Pedaling the Taylor Street Dock on that rarest of rares: a sunny November day with almost no wind.
Headed through the back trails of Lake Padden and on up to Galby. Haven't MTB'd there in a while, or anywhere, really. We've been running, of all things--two, even two-and-a-half-plus hours (that's too damn far)--against my better judgement. Deception Pass 25K is two weeks away, Orcas Island 25K two months away. Happy to report my calf bras (compression sleeve thingees) seem to be doing the trick; haven't had any calf issues in a couple months. (Am I jinxing it by saying that?)
Titanium Cancellara chasing the sun. Yes, really, the sun. I mean, in November 'n' all.
Steve Vanderstaay joined us for Friday's ride; nice to have him along.
Stellar pic of me at the Galby Towers eating a PowerBar.
Lastly, check out my story about Ryan Rickerts and Jacob Stewart in the latest issue of Adventures NW available now.
Headed out last Thursday to get some final shots for my 75 Classic Rides Washington book, which comes out next May. Above is that cool, switchbacky hill just outside Plain, which is just outside Leavenworth. Below is a little south of Snohomish, just minutes after sunrise. Rode the new Giant 'crossbike for the phots; she acquitted herself admirably.
Above, Tom Meloy, rocking an epically beautiful (and new) Tarmac SL4 (I believe) was kind enough to do repeats up Squak Mountain for me. Seventeen percent that hill be, in parts!
Stevens Pass.
Hughes Road, near Cashmere (of Aplets and Cotlets fame).
Friday: bought a ‘cross bike, the lovely ‘n’ sexy Giant TCX 1. (See below.)
Saturday: rode my first ‘cross in three-plus years, Ryan Rickerts’ Cross Border Clash in the DeltaTech industrial park, just north of Ferndale. (See top pic.) Super fun time. Course featured a rotating surfboard of death, sand pit, pump track and more. Dead flat, thus lousy, stinky, terrible time trialists (such as me) were not among the swiftest on the course. I had to laugh, before the race, Charlie Heggem gave me a hard time for racing with the C’s. After my stellar 7th place finish (out of 17 racers), I don’t think he’ll be bugging me again. (Just found out that Glenn Gervais won it! Way to go, Glenn!)
Below is a short vid of the first lap:
Sunday: ran my first running race in almost 5 years, the 6-mile Padden Mudfest. Lots fun. Lots runners too, which was nice. Quite comforting to be able to turn around from time to time and see that I’m not last.
Sorta scary moment, coming down the last steep rooty, rocky hill, I came across an annoyed, limping and bleeding Dean Taylor. Apparently, he’d just tripped over a log, opening up a deep gaping laceration on his knee. (His shoulder and hand were pretty banged up as well.) Ever the resourceful one, he pulled the flap of skin back up over his kneecap, and with his shoelace, tied his headband around his knee to stop the bleeding.
I decided to stay with him for a bit and eventually we were able to walk the last mile back in together. (I’ve certainly appreciated the times when I’ve had misfortunes on the trail and folks have stayed with me; so I was more than eager to help someone else out for a change.)
I found out later he fractured his patella and needed 18 stitches. Yikes.
