The end of this 30 day streak is in sight. This is my trusty ride.
Aerobars provide extra mounting space, a different riding position, different hand holds, and a speed boost on smooth regular terrain. The bars hold one, soon to be customized for two, Planet bike 2 Watt LED light. The tank bag holds current rations. This will replaced with a larger unit soon. The frame bag holds a 2L water bladder with bite valve on the handlebars. It also holds extra nutrition and a pill bottle of ibuprofen, Sport Legs, and Endurolytes. A Garmin eTrex 30 on the stem provides navigation. Fox fork gives smooth ride in the rough stuff or power saving lockout on smooth terrain with quick switch on the right fork. Planet Bike Grunge Board keeps me a little more dry and less muddy from the front tire. Specialized Armadillo tires with Slime Tubes front and rear provide double protection against flats. Saddle bag contains bike lock, spare Slime tube, lightweight neon riding vest with removable sleeves, GoreTex rain hood, water resistant cycling pants, leg warmers, hand towel, and repair kit. The repair kit includes tire levers, spoke wrench, fiber spoke, first aid kit, spare brake pads, Petzyl head lamp, special tool for bottom bracket, extra batteries for everything, and more. Two Camelback bottles provie ~1.2L of water. There will likely be one more added in front of the downtube behind the front wheel and maybe two more on the left and right fork. Fluid disk brakes provide ample stopping power for a heavily loaded rig and rider. 3x9 front/rear gears provide a nice low gear that climbs anything where I can keep my balance. Brooks saddle looks like a medieval torture device but rides great. Moots lockable soft tail flexes enough to save my spine from hard hits while remaining light and locking out with the turn of a screw. Ergon pack on my back carries even more stuff. Complete inventory later.
Something doesn't seem quite right here.
This is better in some ways and worse in others.
Finally on the trail. Blustery wind lashed me pretty good on the open roads making the tree cover a special treat. Overcast sky, high humidity, blustery wind, and cool temps combined for a chilly experience. I added more layers as the day went on to minimize exposure. Exposure and fatigue are major concerns on long rides.
Tunnel #1 under NC highway 55.
Nice fountain in a neighborhood pond. There were a drake and hen mallard duck paddling peacefully around the pond.
Tunnel #2 on the day under Cary Parkway.
Spring Daze Arts and Crafts festival was in full swing at Bond Park in Cary in spite of the weather. It's great to see so many bike commuters. I found a bike toolkit on the trail near here and hung it up on the side of the trail for better visibility. It was quite a nice tool kit that had everything but owner contact information. I hope they make it back and find the kit.
The gray and cold were getting the better of me. I needed some inspiration. Starbucks coffee and apple fritter provided short term motivation and dreams of warm soup back at home got me through the rest of the ride.
I saw a painter refreshing these customized hydrants recently and complimented them on their work. I wonder if dogs think twice before urinating on the hydrant?
Tunnel #3 under Edwards Mill Road.
Old train depot, I think, near NC Museum of Art. A spin down the dock was irresistible.
Honey suckle is in bloom. I love the smell in the air.
House creek provides some nice vistas.
What kind of trees are these? The blooms are pretty and different.
This is an old bridge over Crabtree Creek. There is a great metal bridge hiding in there. It's quite scenic in this state. It's also a shame to see the precision rusting away.
I lost count of the tunnels. All of them twice - going and coming. There are even more on the extended route. Every tunnel is another opportunity to stay out of vehicular traffic. Hooray for tunnels!
Gray day over Lake Crabtree on the way home.
Again, what kind of tree is this? I'm thinking a type of dogwood?
I never noticed this statue before but the form never resonated. Welding is definitely an art.
Spring Daze festival was wrapping up. Vendor cars were parked door to door here earlier.
Sunset and nightfall are challenges on their own. Tonight I watched the GPS change from "hours to sunset" to "hours to sunrise". Looking down and seeing the prediction of sunrise as a bit heart breaking. My mind was focused on finishing tonight. Sunrise raises the specter of being back in the saddle in the morning. This is the countdown timer to rinse and repeat. Time is unrelenting. Occasionally reminders of that fact are harsh.
I managed to botch the mileage with not one but two GPS units. Dad always said I could take a canary feather and wreak havoc on an anvil. I say a knack for breaking things and then having to fix them is good training for my job. Today's ride was a bit short. That should save some gumption for more high quality miles on Sunday.
Ignore the straight line just beneath "Glenwood Ave". That is GPS operator error. A dream ride is taking shape out of all of this that includes all the ATT, all of Umstead, all of Crabtree Creek Greenway, and the Shelly lake Spur. That would be all bike friendly routes that are reasonably well connected except for the onroad bike lanes in Durham and RTP. There are ~100 miles of those alone. Including those pushes estimates up to 48 hours of continuous riding and that is yet another level of endurance. Hmm, maybe with slicks and staring on a Friday afternoon...
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