Bracken Mtn

For the past several weekends, I have had the privilege of helping out with the Bracken Mtn Project. This project has been fun for several reasons. The ease of actually working is great.


I am excited to leave something that others can enjoy. Something new. It will help the economy, community, and most importantly, provide a place for people to get outside and stay healthy.

While it is rewarding work, it is very difficult and tiring. Mondays are pretty much shot and it usually messes up any thoughts of riding a bike. We load our chainsaws and gear into our backpacks and hike, sometimes close to 1 hr to get where we left off from last time. Then we put on all of our safety gear, and spread out along the proposed corridor, following little orange flags.
Bushwacking with chainsaw, and full gear is difficult. Once we are spread out, we "make some noise" and start cutting a swath through the forest, making every attempt to cut the branches small enough for the swampers to scatter neatly into the woods. The swampers are the ones who come behind us and clear the cuttings from the trail. They have a hard job as well, sometimes the mountain laurel thickets are so dense that it is very difficult to spread the cuttings.
After wielding the chainsaw for hours, pausing occasionally to eat, drink and soak in the surroundings, we load up and head out. Muscles sore and tired, the downhill hike is tough, but knowing focusing on what was accomplished feels great. Free food in town makes us feel even better!

Thursday Night Gravel

Thursday night rolled around and I left the house in shorts and short sleeves. I packed a vest, arm and knee warmers just in case. I was glad I did because is cooled off, and was a bit chilly down by the creeks and river.

Eric, Kevin and I rolled out. Eric rode with us to the Arboretum and bailed. Kevin and I continued through the closed gate at the Arboretum and asked permission to continue through. The gate keeper tried to give us a hard time, but the guy is just a nice guy, and let us go through. We rolled up the gravel road, up and over Hardtimes connector, where we passed a hoard of mountain bikers including Jay Middleton, and Kelly Baisley.

Up through Rice Pinnacle parking lot where we chatted with some bike bum, and then onto the gravel again. It was 6:30pm and still light. We left our lights off until the first long decent. I expected to see more people out with the warm weather and all, but did not mind the solitude.
As we pedaled smooth strong circles, we chatted about whatever it is that cyclists chat about. Our kids, our families, bikes (of course), the Foundry Launch Party etc.

As we were cruising down the first long decent, we came around a corner and if the 4 deer had gone right instead of left, I would have t-boned at least two of them. They were standing 10-20 feet from the center of the road, and seemed to be as surprised as we were because they kind of stood there.
the darkness closed in and the moon got a little brighter, the woods were alive with noise, the nocturnal animals out and about. We later stopped to listen to the frogs in the giant puddle, when Kevin looked down and saw these two toads. We almost ran over them.
Farther down South Ridge Rd, we were dive bombed by a couple of bats and then as we made our way down the Parkway and across the French Broad River, the noise of the frogs was loud. Spring is in the air and officially just around the corner. Snow in the forecast? yup.

It was a good ride, one of those rides where everything felt right. And getting home to homemade roasted red pepper pasta, kale, and garlic bread, topped it off!!

Bikepacking

2 year ago around this time, I caught the bikepacking bug. I tried to ignore it and make excuses. I tried to think up reasons that this new angle of the sport might not be so much fun. I tried to talk myself out of it.......

2 years later with a couple of trips under my belt, I am hooked.

There is something simple about self reliance. Loading up everything I will need for a 3 day trip and rolling out under my own power. Having a destination, but being unsure that I will make it there. On the other hand, I could make it there and then keep riding.

There is something special, something that reminds me how small and dependent I am on nature for survival, when I stop at a cold, clear mountain creek to filter some water. Laying awake at night, listening to the animals scurrying in the dark, going about there business, hearing sticks fall and the nearby stream talk and sing, is something special.

Lying so close to the moist dirt, under the canopy of trees brings a feeling of refreshment and energy that no amount of coffee can provide.

Then the night sounds go quiet as the darkness fades, invaded by light. The night animals sneak away into their homes. I watch for a few minutes as the sky turns various colors, depending on the mood of the weather and atmosphere.

I sit up and stretch, looking forward to another day.

Bikepacking, I'm hooked.

Wind

I rode out to Marshal on Saturday via the bakery loop route. Knowing that there were quite a few races going on, I rode alone, into the 20-40 mph winds. It was cold but warming. Without the wind, it would have been warm enough for minimal layers, but with the wind....

I ended up using so much energy getting out to Marshal, that I didn't have anything left to take advantage of the 20-40mph tail wind. I felt steady but not strong so I plodded home.

Sunday, I went out to the Bracken Mtn trail in Brevard, where we have been clearing corridor for a yet to be named trail builder to build 6 miles of new trail. It has been a fun and challenging task, wielding a chainsaw for 6 hours, cutting through Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel thickets. I come home dead tired, hopefully its good cross training.

Yesterday we finally completed the corridor clearing on the loop, and got a start on the connector to Pisgah. It is exciting to see the project from start to finish.

The City of Brevard is hoping for a finish date of July 1st!

This trail will become part of the Pisgah Traverse when it is complete. I'm planning on riding The Traverse again this summer. This trail will enable someone on the route to ride right through downtown Brevard.

Warmth

It felt great to get out and ride in shorts and short sleeves. I stashed my arm warmers and vest in my jersey pocket just in case, but didn't think about them until I got home.

It was Thursday and my normal Thursday night riding partners bailed on me, one for a mtn bike ride and another for Papas and Beer... so, I headed out alone, as the sun was slowly descending , but not quite setting.

The smell of warmth in the forest is enough to make me want to lay down and take a nap. While the wind was blowing pretty hard, giving me a nice tailwind for the ride home, the trees and contours protected me while I was in the woods.

There were quite a few other people out there as well, some with dogs running around off leash, which is fine. But when the dude with 6 dogs that are out of control comes along, its not fine anymore. The rottweiler bounded and leaped directly in front of me, playing some sort of chicken game, and not moving until I changed my line. Then the WhyMORONer ran up next to me and attempted to bite my leg.

I have never found a WhyMoroner that even has a semblance of intelligence. I had a neighbor with 3 of these annoying dogs, they barked incessantly, at anything that moved, even grass. Then another time, I had one of these over grown mutts pee all over my food and supplies at a race. I have attempted to respect, and give these dogs a chance but yesterday was the last straw.

When the dog struck out, I moved my knee just enough that it was only able to nip, pinching the skin but not breaking it. Pinching it enough to make it sting for the next 20 minutes. I told the dude, who just grinned and kept walking.

So, WhyMORONer, if you see me coming steer clear.

Food

At some point over the past couple of weeks, I started feeling really tired halfway through the day. Sluggish, and no energy, I started researching the issue. I looked at what I was eating and realized that I might not be getting the nutrients that I need. Considering a multi vitamin, I contacted my nutritionist: Namritat O'dea. She helped me dial in my on the bike nutrition and I was looking forward to her recommendations.

After a short discussion, we decided that I needed to eat more fruits and veggies. We eat healthy meals around here but there were some things in my diet that were lacking. So, a quick trip to Amazing Savings and I was stocked up on the goods.

For lunch with a sandwich, I am substituting crunching broccoli, carrots or some other healthy crunchiness instead of potatoe chips. For my midday snacks, I am eating fruits and nuts. In the past I have loathed bananas. They are mushy and make me gag. I have managed to eat one each day this week.....I still gag a little, but if my body functions better, I'll take the gag over some sort of complicated life saving surgery.

Lifestyle changes are not always easy. I don't consider this to be a diet, and I don't have a goal date to reach. I plan on eating like this henceforth.

Will I still eat chips? yes, will I still eat chicken wangs? yes, but I'll definitely be eating a whole lot more fruits and veggies and less empty carbs in between!

Maybe it will even make me faster...

Sunshine

This has been one very mild winter and I have been loving it. Although I have not been able to get in any monster rides, with the help of some quick lunch rides, I have been consistent. Our Maple trees are budding, some of our flowers are blooming, and some of the freckles on my face are getting darker. Spring is in the air, along with the looming threat of a cold snap and the exciting possibility of a wicked snow storm.

While I'm not complaining about the mild winter, I would not mind doing some donuts in my truck in the snow.....

In the meantime, I found an adventurer's web-site. Alastair Humphreys. Way more raw and realistic than reality tv. This guy does some interesting things, one of which is microadventures.
I might have to try some of his ideas. Except for the one where they tried to live of the land for 4 days.

Lunch Rides

I've been able to get out for some lunch rides recently, which has been nice. Getting up early, get the fire going for the family, start work stuff, send the family to school, do more work until it warms up, sneak out for a spin when its a little warmer...

I got this jersey super cheap. It is very comfortable to boot. On my ride, stopped at a redlight, someone with a "Redneck for Red Wolves" bumper sticker leaned out of his window and asked if I was training for the Olympics....

Another day, another ride. I need to figure out how to get some miles in before the Pisgah 111k

1-31-2012

 Sunday morning I met Kevin at 9am to ride and get home so I could have time to spend with the family.  After spending most of the day at the Bracken Mountain Trail Project, the day before, running the chainsaw for 4 hrs, I was wiped out.    We wanted to ride up to Craggy Gardens but with my legs feeling dead, we changed our plans and headed down Ox Creek and up Heron Cove Rd.

 Temps when we started were near 30 degrees, but with some Hicappie gloves that I bought at Liberty Bikes, my hands were warm.  I have not bought a pair of decent gloves in 6 yrs,  it makes a difference.

Up and over, around the mountains, we talked about how nice it is to be riding outside today instead of on rollers.  It was a great day, but when I got home, I was wiped.  I ate some food, got  a shower, then headed back out for a walk in the woods with the wife and kid.  

4 months to go until she finishes nursing school.  I'm worn out and beat down as much as she and her study buddies are.  We are all tired of studying,  but its a goal that was only a dream a couple of years ago, she is so close and we are both so excited.  

Night Ride Recovery Ride

The Thursday night Bent Creek CX ride has sort of fizzled.  Only two die hard members left,  I think that neither one of us had missed a ride since it started at the end of last year.   The temps were cool and cooling, cold again by the time we got back home.  The roads were a bit soft in some areas, but as we got higher, they were freezing and made rolling smoother and faster.  Kevin and I rolled around chatting and then commented that we felt like we were going fast.  When I got home and checked the time, we it turns out we had been going faster, than previous times, not by much but definitely faster,  and I didn't feel as depleted either.  

Friday was time for a recovery ride.  I headed out to Black Mtn and up Hwy 9 to the Eastern Continental Divide.  I could see clouds building up behind the Black Mountain Range and spilling over into the Swannanoa Valley.

I turned and rolled back down the hill into town and to Dynamite Roasting Co.for a cup of coffee and a scone,  my metabolism is kicking and I was hungry...

Rolling

It felt freezing cold outside and the wind was whipping.  Being short on time, I hit the rollers for a spin.....

That's it.

Run

I ran out of coffee....I had enough for 2 cups, to last me all day.  Normally when I run out of coffee, I go to the store and get some more.   Not today, I was on house arrest.  The kid on the couch with a fever, and the wife at clinicals.  So I suffered, I endured and I'm alive to tell about it. 

After sitting around the house all day, taking care of the kid, the wife got home around 4:30pm and I went out the door with my running shoes on. Cloudy with a  chance of rain, the skies already darkening, I ran up the road and onto the trail.  The wind was howling through the tops of the trees and I was feeling freedom.  The kind of freedom that comes after a long and stressful period in life, when things finally start to take a turn and there is the expected, the hoped for light at the end of the tunnel. 

I ran a steady but mellow pace.  Letting my mind drift around the universe of my brain.  My thoughts lingered on bikepacking, and planning another Pisgah Traverse this spring. 

Around, up and over the mountain, back down and heading home.  Sunset at 5:42pm.  It was getting dim, and I was in no hurry.  I passed several other runners on the trail,  I knew 5 of them. It was  great to stop briefly and chat with a few I had not seen in a while. 

 An hour and fifteen minutes later, I was back at home.  After a shower and egg/potato burritos, I went to the store to get more coffee. 

Bakery Ride Loop

 Kevin and I took a little spin around the Leicester area on Sunday.  The temps were in the mid 40's, the wind was blowing and the sun was hot.  We were both a little bit overdressed.  But I think that was better than underdressed on a day like this. 

We had some great views of the surrounding mountains, covered in snow.  Mt Mitchell, Max Patch and Roan, among others were all clearly visible.

 After winding around the ridges and dipping into the valleys, we passed through Marshal, hoping for a tailwind.....not to happen,  we occasionally felt a gust from the rear, but we were mostly pushing against the wind.   The last 15 miles were a grind, but it felt good to break the 3hr mark for the first time in 2012,  and at a higher pace than I thought I could maintain.

In the last 10 miles, I used my last swig of water to wash down a Honey Stinger gel, and got a good burst of energy that lasted until I got home.

It was great trading pulls with Kevin,  the dude is strong and getting stronger., braaap.

CX Ride

It was supposed to rain a little bit,  and then turn to snow.   I figured if it rained, it would be miserable, if it snowed, it would be worth the risk.   It rained.

I headed over to meet Chris and Kevin at Liberty before riding over to Bent Creek.  The sky was dark and stormy, and the rain started falling almost as soon as we got on the parkway.   Riding the single speed is fun, but drafting is key.   The rooster tails spraying up from the rear wheels made drafting difficult without getting totally soaked. 

We rolled up the parkway to Hardtimes road and got on the gravel road.  Talking, laughing, falling into somber moods of silence.   Carving around the turns, pedal, coast, carve. 

The rain continued to fall, off and on, and we were hoping the forecast was right,  only 45% chance at 7pm, and less after that.  We were relieved when we rounded a corner and could see the clear, star filled night sky up and to the left.  Then we rounded the bend to the right and it started raining again.

At one point, bombing down a hill, I hit a large rock, that made a large clunk.  I hit so hard, it felt as if both tires would go flat.  They didn't,  so I kept riding. 

We took a right on Bent Creek Gap Rd, then a left on South Ridge Road.  Towards the top of the first long climb,  my front tire went soft.  I did my best to change it quickly and got is filled with one co2 cartridge.   Back on the bikes and down the hill,  carving again.  Enjoying the flow we all got into a rhythm and got quite.   The rain falling, tires squishing through the mud, grinding the gravel,  slightly made more difficult by the sogginess. 

Off in the distance we could make out the Asheville area lights. 

We got back onto the parkway, and it started raining again.  I was mesmerized by the water droplets passing through the beams of light.  Such a cool feeling to be out, riding in this weather. 

We parted ways and  I rolled home.  I was tired,  fingers and toes starting to get chilled. 

It was a good ride.

Little Spin

 I took a little spin up the parkway.  I was considering riding up to Craggy Gardens, but the sun wasn't quite coming out from behind the clouds and it was getting cooler as I climbed.  So I cut my ride a little short.  I ended up going down Ox Creek mtn, which was a bit sketchy due to the sand on the road. 

There were clouds hanging over and around Mt Pisgah but the views were incredibly crisp.  It was a good.

Cross Training

I did not get much time on the bike this weekend, but I did spend a lot of time outside doing some different cross training activities.  Friday, I spent about 4 hrs helping a friend chop wood, then I took my kid for a ride at Richmond hill.  I rolled through dog poop, disgusting, and a disgruntled walker, knocked  a small pine tree down across the trail.  Real smart.

Saturday the kid and I hooked up with some friends and shuttled, yes shuttled and rode down the Point Lookout Greenway. 

And finally on Sunday, I met up with Chris Strout for a hike up the Shut In Ridge Trail.  I have never been hiking there before and definitely recommend it.  Especially this time of year, because the views are pretty cool..  The trail leads up above the Pkwy pretty quickly.  Now, I'm having thoughts of the Shut In Trail Race...

Night Ride

The sun was just dipping over the horizon when we rolled down the parkway to Bent Creek.  The moon hung overhead and was brightly shining in the clear winter sky.   The temps had gotten close to 50 today and were going to drop to 30 in the next 3 hrs.  I felt a little overdressed at the start, but almost 3 hrs later when I got home, my fingers and toes were getting a little numb.

I met Kevin at Liberty then we picked Eric up at Rice Pinnacle.  We rode a fairly easy pace which was nice,  after yesterday's 2 ish hour run, I was not feeling fast. 

There is still some snow leftover from earlier this week, in the contours that are tucked back into the mountain where the sun doesn't quite reach this time of year. 

I rode home to find home made pizza waiting for me, it doesn't get much better!

Run

I had a meeting at Starbucks, and since the temps had risen to 20 with a high of 40 later,  I decided to run through my neighborhood, onto the Mtns to Sea Trail and to the coffee shop.  I was surprised and disappointed that I made it to the meeting in just under an hour,  I was hoping to get close to 2 hrs today.  After the meeting, I ran back home.   That was a cool way to mix things up a bit, and now I have another option for some training with coffee in the middle.  Can't beat that!

Beginning

And so it begins: training 2012. 

I have been resisting putting anything on the calendar until after May.  The wife finishes nursing school and between now and then with be a ton of studying.  I find it difficult and simply wrong to go racing during this time.  We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and we are both very excited.

So, my first official training ride was on the rollers, and later I was able to put my first race on the calendar.  It was a pretty exciting day!!

12-31-2011

New Year's Eve found me out on Farlow Gap and Cove Creek Trails ripping it up with some good friends.  We ripped on each other a good bit as well, but everyone made it through.   There were lots of firsts on this ride.  First mellow winter for the yankees, first time on these trails for Nolan etc.

For me this ride will live long in my dreams and give me confidence to add to my repertoire. 

I have not been the most techy rider in the past.  In fact, I am pretty sure that I lose a ton of spots on downhills and corners.  This fall, I decided to do something about that and work on those two skills.   Nolan gave me a really good tip for cornering, which turned out to be the missing link for me.  He said, " poop over a cliff".   It works!

Then I set up my hardtail 26" trek single speed with a rigid fork and have been riding that all over Pisgah.  Forcing me to watch my technique and move around on the bike more,  loosening up my arms and putting more weight on my feet. 

For a personal victory, I stayed on the bike for more of Farlow than I ever have before.  It doesn't matter how much, or how far I made it.  I'm not comparing myself to others,  I just relish the fact that I improved in an area that I never thought I would!! 

Happy New Year!!