Three to Mohican

With Uncle Chris in town, we made plans with Ryan for a ride at Mohican.  Hot and humid describes the conditions.  We parked at the main trail head and pedaled some pavement to the second trail head.  It was a sweaty, and fun ride back to car.

Chris on the road.

 

Ryan on the road.

 

I packed raisins.

3 Years Old

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Cruisin around the school

It's been overdue for Daniel and I to head over to the high school for some riding.  We loaded our bikes into and onto the new car and drove around the corner for some bikin' fun in the sun.

Ready to shred on the Strider bike.

We rode around the school grounds, going over curbs and down sidewalks.  The sprinkler was setup at one of the practice football fields and Daniel made it a priority to stop and see the sprinkler.

He didn't want to get wet, just see it up close.

After some more riding about we stopped for a snack.  Daniel said we needed "to get some energy back."  Proper fueling is important while riding.

Daniel getting his energy back.

 Having fun in the sun, riding bikes.

After some more riding we packed up and headed home.  It's fun to be out riding bikes with Daniel!

Our bikes.

Elmo Trail Crew

 Daniel looks ready to do some trail work.

Man Down

For the last several weeks I've been taking my mountain bike to work with me in the back of the car.  Beginning on Tuesday I have bike and gear with me in hopes of getting out at a decent time and making it to the Knob.  I'm not sure that I ever made it over there on Tuesday, but I kept my stuff in the car and was able to ride either Wednesday or Thursday as my work schedule allowed.

After riding the Knob several weeks in a row I was starting to feel better connected with the course and felt like I was riding pretty good today.  As the lap went on I felt progressively faster.  After the Furnace and before getting back into the heavier woods I looked ahead and saw a banked corner.  I thought to myself "oh, I'm gonna rip that corner".  Problem is there was a little turn just before getting to the banker and I leaned too hard and lost the front wheel on some dusty trail.  Wham!  I was skidding down the trail head first in the ol' superman position.  I jumped up and looked at myself to find a bloody elbow, no ripped clothing, and not much else.  But, the elbow was leaking pretty good and was full of dirt.

Without much more than a pause I jumped back on the bike and followed the course, a bit slower, to get back to my car.  Oh man, brand new car and I'm dripping dirty blood.  I asked a guy in the parking lot if he had any first aid supplies, but all he had was a roll of paper towels.  After packing my bike up I was about to mummify my arm with paper towels when I looked in my front seat and remembered the stop I had made on the way to the Knob.  KT had asked me to pick up diapers for Ellen... perfect!  I strapped on an infant size 0 diaper on my elbow and drove home without concern over staining my new interior.

 In addition to a first aid kit, I'm going to keep several diapers

in the car for such situations.  It worked well!

 Ouch.

 Gross.

On the Road Again

Another hot, hot day.  Met Ryan on the road for a loop down around Fredericksburg.  Between the heat, humidity, and not riding tons lately we were both beat when we parted ways to head back home.  I ran out of water coming through the swamps on Messner Road, so I slowed down and took some pictures while cruising.

I don't call it "the swamps" for nothin'.

 It's a long, flat road.

Babies in Helmets

Daniel, a couple weeks old.

Ellen, a couple weeks old.

the Wilderness

Today we drove past the campgrounds and people tubing down the river on Wally Road to the Mohican Wilderness area trailhead.  It was unbelievably hot in the sun as we geared up for a ride.

Pointed towards the climb.

 

It was the first time this year we've ridden the Wilderness course.  The opening mile of the ride is uphill, supposedly the longest mountain bike climb in Ohio.  After the climb it's curvy singletrack with a couple rocky sections.  The loop is not too long, maybe 7 miles?  At the end of the day, in my opinion, it's not different enough from riding at the state park to make it worth the extra drive.  Once or twice a year is all the more often I can see visiting the Wilderness Course.

New four wheeler

In the week previous to Ellen's arrival we were test driving cars and planning a swap of the truck for something more fuel efficient and fun to drive.  Of course a prerequisite for the vehicle was the ability to fit a bike inside and the ability to add a hitch for a bike rack. 

The first pick, and the car that started the whole idea, was the Honda Fit.  The cargo versatility in this small car is the selling point but unfortunately the tiny, underpowered engine offsets the cargo carrying prowess.  If this car had another 30 horsepower under the hood it would be in my garage right now.

At KT's suggestion we went to see our friend at Park Mazda and test drove the Mazda3 hatchback.  Now this is a fun car to drive with nimble handling and adequate power without sacrificing too much fuel economy.  Plus the styling, interior and out, trumps the Fit in our eyes.  The cockpit of the Mazda3 is exciting and useful.  The cockpit of the Fit... not so much.

 Mazda3 hatchback.

The first project with the car was a hitch for use with the bike rack.  The install went very smooth and I'm happy with how sturdy the attachment is on this car.  I've installed hitches on five different vehicles now and this is the most solid mounting I've seen on a car.

My helper with the instructions.

Not having the truck is going to be a disadvantage at times, but I know I'm always welcome to borrow dad's truck.  When it comes down to it, I only used the truck as truck about once a month and probably not every month.  Most of the time it was hauling bikes, which the car can do.  When it comes time to buy lumber or transport firewood I'll take dad up on his offer to borrow the truck.

I like hatchbacks.

 

 Side view.  My large Paragon 29er uses up the

whole hatch area lengthwise.

Riding Daniel to Sleep

We packed up the guys (Daniel, Ryan, and I) and headed down to the Fredericksburg for a ride on the trail.  Having a new sister must be taking its toll on Daniel, because he fell asleep just south of Holmesville.  We continued past Millersburg and turned around at some point when he woke up and asked "Are we at the playground yet?"  Of course we had blown by the playground taking advantage that he was still asleep.

Sleeping in the trailer.

 Always a highlight, the vending machine.

 Taking a break with Ryan at the playground.

Ellen's Homecoming

At home in her crib.

Sleeping like a baby.

 While we were in the hospital a life flight chopper

landed and Grandpa arranged for a picture

of Daniel with the pilot.

Welcome Ellen!

Baby Ellen has arrived!  We are blessed to have a healthy baby and KT is doing well too.

Ellen Esther Holmes, about 5 minutes old.

 

 Daniel meets Ellen for the first time.

He is saying, "this is my baby sister!"

My little girl.

First Flat

Went for a ride at Mohican today.  Not enough time for a full loop, so I parked at the main trail head and rode the road to the second trail head.

It was logging time at the second trail head.

I knew I was running low pressure (with tubes) and after a sharp impact on the rear wheel I flatted.  My first on the trail flat in a year and a half of mountain biking, can't complain I guess.

Shaky cell phone picture because I was trying

to stay in constant motion to deter the hungry mosquitos!

MTB Maintenance

 Tonight I was cleaning my mountain bike to take to the shop for its complimentary tune-up.  As I walked past my bike in the workstand I reached out and spun a pedal... it screeched at me.  Wow, that sounds dry.  Come to think of it I had never disassembled and greased this pair of pedals before.

Image I posted on the mtbr.com forum on the topic of Carve pedals.

The pedals are an inexpensive pair of Performance brand SPD compatible pedals, the Forte Carve.  They have been pretty solid for the past couple years on my mountain bikes and the previous three or four years on my cross bike.  Upon disassemble I realized they only have one bearing, with a bushing taking up the main load bearing duty.  Note to self: grease more often.

After cleaning and greasing they seem ready to have some more pedaling fun!

Solo Knob

Rode at the knob after work today.  Given the warm and finally dry weather of the past week or more I was surprised how wet the course was.  Maizeville was a mess and I bypassed it on the second lap.

 Another sun setting vulture picture.

It was within 20 or 30 minutes of sunset when I got back to the car.  I took a couple pictures of what I have to believe is an often photographed sign and packed my stuff back into the car.  About this time a couple "kids" showed up in a truck and jumped on their Mongoose bikes.  I was trying to figure out how they were going to get in a ride before dark.  I hope they had fun.

Ride complete, ready to head home.

Road Ride - crisscrossing Overton

This morning Ryan and I set out on a somewhat unplanned ride towards Overton.  We road up 539 from 302 and dropped down to Overton Road via McAfee.  The next left took us up the Smithville Western climb to the west and then we were on 539 again, riding north.  Down Cedar Valley and then up Rice Hill.  Pleasant Home back into the Valley and then the Armstrong Climb east. 

 Heading back into the valley.

We went over to Friendsville and then took Jentes back to the Valley.  This time we climbed Cedar Valley and then took some pulls south on the fresh pavement of 539.  Smyser was the last little climb on the way home.  It was a good ride with some good climbs and nice weather. 

Daniel's first ride with the guys

This morning I was trying to think of something for Daniel and I to do while KT went out to lunch with girls.  "Hey bud, you wanna go for a bike ride in your bike trailer?"  Daniel's answer was full of excitement "Yeah!"

We went to the basement and setup the bike trailer.  We bought the trailer as part of the deal when I sold my Wahoo mountain bike and had not used it yet.  Daniel was excited to set it up in the basement and was ready to go.  I called Ryan and was glad to hear he would join us for the ride after KT and Helena were back from their lunch.

Loaded up and ready to go, thumbs up!

For several hours Daniel kept asking if we were ready to go for a bike ride.  Ryan and I continued telling him we had to wait for Mommy and "Hena" to get home before we could leave.  Several times he thought they were home when they were not and he would yell "Mommy is home, let's go for a bike ride!"

Eventually KT and Helena arrived back home and Rylen was handed off.  I told Daniel he had to pack up his stuff so we could go.  He disappeared for a few minutes and showed up with backpack, filled with toys, and said "I'm ready, let's go!"

Rolling south on the rails to trails.

We drove to the rails to trails in Fredericksburg and the excited little boy fell asleep on the way there.  Ryan and I set up the trailer and had it all ready to go when I woke him up.  He wiped the sleep away and was excited to climb into the trailer and get going.

We rode south to Millersburg with only one stop along the way to break out a PB&J for Daniel.  During this stop he told us "it's a beautiful day out!"  We agreed.  Daniel rode well in the trailer but was eager to get out at the playground in Millersburg.  After a bathroom break and a cold drink from a vending machine, Daniel hoped back into the trailer for the ride north.

The guys.

It's a gentle grade for the ride back and I felt the presence of the trailer more so than on the ride out.  The trailer worked great and Daniel enjoyed it.  There were a couple complaints of his back hurting, but the kid certainly isn't used to sitting still.  Maybe we'll throw in a foam pad for him the next time.

The return trip.

Back at the car we loaded everything up and drove Ryan to his house.  As we were leaving Ryan said "good ride Daniel, see you later!"  Daniel promptly replied, "good ride, see ya later!"  He was excited to get home and tell mommy about his first ride with the guys.

The end.

Muddy Knob

Friday is a good day of the week, and knowing all day long my bike and gear were in truck and I was meeting Ryan for a ride at the Knob after work made it even better.  There were a handful of vehicles there when I pulled.  I guess we were not the only ones glad to get out after another week of wet weather.  We hoped the last couple days of no rain had been enough to dry the course.

We talked to the Soupcan guys before rolling out.  The first portion of the course was in good shape, a few puddles but nothing too wet.  Later in the ride we encountered some really wet sections with lots of standing water.

 Ryan coming up the access rode at the end of our ride.

After finishing a lap we decided to head out for another half lap.  I enjoyed riding the Cradle for the first time but didn't fair so well on the switchbacks.  Once again we squished our way through the wet sections and bailed at the top of the Furnace to get back to our vehicles.

It was a great way to spend a Friday evening!  And I'll be spending tomorrow morning washing this filthy bike.

Dried on mud.

Mohican with Patrick and Ryan

Friday night Patrick, a friend from work, sent me a text proposing an early Saturday morning MTB ride.  It had rained Thursday, it rained Friday, and the forecast predicted rain Saturday.  But, the chance of rain was only 10% from 7am to noon for Saturday.  I called Ryan and signed him up for the ride; meet at my house at 7am, head to Mohican.

We were hoping for a dry night to give the course a chance to drain the water of the past couple days, but I woke up several times during the night to the sound of rain.  All three of us were standing in my driveway Saturday morning ready to ride, and questioning the course conditions.  We made it this far, no sense in bailing out now.  The truck carried three bikes and three riders south.

In the first mile of trail the excellent drainage of Mohican was evident and we had no worries about blazing the course, save the last mile which has been puddle ridden all spring.

Around mile 8, before heading through the Discovey Forest.

Riding with Patrick was fun and all three of us enjoyed taking turns leading the way.  The weather ended up perfect, never a rain drop.  We made several stop along the way to drink, eat, and chat.  It was a good time.

 A short stop under the covered bridge.

I was happy to ride the course pretty clean and was feeling connected with the trail the whole way.  Ryan cranked the singlespeed up Mount Doom and rode really strong all the way to the finish.  Patrick said it was his longest ride of the year and he did a good job pacing himself as needed.  I enjoyed riding behind Patrick to watch his lines and methods.  He's been riding a mountain bike for a long time.

 Patrick's eBay find.

It was kind of nice to ride the last mile through the campground road and let the legs cool down.  We talked with some guys in the parking lot and headed home.  After visiting with Rylen for a couple hours, Ryan and Rylen headed home just as a down pour started.  The weather worked well for us today.  It was one to remember.

 Post ride in the parking lot.

Playing with the Camera at Mohican

30 sec self timer, 10 shot burst, and I didn't run over the camera!

Sunny Skies... for a couple days

Wow, there has been a long stretch of rainy days of late.  I guess it didn't bother me too much as I was under the weather myself with a mild cold for the past week.

Typical scene this April.

 Finally the weather broke yesterday and I was able to mow the yard with plans of riding today.  Nothing serious for today, just an easy spin to make sure my cold was in remission.  It was nice to see blue skies and everyone else out mowing.

Now this is more like it.

Unfortunately the forecast is back to rain and scattered storms for the near future.  Oh well, it makes the nice days better appreciated.