R
Ride-A-Lot
Guest
I was informed by email (glad I check it first thing in the AM) that the scheduled club ride at Fair
Hills was cancelled. It seemed that the trail bunnies in MD didn't think the trails were suitable
for riding. They should tell that to the equestrians as well. So, we opted for the alternate ride at
Lebanon State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
It was a beautiful morning. The temperature was 50 degrees and climbing. The first truly spring
weather in our region. The trail was fast this morning. So fast, I could actually keep up with the
'A' group, until I was blind-sided (I'll explain later). The spring smell was incredible and you can
see the first new sprouts of the year coming up from the pine needle covered floor. You could also
here the A-10 warthogs at Fort Dix practicing in the background. The machine gun fire almost gave us
a rhythm to pedal by.
Lebanon State Forest is a huge park (by New Jersey standards). It crosses several highways and
stretches almost from Philadelphia to the New Jersey Shore. It is flat, with Mt. Misery making up
the highest elevation at about 300'. There are miles of trails which are mostly single-track. I had
thought that we would be doing the pink trail. An 8 mile in and 8 mile out single-track. So, I was
giving it all I had to keep up with the leaders, and I was having a blast. When we hit the 8 mile
mark it was decided that we'd hit the white trail since it was 60+ degrees and absolutely beautiful.
The little loop added 11 miles to the single-track bliss. This was way past what my longest distance
is. I was good until mile 20. Then I hit the wall. Cramps in my legs and a burning that could of set
the forest on fire. My energy was gone. I had wasted all of it on what I thought would be a 16 mile
ride. Needless to say, the last 7 miles over Mt. Misery were truly a misery. But I refused to give
up and although was crawling, I never got off the bike.
I now know I will need to up my daily spinning to 24 miles at a high resistance. I also need to pace
myself a little better. There's no need to be in the front on a social ride. I am doing Kokopelli's
trail in May. It's going to be some hard work from this day on.
Thanks for reading!=
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws
Hills was cancelled. It seemed that the trail bunnies in MD didn't think the trails were suitable
for riding. They should tell that to the equestrians as well. So, we opted for the alternate ride at
Lebanon State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
It was a beautiful morning. The temperature was 50 degrees and climbing. The first truly spring
weather in our region. The trail was fast this morning. So fast, I could actually keep up with the
'A' group, until I was blind-sided (I'll explain later). The spring smell was incredible and you can
see the first new sprouts of the year coming up from the pine needle covered floor. You could also
here the A-10 warthogs at Fort Dix practicing in the background. The machine gun fire almost gave us
a rhythm to pedal by.
Lebanon State Forest is a huge park (by New Jersey standards). It crosses several highways and
stretches almost from Philadelphia to the New Jersey Shore. It is flat, with Mt. Misery making up
the highest elevation at about 300'. There are miles of trails which are mostly single-track. I had
thought that we would be doing the pink trail. An 8 mile in and 8 mile out single-track. So, I was
giving it all I had to keep up with the leaders, and I was having a blast. When we hit the 8 mile
mark it was decided that we'd hit the white trail since it was 60+ degrees and absolutely beautiful.
The little loop added 11 miles to the single-track bliss. This was way past what my longest distance
is. I was good until mile 20. Then I hit the wall. Cramps in my legs and a burning that could of set
the forest on fire. My energy was gone. I had wasted all of it on what I thought would be a 16 mile
ride. Needless to say, the last 7 miles over Mt. Misery were truly a misery. But I refused to give
up and although was crawling, I never got off the bike.
I now know I will need to up my daily spinning to 24 miles at a high resistance. I also need to pace
myself a little better. There's no need to be in the front on a social ride. I am doing Kokopelli's
trail in May. It's going to be some hard work from this day on.
Thanks for reading!=
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws