Black Ops Library Roll

Pump it up.

"I feel like we are getting ready for a mission" Ryan said as we layered on clothes, prepped our gear, and buckled helmets.  I aired up the front tire on my cross bike and we switched our headlights on.  It was probably 7pm when we pedaled away from our cars in the dark.

Gettin' ready to roll.

Knowing our weekend schedules would not allow a ride together we made plans to meetup for a Friday night ride.  I wanted to experience some different terrain than I've been riding around my place, so I proposed riding from Ryan's house.  As we discussed our plan we stumbled upon the idea of riding a portion of the Fredericksburg Library Roll, an annual benefit ride co-sponsored by our cycling club.

The map was printed on green paper which was pretty

easy to see in the dark when held near our head lights.

The Library Roll is known for some good hills.  They were not any easier in the dark and it was ambitious for this time of year.  We made it down to Charm and stopped for some food and drink.  It was about 40 degrees when we began the ride and we were staying pretty comfortable.  After the stop I was feeling a bit cold but the climb out of Charm fixed that problem.

Ryan jousting.  (Slow sync flash mode.)

From Charm to Millersburg was a collection of climbs that one after another put a beat down on my legs.  At one point Ryan and I were nearly laughing at the faintly lit sight in the distance of more hills.  We enjoyed a long, fast downhill that left me smiling but chilled.  Ryan said it felt like a mountain descent and it did.

We conquered the last hills of the ride on the way into Millersburg and stopped at the rail-trail depot.  I gave KT a call to let her know we were still alive.  "Do you realize it's 9:30?  Are you even having fun?"  Oh yes, time flies when you're riding in the dark, trying to stay warm, and having fun.

 I stopped at a gas station for a coffee and walked

out with peppered beef jerky too.  Frosty roof.

The flat ride on the trail-trail back to our cars was cold.  The temperature was certainly lower here than it had been anywhere else on the ride.  We promptly started our cars to get the heat going and the thermometer in the car showed 33.  There was frost on the roofs of our vehicles.  We agreed on the epic quality of the ride and parted ways.  It was a good one.