills, I have a high fear factor, and I always had the nagging feeling I was missing out on road miles. I have less of a fear factor, 10 years later, but I am still debating what kind of bike to get for the third bike. It will have to meet a lot of criteria for uses, but mostly, I am interested in gravel/dirt road riding and not traditional mountain biking.
We didn't plan anything today, as we thought it would be raining from the hurricane. However, it's sunny, so we went out around 11:30 for a short ride around town. The wind started picking up considerably as we got near home and now, I would not want to be out there. We are not going to get the rain we need desperately, but at least it will hold off until later, into tomorrow.

[north woods gal]

wnyrider, that's a Banjo Brothers bag. They're a small outfit out of Minneapolis. Very good bags at very affordable prices. Just happened to notice them at a local bike shop, this summer, and thought I would give one a try. Liked it so much went back and bought another. Amazing bag for just $30.

Cranking, any MTB will do well on normal gravel roads as in the first pic. It's only when you try the really abused, neglected or remote gravel roads as in some of the other pics that you need to get more bike specific. Don't think you'd like those nasty gravel/sand roads, anyway, since you'll have to deal with the same fear factor. Like you, I'm cautious by nature and it took a lot of practice, not to mention psyching myself up, to get where I'm comfortable with the rough roads.

Since I'm also a road biker like you, I would strongly suggest a 700x35 or 700x40 class road bike if you don't already have one. Definitely gravel worthy as long as the gravel or dirt is at least somewhat hard packed. A 700x35, though, is also very useful on pavement. Handles rough pavement better than a standard 700x25, carries a load better and does better in rain. I've even used a 700x35 with studded tires in the snow. As long as the snow is only a couple of inches deep, actually works good. Makes for a great commuting bike. Have even used it on firm, smooth single track. To be honest, I ride my 700x35 Salsa Warbird much more on pavement than my 700x25 Domane, mostly because I have more options as to what roads I ride and was weather I might encounter.

The Warbird is advertised as a gravel road, road bike and most other brands have versions, too. They have a more comfortable geometry than cyclocross bikes, but they still give you great speed. My average speed on the Warbird is the same as with the Domane. Don't confuse these with hybrids for casual riding. These are serious road bikes.

My Salsa Warbird

[Crankin]

Well, I am not giving up my 700X25 Silque an time soon! It's the most awesome bike I've had. I also have 700X25s on my Guru, which used to be more of a workhorse bike for me, when my other bike had 23s. It has one lower gear and a rack, but not really better on the dirt. I've ridden the Guru only 3 times this season, as I tend to bring my clothes to work on the days I drive, and just carry a little sack pack and ride the Trek. The Guru feels smooth as only titanium can, once riding, but there is something about the geometry that that feels awkward when I start off. This was a totally custom bike and I feel terrible it's never ridden, but maybe in the fall, I will ride it more. My choice is going to be between a cross/dedicated gravel type bike, of which there are hardly any that will fit me and a mountain bike. I had a really nice full suspension Norco mountain bike, but it was certainly too big for me, at 15 inches. I really need a 13 inches. There are still 26" WSD mountain bikes that come in extra small, but I am not going to spend what I spent before. Well, I have time to dream.

[Sky King]

Emily that looks wonderful. I am giddy as we are doing a backroads S24O this weekend to Atlanta, Id. - Hot Springs soak is on the list.

[emily_in_nc]

That sounds great, Sky King. Do enjoy!

I don't think I ever posted about our last ride in Dinosaur NM. It was actually a full day of bike-hike-bike-hike-bike. We took our mountain bikes since we knew part of the way was on an unpaved road. We rode down to Josie's cabin at the end of the road, a truly fascinating look back at a homesteader's environment. On the way we stopped to see some amazing petroglyphs. At Josie's Cabin, we parked the bikes and took a short hike into Box Canyon before heading back down the unpaved, then paved road to the visitor's center. There, we again locked the bikes and took a hike on the Fossil Discovery Trail up to the Dinosaur Quarry, where we were astonished to see and touch actual dinosaur bones. SO AMAZING!

Finally, we pedaled back to the campground. I think the ride was only about 22 miles (but on knobby tires felt a lot longer), and the hiking around 3.5 miles total, but we were totally spent. An awesome last day!

If you ever get a chance to go to Dinosaur National Monument, near Jensen, Utah, DO IT. There are other parts of the park in Colorado as well, but we only explored the Utah portion. That's the only part of the park where you can see dinosaur bones, btw. And the cycling is great!

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[north woods gal]

Emily, you are an inspiration for me to get back out west for a visit. I really don't know of anyone that has biked so many spots out there. You could write a book on it. Hmmm?

As for me, 31 miles, today, on the Salsa Warbird 700x35 gravel road bike. 12 miles were gravel and that was the destination. All the paved miles were getting there and back, though riding pavement with this bike is equally satisfying. The gravel was in excellent shape, thanks to recent wet weather, so actually had to work to find spots where I could have a little fun fishtailing and chugging though soft stuff. Guess that makes me a hard core gravel rider. Too easy, so did 4 more miles on my homegrown mountain bike trails on our property when I got home. What's happening to the cautious road bike girl that used to be me?

Heading to Florida for a week for a conference in St. Pete that my husband will attend. Not looking forward to it. Too many darn people for a country girl like me. Not my kind of place at all. Might as well be a different planet. My stress levels are way up there. Might survive if I can find a bike shop and rent a bike, though.

[rebeccaC]

beautiful riding area Emily, thanks for taking us there!!!

After a night of being social we had a short slow wake-up ride on one of our favorite roads before breakfast…just 12 miles but such a good way to start the day. Now I have work research and writing to do the rest of the day

[north woods gal]

Makes me warm and cozy to see those pics, rebecca. Already having to wear a coat and leggings to ride, now, and it's going to only get colder and colder, up here in the north woods of Wisconsin. Been a great summer riding season for me, though.

[ny biker]

Makes me warm and cozy to see those pics, rebecca. Already having to wear a coat and leggings to ride, now, and it's going to only get colder and colder, up here in the north woods of Wisconsin. Been a great summer riding season for me, though.

Yikes. We've been having a September heat wave. Usually when I ride on such a hot day I take breaks in the shade while everyone else rides without stopping. Today many people stopped to cool down during the last 10 miles whenever we found a tree. Many ran out of water, but the ride organizers did a good job of sending SAG drivers out to hand out cold bottles of water.

Most of the ride was great. Lots of friendly people, beautiful scenery and amazing locally grown fruit at the rest stops. I passed a farm with lots of ducks and turkeys. Also passed a field covered with large spider webs that glistened with dew. And the views of the Catoctin Mountains are like visual prozac, beautiful and calming.

My cell phone camera does not do it justice. One photo shows the view from the Gettysburg battlefield. The others show a neat historical marker I found while doing some exploring off the official route.



Here are some photos from the same area, taken last fall.

[ny biker]

beautiful riding area Emily, thanks for taking us there!!!

After a night of being social we had a short slow wake-up ride on one of our favorite roads before breakfast…just 12 miles but such a good way to start the day. Now I have work research and writing to do the rest of the day

I love photos of roads like this. They're so inviting...

[Crankin]

Well, we had an adventure today, and it was not the metric we planned.
Had a great dinner in Amherst last night, and then went right to bed. Got up at 5:30 to DH and our friend saying the weather looked horrible. So, at 7:30 we went out to do a 25 mile ride, before it hit... we didn't even attempt the charity ride.
Had a lovely time traveling the roads of the "Happy Valley," including one difficult climb. When we were 6 miles from his house, the skies opened, thunder and wind. Bad. DH and I had our rain jackets and helmet covers, but our friend did not. After almost getting blown off of the road, we made it to Belchertown center, where we hid out under the overhang of the town hall for about an hour +. After hypothermia almost setting in, we thankfully had a 3 mile slog up Rt 202 back to the house.
It was fun, but I am glad we did not do the metric. Heading out to lunch and then home.

[Sky King]

As expected, our ride to Atlanta Idaho was beautiful. Overall we rode 100 miles - all on dirt roads- still tired ~. Some of it was really wash boarded so sure glad I took the ECR with the 3" wide tires. We drove to a campground Friday night - full moon and the young people in the site next to us stayed up ALL NIGHT - OMG, we were all bleary eyed Sat. am. Atlanta has 1 bar/cafe and they serve Burgers - period. Even our mostly vegetarian buddy decided a burger and a brew was easier than firing up the alcohol stove (we can be so lazy) Plus the bar has Stone IPA - a great beer. Camp was about 2 miles from town but ended up being free and the hot springs were exactly what my tired body needed. We did have unexpected rain but was during the night. Continuing with our effort to support the local economy, the cafe/bar agreed to open and serve us breakfast - pretty nice folks in this small mining town. As the road follows the middle fork of the Boise river it is mostly a gradual climb to Atlanta and thus a lovely return trip on Sunday. The DH decided he was in the mood to pedal so he made it to Twin Springs (a developed hot springs spot) well ahead of most of us but we were all fine doing our own Private Idaho ride. Fall colors and the quiet more than made up for the noisy Friday night.

[north woods gal]

Emily, by coincidence I find myself in Lake County, Florida, since my hubby has cousins, here.

Two days without riding to get here was driving me nuts, so found rental place at the beginning of a paved R-T, the West Orange Bike Trail and off I went in the 90 degree plus heat and humidity. WAY underestimated what I was up against. The trail was a breeze, but by the time I hit mile 12, the heat and humidity had me bonking.

Really a triple whammy. Had been eating light because of the heat and, as result, could feel the signs oh low blood sugar setting in. Being diabetic, l know how dangerous this could be. Also could feel dehydration setting in to the danger level. Had already finished the single bottle of water I had brought. Lastly, new area, so my allergies were going nuts. Honestly as close to crashing and shutting down on the trail as I've been in my life. VERY dangerous. Was all I could do not to pass out.

Thank the goddess that I managed to limp back three miles to another bike station. Guzzled down three quarts of water and gobbled down two candy bars, then waited half hour for my system to recover.

Back to normal, now, and made good time the last 9 miles to the trail head.

For sure, will do more biking while down, here - lovely country - but lesson learned.

[rebeccaC]

NWG….There’s something about having a home in a place that's usually like an endless mild summer that I like …and being close enough to area’s where I can experience the seasons when wanted. Enjoy your fall rides through woods that look like stained-glass windows!!!!!

Thanks NY…. Your photos remind me of friends who do long rural rides going north out of D.C. Beautiful country. Even with the heat I'm glad your ride gave you some “beautiful and calming” feelings!!!!!