Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Todays ride, Off the pavement with the cross bike(with pics)

Today's ride was a new experience for me. I took my new Kona Jake cross bike off the pavement for the first time. Most of the ride was on the road (22 of the 27 miles), but the off road portion was the most memorable. I wanted to get a ride in today before the heat hit this afternoon, so I set off about 8:30 AM. The ride there was nice and relaxing, other then the section by the landfill (YUCK!) I arrived at Dunn Forest at one of the trail heads, and took off on my adventure. I quickly was into a hill climbing section. I would climb for a while then it would level off for a bit. Towards the top of the hill, new gravel was poured deep, this was the steepest inclines of the ride which caused my rear tire not to get traction. I got to where I has just spinning in place, so I got off the bike and walked it for about a mile. I did find sections that were more hard packed, so I rode when I could. After topping off the hill I was greeted with some crazy down hill action. The gravel was big and loose in many parts of the road, which cause the bike to "dance" under me. I did notice that 17 mph going down hill on loose gravel is just as exciting as doing a 40mph down hill on the pavement. :) Finely, I arrived back at the trail head, a bit beat, but ready to hit the road again. So, a few pictures of my off pavement adventure.

Here is the trail entrance.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/001-2.jpg

This is the uphill that greeted me.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/002.jpg

A flat spot to take a picture of the Jake
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/004-4.jpg

Uphill... always going up hill
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/005-3.jpg

A nice meadow to relax me.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/006-2.jpg

More climbing, but closer to the top now, and with a great view.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/008-2.jpg

A clear cut in the distance while headed down.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/009-1.jpg

Now for the real fun, big gravel with a big incline, the pictures does not do the hill justice.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f292/Hill-Pumper/010-2.jpg

So, there you have it, my first off pavement ride. I will be doing this more often now that I know that I can. :D

Awesome! :thumb: Cycling should be an adventure!

OK, I can get a Cross bike with some effort. Now I just need a forest and some mountains.

Looks like a great place to ride!

You are riding my kinda routes now. Great pics.

Funny, a couple years ago when I first started riding trails, I spent probably a third of my time walking hills. I have not walked at all this year. I love it. Most hills give great rewards.

Congrats on the great new bike and for sharing the adventure.

Awesome scenery......thanks for sharing the views.

these are my favorite types of rides - awesome pictorial! i think i've had more fun on my cross bike than i ever have on my road bike - for just this reason!

Awesome! :thumb: Cycling should be an adventure! That was sort of my thought. I got into "training" so much before my century ride, that is was not as much fun. Cycling should be fun and an adventure.


OK, I can get a Cross bike with some effort. Now I just need a forest and some mountains.

I know that I keep baiting you with the cross bike posting, you ARE going to get one. the thought is in your brain, and it won't leave until the new bike is the stable. As far as forest and mountain, came up here and I am willing to share mine. :thumb:


You are riding my kinda routes now. Great pics.

Funny, a couple years ago when I first started riding trails, I spent probably a third of my time walking hills. I have not walked at all this year. I love it. Most hills give great rewards.

Congrats on the great new bike and for sharing the adventure.

Honestly, this is the first hill that I have had to walk since I have gotten back into riding over a year ago. I have had to stop and take a break on one hill, but I did ride up the whole thing. The lack of any traction is what killed me here. There was just to much deep gravel to get any bite anywhere on the road. If it had been packed in better, it would have been a fair fight. Next time, I may take the hill from the back side, it looked like there was more hard pack in the right places.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the pictures, I feel very blessed to have an area like this only 10 miles from my house. It is really nice to have a bike that will let me enjoy both the forest and the road. If I had know about the cross bikes a year ago, I might of never bought the road bike, but then again, it is nice to have good road bike ready to go too. :D

great pics

Nice pics, nice ride

Want to go:) sometime, after the arm gets better:)

OK, I can get a Cross bike with some effort. Now I just need a forest and some mountains.

They're not as scenic as the O.P.'s, but all of the DORBA trails can be ridden on a Cross bike. I don't know exactly where in the metromess you live, but you're probably within riding distance of a couple.

Nice pics, nice ride

Want to go:) sometime, after the arm gets better:)

Not a problem, it would be fun to get a group together. :) Get that arm better, but in the mean time, I have mapped out a road metric down here that I thought might be fun to make into a regional Clyde Ride. Of course some skinnys can join in if they like too. :p

Went for a 15 mile on my road bike today, no issue from the elbow. Love my new rim, will get pics up after this week end, dang I need to get home computer fixed:)

that looks like a great ride. thanks for sharing