Hillbasher

Last time I almost ran over a tarantula, this time a coyote. Left the house after 6PM today(Wednesday) and had hoped to make the top of GMR, but the way things were going, I wasn't sure of anything. First I couldn't find stuff I needed for going, then once I got going, I figured out I forgot not only my camera, but my water bottle as well. So I figured rather than go back, I would only ride up to the halfway saddle, or maybe Newman's Point and then turn around. That way I wouldn't even need to use the light I had brought with me. But once I got up to Newman's , the way the ride was going there was no way I could turn around and head down. The ride was really nice in that the temp was perfect, traffic was not bad as there were more people on bikes than in cars. Made the top just as it got completely dark. The ride down was nice and warm and the views were great. Until. Just below the saddle at the halfway point, I came around a corner and right in the middle of the road was a coyote checking out what I can only assume was some road kill. Being that it was dark and my light didn't let me see him until the last moment, I was very lucky not to T-bone him and make both of our evenings some what miserable. Pulled over to let the heart rate lower just a bit. All in all a great ride.

Accordion

What did you do about hydrating? Especially while climbing? I have forgotten my water bottle ONCE and continued the ride. One hour to hit a fountain that I knew and it was the worst hour of my life!

Hillbasher

Well, seeing how it was after 6PM when I started, it wasn't really all that bad. Just did the ride thinking about flowing rivers and streams. It was warm, but since there was no direct sunlight out that late, it was fine. Not what I would have preferred, but not bad. I often don't drink on the way up anyway, waiting till the top to have some.