We'll be ready
The serious training has begun! Robbe and I hit the Torrey C. Brown Trail (the trail formerly known as the NCR) on Saturday.
A perfect training ride
We parked at Paper Mill Rd in Ashland, MD and rode north, blowing right past the MD line into New Freedom, PA. It was 21.5 miles each way, and we did the first leg in about 2 hours without stopping. Upon arriving in PA, we had lunch (cheese steaks - questionable decision at best, they they were solid) and a beer (again, questionable choice, but, well, whatevs) at the Hodle. On our way back, we hopped off for about a half hour and took a dip in a sweet swimming hole we found. Also checked out an awesome old bank-turned-private residence in Parkton. Our average pace for the day was 11.75 MPH.
Though the grade is barely noticeable on the way north, there is an ever-so-slight pitch that makes the way back south technically "downhill," and you really do notice the difference. Enough so that it makes me question if we should actually do the C&O from Cumberland to D.C instead, as to enjoy that same grade. But there is just something really romantic about leaving the urban and traveling INTO the wilderness.
"Knowledge is king" - Kool Mode Dee
This ride helped me realize that while this trip will be doable, it will certainly be a challenge, and also that I need a more comfortable saddle. On that note, on Sunday I dropped off my bike to a good friend who is a bike mechanic, and he's gonna give my whip ("peanut") a solid tune up. I'm stoked to get it back, because he's super smart and talented; I know he's the best dude to work on it.
Kirk couldn't make Saturday's ride, but not only did he do a bit of distance himself on Friday, but he actually bought a new bike for the trip! Something a little better geared for this terrain. So I'm excited about that.
