Rocky Roads

Last Sunday, my friend Kelly and I set out for a big day on road bikes, with hopes of lots of gravel, no flats, and a mid-ride soda stop. We decided to ride the entire Rough Roubaix course, which is 114 miles and around 7200 feet of climbing. We visited some great gravel roads, saw President Kyle and Chase on their mountain bikes at the Shenandoah Mountain saddle, and descended into West Virginia for a wind-free spin to Brandywine. Once in Brandywine, we refueled on Dr. Pepper and chatted with some of WV's best. We kept on to Rough Run road, and braved some creek crossings and rough terrain as we climbed to the top. In the Rough Roubaix, riders descended at the top of that climb, (Shenandoah Mountain). Instead, Kelly and I turned the opposite way and kept riding to the top of Long Run Road. It was hard, hot, and gnarly. I was struggling to keep turning the pedals over! Our hands were cramping from the rough rollers, but the views and the setting were too cool to not keep going in good spirits. Once we got to the top of Long Run, we realized we had done over 8000 feet of climbing... and came to the realization that we might be off the Rough Roubaix course. The map reassured us that we weren't completely lost, though, and we continued on the Big Bear Loop. The downhill to Hopkins Gap road was phenomenal - we saw four bears! We climbed up the backside of Hopkins and rode back to the Burg via Mt. Clinton. Our ride ended up being 102 miles, with 8800 feet of climbing. An awesome 9 hour day with Kelly - can't wait for more rock drops on road bikes.

 Stokesville Market - stop #1 at mile 25

Wonder lust

Just a pic from a solo ride I did last summer. I spend a lot of time in the car and in waiting rooms these days frustrating myself with this soulless box looking at old pictures. My route to one of many of these rooms takes me thru the valley to harpers ferry and on to baltimore. I'm always looking up at the mountains wondering what the trails are like and what the view looks like. So here I am again in a waiting room fighting a machine smaller than a deck of cards looking thru old photos and this is a good one from the top looking out and down. Thought I'd share it with the masses. Enjoy!

250 Miles = 402 Kilometers

Last Saturday I set out with the D.C. Randonneurs for their 400K brevet. This is the distance that I really get to enjoy on these rides. You start predawn, in the dark, ride all day and into the night. Plenty of time for the mind to wander and let things get weird.

 There were about 40-50 riders at the start of the ride. Rolling through the streets at 4am  in a group this size is pretty awesome. Lots of lights, lots of reflective gear. Feels totally safe. Typically the front group on the shorter brevets will charge out from the start rolling steady together for the first 40 -60 miles at around 20mph. When the rides get to the 400K distance, pacing becomes much more important and the initial speeds drop some.

 If you have never ridden into the sunrise, you might be missing something that you need. I'm not a great photographer and this doesn't do it justice. I made a few attempts to capture it and this was the best of them. For the best results though, go catch one yourself.

 Riding all day means getting to spend the entire day outside. What a gift it is to see an entire day unfold and move through it as a witness. Anything can happen any day.

 The group was pretty scattered along the course by mile 50. I fell in with a couple that I had ridden with before Ed and Mary. They almost always ride tandem. I have never gone on more than a test ride on a tandem, so it's pretty cool to watch the techniques employed to make it work. They spend the day working to stay in sync with each other, and from an outside perspective, do so admirably.

 I offered to pull, but Ed said that a tandem can't effectively draft a single. So I learned how to fall into my own rhythm with them. Went something like, ride next them on the flats (or behind depending on my energy), get out in front on the climbs, and then stay right on the descents waiting for them to rocket by, and then try and jump into their draft until our speeds matched again and I could pull up next to them. Conversation would be had in this same pattern, which was nice because there was plenty of time to think of response.

 This was around mile 160 or so. One of the last big climbs of the day, and it gave an awesome vantage point to look back on where we had come from. This was kind of a theme for me that day. Through out the day I kept seeing things that reminded me of other places I had been. I thought a lot about places I had not been in years.

 We got rained on a bit near the end of the day light, but never enough to warrant putting on a rain jacket. Just enough to make me grateful it wasn't raining more.

 This was the last picture I took from the day. The rain had stopped, and we were coming off of the last high spot on the route. I could see this entire valley floor with all of these holes in the clouds acting like spotlights on the farms down below. 

 So no more pictures.  After this the real work of the ride started, back into darkness. Staying on route is always a little more challenging in the dark. The pay off though is getting to watch the sun set, the moon rise, and stars fall. All of  it from the saddle of my bike. 

Just the Beginning...Will it always be this easy? NO!

Last Thursday was the first official Massanutten Trail Work Day. In my 15 years of building trails on the Western Slope we never had it so easy as this past Thursday. There was perfect dirt, easy rocks, a fun & motivated crew and as always as full cooler afterwards.  So the question remains. Will the "Upper Granny Bypass" continue to be an easy build? Hell no, but, we will continue to have fun and full cooler at the end of trail work each week. Come join us some Thursday and see what building trail is all about! You might have more fun then you would think!

"Old Man Freeride" - Thomas

The Beginning of Granny Bypass

Here are the details: 
When: Each Thursday this spring – fall (starting May 8th)
Time: 5pm-dark (come anytime time, an hour of work goes a long way)
Meet at Western Slope Parking area at 5pm or anytime afterwards on new trail.
What to bring: you & friend, SVBC will provide tools and post work drinks! Trail work gloves are good too!
Ride or Drive?: The gate by the horse stalls will be open so feel free to drive to the pond or ride to the work site! Tools on site!
More info: Contact Thomas: tj@shenandoahbicycle.com or 540-236-2001.

Waffle EdiBowls

In case you hadn't heard/smelled/tasted.. PULP now makes waffle bowls...

 They aren't gluten-free or vegan, but they definitely are tasty! We will hopefully be able to offer a gluten-free option in the near future. We make the waffle bowls a few times a week here at PULP with our fancy CoBatCo Waffle Iron. Come try your next acai bowl in a waffle edibowl. All the cool kids are doing it!

.....who knew?

When he's not shreddin some rocks up north, packing acai bowls, or picking up another project, maybe Tim's got something like this going down! Man's got skills!

Rules to follow

With all the push for more bike paths bike lanes etc one must remember that regardless of vehicle we all must obey the traffic laws. I was reminded of such laws when I was pulled over on a test ride for failing to yield at a stop sign while making a right hand turn. No ticket this time! Come by the shop and pick up a copy of the laws bicycles have to obey. Info is put out by dmv. Get acquainted with it so the law don't get acquainted with you!