Reverse bicycling.

So I have been attempting to ride two hours of single track while increasing my millage each day.  Wednesday I could say that I was quite proud to be at 18 miles in two hours.  My lungs and legs feel better each day; I almost can do sections of trail at the pace I used to be able to, yay for progress!

I had an epiphany of a new sport on Thursday.   I call it Reverse Bicycling, sounds pretty awesome doesn't it?  It is pretty simple, all you need to do is strand yourself several miles from civilization then brake you bicycle and not have to necessary tools or ability to fix it.  The more arduous the journey back to civilization the more bonus points one will receive. 

So how was my trial run at this new sport; well I think I scored pretty high.  I was nine miles in my ride and at the top of Hayden Trail.  I was headed downhill when I received a pinch flat on my back tire, not too big of a deal since I had my handy dandy flat repair kit.  Apparently at that time I didn't have the actual skills to use it though.  After 40 minutes and five failed attempts to fix the tube I gave up.

I was about two and a half miles from the closest bike store and in stiff cycling shoes on the top of a loose rock/bouldery trail.  Walking my bike was not an option due to the chance of damaging the rim or tire so I threw the bike onto my back and hiked down.  Every couple of steps and I would slip and a pulse of pain would radiate through my ankle.  Due to the geometry of my bike shouldering my mountain bike doesnt work so well.  Instead I had to put the bike on my back, while balancing the pedal on my camelbak.  Though this balancing didn't always go smoothly and the pedal would slip off and embrace my spine in a manor I'm not too fond of.  I had to hold the handle bar so it didn't jab me in the face, after about 30 minutes my shoulder went numb.

All in all it was a nice work out.

I am one that believes in equal rights.  So it is only common sense to let my bike ride me.

Back to training.

Ankle is feeling good enough to do small training rides which has been nice.

I went for a short 7mi ride on green mountain in the dark when it was raining two nights ago.  Good thing it was at night so nobody could see my pathetic riding skills, it reminded me of the first time I rode single track.  I love riding in the rain and at night so not a complete loss, sadly though I am only about 25% strength from before my injury.  My lunge capacity is completely shot and my upper body is practically useless.  I was really suprised at how much I lost from not riding for approx two months.

I went for a 15mi ride yesterday in 90°F heat with no water and on no sleep; was pretty stupid but I enjoyed it.  I bought a new front wheel, it is a ZTR Flow with a Hope 2 Pro hub $212.  I know for just a wheel I went kinda crazy, it is 32 spokes so will do much better at caring the weight for touring.

Well I'm off to do another crazy bike ride, hopefully this time I remember to bring my water. 

Trip ended before it really began.

Due to ankle issues I wont be able to do this trip.  I will probably still do a couple smaller trips but none with the weight, distance, and difficulty of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

I will keep this blog going for my smaller trips but really not as exciting as it would have been.