A catch and release trout stream coming down Edgemont Road. One of several places to dip a filter.
A pretty bad photo of a really good friend.
Notice there`s a nice big cave of sorts right on the edge of the road where one could fire up a stove and knock down some hot coffee if needed.
A pretty warm day for this time of year but still a good idea to carry a space blanket and lighter just in case.
Grandfather Mt.
Getting close to Grandfather Mountain.
The freedom of having at least two options should not be under rated. Maybe we always have at least two even if one of them is to recognize and be aware rather than be in the dark with regards to some inevitable predestined single choice.
Not that light but dependable and worth it`s weight in gold time and time again.
Just a mild section of the road and time to take a layer off so as to not get too wet.
Before Monday`s Solo ride, during it, and after taking nearly 5 hours to do what should be a 3 and a half hours loop. Practically no traffic to put up with made the dirt road a sort of super wide single track for spastic old geezers. A number of layers of clothing made lots of sense with sweating a sure thing on the way up and a real temp drop just as certain when you start to come back down. A back pack with some goodies just in case like knives,saws,mess kit,tools,tube,pump,tarp,etc. - On the front bars one of the main items which only adds a pound or two - well used water filter and extra bottle. The ear flap lined helmet was priceless - with a cap thrown on for the decent a wet sweaty head was kept warm and snug. Fat tires may not have come in under 190 grams each - I`ll have to check with somebody to see. 34 x 18 gears worked ok but some spots were a little steep for that with tacky surface and old man heart - lots of control was there though for coming back down at a poke along pace. A great day with lots of singing and gasping for air with happy legs and a valuable memory or two. When your memories start to get fuzzy and you don`t know what day it is or where you parked etc. a new bike ride fix is called for at least once a week.
Up Roseboro Road to Blue Ridge Parkway and back down on Edgemont Road. Not a record pace but fast enough to be "very good training"and make the heart happy.
Todays ride consisted of Single track, forestry, dirt roads via Chestnut,raiders,kwanna, pinola, wilson's creek areas!
I assembled this bike just yesterday, a Surly Pacer. Double-butted 4130 chromoly tubing with a horizontal top tube, as God intended. An all-day bike with traditional road-racing geometry. San Marco Regal saddle and Deda deep-drop non-anatomic bars.
Wheels are Mavic Open Pro 32h rims laced 3x to Shimano Ultegra hubs with double-butted DT Swiss spokes, handbuilt by Chris at TRC. Smooth and durable with a time-tested build design.
Sugino 175mm cranks, 50-36 and a 9sp 12-25 Shimano cassette. Rear derailleur is Dura-Ace, front is Shimano Tiagra.
When you ride a fixed-gear bike often, you begin to question why you need certain components. Dura-Ace downtube shifters are light, reliable, and are consistent with the vibe of the Pacer frameset. It's a strange feeling going back to downtube shifters after years of brake lever shifters, but you can go home again.
Brakes are Ultergra standard-reach dual-pivot calipers. The headset and brake levers are Cane Creek.
This is a Soma Delancey fixie built from Tange Prestige double-butted tubing. This is a road fixie with relaxed geometry, as opposed to a tight track frame. Also shod with a San Marco Regal perched on a Thomson seatpost.
The Delancey has gorgeous chromed lugs, a rarity in modern steel frames in any price range. The single front brake is a Shimano 105 with a Cane Creek lever. The headset is also Cane Creek.
The crankset is a Sugino with 165mm arms and a Surly stainless steel 42t chainring. The rear wheel is a flip-flop with 16t and 14t fixed cogs. The classic Mavic Reflex Gold 32h rims are laced to Formula cup-and-cone bearing hubs with DT Swiss straight-guage spokes, also handbuilt by Chris.
The third steel offering is a Redline Monocog Flite 29er, which has the distinction of being the first 29er purchased at TRC. The stock wheels consist of WTB rims laced to Shimano Deore LX hubs with Maxxis Ignitor tires.
SRAM/Truvativ Hussefelt 165mm crank with a Surly stainless 32t chainring. KMC Z610 chains drive both the Redline and the Soma.
The Redline has been converted to a fixed-gear with an 18t TomiCog bolted to the stock rotor hub. With the rear brake removed, an Avid BB5 front disc brake slows things down.
One of the many views of Grandfather Mtn! Todays Ride consisted of 5.5 hrs of ride time, with single track,forestry service and gravel roads with a little Elevation gain involved!
Maybe a easier gear than 34x17 29er wheels next time around!
1/4 Mike ripping up some downhill!
Overlooking Motown looking West!
Sweet double track , atop South mtn state park!
Climb into South Mountian
Steamroller undercover! 1st water stop
