Ramblin' On...

Sunday Soul-O Ride. Exceptional weather and trail conditions.

The temperature through out the day was great for mid July. Trail conditions were dry and fast. I parked at Brown Mtn Beach, Started my ride at 9:30 and rode up Craig Creek, down Raidercamp, over to the South Harper Creek falls, down the rest of Raidercamp, had a dry foot Harper Creek crossing then onto Harper Creek Falls. Back out to Wilson Creek and up Lower Wilson Ridge. I rode up all the way to the clearing and dropped the seat post and dropped back down.

I did some trail maintenance on this section near South Harper Falls. Above is how I found it below is how I left it.

I usually call the section of Lower Wilson Ridge the Little Spike but considering how far I rode and pushed up it today, it didnt seem very little. I turned around at the clearing:

I was feeling really good about my riding today until I hit a drop off on Lower Wilson Ridge going too fast and lost control. Considering how fast I was going, I feel lucky to have only skinned my knees and bruised/skinned my forearm, bicep, and shoulder.

More Soul-O's: Sunday, July 5th early morning 30 mile Road Bike Ride and Thursday, July 9 after work 2 hour and 40 minute Mountain Bike Ride At Jonas Ridge

First pic is from my road bike ride on Sunday. I had my best time yet on the 30+ mile loop from home. I finished in under 2 hours and managed not to get rained on.

Thursday I left Glen Alpine at 4:50 and the temperature was 95 degrees. I started my ride at 5:30 and it was 78 degrees near Jonas Ridge. Got to love the high elevation rides in the middle of the summer. I did Headquarters Mountain and added an out and back to some cliffs for some stellar views of Grandfather Mountain area. I got back to the van at 8:10. Great after work ride!

6/28/15 HQ Mountain and South Harper Creek. It was 10 degrees cooler than in Morganton. Nice evening ride.

6/27/15 Morning Road Bike Ride

31 miles starting from the house. Hit the road a few minutes after 7 am and back home a little after 9. I stopped once for a picture of Catawba River.

This is a beautiful world we live in!

6/21/15 Hwy 181 MTB Ride, It Had Been Too Long

I used to ride up 181 and back down various single track once or twice a week but have not ridden the trails paralleling 181 frequently in a few years. It was time to get out there and ride some of these trails. Hopefully the start of getting out there on a regular basis again.

I had my new Conti MTB tires and didnt want to wear the nice new tread down on the pavement so I rode along the edge of the road in the grass or dirt which made the uphill a lot harder. A Road Bike rider passed me and I explained why I was making it hard on myself. He gave me some very positive encouragement which made me feel like I was accomplishing something.

Not sure how many miles I got in that day but I parked at "Shady Point" rode up the side of 184 to the Upper Creek parking lot. Hit the single track to the right of the parking lot and rode the twisty turny little used single track I call "Rock and Roll" for all the big rocks with the lichen all over it and rolling character of the almost overlapping single track. Then I dropped down to 181 and crossed over to the single track that drops out behind the old Barkhouse, climbed back up to 181, crossed and rode Ripshin Ridge. When I came back out to 181, I climbed up and crossed over to the Little Fork trail head. Little Fork was a little overgrown but still good to go. Just as fun as ever!

The climb out was brutal. I had started the ride out with the coolness of the morning but by the time I climbed back up from Steels Creek it was hot - heat wave hot. I was glad to be back at the van after an awesome day of riding.

My first time seeing this log crossing but after looking at it for a few minutes I managed to ride it on the first try. I was satisfied with my success and didnt go for a second attempt.

Some black berries provided a little nourishment for the ride up out of Steels Creek,

6-14-15 Breaking in my new Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Tires

I really like the new tires. I think they will be great for the roads I like to ride. The handling was great on St Mary's Church Rd, down hill with some lite gravel laying on the road. I also felt safe flying down Power House Rd at probably the fastest speed I have ever been on a bike.

I rode down to the end of Lail Rd. It was longer than I expected and no traffic. I didnt pass or get passed by a single car. I'll be doing this one as an out and back again.

June 13 New Continental X King MTB Tires Needed a Good Test Ride and they lived up to my expectations

Sweet new Tires. The trail was not really wet but it was moist in some places. It had rained recently but probably just an afternoon shower. The X Kings gripped nicely and only slipped a couple of times on some wet slick rock but I was able to react appropriately and had no wipe outs..

I parked in the shade between the bridge gage and Campground. Rode Little Spike, up and down. Onto Craig Creek Rd., right at the pass, up to Raidercamp, South Harper Creek overlook, wet foot crossing on Harper Creek and back out of the wilderness for some dirt road rolling back to the van. It got hot before I finished.