Big Ride Day

I rode up to Norris Peak on the MTB this morning and rode up over Norris Peak Road on the road bike this afternoon.

I feel like I'm finally getting acclimatized to the elevation.  It was my legs lacking today rather than my lungs.  I guess that means my fitness is coming around.  I still have a long way to go but I WANT IT NOW!  I know: Easy, Veruca.

Started cramping on the way back into town this afternoon but I backed off and was able to fend it off.  I should sleep like the dead tonight.

New Shoes

There's nothing like new tires on the MTB.  I've been running Neo-Motos for a couple of rotations (and I love them) but before my Neo-Moto fad and prior to my WTB obsession, I was really into Tioga.  So, when I needed new shoes for the Curtlo I ordered a set of trusty Neos and I also got a Tioga Psycho Genius just for kicks.  Get it?  That a joke, Son!  Like, people call shoes, "kicks"... anyway...

The Neo is pretty common tread- see Kenda Nevegal, Maxxis High Roller, etc.  But the Neo has a little stiffer sidewall.  I like that on my hardtail when I'm bombing rocky descents.

My plan is to run the Psycho Genius on the front for a month or so and then run it on the back to see how it does.  Initial impression are that it is really tall and round.  It's stamped 2.35 and it's all of that.

In the continuing interest of the Curtlo's diet, I also swapped out my 57mm Kore B1B stem and Ritchey SC bar with a 70mm Thomson and Renthal carbon Fatbar.  Less 1/2 pound.

Test ride tomorrow up and down Norris Peak and around Bone Collector.

Where the air is clear

It was a Chamber of Commerce day today in the Hills.  Sunny, warm, no wind, beautiful.  I could have just sat on a rock and starred at the pine forest all day today.  But what's just as good is riding singletrack.

I found a new favorite spot on the Earth today.  Part of- well, most of- what makes it so great is the trip there.  That's true of a lot of things.

I've had two instances of deja vu recently- one at work and one at play.  In both, my fore-memory was precise, vivid, and correct to every finite detail.  I believe these to be signs telling me that I'm in my place and time in the universe.

Sometimes in order to find something you just need to stop looking.

The View

I rode a fantastic collection of game trails today that the locals refer to as "The View".  Amazingly, those deer up there have created a masterpiece of an 11 mile loop.  Starting out, I didn't understand why it was called what it was but it soon became clear.

Oh my.

You can see the Hills nearly from one end to the other up there.  It's just spectacular.  And the trail, although not even a trail yet, is an absolute hoot to ride.

A friend of mine has a plaque in his house that reads:  Not lucky, Blessed.  That's how I feel.  I nearly shed a tear after that ride today.

Sorry, no pictures, Sinners.  And no, I won't tell you where it is.  Come visit me and I might take you up there.

Take me back... (sorry)

After I take my bath and brush my teeth and put on my pajamas, I sit on the side of my bed and sing this song.  Then I blow out the candle and go to sleep.

Goodnight.

Epic Saturday morning breakfast

Man, I made the greasiest mess of eggs ever this morning!

I had a leftover skillet of chicken grease and vegetable oil from a few days ago.  I thought about at least pouring it out but then I changed my mind and thought, F it, you only live once.  So I added a clump of butter and scrambled 3 eggs.  What a mess.  Big surprise was that I'd forgetten that I'd added cayenne pepper when I fried the chicken.  I ate breakfast and then rode up to Pactola Lake.

Beautiful.

( That dude died on my 17th birthday)

Then I bought a downhill bike.  BAM!

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is only 25 minutes from me, so it was only a matter of time before I posted something about it.

On my way up to Harney Peak I snapped this image of the back side of the rock mass that Mt. Rushmore is on.  It's on the other side about where the red arrow is.

I like this side better.  The rocks are cool- looking enough without carving on them, I think.  Here's a closeup:

I haven't been up to the actual viewing deck for the monument since I was a kid.  I don't go in for touristy things but since I'm a Hitchcock fan, I'd like to visit the building up there where North By Northwest was filmed.